Writer's blood

[GaryCXJk]

First of all, there might already be a thread about it, but meh, at least not in the past ten pages, so yeah, totally justified.

Anyway, are there any Telltalers here with writing skills? Wanna share tips or tricks for fellow soon-to-be-authors? Or do you just want to share your stories? What are your writing projects and plans currently? Here's the place to be, and the place to go.



Anyway, I first have a good question for you guys. As an author, either soon-to-be or an already established one, what are the places to be when it comes to publishing stories and other writings, both free and commercial? Do you have some personal favorites, and why?

Anyway, I'm sure you guys are wondering, what's up with him using anyway at the start of nearly every sentence? Aside from that, a lot of you will also be asking, what does Gary do when it comes to writing?

At the moment, I'm working on a Dutch novel, it's mainly a fantasy novel, with some sci-fi fantasy elements mixed in. To be honest, it's fairly hard to do a true sci-fi fantasy blend, because there's a thin line between what is science fiction and what is fantasy, at least that's how I see it. The way I see it, sci-fi stories are generally more about explaining things, rather than it just being there, unlike fantasy, where everything can happen without any real explanation. In that opinion, my novel is a bit more sci-fi than fantasy, as it tries to explain elements in a way that makes it sound a little bit science-y.

The novel is set on a world called Ertar, and tells about a woman called Nikene who travels the world because she just needs to. The story however basically tells the life of various characters. Nikene might have been a hero once, but she knows that fame doesn't last, and that sooner or later she won't even be needed. And what she did surely didn't shape the world as it was now.

Yeah, that's basically what the novel is all about. Right now I'm at page 61 (about 8000 words, so quite some pages less). I'm hoping to one day release the novel, or rather, the trilogy, as I intend it to be a trilogy of some sorts.

Also, I've had this concept since 2003, so yeah, quite some time.

[Darth Marsden]

I was writing a novel a couple of years back (I still have the synopsis blu-tacked to my wall), but that kind of fell to the wayside, especially now I'm doing video reviews. I should really try to get back into it.

Mine was about a private detective having to deal with demons invading Earth and getting caught up in a holy war. ...that doesn't sound too appealing to publishers, does it? But it was pretty good, I think.

Really need to get back to that.

[Alcoremortis]

I've been writing, on and off, two different stories.

One is a bit of what I guess I'll call a technomancy nihilist adventure. It has the surface coating of a some what standard fantasy/sci-fi but underneath, all victories are fairly hollow and nothing really means anything.

And then, for fun, I have a series of noir-mystery-type short stories (also fantasy) that I was working on with mgrant. I'm fairly horrible at writing good mysteries, but I think I'm learning the more I write. And it's also super fun. In any case, the characters are pretty hilarious (if I do say so myself) and I feel that they kinda save the story from any shortcomings in the actual plot.

Oh, also, in the tips and tricks category, I have determined that it is extremely helpful (especially with fantasy) to iron out DnD type character sheets for the characters. For me, it helps me categorize exactly what the characters can and cannot do and prevents them from being too overpowered or Sue-like. It also really helps me figure out their personality based on stats so that they remain fairly consistent throughout.

[skeeter]

I'm just so slack... I have stuff going on in my head all the time, but never get it down. It's like I have to know every detail before I can start writing, which of course never happens.

[Alcoremortis]

Originally Posted by skeeter

I'm just so slack... I have stuff going on in my head all the time, but never get it down. It's like I have to know every detail before I can start writing, which of course never happens.

Honestly, I've found that possibly one of the easiest things to do is to just write a scene. Doesn't even need to be at the start. Then keep on writing scenes until a story comes out of it. You don't even need to use all of the scenes if they don't fit.

[DAISHI]

I used to be employed by Blizzard Entertainment producing creative content.

[skeeter]

Originally Posted by Alcoremortis

Honestly, I've found that possibly one of the easiest things to do is to just write a scene. Doesn't even need to be at the start. Then keep on writing scenes until a story comes out of it. You don't even need to use all of the scenes if they don't fit.

Yah, I've just got to get my butt into gear... of course I've been saying that for years and years...

[Alcoremortis]

Originally Posted by skeeter

Yah, I've just got to get my butt into gear... of course I've been saying that for years and years...

I guess it also depends on where your focus is. My focus tends to be characters and they're usually the first thing I have ironed out. So I could basically just stick them in an empty room and let them have at it. Then I just write down the result and maybe come up with some sort of setting and plot out of it.

[GaryCXJk]

I myself never find the need to prepare before writing. I sometimes just start writing, and if it's something that I don't like, I rewrite afterwards. As long as you have the back bone, you can always come up with the details.

The way I'm writing my novel is this. As soon as I figure out what to write next I'll just write it down. If I don't like what I've written, I'll reword it, or even just let it rest for a couple of days.

It does help though that I already have the entire story in my head. I already have the end goal for my characters, and whether or not they will actually get to this end goal doesn't matter. Writing is something fluid, ideas can change, details can be made depending on what direction you have written yourself into.

For example, let's start with a simple plot, something I already have in mind for a story I'm writing, called Order of Z. It features several characters, which is something I actually started with (actually, it was the setting, but the setting was the same as some of my other ideas). First you have Jules, who might be a paladin, but he at least is a knight who wields a huge motherfracken sword. Then you have Claythen, mostly known as Clayth, also a knight. He wields a lance. Peter is an archer, although he does have elements of a rogue. Clayth's love interest, Aurelia, is an acrobatic elf with some minor magical skills. She possesses powers of nature. Finally, of the main beginning cast, you have Bohr, a giant (in this world, giants are only just bigger than humans, but not that much). He mostly uses blunt objects, but looks can be decieving. Despite the fact that he looks like a brute, he's the most philosophical person on the team.

The entire setting is a fantasy setting. It takes place on a planet called Phandagron, which is one of the several planets on Digit-5. Unlike the other planets, this one doesn't have a lot of modern facilities. Not that they can't have them, but most just prefer the simple life of fighting with swords and stuff. It just isn't as exciting if you can simply gun down a dragon.

So let's set up the quest. During the first part of the story, Jules' love interest, Rhonda, one of the strongest knights, ironically gets kidnapped just outside the city gates. It is then that Jules gathers everybody to get her back. But what is the reason Rhonda got kidnapped?

Now that I have the basic story, let's write the story down. Now I'll have to say, I'll be making this up as I go. I haven't yet written this down, and it actually was meant to be for a sprite comic I wanted to do one day. So, here we go.

-----

Out of all the places on Phandagron, the city of Mountain was most likely the most beautiful Clayth has ever seen, which was ironic, seeing as it had the most idiotic names ever. Given, he was a bit biased, since he was born and raised here, but there was no other city on Phandagron or even the entire system that had a view this beautiful. From here he could almost see the Beat Cluster Station floating many distances away, in the big darkness some people refer to as space. Even in broad daylight the station was visible.
"What are you looking at," asked Aurelia.
"The view," Clayth replied. "Even after so long, this view still amazes me."
Aurelia laughed. "You humans are easily impressed."
The sun reflected on her long red hair, making it appear as if it radiated magical beams of light back into his eyes. Her hair waved in the wind, but he could not feel any breeze at all. For a moment, time stood still, there was nothing but Aurelia.
"Friends," a voice said. Clayth became a bit annoyed, but didn't let anybody know, instead replying: "What is it, Jules?"
"Are you guys up for some practice?"
Jules seemed very excited about it going on a practice, and Clayth knew he wouldn't go unless they both went, so he reluctantly agreed.
"What kind of practice is it this time," Clayth asked.
This got Jules really excited. "Okay, remember when you read about the Hall of Shadows and you were all, like, 'It would be incredible if we could go there one day,'?"
Clayth's eyes got big. "No way! That's awesome! When are we going?"
Jules hesitated a bit, and he could already see the disappointment in Clayth's eyes. "It's not exactly the Hall of Shadows. But it's close!"

"When I asked for a mirror fight, I didn't expect to fight an actual mirror," Clayth said in a disgruntled manner, wondering what a mirror was doing in a forest in the first place.
"Wait a bit," Jules said. "This isn't just a normal mirror. Just wait until the others arrive."
Not long after he finished his sentence Bohr and Peter arrive.
"What's the rush, brah?" Peter said.
Suddenly, with fear in his eyes, Bohr pointed at the mirror. "It's that mirror!"
He quickly rushed to the mirror, trying to smash it with his gigantic club, but before he managed to smash the mirror, he could hear Jules utter words, after which a quick flash came. When everybody regained their sight, they could see dark versions of themselves, on the other side of the room.
"Too late!" Bohr exclaimed.
"Well," Jules said, "it's time to duel!"
Clayth looked at Jules. "Wait, is that your battle cry now? I mean, your previous was bad, but-"
Just at that point the shadowy version of Jules screamed: "Attack!"

Both sides rushed at each other, each taking on each other's counterpart. Clayth tried to stab his counterpart, but his shadow parried. Meanwhile, the sound of two swords clashing could be heard where Jules and his double were. Arrows flew through the air as the two Peters tried to hit each other, and several small quakes were caused when the two Bohrs made their moves. Aurelia could see an evil grin on her own doppelgänger, as terror was all over her own face.
"This is too dangerous," Aurelia yelled. "Jules! How can we stop this?"
While still swinging his sword, Jules replied, "I guess by smashing the mirror."
With a brief "Got it," Aurelia rushed to the mirror, jumped up and swung her staff.
"No!" Bohr screamed. "Breaking mirror will make them permanent!"
A loud crash could be heard, while all Aurelia could mutter was "Great," after which she yelled: "Now what?"
"Hit them!" Bohr replied, quite angrily and a bit out of breath. He could see that the other Bohr was also a bit tired. He rushed towards the other, and the other did the same. Then, suddenly, he found an opening. He swung his club and hit the shadow to the other side of the room, where it vanished.
Peter hid behind a tree, and his shadow did the same. He looked around, and then found the spot he was looking for. He immediately fired a barrage of arrows towards that one spot. The first arrow hit a tree. The second arrow hit the first, after which it ricocheted and hit another tree, all until the last arrow finally hit his shadow self.
"You know you can't win," Aurelia's double said to her.
"Look around you," Aurelia said, while both Clayth and Jules defeated their own.
"We might vanish," the double said, "but we will always come back."
"Well," Aurelia said. After a brief pause, she looked into the figment's eyes, and said: "Come back from this."
She rushed towards her mirror self, and with a swift roundhouse kick kicked the other into oblivion.
"That was the most stupidest idea you ever had," Clayth said to Jules.
"Hey," Jules said, "at least we defeated them!"

-----

So yeah, that's just the first few lines I just written from scratch, and all based on a short description. I might not even use this story eventually, but at least I've got the setting.

Basically, when you have an idea for a story, just write it down. Some day it might come in handy for something.

[Alcoremortis]

I do similar things, but my short excerpts are almost always character studies. Basically, I prefer to start writing scenes that demonstrate turning points for characters or that outline their basic personalities, likes dislikes, etc. Because for me, the characters are the most important part of the story and so I want them to be very well defined so that their actions make sense to the reader.

Or even if their actions don't seem to make sense at first, I want there to be a very solid reason that I may choose to divulge later that will make them make sense.

Also, for some reason, a lot of my characters tend to carry on extensive internal monologues that are occasionally punctuated by dialogue. This has happened to the extent that I ended up having one character be almost entirely mute, even though he was telling most of the story. He'd think complex arguments and theories that would sometimes take up several paragraphs, and reduce all of that to "Shit."

[GaryCXJk]

I personally don't do inner monologues. This is due to the fact that I suck in them.

And that's another thing with writing. Know your limits, so you can either work around them, or work on them. Of course, the latter is more preferable in the longer run, but if you want to at least write down your stories now, you can always find ways to avoid them.

Also, of note, most of the characters for the novel I've been working on for nine freaking years have changed in such a way that even their names aren't the same anymore. Most even have their roles changed to fit the story better.

An example of this is the character of Kuona. Originally a very side character without any traits of any kind, she got promoted to a main character in the current concept. Meanwhile, Gray got demoted from main character to supporting character.

[Alcoremortis]

Yeah, I've had that happen as well. I tend to generally have a fairly "normal" (normal is purely relative here, none of my characters are really normal) narrator who knows very little about the current situation so the reader can relate to them and learn what is going on through their eyes. I do the internal monologues because that's just what happened when I started writing, really. Sometimes I have multiple narrators, even though they may not all be main characters, simply because I want to switch points of view to increase the tension or mystery of the moment.

The funny bit is that after all of this... I really hate writing in first person. This is what happens when you read too many horrible self-insert fanfics. First person is dead to me and so instead I do omniscient third person monologues. Or something like that.

Here's this thing I typed up for Ringmaster that kinda illustrates what I try to do. Sometimes it works... sometimes it really sucks for action scenes. Luckily I tend to be rather skimpy on the action and have the narrator not really know what the hell is going on.

[Friar]

Glad to see I'm not the only one using google docs to write a novel!

Writing is something that I just sort of fell into really. It started last year when I was bored on one of the many long bus journey's back from college, and I decided I'd make a Doctor Who (audio) tribute. So I wrote a few episodes of that, and planned out a couple of extra serials. But then life got too busy, and I just stopped, around the time SWP announced his tribute.

Then, a month or so later, I got a smartphone, and I decided to convert the planned plots into a trilogy of novels/novellas, so started doing that on google docs. I have to admit, I haven't gotten far (20 A4 pages I think, 9,700 words at the last count), and what I have written varies in quality quite a bit, so will probably need re-writing at some point. I may even add in another character to act as an extra layer of mystery. (I actually got that idea from the OP). But hey, it's all part of the experience! No writer is perfect.

Anyway, the plot involves a weather experiment that goes wrong. Everyone inside the building ends up dead, and various strange weather related occurrences are happening all over town (Super strong localised winds knocking over radio towers, Flash flood appearing out of no-where in busy intersections, that sort of thing), and the main character is trying to find the cause of it all, and how to fix it all out. The cause will actually be that the experiment accidentally created life from the elements.

I'm toying between two possible titles: "Weathermen" or "The Elementals". I'm thinking if I name it the first then I'll be able to use a similar naming system for the rest of the books (like the third book will involve a company manipulating the government into starting a war in order to boost arms trade, possibly titled "Businessmen"). Then again, the second title sounds so much more awesome.

Another idea I toyed with was re-writing someone else's book (hey, if Hollywood can do it, why can't I?). Possibly modernising or futurising a classic. Around the Galaxy in 80 years? I even though about novelising Civilisation (the game) at one point, with it revolving around a family line throughout the ages, dealing with threats similar to that of our history, but with fictional countries, and possibly scenarios such as "What if the Nazi's had won?" or "What if the cold war had actually exploded into full-blown conflict?"

Anyone noticed how everyone's posts in this thread are really long?

[DAISHI]

I want to write a new book. It's a post apocalyptic novel in which zombies overwhelm the earth by 1000 to 1 against humans. They are simply everywhere. For a population of 300 million in the U.S. that's 3 million zombies and 3000 humans. However, there is a second, robotic threat that is at play. At the onset of the zombie war, humans developed adaptive robotics that could fight the war on the humans' behalf. Those robots though have adapted so much they have become their own society, and war against not only the zombies, to whom they are obviously immune, but against the humans that created them. The only hope that humans have is the same genetic treatment that caused the outbreak in the first place. An attempt to develop super soldiers that went badly awry, the treatment has been refined enough to allow humans to create soldier of at least super strength and speed. As they tap these powers more deeply, they run the ever greater risk of finally destroying their minds and devolving into the same zombie beasts that have made a massacre of the country. So humanity's only hope may also be its doom.

[Alcoremortis]

Originally Posted by Friar

Glad to see I'm not the only one using google docs to write a novel!

I love Google docs. I don't even know why, but it's so much easier to type on that word processor than any other I've tried. I think it's because it doesn't have all that stupid crap that Word constantly tries to get you to use... like WordArt. WordArt lost it's appeal after fourth grade, really. Google docs just has what you need to write something and format it correctly, which is all I really need.

And it's super easy to share stuff with people, which is also a plus. I thrive on people reading my half finished attempts at something.

[Friar]

Originally Posted by Alcoremortis

I love Google docs. I don't even know why, but it's so much easier to type on that word processor than any other I've tried. I think it's because it doesn't have all that stupid crap that Word constantly tries to get you to use... like WordArt. WordArt lost it's appeal after fourth grade, really. Google docs just has what you need to write something and format it correctly, which is all I really need.

And it's super easy to share stuff with people, which is also a plus. I thrive on people reading my half finished attempts at something.

The only downside for me is that it doesn't work properly with the college computers. The cursor doesn't move across the page properly, so by the time you reach the end, the flash-y thing that tells you the letter you just typed is just before the letter you just typed, which can get annoying when trying to edit something. ¬_¬

But then I can access my stuff on any mobile device. Also, Docs is awesome when you have to make a group presentation. And if you rewrite an entire section and then decide you liked it before, as you can go through revision history to see what it was like before.

[Alcoremortis]

Originally Posted by Friar

The only downside for me is that it doesn't work properly with the college computers. The cursor doesn't move across the page properly, so by the time you reach the end, the flash-y thing that tells you the letter you just typed is just before the letter you just typed, which can get annoying when trying to edit something. ¬_¬

But then I can access my stuff on any mobile device. Also, Docs is awesome when you have to make a group presentation. And if you rewrite an entire section and then decide you liked it before, as you can go through revision history to see what it was like before.

And, the best part... you never have to worry about saving every few minutes in case something horrible happens, because it does it for you!

[VeronicanPlay]

I really want to write, and have tried many times.
Like at the last NANOWRIMO or just purely on my own.
But every time I give up on it because I start to criticise my own work.

I have recently started again, this time I am writing a fanfic, and so far the first chapter is done. It's not that long though, only about 1500 words.

But I think it's one of my main problems, I take on more than what I can actually do and then get disappointed in my self because I can't do it.

[RetroVortex]

I wouldn't mind taking a crack at writing.

But then again, like my other hobbies, its likely to be picked up and put down a lot.

(Its why I never get anything done. I jump between playing videogames, coming up with game ideas, playing the guitar, listening to music, reading video game news feeds, twiddling around with hardware/software, and doodling stuff all the time)

[Alcoremortis]

I do this as well, but I think there's a certain advantage. Like, whenever I take a break, I'm able to look back critically over my writing and then make edits because I'm more removed from the original process so I can change things that, a few months prior, would have seemed impossible.

Like how I was recently reading something that I wrote a year ago and realized that a lot of my problems could be solved if I simply had a different character narrate the beginning. Since when I was writing that part, this particular character had no defining features except to just... be there, this was not really an option. But as the story progressed, further down the road, this character started to become quite interesting and a viable candidate for being a narrator.