Writing is hard!

[Hojsimpson]

The first time I wrote it was something about a guy who was beginning to start writing.
It was the first idea that come to my mind.
Don't wait inspiration.. Just write and you'll get better. Or give up and don't write. You decide!

 

[Ajidica]

The only advice I have is to obey Niven's Laws 4 and 5:

4.It is a sin to waste the reader's time.
5.If you've nothing to say, say it any way you like. Stylistic innovations, contorted story lines or none, exotic or genderless pronouns, internal inconsistencies, the recipe for preparing your lover as a cannibal banquet: feel free. If what you have to say is important and/or difficult to follow, use the simplest language possible. If the reader doesn't get it then, let it not be your fault.

Also, avoid giving the reader an infodump beyond the basics.
(Think of Fallout. All the player needs to know is that they are from an underground survival shelter build to protect people from an apocalyptic nuclear war. Everything else they can pick up on their own.)

 

[ywhtptgtfo]

I tried to sit down and type out a sentence. I couldn't do it. Literally nothing comes to mind. How do I overcome this extreme writer's block and start a story? Should I already have a concept that I really want to write about?

Go to some corpus database and roll out some random words.

 

[Camikaze]

If there's nothing you want to write about, why do you want to write?

 

[Antilogic]

Ask Brian Griffin.

 

[onejayhawk]

Just be yourself.

The hardest advice of all.

J

 

[Mouthwash]

If there's nothing you want to write about, why do you want to write?

There are stories I'd like to write about. But they're so vague I can't wring anything coherent out of them.

 

[Kozmos]

Inspiration will hit when you won't possibly have time to write or even jot down the idea as a note.

 

[Kyriakos]

There are stories I'd like to write about. But they're so vague I can't wring anything coherent out of them.

Write what you know about, what you are interested in, what you feel you have more to say on than you currently are aware of.

Of course the beginning of writing (or of a writer) is always the most difficult phase. "The beginning is half of everything", as the proverb goes.

 

[Dachs]

Of course the beginning of writing (or of a writer) is always the most difficult phase. "The beginning is half of everything", as the proverb goes.

In English, we say "well begun is half done". Same thing.

But yeah: getting started can often be the hardest part. For many people, once the words start flowing, they don't stop.

I'm not really like that, so I don't know how useful any tips I might have would be. (Also, I'm very bad at following my own advice.)

 

[onejayhawk]

There are stories I'd like to write about. But they're so vague I can't wring anything coherent out of them.

Start by writing out your incoherent thoughts. Literally make a list, with bullets. Then write a story about someone investigating the subject, using your thoughts as a starting point. Questions will arise as he/she struggles to understand. follow the questions.

J

 

[Borachio]

How about writing about a writer* who's got writer's block and starts by writing out his incoherent thoughts?

*or this could be, I don't know, some young aspiring writer, even. Maybe one who seeks advice on an internet gaming forum?

The hardest advice of all.

J

Who else could you be?

 

[onejayhawk]

Who else could you be?

When people say, "Just be yourself." they mean, "Do what you do when you don't feel any pressure." It is inherently difficult.

J

 

[Borachio]

So... that's like, as they say, no pressure then?

You can't even be the person who feels pressure?

(Brrr! That idea is doing my head in! But, notice, it is my head.)

 

[Oruc]

The hardest advice of all.

J

The worst advice of all, you mean.

 

[Borachio]

"Just be someone else".

Yes. That'll work.

 

[Kyriakos]

You can't give it, can't even buy it, and you just /don't /get it

 

[Oruc]

"Just be someone else".

Yes. That'll work.

If being yourself was a winning strategy you* wouldn't be asking for advice, it offers nothing concrete no steps to help you reach the goal in question. Terrible advice all round.


*not actually you

 

[Borachio]

Yes. I get that. And it's my position.

But then Mr Hawk comes up with this:

When people say, "Just be yourself." they mean, "Do what you do when you don't feel any pressure." It is inherently difficult.

Which somehow has me stumped.

 

[Kyriakos]

"Be yourself" may not be an advice, but it is correct without being itself able to advise you or have you reach what is correct about it and hinted through it.

The worst one can do is to try to act or think as if he is someone else, cause then he won't even be someone else, merely being what he imagines someone else is.