On Writing...

[Doubtless]

"Why God would choose to whisper into the ears of one man, and not another, is a secret known only to him..."
~ Prof. R. Krevolin, Screenwriting from the Soul

The key word there, is whisper. For me, it seems that whispering is as far as it goes. People say that, the more you write, the better you get. Well, looking back on drafts of previous books, I find that the opposite is true for me. While I've certainly improved my plot by loads, my writing has degenerated into mindless rambling. Now, I am stuck with enough plotlines to fill Trump Tower, and yet I find myself not able to force it all into a story.

Most of what I have is terrific (I think so, anyways) backstory, that has accumulated over 2 years of rewrites. I now have some semblance of a decent plot (in this case, meaning the actual storyline) for my story, but when I go to write, it just seems that I'm trudging in the mud.

The moment I open the story file, I stare at the screen for about 23 seconds, then close it again, pick up my guitar and play away. Now sure, I love guitar, but I want to write. Or rather, as Prof. Krevolin so finely put it, need to write.

But how? How the heck do I WRITE, when I feel like I can't? How do I trudge through the thickets, and the bogs, and carve my way to the end?

My main problem is descriptions. I can't seem to describe things (mostly locations, but also people) the way I used to, and it drives me insane. How am I ever going to pour out a novel, if all I can write for a scene is, "The room was a typical rented room."?

Nobody has to reply to this, but I don't think I'll be able to write again until I post it, so, here goes...

 

[Peace Eternal]

I'm not sure if you WANT replies or not... but here goes. a while back I had the same problem - inlcluding the guitar. I had all these great scenes going through my head, dialogue, sunrises, battles, disappointments, mountains, valleys, men, women, everything, all swirling to and fro. I'd sit down, and write nothing. Not even a poem. But some of the people on here gave me some really great advice. The first being, write what you know, what you see. No matter if it is related to your story or not. Write about the squirrles in the trees and the garbage man who is super skinny. The second, begin very simple. "Once upon a time, there was a girl." type of thing, very soon it becomes a whole short story. And one I found by myself, write whatever comes to mind. No matter if it makes sense at all. Ramble on and on about that one thing that happened that one day in that one world. Pretty soon it starts to take shape, and thoughts become more organized. Sorry, but that's all the advice I've got. Hope it helps.

 

[Doubtless]

Hey, thanks. lol, spewing all the ramblings of that post out freed me up to write, and I wrote a good 1k words today. Not much, but enough to get me going again. Thanks for the advice. I think I'm going to write for myself a lot more, from now on, about anything and everything. I've tried it before, but I was always writing for the reader, and not for myself.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[avatarblade2000]

Good remedy?

On a more earthly note, if I'm in a funk and can't write on one thing, I just write on something else. Or draw, but I don't know if you vent on canvas. Guitar is good too.

Another thing I do to motivate myself (which doesn't always work) is to set a deadline, fake or otherwise, and I work my hardest, artistically or otherwise, to meet it and get a story finished. You may be surprised at what you can push creatively out of your brain in a time of need.

If you need help, and you're not above looking for textbooks on Amazon, buy the Gotham Workshop to writing fiction. It's hands-down the best thing I've ever read for writing, INCLUDING getting yourself motivated.

Hope that helps, Doubtless.

 

[Doubtless]

lol. Good to have you back, Avatar. On deadlines, I actually puked out my greatest creation (the script described in "Christian vs. Secular") in 4-5 days (I think it was like a total of 20-25 hours put in). I did it because I was networking with a guy, who wanted a script to shoot. He turned that one down, and we went with something else (he didn't want to do something that was morally complicated, he wanted a basically good hero and an evil villain, which that script did not exactly have). I stowed the script away, and then recently got feedback from a mentor of mine (a scriptwriter/producer from L.A., no less) and I revised it to death. I think it's as good as can be, now (as good as I can get it, leastways). Anyways, sorry to rant (I have a habit of using ()()()(()()) too much, eh?)

Thanks for the advice.

 

[avatarblade2000]

Good to be back.

I've actually been in a similar situation. I had a script nailed down, but when I went to shoot for a course, my cast bailed on me. That's what I get for relying on unpaid family and friends.

So I finally got a hold of a bro in Christ who goes above and beyond the call of duty for any of his friends, and his wife, who is equally amazing. They agreed to fill in at the last minute, and did a superb job. If it weren't for a wobbly tripod, I would have gotten a better grade, but I basically filmed the baby in six hours, and it was the grade that got me an A+ in the course. On a selfish note, it's actually one of my better works.

On a related note...SCREENWRITER/PRODUCER AS A MENTOR?! Lucky dog! Network him in my direction!

 

[sunstruckdream]

You know what's a good way to make yourself start writing again? Reading. Reread a favorite novel, or pick up something new that looks promising. We're writers - I know that if I see a sneaky technique or a cleverly looped plot, I end up admiring it and thinking...that's kind of like was Character's Name does in Your Book's Epic Title...Ooh! What if I make Your Character try...

Etc.

I'm not saying steal from other writers (Paaooliiiiini...). I'm saying if you want to get yourself in a literary mindset, reading works well, at least for me.

OR...

Write more than one thing! I try to keep two projects running at a time - the novel I'm writing, and the short novel I'm writing. Both have completed first drafts now, and I'm reworking them, but the point is, whenever I'm frustrated with one, I can work on the other and still come out with something.

Just some ideas. Hope they help...

 

[Doubtless]

Avatar,

I should define Screenwriter/Producer (my friend/mentor). He isn't a studio big-wig or anything, he's an indie guy who lives in the West End and works on mansions. He went to one of those universities out there (USC?), and took some kind of program or something in screenwriting. If I remember right, he's really setting his hands toward filmmaking this year, rather than just writing, and has a laundry list of like 2 shorts or something, and a feature. On a personal level, he's pulled me from the wannabe screenwriter I was, into the on-my-way filmmaker I am now (all for just $99 down, and $39.99 a month! jk )

If it ain't too personal to ask, what school you going to (or college, or university, or academy, or whatever you want to call it)? Does it help much with your filmmaking? I considered a few different film schools, and even a local university, but I think I've decided just to put my hands to the plow, so to speak.

Congratulations on your A+, btw.

Sunstruck,

You know what's a good way to make yourself start writing again? Reading

I agree, but I'm kind of iffy about doing that myself. Whenever I read, I tend to copy what I'm reading (Paolini again! ), or else see how crappy my stuff is compared to it, and scrap all I've done. But I think I'm going to chance a foray into the realm of fantasy literature once more, and see how I hold up. I think one reason why I'm beginning to slip away as a writer is that I'm dried up as far as reading goes.

BTW, thanks all for the help. Your posts have been...*tries to think of a word for very, very*...helpful to me.

 

[TexasBluebonnet]

Sunstruck,
I agree, but I'm kind of iffy about doing that myself ...

or else see how crappy my stuff is compared to it, and scrap all I've done.

Oh wow! I thought I was the only one that happened to! I do that myself. Particularly with Stephen King. He's so good. I don't want to be as creepy as he is, but I'd love to emulate his style. Since we're alike that way I'm going to give you some advice that works for me. Watch movies. I think that could really help. You get the creative break, and you can still gather ideas from various sourcs without feeling insecure. Try it. It could help.

 

[Doubtless]

Thanks. I've never actually read a Stephen King book. Probably because my brother and I argue about how to pronounce Stephen (STEFF-EN or STEEV-EN???) . I love movies. Oddly enough, I don't watch many, though. I guess I'm choosy.

 

[TexasBluebonnet]

That's intriguing since your user title says working screenwriter/producer. It sounds like you would be interested in watching movies. Huh. That's kinda funny, lol.

P.S. I wouldn't recommend reading S.K. then. I feel insecure when I read his stuff and actually, I'm reading one of his right now called The Stand. It's probably why I'm so messed up right now, lol. You'd probably feel like me. I mean, he really is good and I can only hope to be that good.

 

[Doubtless]

Aye, it's quite ironic. One could say that it means that I have higher tastes, and only go for the truly artful films, but I say it's probably because I have no money.

Writing is annoying. I can't write because I haven't read anything good, but when I do read something good, I can't write because it shows me how much I suck!

 

[avatarblade2000]

Thanks, Doubtless, for the info - including your Twenty Rule thing. VERY HELPFUL.

If it ain't too personal to ask, what school you going to (or college, or university, or academy, or whatever you want to call it)? Does it help much with your filmmaking?

...let's just say that it's not ushering me in Hollywood's direction.

Thanks. I've never actually read a Stephen King book. Probably because my brother and I argue about how to pronounce Stephen (STEFF-EN or STEEV-EN???)

Try it, at least once (more on that in a minute). Steeee-ven.

BTW, thanks all for the help. Your posts have been...*tries to think of a word for very, very*...helpful to me

I'm sure she's used to hearing that.

I feel insecure when I read his stuff and actually, I'm reading one of his right now called The Stand. It's probably why I'm so messed up right now, lol. You'd probably feel like me. I mean, he really is good and I can only hope to be that good.

Agreement on all counts. I prefer his short fiction, though. I recommend any of his anthologies, Doubtless. It seems the more compact his stories are, the better they are. *shrug* I dunno. I love his style, but he creeps me out, and he tends to ramble. THE STAND is a prime example, though I enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

[Doubtless]

Sorry, I just read elsewhere that you're majoring in English. For some reason, I thought I remembered you having gone to film school or something.

lol, I always argued for it being said Stee-ven. Everyone I know, though, says it Steff-an.

I'm not much for horror. Poe is about as far as I go in literature...or film for that matter, except I don't even go that far in film, .