Writing

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:40 pm

I know there is a lot of creative talent on this forum. Some of you I've shared certain ideas on story telling with, so I know there is an interest here already. I am just curious if others here like writing as well.

I've had a story on my mind since the beginning of this year that I've been meaning to write down and share. This is where I briefly flash my almost-english-degree and metion something about creative writing. Anyhow, I realized this month that the story can be told in two different ways and now I have trouble deciding which to choose. (sleepless nights, calculate my local time)

Bluntly put, this story can be put in either a completely fictitious background where the character hasn't changed nearly as much as the environment has, or one in which all background and reality stays unaffected. Only here the character realizes that in holding on to his own value system, he has completely dislodged himself from society, his environment.

This could be a dark work of fiction or some other type grim survivalist story. I have yet to see which one will be more interesting. At any rate, thinking about it keeps me busy at times when I have too little going on to keep my tricky mind occupied.

How do you feel about writing? Done anything recently?

QuenGalad · Post by **QuenGalad** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:58 am

Yes, i scribble quite often and it's great fun. Not sure whether reading those scribbles is, though. The great thing about writing is that you can do everything exactly the way you like to...
We've been doing a little literary experiment with my friends lately, where each of us wrote a story H.P Lovecraft style, with any modifications we saw necessary (such as adding some dialogue and female characters, in my case) but with all classic elements, such as first-person narrative and using strange adjectives. It was really fun.

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:39 am

That sounds like fun. I agree that not everything has to see daylight, but you can't help but share some the novelties you come across. I cannot at least.

The only thing I have ever done like that was a 50-word story Livejournal group. Limiting the amount of words in a story is really interesting, it forces a certain amount of imaginitive creativity and wordplay. You would end up with stuff like this:

Hercules swept the sweat off his brow and gazed at his monumental feat of stength. None said he would succeed, yet he had done the impossible.
"Apollo, I have completed your task."
"You idiot!" replied Zeus. "Did Alcmena drop you on the head as an infant? Do NOT mount Olympus!"

Note: I don't remember exactly who send him on his quests. Might have been the king or the Oracle of Delphi. History is fading a bit in my memory.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:52 am

Yeah, I'm a casual writer. I've been published a couple of times (short stories, women's mags; and another one published on-line), but I also write a bit of poetry. I'm currently working on 3 things: editing a story I wrote ages ago; writing a short story aimed a female mag (I could do with some cash!); and writing a sci-fi/fantasy post 'dying with a whimper' human race which has what I think is an interesting ... um... twist, I suppose you could call it. But I'm not telling what it is! After all, it may never get off the ground! Besides which, I only have 2 scenes written, plus three in my head.

You say:

Bluntly put, this story can be put in either a completely fictitious background where the character hasn't changed nearly as much as the environment has, or one in which all background and reality stays unaffected. Only here the character realizes that in holding on to his own value system, he has completely dislodged himself from society, his environment.

In both those scenarios, the character apparantly doesn't change much. And since character is most of the interest in any story, and usually the character has to be affected and changed in some way by the story - or why bother writing the story at all? (unless you have an eternal James-Bond-or-Hercule-Poirot-etc-type in mind) - then I think you may possobly have to rethink your character a bit.

Other than that, a 'real' character in an 'unreal' setting (Sid Bloggs in Fairyland :laugh

, or an 'unreal' character in a 'real' setting (a fairy in Sid Bloggs's back yard), can work equally well. It depends on YOUR preference, which you will find most congenial to write, which sets your imagination alight.

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:16 am

Hehe, why I thank you for the unexpected feedback.

I started out with a cool idea. A simple but surreal change in our daily life that would have far reaching consequences, the kind of thing Stephen King likes to write about. That could only be the backdrop for a main story line though, so I started thinking of something to add to it. And I came with another idea for a story that I liked so much that I saw potential for it to fit in other backdrops as well.

I agree that the first version tends to draw too much attention away from the main character. It's an inherent flaw though.. any fantasy or sci-fi tends to do that. The second version would be better suited for it.

I am not going to give any details away either, but I think I can draw a parabel. Imagine Socrates had chosen exile rather than the cup. He doesn't change during the story, holds on to his values, dies and leaves an interesting legacy. In my version, 'Socrates' would have chosen exile, only he does so because he believes his ideas are worth hanging on to, even if he has no future in Sicily.

It's not the character I am after. Or at least, if I am.. I understand that there is no way an unchanging characters can be made interesting. I think I want to do something with the reader instead. I want the reader to gain respect for the character over the story. Or lose it. Hehe.. I don't really know. But I agree: ultimately I can't write and interesting story by leaving the character unmoved. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll have to do something else too.

Sigh I hope that made any sense. How's that for writing skills.

Gilliatt · Post by **Gilliatt** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:48 pm

I write too, but I have not published anything yet. My biggest problem is that I am lazy, I should play less RPGs and write more!

Have you read How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card? I usually don't like books on how to write because I don't believe a story is a recipe, but this one was actually well done. Most of the things there I already knew, but some of them I learned the hard way after hundreds of pages of trial and error. I believe if I had read his book earlier, I would have made less mistakes and maybe I would have finished something by now.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:08 pm

I do a lot of professional non-fiction writing and a little of the fictional stuff, as time permits. For years most of it was spent on "books" created for use within an MMORPG where I worked.

IMO, one of the best and worst things about the Web has been its availability as a source and feedback loop for non-professional fiction. There has been some damn good fanfic published over the years, every bit as good as the shows and games they derive from--in some cases, far better. And there has been a lot of abominable stuff, easily praised by people who have evidently never read anything good.

But overall, I think the Internet has been great for new fiction, and for developing new authors.

Just a note: if you do have fanfiction you'd like to place up here, start a new thread, and be sure to put a post about it in the Fanfiction sticky thread at the top of the forum, along with a link.

kozeph · Post by **kozeph** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:17 pm

im also a casual writter but im often distracted and dont write as much as I would like (my mind tends to drifts off)

ive made two short stories (havent publish anything) one its based on part of a dream(nightmare) I had years ago, the other one its from the point of view of a dairy of a dead explorer

currently making a novel I guess its set in the forgotten realms and its the tale about a renegade red wizard hehe

I also work in a radio station writing shorts about universal myths and the like

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:06 pm

Fanfiction is not really my thing. I wrote one erotic story involving entire British parlement, but I just couldn't get Blair's foreign policies to stick to.. well.. *cough*.. Hm.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:15 pm

I used to write a little bit. Mostly just in company with other people like in the old Dark Flame threads. Very occasionally I've written some crappy poetry. I never thought much of it though. I doubt I was all that great, but the fun factor more than made up for it.

Nowadays I write much more, but it's all based around grad school. So unless someone was interested in reading a 30 page paper on the formation of the individual religious mindset of Appalachian Kentucky or how ancient Rome influenced Machiavellian political thought I doubt anyone is missing out

Didn't think so.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:24 pm

Tricky wrote: Hehe, why I thank you for the unexpected feedback.

You're welcome!

Tricky wrote:I started out with a cool idea. A simple but surreal change in our daily life that would have far reaching consequences, the kind of thing Stephen King likes to write about. That could only be the backdrop for a main story line though, so I started thinking of something to add to it. And I came with another idea for a story that I liked so much that I saw potential for it to fit in other backdrops as well.

That sounds intriguing!

Tricky wrote:I agree that the first version tends to draw too much attention away from the main character. It's an inherent flaw though.. any fantasy or sci-fi tends to do that. The second version would be better suited for it.

I'm not sure I agree with it being an inherant flaw. Think of all the most engrossing sci-fi/fantasy books you have read. What interested you most? The setting? Or the way the characters reacted within that setting? If you've read Lord of the Rings, it isn't setting-driven, it's character driven. We are interested in the characters and how they react to the things that happen to them, and how they are changed by the things that happen to them. Am I right?

Tricky wrote:I am not going to give any details away either, but I think I can make draw a parabel. Imagine Socrates had chosen exile rather than the cup. He doesn't change during the story, holds on to his values, dies and leaves an interesting legacy. In my version, 'Socrates' would have chosen exile, only he does so because he believes his ideas are worth hanging on to, even if he has no future in Sicily.

It's not the character I am after. Or at least, if I am.. I understand that there is no way an unchanging characters can be made interesting. I think I want to do something with the reader instead. I want the reader to gain respect for the character over the story. Or lose it. Hehe.. I don't really know. But I agree: ultimately I can't write and interesting story by leaving the character unmoved. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll have to do something else too.

Sigh I hope that made any sense. How's that for writing skills.

Yup, I got what you meant, I think.

And I understand you are fascinated by your setting(s). If you want to just write for your own pleasure, to explore that setting, there is no problem at all. It should be fun. But if you have a desire to be published, then character becomes important. And remember, your reader is exploring the environment through the eyes of your characters. It is character that brings the setting alive to the reader - even if the only reader is you!

I am interested. I would like you to write your story.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:28 pm

Bloodstalker wrote:I used to write a little bit. Mostly just in company with other people like in the old Dark Flame threads. Very occasionally I've written some crappy poetry. I never thought much of it though. I doubt I was all that great, but the fun factor more than made up for it.

Nowadays I write much more, but it's all based around grad school. So unless someone was interested in reading a 30 page paper on the formation of the individual religious mindset of Appalachian Kentucky or how ancient Rome influenced Machiavellian political thought I doubt anyone is missing out

Didn't think so.

If you were interested in your topics, the papers should be very readable. If bored by the topics, the readers will be bored too! :laugh:

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:48 am

I've been stranded in a dry, barren place for years. Part of my reason for existing lately has been a quest, of sorts, to find that which I lost...I wrote volumes of (as of yet) unpublished short stories, poetry, and music (both lyrics and guitar sheet music) since my late teens.

Okay, I can't help but be deluged with scenes from the 1981 Boorman film "Excalibur" as I write this. As long as I get to be Percival - and not Arthur or Mordred...or even Merlin for that matter - then I'm okay with it. :laugh:

At least Percival didn't get skewered on a spear or banished to a dream world.

I suppose for me, it's always been a matter of writing because I felt compelled to. With a lack of compulsion, I produce nothing. I have tried different approaches to writing, but I find what I produce lacks the visceral component that for me defines inspiration. In the end, I guess I would rather write in the grip of inspiration or not at all.

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:52 am

Fljotsdale wrote: I'm not sure I agree with it being an inherant flaw. Think of all the most engrossing sci-fi/fantasy books you have read. What interested you most? The setting? Or the way the characters reacted within that setting? If you've read Lord of the Rings, it isn't setting-driven, it's character driven. We are interested in the characters and how they react to the things that happen to them, and how they are changed by the things that happen to them. Am I right?

I see your point. But I have to point out that LOTR is a bad example for 'my' generation. I read all of tolkien's books in two languages before the age of twelve. Yet the movies have undone how I remember the books. All I think of now are a multitude of CGI and pictures from New Zealand.

Yup, I got what you meant, I think. And I understand you are fascinated by your setting(s). If you want to just write for your own pleasure, to explore that setting, there is no problem at all. It should be fun. But if you have a desire to be published, then character becomes important. And remember, your reader is exploring the environment through the eyes of your characters. It is character that brings the setting alive to the reader - even if the only reader is you!

Have you ever taught classes at a Dutch university? I swear you sound a little familiar.

I am interested. I would like you to write your story.

Hehehe. Be my guest. I very much doubt we are thinking of the same kind of thing.

I thank you. you have rekindled my intention to stick with my original setting.

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:56 am

Tricky wrote: I see your point. But I have to point out that LOTR is a bad example for 'my' generation. I read all of tolkien's books in two languages before the age of twelve. Yet the movies have undone how I remember the books. All I think of now are a multitude of CGI and pictures from New Zealand.

Ah. Ok. Well, think of any fiction book you read recently! :laugh:

Tricky wrote:Have you ever taught classes at a Dutch university? I swear you sound a little familiar.

I once had a Dutch boyfriend, but that is the full extent of my association with Holland.

Er... I guess the similarity you are seeing is just that I'm a bossy, officious type! :laugh:

Tricky wrote:Hehehe. Be my guest. I very much doubt we are thinking of the same kind of thing.

I thank you. you have rekindled my intention to stick with my original setting.

Good. Go for it!

Fljotsdale · Post by **Fljotsdale** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:59 am

Chanak wrote:I've been stranded in a dry, barren place for years. Part of my reason for existing lately has been a quest, of sorts, to find that which I lost...I wrote volumes of (as of yet) unpublished short stories, poetry, and music (both lyrics and guitar sheet music) since my late teens.

Okay, I can't help but be deluged with scenes from the 1981 Boorman film "Excalibur" as I write this. As long as I get to be Percival - and not Arthur or Mordred...or even Merlin for that matter - then I'm okay with it. :laugh: At least Percival didn't get skewered on a spear or banished to a dream world.

I suppose for me, it's always been a matter of writing because I felt compelled to. With a lack of compulsion, I produce nothing. I have tried different approaches to writing, but I find what I produce lacks the visceral component that for me defines inspiration. In the end, I guess I would rather write in the grip of inspiration or not at all.

Ever heard the saying that writing is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration?