General Writing Discussion Thread | Current Topic: NaNoWriMo

RE: The Writing Café - General Discussion Thread

Turtwig said:
Question 1​
Where do you like to read and write? Do you mind distractions, such as TV and loud noises, or should the area be completely silent? In other words, what is comfortable for you?
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Generally, I can read anywhere. If the book is to my liking, then I just ignore all outside interferences and sink in a personal bubble of silence. It's me and the book, and that's how it's supposed to be.
As for my writing... Well, I'm currently writing my first story, and I've found it possible to write parts of it while at school. However, I often end up changing many things in those parts before writing them in Word or posting them here, so I've concluded that, although possible, writing in a noisy environment isn't good for quality. I'd much rather write in the peace and quiet of my room.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

I havent written anything for the site yet, and am debating if I should.

For Question 1: I can read and write under most circumstances, but my attention will be diverted and I'll miss important things. I like to read and start writing my papers and do other homework at a cafe on campus, which plays music and is loud. I like the atmosphere and easy access to tea and coffee. Also, if I'm at home in my quite room, I'll want to be on the Internet, playing a game, or watching tv, and the work will never get done. Also, if the book is really good, anything could be going on around me and not distract me. When I used to write far fiction and other pieces, I would listen to music pertaining to the work or maybe write in a public space. I can't really write in the quiet, but I must edit in the quiet. I've noticed that that's where the good stuff comes in, though.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

For reading, I pretty much can read through anything as long as there's some light. I dunno about sound, but I've never actually read in a noisy environment, so I'd say I can't read when it's noisy. But yeah, other than that, I'd read anywhere (except for near a flame). Heck, yesterday, I read through two books in the Percy Jackson series while riding in a car on a slightly bumpy road with the trees slashing through the sunlight every millisecond... although I think I got a little too used to that. Now I find it a little hard to read long blocks of text on the computer. xD

For writing, feh, I could write anywhere (without a computer) if the ground wasn't moving. On the computer, though, the Internet distracts me a lot.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Questions for Readers and Writers​

Question 2​

Do you outline the chapters of your story, or do you think of them as you go? If you outline them, do you sometimes find yourself leading astray?



I usually outline them out on a piece of paper so I know what I'm going to be writing. I have done in on the spot before, and they end up a bit more unpredictable. When I'm outlining, I almost always get off a little bit and end up having to add the rest in my future chapters. I think it's both interesting and fun to see how much you actually move away from your central topic and develop something you previously didn't even think about.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Do you outline the chapters of your story, or do you think of them as you go? If you outline them, do you sometimes find yourself leading astray?
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In regards to the plot itself, I outline it. I want things X, Y, and Z to happen, and generally in that order. Everything in between can come as it wishes. So, when I'm actually writing the chapters itself, I think about what's going to happen as they go, though I generally want things X, Y, and Z to happen in a timely faction. I do not have prescribed chapter numbers where they must happen - just so long as they happen in order, the number can be whatever.

Sometimes I'll get to a point where I reach the end, and then realize I can go a little bit farther with a few other small things. That doesn't happen often - it's only happened once that I remember - but I like to give my stories more fluidity.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

I usually just think of them on the spot, but if I end up having to write out a story before I tell it to people irl, I'd probably just stop at the beginning and leave. I'm not good at retelling stuff, even though I have a good memory. Maybe I just get nervous. :p
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Turtwig said:
Questions for Readers and Writers​

Question 2​

Do you outline the chapters of your story, or do you think of them as you go? If you outline them, do you sometimes find yourself leading astray?



I usually outline them out on a piece of paper so I know what I'm going to be writing. I have done in on the spot before, and they end up a bit more unpredictable. When I'm outlining, I almost always get off a little bit and end up having to add the rest in my future chapters. I think it's both interesting and fun to see how much you actually move away from your central topic and develop something you previously didn't even think about.
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Oftentimes, I outline vague, cryptic thoughts and expand upon them. That's another reason I abruptly cancel fanfics; they get derailed rather easily.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

I hate outlining. Absolutely despise it with a passion. Every single time I've outlined something I've never finished it because I end up throwing it away because either the story is already finished and so I get bored, or because fitting the story to the outline makes it awkward and terrible.

Whenever I'm writing something, I go into it with a concept and a few key ideas that I want to happen at some point in the story. I have at least my starting characters in mind. And then I just run head on right into the story. After that, its up to the setting and the characters; they're the ones who lead me to where the story is going to go. Sometimes this ends up a bit different from my original vision, but that's okay, and I still have my "key ideas" to keep the story in track. After that, it's a matter of going back over and smoothing out the bumps.

I see my writing the same way carvers see a block of marble, or a hunk of wood. They look at that and see a carving trapped inside a material and see that it's their job to set it free. For me, I see characters and they're the ones who lead me forward to tell their story; I'm just the medium that lets that story out onto paper.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

I'm having that problem with my Hoenn story. I have about five chapters outlined, but it's just so boring to type it because it's nothing new or exciting. I try to outline the next chapter and stop there, but I find not outlining suiting me just as well. It's more of a manner of time as to whether I certainly can or not.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Throw the outline away and free yourself! :D
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Turtwig said:
Questions for Readers and Writers​

Question 2​

Do you outline the chapters of your story, or do you think of them as you go? If you outline them, do you sometimes find yourself leading astray?
Click to expand...
I don't outline them. I obviously have the main story and characters prepared, but I don't write them down somewhere and I just cut to the chase. Outlining seems boring and not very helpful. For me, the best ideas come on the spot.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Turtwig said:
Questions for Readers and Writers​

Question 2​

Do you outline the chapters of your story, or do you think of them as you go? If you outline them, do you sometimes find yourself leading astray?



I usually outline them out on a piece of paper so I know what I'm going to be writing. I have done in on the spot before, and they end up a bit more unpredictable. When I'm outlining, I almost always get off a little bit and end up having to add the rest in my future chapters. I think it's both interesting and fun to see how much you actually move away from your central topic and develop something you previously didn't even think about.
Click to expand...


Well, in the preliminary stages of writing stories, I prefer not to write at all and in fact let my mind freefloat for a while, planning the story as I go, sometimes coming up with random ideas that could fit in there here and there.

I mean, the problem with outlining is that if you have a golden idea later on, you have to go back and change everything to fit it in your notes, but still, defacto the matter is, you will forget plot points if you don't put them on paper and then you are left with plotholes. It is for this reason that I tend to outline. I don't usually deviate from my original idea for a chapter or such, but I find that the new idea is much better than my original, and I can't help but to put it in.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Questions for Readers and Writers​

Question 3​

Who or what is your inspiration for writing? What pushed you to begin your stories/novels? Why?​



I began writing probably because I've always enjoyed watching contests on TV. One day, I started outlining scripts for my own contests, and they manifested into fictional works that now stray from competitiveness and lean more toward the story and its description. Another big inspiration to me is in Mitch Albom. He isn't the most popular author, but his novels are truly philosophical and meaningful unlike those trashy drama trilogies that are out now. His important words makes me try to display my own message behind what I write, even if it is just a story about Pokemon.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Who or what is your inspiration for writing? What pushed you to begin your stories/novels? Why?
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The same guy who inspired me to start making banners. When I first started out, he was impressed by my work, but said to me (if my performance was lacklustre on that particular occasion) that I could do better and he knew it.

He was right.

And since then, my stories (and banners) have been top-notch.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

It was an old friend and classmate who I discovered also liked writing, and then told me about posting stuff online. It was around the same time that I started discovering FFnet, LJ, and other forums for posting stories so I got around to writing more. Before then, I just wrote on old notebooks and my stories were mostly for myself, for enjoyment and for passing time, but sharing them with others and getting feedback has made it even more enjoyable to write.

I've also had my dreams inspire my stories. Sometimes I get a really vivid dream of an amazing scene and I still remember it when I wake up. From that scene, I then think up of details that could make that scene come about, such as the world of the scene and the plot, and it expands into a story from out there.
 
The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Turtwig said:
Questions for Readers and Writers​

Question 3​

Who or what is your inspiration for writing? What pushed you to begin your stories/novels? Why?​
Click to expand...

Conn Iggulden inspired my interest in historical fiction. E.E Knight and John Flanagan kindled my interest in the medieval fantasy genre. Renowned authors, philosophers, and thinkers of history such as Plato, Socrates, Heraclitus, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Sun Tzu are a few that engaged me and challenged me to consider and ponder about the political and societal aspects of a written piece. Tom Clancy has also given me an interesting perspective on political and military matters. These are a few examples of notable authors that have influenced and inspired my imagination when it comes to my written pieces, but overall, any book that I have read has profoundly impacted me in one or many ways. There are too many inspirations and ideas exist out there to be listed properly, at all.

What propelled me to engage in fiction writing is the ability to fabricate realities from your own imaginative playground that allowed you to communicate multiple ideas, concepts, visions, and beliefs to an interested reader. Writing is an art form that must, and should not be undervalued and taken for granted. I cannot count the numerous instances in history wherein the exchange of ideas has shaped, augmented, destroyed, rebuilt, or influenced the intangible structures and unseen systems that govern so many civilizations. Without the existence of writing, the world's first printing press would've never seen production. Then, where would all of us be? We would be no more valuable than an empty, hollow shell, our brains capable of knowing nothing more than to satisfy its primal needs and desires.

Hence the saying, knowledge is power.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Turtwig said:
Questions for Readers and Writers​

Question 3​

Who or what is your inspiration for writing? What pushed you to begin your stories/novels? Why?​
Click to expand...

I have always been, and always will be, my own inspiration. I wrote and illustrated my own book (plot and everything!) when I was 4 years old. I consistently wrote for prizes/grades throughout my mandatory education, and writing in fanfiction circles was one of the first things I started doing when I finally got the internet at home. I did take a break from writing for some time, but managed to complete a NaNo novel a few years ago and recently picked it back up again.

If you're talking about the inspiration for specific writings, ideas, plot points, etc. it's hard to narrow down. I do a lot of reading, so of course I pick up some inspiration from that (Lynn Flewelling, Chuck Palahniuk, Koji Suzuki, Stephen King, Natsuo Kirino, and Paulo Coelho are some of my favourite authors), as well as tidbits from TV shows, video games, movies, comics, anything. I also pick up inspiration from my own dreams, various RPGs that I've played in or run, and even from my own writing. By the time my brain has processed an idea enough to write it, it's gone through the blender of so many different thoughts and ideas that it's hard to pinpoint where a specific thing came from.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Oh, dang. I just noticed I accidentally answered only 1 of the questions.
It was this one:

What pushed you to begin your stories/novels? Why?
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Now I have to answer this one:
Who or what is your inspiration for writing?
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Me, and no one else, ever.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Question 1: It was actually my fourth-grade teacher. He told me to write a book. :p
Question 2: Sometimes video games, sometimes all me, sometimes my dreams inspire me.
 
RE: The Writing Café General Discussion Thread

Questions for Readers and Writers​

Question 4​

What is your biggest challenge when writing? What about reading? How do you overcome them?​



My biggest obstacle of writing is probably when I'm forced to stop for a while (due to, for a recent example, exams) and then pick back up with the same smoothness as last time. I have to reread the last chapter and then write based on how I felt then. The hard part is getting back into that groove I had before; when I take long breaks, I tend to write differently. However, I really want to be able to write without having to make it seem like two different authors worked on the past few chapters. I finally decide to just reread the past two or three chapters so I can carry on in the same way.

When reading, I end up closing the book and later rereading the same paragraph. Sometimes, I even look up to speak with someone, look back down, and read that paragraph twenty times as I repeat the process. It drives me nuts! It was the hardest thing, though it's even worse if it's a book I don't like. The only way I can possibly get over this is if I make little goals for myself (if I read __ pages tonight, then I can get on the computer for an hour).
 
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