Any fiction writer here? How you started your career?
@night01watcher (259)
Italy
February 27, 2013 2:43am CST
Okay my mind is always full of imaginations, i just don't know how to put them in words. Whenever i try to write fiction, specifically fiction i get stuck. What should I do in this regard, what should be the beginning step for me?
4 responses
@SinfulRose (3527)
• Davao, Philippines
28 Feb 13
Same problem here. But in my case I started writing it down...like right now in my word processor and just finished re-writing my first story's first chapter.
But if you don't know how to word out your imagination yet, why don't you start with reading lots of books for now and find the way you want to write your own story? In my case since I want to write fantasy and fiction stories, I read those kinds of books.
@SinfulRose (3527)
• Davao, Philippines
28 Feb 13
Then use those and learn their style of writing, of describing whatever it is they want their readers to know. I'm a reader of various books written by various writers ever since I was in elementary but I focused on romantic fiction books, fantasy and supernatural. But I realize that it was easier for me to adopt to the romantic books, so use that kind of writing strategy.
We are writers, so the first fundamental thing we need to know is to write down ideas. The format and plot comes later...
@night01watcher (259)
• Italy
28 Feb 13
That's a good idea,I am a book reader myself. I read alot of fantasy and fiction books. Its my bed time companion :)
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
1 Mar 13
A question here, when you say write down ideas SinfulRose do you mean just jot down things for future reference or do you mean write your story lines with the ideas you have and do not worry too much where it is going?
I am a write as it happens kind of person and never was able to use the plan your story method to any great success, except for very basic things that do not take too much time to jot down. I understand planning has advantage like so we do not forget things.
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
27 Feb 13
I think I might understand where you might possibly be getting stuck but can you identify more clearly where or when you get stuck? There are two things we can consider about fiction one is plot and the other character development.
I have a problem with character development because I usually end up becoming the person. That can be a good thing when you get into your story but can be limiting too in the way we write.
Creating a plot should be easy if we start with just the basics and go from there. Man goes to new planet and meets space girl. A conflict starts up with the local alien leader because he wants to control all the human traffic that enters his domain. - is what I mean.
Where are you getting stuck?
@night01watcher (259)
• Italy
27 Feb 13
I get stuck at character development as well. Is there any reading/ help material that can help you get started? Writing Drills type stuff?
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
27 Feb 13
You might find this page helpful
http://www.pgtc.com/~slmiller/characterexercises.htm
Think about it something as simple as ordering food gets you to understand your character better. It is easy to use yourself or if you like project yourself. Do you drink coffee? If not order it. If yes order something else a scotch perhaps? Anything you want your character to be you can on the pages.
Some people write a couple of pages of facts. This allows them to one get started and two to remember who the character is.
If you are just stuck with writing period, you can hammer around in here or write a page of pure anything I mean anything, to warm up everyday. Sometimes it is a toss out, sometimes it gives you an idea.
Hope this helped and have fun writing.
@night01watcher (259)
• Italy
28 Feb 13
Bluedoll,I must say thank you! Your tips got me going :). Although :P i have only written a paragraph about my character till now, but i am very happy with the results :)
Thanks a million:)
@Aja103654 (5646)
• Philippines
6 Mar 13
Well, I think you should try writing. You can't be a professional writer right off the bat. It takes a lot of time, dedication, discipline and imagination to become one. Start small. Find websites where you can publish some of your works and do more reading to improve your vocabulary. You can try fictionpress dot com.
@Scoopzz (54)
• United States
28 Feb 13
I took writing classes online and one lesson was about your issue. The lesson said to take one word and run with it.
Let's take the word hat - work that into a scene or have a character and have him do something with that hat. Make it a prop for him/her to use. Maybe the character won't leave his/her hat because without he/she can't function.
Take a color word, say blue. Work that into a focal point as a background painting done in blue and someone sold this precious blue painting.
If you need a place where a scene takes places, use someplace where you visited, your hometown, do research on the town.
Hope this helps.
@night01watcher (259)
• Italy
28 Feb 13
Thank a lot, i will definitely get to it. I am sure it is gonna get me out of the phase that I am in. Also, when I get stuck I go take a walk for few minutes and thats what helps me get going too :)
