I seem to have come to a stopping point.

[Ecowolfsteen 14]

Well, my life long dream is at least get one of my many novels on the shelves of a book store one day. The problem is, I don't know where to begin on this book. So many ideas are gnawing and gnashing at my face, I get easily confused about what I'm going to do next. I haven't even started the one I want to work on. If someone were to give me a piece of advice or a helpful hint, I would be very grateful of you. Thanks. Also, if someone could point me to a great writing program beside MS Word(Activation Issues). I'm currently using RoughDraft. It's okay. Don't say OpenOffice either.

[Marked 197]

You could give Abiword a go. I used it when I couldn't get office working.

[CrimsonInferno 35]

So you can't get the idea flowing on paper, is that the problem?

[Ecowolfsteen 14]

Basically, I got this new program: WriteWay. It's pretty good, I've started a simple rough draft of it. But, yes Crimson, the ideas just don't stick.

[Noob Saibot 38]

Basically, I got this new program: WriteWay. It's pretty good, I've started a simple rough draft of it. But, yes Crimson, the ideas just don't stick.

 

First off I suggest losing any software that is geared toward writers. I find them useless simply because they never really focus on the important part of writing and that is writing itself. I know many published authors who find a type writer just as good or even Microsoft Works (which is what I use). I find writing software focuses more on notes then your actual story and thus you never get anything really done. In fact I just use Microsoft Works for taking notes or a good old fashioned notebook (my preferred method).

[Ecowolfsteen 14]

I use a notebook a lot, I have about seven of them FILLED with short stories, drawings, ideas, etc. So, what should I use then?

[Noob Saibot 38]

I use a notebook a lot, I have about seven of them FILLED with short stories, drawings, ideas, etc. So, what should I use then?

 

I said Microsoft Works:

 

Free Edition: http://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-Works/3000-18483_4-12473.html (ad supported; show simple ads; I used to use it)

 

Paid Version: http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/default.mspx

[Ecowolfsteen 14]

Oh yeah, sorry. Forgot about that. Thanks, will try out.

EDIT: I just looked through some files, I have MS Works. I knew it sounded familiar.

Edited October 23, 2010 by Ecowolfsteen

[synchronicity 6]

When I took the Writer's Craft course my highschool offered last year, one of the things our teacher had us get into the habit of was writing every day. It didn't necessarily have to be a story or the same piece of writing each day. The point was just for us to be writing on a daily basis. That might actually help you a lot, especially if you have a lot of ideas that you can't get to stick. If you spend maybe 10-20 minutes a day writing out whatever nonsense pops into your head, you mind might be more clear and you may find more room to focus on actually expanding the ideas you're trying to get to paper. This way, you keep practicing your writing, you flesh out the ideas that are popping into your head (and that you can maybe one day turn into a full blown story) and you're still accomplishing something, even if it's not towards a story you're going to work on getting published.

 

There's a few other problems people tend to run into with their writing:

 

1) Writer's Block, where nothing you write seems good. The point is to just keep writing anyway, because lets face it, no matter how amazing your writing may sound at the time, editing it later on is going to make it even better every time.

 

2) They have it all in their head, and some of the ideas start to trickle away or get muddled because the writer can't keep track of it. Especially true for people who have multiple story ideas in their head at a time, something I myself am very guilty of.

 

3) Starting at the beginning. It makes sense to start at the beginning, but a lot of times that's the part of a story that is the most heavily edited later on down the road. It can also be the hardest, because you have to gradually write your way into the main storyline and sometimes that's just boring as hell. Some writer's like to do different scenes that come to their mind and piece it together later. If you keep it organized, it can save a LOT of time when you get to that part.

 

 

My own personal method when I want to write a story is to just write down point form notes on anything and everything that comes to mind about the story and characters. I prefer writing on paper for this. You might picture scenes, certain bits of dialogue, a random fact about your characters or a huge plot twist. I like writing it all out until I feel like I can't write anymore. Then I read over what I just wrote, and if more comes to mind, keep adding to it until I really AM drained of ideas or until I'm too tired to write. And you shouldn't worry about organizing your ideas right that minute, because if you try to organize it while dreaming everything up, you'll miss out on some real golden ideas that might not come back to you.

 

And something we learned in my class was the Snowflake Method. Here's some different sites for what exactly that is:

http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php

http://www.ehow.com/how_4681591_write-novel-using-snowflake-method.html

 

It might seem overwhelming if you try to follow it word for word, but it can definitely help you out if you try doing at least some of it.

 

As for the program, in my opinion it doesn't matter. Yeah, some programs might help you better in regards to planning out the story, and if you think that's what you need, go for it. But honestly, so long as it writes, and formats in a way that you like, it doesn't matter.

[Ecowolfsteen 14]

Thank you, this was quite helpful. I am starting to feel what I want on paper, like it's really coming on to me. The first thing I planned was to have a very mysterious storyline where you only know a couple character's names and they only get one part throughout the book. I have roughly started Chapter 1 just to see what could happen and it's turned out pretty good. Like I said, I kept it vague and only mentioned one name, which is the main character's, who is a baby at the time, witnessing his father's death by a smug alien who came to steal his files for instructions that the alien's weapons behold, they didn't even know about.(Spoiler alert.)I think I might keep writing what pops into my head, it certainly helps more than trying to be anal about everything.

[synchronicity 6]

No problem, glad to be of help! :) I want to get published one day myself, so I know all about the many frustrations of trying to actually get something DONE and not just in the "I have this cool idea!" stage. That sounds interesting, especially with the main character being so young at the time. It's definitely good to keep yourself from getting too controlling when you write. That just makes it unenjoyable for yourself, and you end up sitting for long periods of time staring at the computer screen with nothing written on the page. It's called a "first draft" for a reason :P

[Ecowolfsteen 14]

Yes, I used to do that with old projects, it made me mad, so I ended up calling it crap and kicking it to the curb. Or in this case, Recycling Bin Hell. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Dang, that was a good idea too. *Digs through files*.

[synchronicity 6]

:P Also good stuff to remember, since you said you'd think your old work was crap:

 

1) When anyone starts out, it's always crap. You have to keep writing crap for it to get any better.

2) A writer is usually never satisfied with their own work, unless they're self-centered or it really is THAT freaking good.

 

But I admit to being guilty of that myself. Actually, my biggest issue is rewriting before I even finish the story. And not just rewriting a scene here and there, or altering it somewhat. I have one series I'm working on that has changed so drastically from when I first started writing it, and I'm still at the beginning. It's ridiculous >< And a very bad habit.

[CrimsonInferno 35]

Basically, I got this new program: WriteWay. It's pretty good, I've started a simple rough draft of it. But, yes Crimson, the ideas just don't stick.

Ah...

 

I was reading through a book made by an author, and she explained that sometimes a writer will reduce too much of their story or ideas, in your case. All authors will feel this way. Before I finished my novel, I threw three very large drafts away before I just decided to continue through with it and then I edited it after I finished and did that some more.

 

You just have to keep writing the idea, its going to get better and better and better as you write and improve it.

 

 

 

1) When anyone starts out, it's always crap. You have to keep writing crap for it to get any better.

2) A writer is usually never satisfied with their own work, unless they're self-centered or it really is THAT freaking good.

lol

 

Exactly what I was going or trying to, say! :clap:

 

But I admit to being guilty of that myself. Actually, my biggest issue is rewriting before I even finish the story. And not just rewriting a scene here and there, or altering it somewhat. I have one series I'm working on that has changed so drastically from when I first started writing it, and I'm still at the beginning. It's ridiculous >< And a very bad habit.

That's entirely normal as long as the rewrites don't completely change it to a different story. As long as it stays on its course with story and general plot, its normal. :>

 

Or at least what I've read and heard from authors who sell their books by the zillions xD

Edited October 23, 2010 by CrimsonInferno

[ProjectTrinity 8]

2) A writer is usually never satisfied with their own work, unless they're self-centered or it really is THAT freaking good.

I have finished 13-17 novels (No really, I can't remember them all), and not a one of them do I want to share to the general public until I go back and fix them. From 15-20 years old, those books have been crafted. I concur heavily with this statement.

[Kiriashi 117]

Holy crap thats a lot.

 

And Eco, why can't you use Open Office?

[Ecowolfsteen 14]

What do you mean by 'alot'? And, the download never successfully finishes. I waited two hours before it made any progress. WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MAH INTERNET?!!?!?!?!?

[Kiriashi 117]

Have you tried torrenting?

[Ecowolfsteen 14]

D: BLASPHEMY!! I would never do such a thing! Or would I?

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, I haven't tried torrenting.

[Kiriashi 117]

: /

 

There's nothing wrong with torrenting it; its an open source program. They have an official download for it: http://distribution.openoffice.org/p2p/

[Dark Den 4]

Torrent is illegal only if you use it to download illegal content i guess.

I mostly use torrents cuz my internet keeps killing the downloads in the middle -_-

So there's nothing wrong with torrenting legal things i guess

 

EDIT: YAY my 600th post :biggrin_002: :king: :lol:

Edited October 25, 2010 by Dark Den

[Ecowolfsteen 14]

Yeah, guess so. Happy 600th post. I swore my post count said 521 earlier. Odd.