What is your favorite method to get started writing?
By Zawisza
@Zawisza (63)
United States
September 4, 2008 2:39pm CST
When I find it hard to get started, I like to find myself a random word generator online and try to get the most interesting, rare word I can find out of it, one that isn't really used that often these days. Once I find out the meaning, I try to think about it and about what it could evolve into, and often I find myself writing much easier than if I had tried to just force myself to think of something randomly.
What is your favorite method to get started?
4 responses
@landaloo (57)
• United States
5 Sep 08
I like to start by writing about my day. And a really good way I get the juices flowing is to watch the news and type my opinions. The best thing about it is that I am able to type just what I am thinking without having to worry about it being politically correct. I love doing character development and it is a good way of giving dialogue to a disliked character.
@Zawisza (63)
• United States
6 Sep 08
That's a good idea. I've heard people say they like to use journal-like methods in order to get the juices flowing.
I like how you say it's a good way of giving dialogue to a disliked character. It's the truth, isn't it, how even in your most disliked character there is always something that's similar to yourself. It seems like letting yourself just write without worrying about anything would be helpful in that.
@Xdrowninghavocx (3117)
• United States
5 Sep 08
That's an interesting take on this. I don't really have method, per se. I often get most of my ideas after watching a good movie or an episode of a TV show. I don't copy what I saw, but I do take a couple of the elements away. The theme, for example, is something that I pay close attention to. And also the structure and format.
@Zawisza (63)
• United States
6 Sep 08
I've noticed that happen too. Sometimes even when the movie or show isn't that great, the theme it presents is pretty interesting, and sometimes it's really fun to work with.
I usually get a case of the "I can do better than that!"'s after watching some movies... Although it rarely amounts to anything... haha..
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
6 Sep 08
Usually what I'll do is I'll open the document...and if I'm just not feeling it, I'll go play a game, catch up on some news, and come back to it. I don't know why, but having a distraction, and ignoring it once it's there for a little bit makes it much easier to come back to it and dive into it.
I think it's cool that you use a random word generator! I keep a paper with a bunch of words written on it to help me get editing, lol. I don't know, it's not like I use alot of the words on the list, but it helps haha.
@lindsaykaye82 (544)
• United States
4 Sep 08
Well for me it is weird, I sit at the computer or in front of the TV and I pay attention to what I am doing but also the voices and sounds around me, I will hear something and like ten minutes later just pop out a rhyme or something (oh by the way i like to write poetry and childrens stuff) anyways I have even found myself falling asleep trying to figure out a poem and wake up in the middle of the night cause I figured it out...lol.
@Zawisza (63)
• United States
4 Sep 08
That's awesome. I have a few writing classes, and I've heard that a lot of people have good experiences with listening to what people around them are saying and then being able to write something about/based on that.
But that falling asleep/waking up with it figured out thing is great. It's happened to me a few times, but not that often. I wish it would happen more, it's a great feeling.. haha...
