Creativity Vanished? (Full Version)

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RainCatcher -> Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 7:53:12 AM)

Not literally.. my creative hasn't vanished, I just couldn't think of what else to put in the Subject line.

Anyways, I'm an older member that made a new account, just so everyone knows that I am familiar with the boards.

Anyways onto my question/problem.

Is it normal to want to write so bad, yet I can never come up with an idea that brings me past a 3rd or 4th page?????

I know I have a gift for writing, I've been doing it my whole life and I have excelled, however, I just can't bring myself to find an interesting enough topic that I can keep it going. Trust me when I say I have taken a LONG break from writing, just to collect myself and my thoughts, and I've WAITED for that moment when 'BAM' the idea hits me... but so far, no good.

I also have another question. How many people out there have written stories/books (that are fiction...etc) where you have researched a certain topic? To be brief, I had an idea about pregnancy--but I haven't had any children yet.. so I'm not sure I could be well-enough maintained to write about something I know nothing about... physically and emotionally.

Anyways, this is more a rant to let out some tiny frustrations, but anything encouraging, or any creative ideas or exercises would definitely help!

Thanks!



techne -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 10:24:22 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RainCatcher
Anyways, I'm an older member that made a new account, just so everyone knows that I am familiar with the boards.

who were you before?

quote:

ORIGINAL: RainCatcher
Is it normal to want to write so bad, yet I can never come up with an idea that brings me past a 3rd or 4th page?

i'm not sure. the bigger question for me is what are you trying to write? there's nothing wrong with short stories you know...and if you want to write something longer you could always try other formats - something epistolary (a story told through letters) or episodic. try writing in those 3 or 4 page chunks. then try developing linkages (or not). it just might eventually start piecing itself together...

quote:

ORIGINAL: RainCatcher
I know I have a gift for writing, I've been doing it my whole life and I have excelled, however, I just can't bring myself to find an interesting enough topic that I can keep it going. Trust me when I say I have taken a LONG break from writing, just to collect myself and my thoughts, and I've WAITED for that moment when 'BAM' the idea hits me... but so far, no good.

so stop waiting. chase down that moment and when it comes, jump on it. butuntil then, simply write. write write write write write!


quote:

ORIGINAL: RainCatcher
I also have another question. How many people out there have written stories/books (that are fiction...etc) where you have researched a certain topic? To be brief, I had an idea about pregnancy--but I haven't had any children yet.. so I'm not sure I could be well-enough maintained to write about something I know nothing about... physically and emotionally.

i think that anyone who wants to write at any length about anything is pretty much required to research/ interview people who have knowledge of the subject. it needs to be convincing in detail and experience. not that you have to have experienced "x", but you have to be able to convey it.



Dancre -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 10:47:06 AM)

I read in the book, Creating Fiction that when this problem happens, think to yourself, what would the character do next? What would she do after page 4? Would she cross the street, go into a store? What? Also it seems from your posting that you're trying WAAYYYY too hard to get stuff down. It seems to me that you want it to be 'perfect', which it won't be in the first round. Just write, don't think about it. I read a quote in another book that said: Plot springs from character . . . I've always sort of believed that these people inside of me - these characters - know who they are and what they're about and what happens, and they need me to help get it down on paper b/c they don't type. - Anne Lamott.

That's what happens. You let the character tell the story, not you. You go get a coke and chips, let the character tell the story. You just write what they tell you. As for research? Well, everybook needs some research. Some folks say, write what you know. But sometimes it's good to write about what you don't know. It stretches you, makes you research, ask questions, get into someone else's skin.

you might also want to try making an outline first. That would give you a sort of roadmap to follow. and you don't have to follow it, you have permission to veer from it if you want.

kim

quote:

ORIGINAL: RainCatcher

Not literally.. my creative hasn't vanished, I just couldn't think of what else to put in the Subject line.

Anyways, I'm an older member that made a new account, just so everyone knows that I am familiar with the boards.

Anyways onto my question/problem.

Is it normal to want to write so bad, yet I can never come up with an idea that brings me past a 3rd or 4th page?????

I know I have a gift for writing, I've been doing it my whole life and I have excelled, however, I just can't bring myself to find an interesting enough topic that I can keep it going. Trust me when I say I have taken a LONG break from writing, just to collect myself and my thoughts, and I've WAITED for that moment when 'BAM' the idea hits me... but so far, no good.

I also have another question. How many people out there have written stories/books (that are fiction...etc) where you have researched a certain topic? To be brief, I had an idea about pregnancy--but I haven't had any children yet.. so I'm not sure I could be well-enough maintained to write about something I know nothing about... physically and emotionally.

Anyways, this is more a rant to let out some tiny frustrations, but anything encouraging, or any creative ideas or exercises would definitely help!

Thanks!



RainCatcher -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 11:55:15 AM)

techne,

I was Sam-Ashley. Although I haven't been on for quite some time now.

Anyways, My dilemma is more along the lines of.... I don't particularly enjoy writing short stories.. I want to expand a simple concept and turn it into a novella or novel... a long term project. That being said, I have written a few 'novella's' as well as 'started' to write novels/novella's and by the time I review my first few hundred pages, eve after editing, I realize it's dry... the whole time I AM letting the characters create themselves... by my overall moral is lacking. I have no reason to be writing what I'm writing... it's just a story with no meaning, going no wheres. Understand? I just can't explain it.

I do like your idea of the 'letters' and believe-it-or-not that's actually what I've been doing for a while now, just waiting for a good idea to come along so I can begin to expand the detail, characters, plot..etc.

Where I lack is with my events leading up to the climax. I have no events, and I have no climax. I have no story...



RainCatcher -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 12:04:33 PM)

Dancre,

What I put in bold below is what I'm referring to. I actually not trying hard at all to write, I haven't been trying at all.. I've been thinking, soaking up all the inspiration I can, and I have been inspired to write... but that 'story' hasn't come to me yet. I've been inspired to write something, but I just don' know what that something is yet. Yes, it's frustrating, because while I'm waiting for this project ahead of me to reveal itself to me, I'm writing other things--that do mean something to me, but that I don't feel as strongly about.

I do not want it to be perfect. It's never perfect first try. I will admit that I write and then I review and edit---but who doesn't? Once I have down my idea, I begin to expand and then I begin to make little alterations here and there... maybe cut this sentence, add this one... this wording needs to be changed...etc.

I believe characters come from inside of you, yes... but my characters haven't been doing much lately. They haven't been molding my story. Some people believe their characters can mold their story, other people believe wording does, other people believe setting does...and so on. For me, it's scenery and dilemma's that mold my stories. My characters contribute--yes, they are, o course, a large part of my stories... but I cannot simply write with Characters molding my story.

My problem is that I have no 'Initial Incident' ...nothing that happens that begins the reasoning behind having a story. Anything I've already written has been so cliche... no originality whatsoever. I have the inspiration to write something, and I know I have the skill, time, an dedication. The story, however... the initial incident, the climax, the falling, the Denouement. I have nothing. No storyline. Nothing interesting, that would grab a readers attention--anyways.

Thanks for the words and trying to encourage me. It's appreciated.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dancre

I read in the book, Creating Fiction that when this problem happens, think to yourself, what would the character do next? What would she do after page 4? Would she cross the street, go into a store? What? Also it seems from your posting that you're trying WAAYYYY too hard to get stuff down. It seems to me that you want it to be 'perfect', which it won't be in the first round. Just write, don't think about it. I read a quote in another book that said: Plot springs from character . . . I've always sort of believed that these people inside of me - these characters - know who they are and what they're about and what happens, and they need me to help get it down on paper b/c they don't type. - Anne Lamed.

That's what happens. You let the character tell the story, not you. You go get a coke and chips, let the character tell the story. You just write what they tell you. As for research? Well, everybook needs some research. Some folks say, write what you know. But sometimes it's good to write about what you don't know. It stretches you, makes you research, ask questions, get into someone else's skin.

you might also want to try making an outline first. That would give you a sort of roadmap to follow. and you don't have to follow it, you have permission to veer from it if you want.

kim




SuspenseWriter -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 12:16:32 PM)

To springboard off what Kim said, yes, sooner or later every writer will have to research a topic. And sometimes that research leads into very dark areas.

When I set about planning my third Joe Box novel, I knew the plot would entail pornography and its effects. That meant, as much as I didn't want to, delving into that cesspool. It was a wrenching time, and I found things I simply couldn't comprehend...and coming from my background, I'm fairly jaded. But the work had to be done, and the folks who've read it said it made for a harrowing, yet hopeful, ride.

That said, I wouldn't want to do it again.



RainCatcher -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 12:55:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SuspenseWriter

To springboard off what Kim said, yes, sooner or later every writer will have to research a topic. And sometimes that research leads into very dark areas.

When I set about planning my third Joe Box novel, I knew the plot would entail pornography and its effects. That meant, as much as I didn't want to, delving into that cesspool. It was a wrenching time, and I found things I simply couldn't comprehend...and coming from my background, I'm fairly jaded. But the work had to be done, and the folks who've read it said it made for a harrowing, yet hopeful, ride.

That said, I wouldn't want to do it again.


I totally agree with the research.

ETA: I just wanted to know if I'm the only writer that honestly researches certain topics, even if it's an everyday sort of thing (as not to get information incorrect).

Thanks for your input.



Kathrynpagecamp -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 4:56:51 PM)

I'm a researching fiend. The novel I just finished writing (and am now trying to sell) deals with homosexuality, and the one I am currently writing deals with abortion. I have no experience with either, so I read stuff written by people who do have (as well as scientific research, Biblical analysis, etc.).

As far as researching the little things goes, I do that, too. For example, I set part of the first novel at Northwestern University, which is not my alma matter. So I took my camera and walked around to get the flavor of the campus. More importantly, perhaps, I pulled all sorts of information off of its web site that, if I hadn't, would have shown me up for a lazy writer (or at least one who doesn't know how to research). In my first draft, I had Northwestern on a semester schedule, but when I looked at its calendar I discovered it does quarters. Then I had a football game played in late September between the Wildcats and the U of Illinois, but when I looked at the football schedule for the past few years I discovered that they ALWAYS schedule that game for the end of the season. Since the timing was more important to the story, I had to change who the game was with.

There is nothing wrong with making those kind of errors in the first draft where you are just trying to let the ideas flow, but they need to be corrected in the second or third. Otherwise, some reader who knows better will decide you don't know what you are talking about and will stop reading. That's what I do with a writer who hasn't done his or her research.

For myself, I have found that I need to research the larger issues (e.g., homosexuality, abortion) before I start writing the first draft, but the smaller ones can wait. And I try not to research while writing the first draft because that interrupts the flow, but I do note what I need to check out later. There are a lot of details you can't research before you start to write anyway, because you don't realize you will be putting them in until you get there.



1love1God1way -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 6:00:00 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RainCatcher

Not literally.. my creative hasn't vanished, I just couldn't think of what else to put in the Subject line.



*Wonders if the irony was intended. . . *



RainCatcher -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (7/31/2008 6:06:32 PM)

OMGH! LOL! That made my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The irony, in fact, was not intended!!! lol.



Dancre -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (8/4/2008 9:39:05 PM)

This weekend, I had the great honor of sitting under Patricia Hickman's teachings at Karitos (a christian arts festival in Chicago). She is an award winning Christian author. Her teachings were like taking 4 years of college courses in writing all packed into 2 days. Anyway, here's some of her notes on creating the story:

She basically said to create a problem for the character to solve. I.e. Boxer's porno problem. Then how does Boxer solve it. What choices does the character make to solve those problems? how does Boxer solve his porno problem and who does it effect? You are looking for an initial incident, how about creating an incident for the characters? What happens to her as she makes her choices? How do they affect her? Does that help? I'd like to post more, but she asks that her students ask her permission first before quoting or copying. But that might give you a heads start.

And just as an added bonus, if you ever get a chance to sit under her teachings, then do it!! It would be the best thing you ever did for your writing career. :)

kim



Elena1030 -> RE: Creativity Vanished? (10/15/2008 8:11:31 PM)

I discovered a handy-dandy book titled Book in a Month (don't freak out; stick with me here!), by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph.D. Several pages (read "many, many") are charts/diagrams that will help you answer questions (thus, making decisions) about your main character, other characters, the overall story map, plotlines, and so forth. I highly recommend it!

And remember: you don't have to be attempting to crank out a book in 30 days in order to derive benefit from this resource.


Blessings on your efforts!! =)



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