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Everyone seems to have a story to tell, but I’m having trouble telling mine. I have good ideas, but I can never seem to be able to transfer them onto paper. Also, it seems that when I have the time to actually write, I end up getting pulled away or subconsciously pushing it aside. Any advice that could be given will be appreciated. Also, if you happen to be an author or writer of any sort, feel free to discuss your writing styles and things that help you concentrate here.

I’m having the same problem, I’m afraid to say. However, I would say that first off, and this is most important in my opinion, you really have to be able to get into the characters of your story. If you look forward to writing about the different people in your story, and can get into their minds, so to speak, then the plot and descriptions should come naturally from there.

The way I usually write is to think of a specific scene that I want to write about, and then work backwards. Who is in the scene, and what are they doing? Then I start thinking of events that could have led up to the scene. Maybe you should start by just writing an outline. That way, you may have more ideas come along that may further motivate you to write.

I hope that helps.

If I write, the ideas come to me when I’m not trying to think about it. I mean I don’t know if that will help you but I try and take my mind off of it and ideas start flowing!

First thing you have to come to terms with is that it’s not going to be easy or quick. You’re going to be putting a lot of time and effort into what you’re doing if you expect it to come to fruition. Dedication and drive are key elements. I’d suggest setting a goal for yourself – 500 words a day or whatever you’re comfortable with. It helps keep one motivated.

If I get stuck I tend to go read for a while, listen to music, look at some drawings, watch a movie. Sometimes when I least expect it I’ll go off on a tangent thinking about something from one of the arts I’ve observed and bam I have a direction to go in.

Don’t be afraid to carry a small pad of paper with you at all times. Sometimes thoughts will nail you in the head when you’re at the mall or something and you don’t want to forget those concepts. People think I’m weird for doing it, but it’s helped me more times than I can count.

Also Stephen King’s book “On Writing” is an awesome read for aspiring writers.

Emily:

Don’t be afraid to carry a small pad of paper with you at all times. Sometimes thoughts will nail you in the head when you’re at the mall or something and you don’t want to forget those concepts. People think I’m weird for doing it, but it’s helped me more times than I can count.

One hundred times yes. Good ideas can quickly degrade when you are far away from the ability to record them.

Write down your raw thoughts and sort them out later. Some of the best ideas are not from brainstorming. This is true for more than just writing.

Also,

-Unless you have something you really need to get out of your system, do not jump directly into writing until you have some skeleton work done. You’re writing a novel, think about your themes and characters and the overall progression of plot. There will be deviation from the skeleton, but if you don’t have some preliminary work done you’ll have a lot of loose threads before you know it.

-Set realistic expectations. Expect a long haul, expect multiple revisions.

-Get some folks to read it at different points during the writing process. You’re going to have a little bias towards understanding or “getting” what you wrote yourself, but that doesn’t gauge the reaction of others.

Oh no, by moving it to the writing forum I killed it!

Yeah I was kinda hoping it wouldn’t get moved. Seems hardly anyone goes to the writing forum.

Make the reader feel what the character feels. That’s one Hope it helps!

Write outlines. Outline outline outline.

Other than that, I can’t really say more than what others have said. Just…don’t expect it to come quickly, though for you it actually might: some people write a novel in a month (I’ve met someone who wrote a decently-selling novel in the course of ten days, minus editing of course, where they wrote nonstop except for food and sleep), some people take years, then put the book down, and then pick it up later, realize that their writing was horrible X years ago, and then rewrite the entire manuscript.

Also, if you plan on getting it published, research your publishing options and make sure you properly fill out any forms, introductory letters, etc.

Really, it’s all about self-motivation. Be confident!

Ugh, outlines. Never really worked for me. I alway’s followed the ‘On Writing’ approach. WHenever I made an out line, when I actually started writing, it felt like a chore, rather than a discovery. The goal being to complete the story according to the outline

Good stuff, Foppy. Now prove yourself wrong!

My two cents on outlines? They’re great for making sure there’s going to be an actual plot, with a coherent beginning and end, and enough stuff happening in the middle. But if the writing veers away from the outline in spots because you get inspired, oh well! Whatever makes a better, more natural story.

Some writers work best when every detail is planned out before they begin. Some writers are more comfortable with scratchy “and then some stuff happens” outlines. Hey, to each their own. It also depends on what exactly you’re writing. High fantasy and murder mysteries have a lot of details and background to keep straight, whereas a romantic drama between ordinary 21st century people might not need much planning at all.