I need some ideas...

[YankeeDoodle]

Well, I've made my decision, I am going to be a writer. Granted, I haven't earned excellent grammar marks, but this is what I have always wanted to do and I figure I better get an early start. I just want some ideas to start with, something to write about. I know there will be a few jokes associated with this :lol: , but I'm being serious. Most of you probably don't like to read, but if there was no way around it, what would the ideal story be about. The reason I ask you is, I haven't read nearly enough books to know what has been overdone. I just want a few serious answers, and if I get an idea I really like, you can expect more threads in the future(I can't do this alone you know). If I ever write anything worthy of being published, I will find a way to thank everyone here at PSU. I have been checking these forums for a long time, I have just never had the time to register and post much. I have to sell the computer to pay for car repairs, and the only posts you will be hearing from me will be from the local library(not that it really matters). Thanks in advance for any replies I may get. I won't be reading this any time before next week, for I am extremely busy. None of you know who I am, but I really loved reading what everyone posted...

[Navaron]

You're off to a bad start if you've already got writer's block. The best way to learn to write is to read. You should be reading a book a week at least.

[YankeeDoodle]

I didn't think I would get a reply this quickly. I might as well get a much PSU time in as I can before tomorrow! BTW I have been reading a TON. I just don't find myself very creative. I am afraid that people won't like what I write. That is why I just wondered what kind of stories people our age like. I love adventure/fantasies like The Lord of the Rings, but I want my work to be original. I may sound like a retard talking about this, but all the grammar/literature teachers I have ever had have said I have great potential to become a writer, and to write every spare minute I have. I figure, since summer has begun, and I am already bored, that I start my writing now...

[Corrosion]

Wanna write my essay on Night?

[Derfud]

It seems that you have said you like the fantasy genre. Since you arent creative, I recommend that you learn a bit about maybe A D&D campaign setting, or another campaign setting for D&D. Since alot of the hostory is already created, and the names of cities, famous people, etc. All you need to do is create your characters, and create an adventure. From there, you're story unfolds. I just began reading R.A. Salvatore last night, and he started in that exact way. Writing about Icewind Dale in forgotten Realms. A publisher took a chance with him, and it turns out he is a big succsess.

[Baneblade]

Write a book on Writer's Block...seriously...

[YankeeDoodle]

Thanks Derfud. I will be on ALL night and will be checking this OFTEN if anyone has anything to add.
Sobekus- :lol: I guess I could, but who wants to read a book on writer's block?
Corrosion- I'll get back to you on that, however, it is easy for teachers to tell if an essay isn't your work. When is it due?

[UncleDynamite]

As a writer myself, I keep a "Stream of Conciousness" notebook with me nearly all the time. Basically, it's a place where I immediately jot down an idea once I get it, no matter how dumb/ridiculous it is. Some days I never write in it, other days I will manage to fill up a fourth or more of the book (I have upwards of 15 of these books in a stack next to my desk). I don't bother writing neat, I just get it on the page. Sometimes I'll draw a quick picture if the idea warrants it.

The concept behind the stream of conciousness is that for all the notes you took, you'll eventually find something inspirational in all that stuff you slathered on the paper. You might not have thought it at the time you wrote it down, but looking back, you might think, "Hey, this is a really good idea." Most of my columns for the school newspaper, for example, had their origins in notes I took while doing my morning jog.

Additionally, most excellent pieces of writing come out of experiences that the author had him/herself. While I could give you a batch of possible topics from the top of my head, it's best when you draw upon particular events unique to yourself and then create a more generalized story that's applicable to others.

[Spee]

I myself plan to be a writer, just not creatively.


A columnist, namely in a gaming magazine, is what I'm aiming for.

[YankeeDoodle]

Dynamite- Great idea! I'll get on that immediately. I think I have decided on a topic. I love an epic battle in a book. I also love space-aged technology incorporated into stories. I loved the way The Lord of the Rings didn't have guns/electronics. I probably shouldn't tell anyone this, but I want to know if anyone would read a book anything like this...
/let the rambling begin...
/stop writing in complete sentences due to lack of time...(If i make spelling mistakes, its because I am not checking any of this ;) )
I plan to have a regular kid's summer end and he just goes to school, but at school he falls asleep due to extreme boredom. I haven't though this up yet but somehow the world of old and the world of present collide together and each realize that they cannot share this earth... an epic battle will take place to decide whether the world will have to re-evolve through time again if the world of old wins. the world of old will have dinosaurs, mammoths, wizardry, medieval warriors, roman warriors, etc etc and modern world has technology even beyond what we have today... then of course he will wake up but i wont tell you who wins...
/ends rambling
Again, this is VERY rough idea of what will go on in the story.
As you can see, I have a ton to think about. If you think it is a stupid idea or if you've seen it already tell me. Constructive criticism is welcome! :doh:

[321]

I like the idea I would read the book and I hate reading :lol:.

Edit: By the way why are you in such a hurry and sorry if you have already said why.

[YankeeDoodle]

Yay! Someone would read it! Hehaho! Of course my first big piece of work isn't going to be magnificent... Im in a hurry right now because I am selling the computer tomorrow. I'm in a hurry to start writing because that is what my teachers have advised. Not sure which one you meant.

[Indecisive]

Bah, cant stand writing.

[Derfud]

The prospect of "old vs. new" sounds cool. However, knowing that the whole story is a dream would kind of ruin it. I say, make that world, a world. Not just a dream world within a book. I honestly can tell you that I would not be as interested in a book from start to end if I knew it were a dream.

[Corrosion]

Corrosion- I'll get back to you on that, however, it is easy for teachers to tell if an essay isn't your work. When is it due?
Heh, I was kidding, I'm almost done with it now. It's due tomorrow.

I'll post it here when I'm done later tonight.

[321]

Im in a hurry right now because I am selling the computer tomorrow.

Dang that sucks sorry to see you leave PSU.

[Corrosion]

Dang that sucks sorry to see you leave PSU.
He said he'll post from library.

[Electrofreak]

I've written several short stories. I get writers block too. I find the best way around it is to NOT sit in front of your computer staring at it. Instead, go do something relatively mindless (like cleaning or mowing or work) and while you are doing that, think about what you are wanting to write about until you get an idea (don't do something like watch TV or play on the computer, your mind will get sidetracked too easily). As soon as you get an idea, memorize it or write it down to prevent the little bastard from slipping away (as often happens with my ideas).

Then, later, sit down and get started on writing out your idea. Once you have the basics of your idea written down, go back to doing your mindless task. Wash the car or organize your socks, I don't care, but this time try to think of some way to branch off or expand your idea further. Then go back and write it down again. Do this until you have a basic outline of your piece of work all laid out and down on paper.

Now you just need to organize it into a story or an essay or an article or whatever it is you want it to be. Thats when you need to sit down and write, using your outline as a reference. Don't try to do too much at once... I usually like to try to work on a chapter or section at a time, with nice long breaks in-between.

This is how I've written a few stories, and its also how I've done some of my larger school projects (though to be honest I usually do the main writing part the night before its due). I came up with an idea, wrote it down, and gradually expanded upon it as I did something that kept my creativity flowing (without getting distracted). Then I just add "fluff and details" and organize it until its a nice piece of work.

edit- this isn't to say this will work for you. A lot of people have different writing styles and its really a matter of finding what works best for you. This works for me (even though my aspirations of becoming a writer when I was young have been abandoned for my love of technology) so who knows. Experiment around a bit until you have found the best way to get your creativity to flow.

[Cyanide]

I find that being too concerned with weather or not other people will read your writtings is a good way to ruin them. Just write stuff that you would want to read, about subjects that interest you. That's the best way to create a good story.

[Onizuka]

I don't read much at all, and write much more. I obviously don't make a profession out of it, so I just start writing whatever I want, whatever pops into my brain.

[YankeeDoodle]

Thanks. I knew I was doing something wrong lying on my bed thinking. Well, in a couple of hours the computer will be gone...

BTW Corrosion nice sig :lol:

[Incompetent]

I'll mostly echo some of the things already said.

Write down every last idea you have, no matter how broken or illogical it seems, you might be able to build some really interesting and cool concepts out of it, preferably in some sort of digital format. Don't worry about whether it fits earlier stuff you've though of, you can always write more then one book. Don't worry to much about grammer and the like, editors exist for a reason, if you can create an interesting setting with deep and likable characters no one is going to care if your a grammer nazi or not.

If you know a good artist, team up with him, have him draw up some concepts of things your writing about to help you visualize it (I'm looking for one myself.) Don't get locked into any stereotypical settings, if you think long enough about it you can explain away nearly anything, so don't leave out something good because you have trouble getting it to fit quickly. BE CREATIVE above all else, but remember, everyone steals something from someone, so read as much as possible to get as many ideas as you can. When your thinking, do something mindless to get your brain moving, sitting around and doing nothing while thinking has been incredibly unproductive for me.

Once you get started on something and get a good way through it, keep your focus, and seek a FEW second opinions only once your done. Don't fuck it up trying to pander to too many people, but bounce it off a few friends or family members to help straighten out the rough edges in the story or the characters. Above all though, remember, its your book, don't let anyone convince you to make any changes you seriously disagree with. The absolute best way to create total shit is to let too many people have a say, or to let someone warp your world from your vision to one halfway between yours and theres. Even if no one will publish you in print, you can always publish it online.

My advice, not the best, but there it is. I'm a Semi-aspiring writer myself (plan B, if you will)

Edit: oh, and don't get too caught up in explanations and don't be long winded. One of the most tradgic characters (to me) I've read about is Prince Gaynor of the Damned (Corum, Swords Trilogy) and he didn't even last ten pages.

[Mr1337Duck]

If I ever do any writing jobs, it'll be writing for a gaming guide group like Prima. But Prima sometimes sucks, but you get the idea.


I'll get to do my three favorite things, play video games, tell people how to do stuff, and get money for it, while having my games provided for me.

[Madcow]

Sobekus- :lol: I guess I could, but who wants to read a book on writer's block?

Two stories that were written about writer's block in order to fight writer's block:

Barton Fink by Joel and Ethan Coen, written during a serious bout of writer's block while they were writing the screenplay for Miller's Crossing.

Adaptation written by Charlie Kaufman during a bout of writer's block while he was writing the screenplay for Being John Malkovich.

If you could ever write anything on par with either of those you'd most likely die a happy man.

Moral of the story? Write about what you know, and what you're experiencing and allow the creativity to flow from that rather than trying to force the creativity out of a situation which you can't relate to even a little bit. The Lord of the Rings isn't an amazing story because of the epic setting and story, it's amazing because Tolkein was able to create characters each of us could relate to while keeping the epic setting and story. Personally I think the worst mistake you could make is sitting down and thinking "I'm going to write a fantasy story". If the story you're writing lends itself to that setting, great. If it doesn't and you turn an interesting story into crap because you wanted it in a fantasy setting, you just shot yourself in the foot.

[YankeeDoodle]

Thanks Incompetent and Madcow. This guy who called about my computer hasn't shown up yet. I put an ad in the newspaper and had about 10 people interested in it. I had to turn them down because this guy called first. Ahh I hate it when people don't warn you before they back out. He might have jsut gotten caught in traffic or something. Oh well, more PSU time...

[ObnoxiousFrog]

He slowly awoke from his daydream, blinking the sleepf rom his eyes and the world into focus. In his reverie, something happened to him, his perception of the world changed. His conception of the world around him had become more vibrant, more full of the emotional spectrum. He cradled his weary neck in the headrest of his chair and smiled a gently content grin.

His mind was now flowing with thought. Something about glowing pieces of gold. Something about human incapability. Reaching into somebody's face to see their thoughts. The cold reality of relationships. The slow descent of one mind into madness. Love lost overseas.

But none of that was important to him now. His seemingly subliminal thought process had blinked out like a candle under a glass. Now his ears were chiming with a monotone chime, interluding every few seconds with the hum of reality. In his discourse, he found the cause of this relapse into sanity.

"Fucking iPod battery."

[YankeeDoodle]

:lol:

[OfaLoaf]

Eh, if there's a series you like, and you've laways wondered about something from it, write a "Fan Fiction" about it. Like write a "Fan Fiction" about a ship in Star Trek.

[Kikinchikin]

Yankee, I don't know if you play PS or not, but if you do, try writing a fan-fic about it in our fan fiction forums. All of us over there enjoy reading each other's stories, and we always provide constructive (never negative) criticism. If you don't play PS, you may still want to drop by that forum and take a look at some of the works of others (I have one myself). Hopefully that will inspire you or at least give you some ideas. Mainly though, don't be afraid that people won't like what you write.

[YankeeDoodle]

That guy didn't show up. Hmm... I'm actually kind of happy:D. I'll just beg the parents for more money:D
I don't play PS so I rarely stray from the Lounge. I'll check it out though. Thanks:D

[Sputty]

Here's an idea: DHITB

[Ivan]

Here's an idea: DHITB
:rofl:

[Toneball]

I mainly write for personal satisfaction, and so I don't loose all the wonderfully random thoughts and insights the fly through my head, but I have found one thing that helps me write when I have nothing to write about. Walk around a public place and take a mental note of everyone that sticks out to you, the loudmouth 15 year old kid trying to impress some female, the old man happily eating Ice Cream by himself, and so on... Try to imagine what they are thinking, what they have been through, what they did yesterday, what they are going to do tomorrow or just make something up for them, throw them in some fictional short story you wrote in 11th grade, something. I think what I am trying to say, is just to think, think about everything and everyone you come into contact with. It works for me, although I do ADD, so it's easy for me to make up elaborate storys about dumb Sh*t.

L8

[TekDragon]

You're off to a bad start if you've already got writer's block. The best way to learn to write is to read. You should be reading a book a week at least.

What he said.

Don't even bother writing unless you've saturated yourself with books in the genre you want.

I've always wanted to write medieval fantasy. Right now i have over 300 books in my library of sci fi and medieval fantasy. Every one i read I get better ideas on how to write the book (both writing style and plot elements).

Go read some of Stephen King's auto biographies. He's got great advice on writing.

Last peice of advice: go to college.