Attempted to write a story last night
Discussion
And, the output is bloomin awful. 
After years and years of procrastination, I finally sat down in front of the PC last night and attempted to write something. Whilst having a bath, I had an idea about a short story involving something appearing outside a small space station.
Post bath and with idea armed inside my head, I fired up Word and began the process of trying to write my first story. It proved to be a disappointing experience.
In total, I spent nearly two hours at my machine. In that time I managed to write about 500 words. The beginning of the story and trying to set the initial scene took me ages. I wrote something, deleted it, wrote something else, deleted it, tried to think of something different, got stuck, tried something different, got stuck again, etc etc.
I managed to press on and had something down before I retired to bed just before 11 pm (later than planned). However, upon reading it again this morning, it seems to be utter rubbish.
I guess only time and more and more writing will help. But, does everyone write rubbish at the beginning?
I think I need to just get everything written first and then edit. As I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I keep editing what I have written to try and make it read better. It's a loop I think I need to get out of as I'll never have anything written.
How has everyone else who is established in this field progressed?
Thanks.
After years and years of procrastination, I finally sat down in front of the PC last night and attempted to write something. Whilst having a bath, I had an idea about a short story involving something appearing outside a small space station.
Post bath and with idea armed inside my head, I fired up Word and began the process of trying to write my first story. It proved to be a disappointing experience.
In total, I spent nearly two hours at my machine. In that time I managed to write about 500 words. The beginning of the story and trying to set the initial scene took me ages. I wrote something, deleted it, wrote something else, deleted it, tried to think of something different, got stuck, tried something different, got stuck again, etc etc.
I managed to press on and had something down before I retired to bed just before 11 pm (later than planned). However, upon reading it again this morning, it seems to be utter rubbish.
I guess only time and more and more writing will help. But, does everyone write rubbish at the beginning?
I think I need to just get everything written first and then edit. As I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I keep editing what I have written to try and make it read better. It's a loop I think I need to get out of as I'll never have anything written.
How has everyone else who is established in this field progressed?
Thanks.
willisit said:
There are good tools out there (like Scriven) that let you start and stop chapters and storyboard stuff. An idea is just that - it won't help you write a story. I've tried that too, and whilst I wrote a fairly "good" five chapters, I lost my train of thought - like... how does this end? That's when I stopped and decided I had to have Chapter 1, Chapter 10 and Chapter 20 (beginning, middle and end) written first. It doesn't stop you changing them either; just guides you on your way.
Now (and I'm no writer) I try to flesh out my characters first; who are they? why are they in the story? And don't forget to write "what you know". Writing about an ER if you're in IT is most likely going to fail - Sci-Fi is harder still, but most successful writers are military fiction writers first. Or, go completely Fantasy and no one can tell you're doing it wrong.
Kids stuff is easier (well, that's somewhat of a myth) largely as they tend to be visual - if you can't illustrate you either need a partner that can, or be really creative with stick figures
We all have one good book in us, or so I'm told
Thanks.Now (and I'm no writer) I try to flesh out my characters first; who are they? why are they in the story? And don't forget to write "what you know". Writing about an ER if you're in IT is most likely going to fail - Sci-Fi is harder still, but most successful writers are military fiction writers first. Or, go completely Fantasy and no one can tell you're doing it wrong.
Kids stuff is easier (well, that's somewhat of a myth) largely as they tend to be visual - if you can't illustrate you either need a partner that can, or be really creative with stick figures
We all have one good book in us, or so I'm told
I like sci-fi. I read pretty much purely sci-fi stuff (with science and history related items thrown in). I'm hoping nobody can tell me what I'm doing is wrong.
Just under 1200 words written this afternoon. Had a good go at it whilst my daughter was asleep.
I have completely dropped any worry and concern about how I'm writing, and have just got on with it. Amazing how once you free yourself from over analysing, everything just flows.
I have now written a bit of the beginning, a bit of a section about two thirds of the way through the story, and the ending. Now that I have done this, I don't really feel that it is a good ending. I may have written something that will prompt people to think 'what the hell?'. Anyway, it's the first thing I have ever really done and I'm doing it as I enjoy it. So, if it is rubbish, then so be it.
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