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/lit/ - Literature

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1882448 No.1882448 [Reply] [Original]

Why aren't you writing that novel right now, /lit/?

>> No.1882449

Because I'm not a writer.

>> No.1882452

>>1882448

I am and it is going splendidly. Thank you.

>> No.1882454

Because the idea of a Duke trying to keep his duchy prosperous while his father is off in the crusades is just the venture brothers without any goodness to it.

>> No.1882453

I am too young.

>> No.1882461

>>1882449
This. Not every person who reads has a desire to write novels.

>> No.1882462

I'm a poet not a novelist.

>> No.1882463

Because I am writing a play.

>> No.1882465

Because I'm typing it

>> No.1882470
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1882470

>>1882465
So any author who hasn't written their work by hand is not a writer? They're a typist?

>> No.1882493

Because I haven't the motivation for it, and it's a little overwhelming. I fail at planning, but I'm not going to write on the seat of my pants. Wat do?

>> No.1882497

Because I'm trolling /lit/ instead....

>> No.1882505

>>1882497
me too

>> No.1882579

>>1882493
I share the same problem. Except I kind of like planning out things but I have no clue where to start. I mean, how the fuck do people get names for their characters? It's a fucking mystery to me.

>> No.1882598

>>1882579
I love coming up with names. I'm with you on the "where do I start" thing. I've created X amount of characters, I know how it needs to go. . . BUT WHAT ELSE!?

>> No.1882605

Because I'm not that strained for money yet.

>> No.1883920

>>1882598
Many stories start with an event, something that kickstarts the story.
Start simple with a couple of basic questions, eventually getting more detailed.
What is the event?
Why did it happen?
Who did it?
When?
How?
How did that change the world (or wherever your story is set; how did it change the village/household/space station etc.)?
How did it affect the people (The population as a whole, main characters, side characters, villains, whoever is in your story)?
Once you have those questions answered and have an idea for what the main plot is, start making the characters that play roles in that plot. It is possible to create the characters and THEN work the plot to fit them, but if you aren't that confident yet then you should stick to the normal method.
Continued....

>> No.1883924

>>1882448
You mean my Smurfs/ Naruto crossover fanfic?

none of your effing bizznezz fggt.

>> No.1883929

busy being gay - seeing as I want to write something I might as well be a fagfag.

>> No.1883935

>>1883920
A good way to begin a novel when you are just starting out is by setting yourself a word limit. If you're not sure how long your novel will be, just start with 60,000 words and if you need to extend it later on then that's fantastic :)
Split the story into three acts. Dividing by three, that means you have 20,000 words per act.
Don't fret about the word count too much, it's just there as a guideline at this point.
For each of your three acts, write what plot developments need to happen. Easy enough, you probably spent all of primary school doing book reports talking about the beginning, middle and end, and this is just like that only YOU are writing a book report on your own book. :)
If you have thought up specific events that will occur in your book, now is the time to put them in order. A detailed timeline is a good idea, though it's probably better to just stick with the three part story for now.
Some resources you might find handy:
>If you're writing a fantasy book with swords and castles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudal_society
http://www.ehow.com/how_6652171_start-writing-fantasy-books.html
http://www.fantasynames.net/index.php?action=newnames
>If you're writing a romance:
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Romance-Novel
http://www.ehow.com/how_5550286_write-kissing-scene-romance-novel.html
>In general:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4866615_write-good-story-plot.html?utm_campaign=ehow_topics&utm_medium=w
idget&utm_source=ehow_widget
http://www.ehow.com/how_7881103_write-story-ladder-layout.html

>> No.1883959

>>1883935
Brofist for helpfulness to other anons anon.

I'm actually using that word limit method. I'm taking the whole thing as a learning experience though, I plan to redraft at least twice before I start considering it done. Hopefully it's at least readable. The task seemed less daunting when I set it out like this.

>> No.1883969

I'm just too lazy, always have and always will be.

>> No.1883972

>>1883959
No problem man, I know how daunting it can be trying to write a novel. Anything I can do to make it easier for my bros on /lit/.
If I might ask, what is your story about?

>> No.1883978

The real question is: why aren't you writing that short story, finishig it, sending it off, getting rejected, and continuing until it gets published? And of course repeating this.

>> No.1883988

My book is coming along nicely. It's not going to be published, I just want to write a full length novel to see if I can.

>> No.1883991

I'm scared.

My laptop has a button that turns the wireless internet off, and I come to my desk fully intending to switch it off and write, but I make the tiniest excuse [oh, i'd better see if /lit/ has any Nick Cave threads!] and end up writing 200 words at most.

I started a thing similar to SCP [http://www.scp-wiki.net/] but it is such a blatant copy that I will never do anything with it. It's good for writer's block though.

As for my novel, I am just scared of everything about it. I keep doubting myself and it kills any desire to write that I may have. It sucks pretty bad.

>> No.1883996

>>1883991
What's your novel about? Maybe I can help you.

>> No.1883998

Well...mainly because I'm writing a few short strories first...then I might expand on them by turning them into novel(s), but I'll only do this if and ONLY if they're worthy as short stories.

>> No.1884003

>>1883998
Whatever you do, don't show /lit/ any of your stories. There may be smart people here, but there are also an equal amount of people who think they're smart and better than you in every way. You should show it to an online writing website, the big ones often have a good community.

>> No.1884009

Eh, I have a few pretty good stories floating around in my head, but I'm having a hard time deciding on perspective and things like that, so wrestling the stories on to paper is a bit of a chore. I've had to rewrite what I have written because it didn't work like I wanted it to.

>> No.1884012

I'm not sure what the hell I'm even doing right now. In every sense. I've got some asperger's social group tonight for two hours, fuck if I'll go this time. I don't want to talk to anyone, although I'm thinking it might be a good idea to get out and shit.

I've been going to therapist with my dad for about two years now. I'm 24. I don't have a job, living with my mom, and I'm pissing the days away just ignoring it all.

Do I care about stories or do I just care about money? To soothe my ego to make myself feel like 'hey I really can get something done'? Nope. I already know how this turns out, I read this story more times than anyone else because its mine.

I'm going to the store. I will spend 20 bucks on junk food. I'm ditching tonight. I won't even look for a job today on the net even because that is what I always do.

To a life of mediocrity and dullness.

>> No.1884013

>>1883991
I frequent /fit/, not 'cause I'm a Gym rat or anything but they have a good culture of motivation.

>>1882452
Strads, what methods did you use for writing your novels?

>> No.1884018

I can't write anything longer than 3-4 pages without coming back to it later and deciding it's shit and completely beyond salvaging.

So I'm writing a short story book instead.

>> No.1884028

>>1884018
Don't give up! The short stories are a great way to hone your writing skills, but never give up on the eventual goal of writing a full novel.

>> No.1884044

i cant stop playing video games and going on facebook and masturbating instead

captcha: but, erecter

i lold

>> No.1884049

I wrote the novel. I sent it to the publisher a week ago. They haven't sent it back yet, so maybe it wasn't as bad as I though. On the rare instances when I was sober.

>> No.1884051

>>1884049
Well done on finishing a book. I hope they give you good feedback

>> No.1884078

Rebuilding my skillset from scratch.
Brainshat a Holmes pastiche flash fic last night using the power of sleep deprivation. Next step The Man Booker Prize For Man Books.
It's like Chekhov's motherfucking Talent here.

>> No.1884085

>>1884078
How long was the Holmes fic?

>> No.1884113

>>1884085
Weird, thought it was 600, but it's 1100 poorly-chosen and contradictory words. Trying to get into the habit of writing out my ideas, not just making a note and forgetting about them. I can usually pull my stuff apart and rewrite it OK, it's just getting words down I suck at.

Also, all aspiring writers or creative types should read that Chekhov short story. Fucker's got my number.

>> No.1884118

>>1884113
Since it's so short, why not post it here? I wouldn't mind having a read.

>> No.1884144
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1884144

Because my fucking bullshit job in the military consumes all my time, I wish I was writing right now.

Currently sitting on the toilet wishing I had the time to bitch about being forever alone like you kids who don't have to support yourselves. I figure I can fuck off on my phone for a little longer before I have to leave the bathroom.

>> No.1884163
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1884163

because this happened to me

>> No.1884166

Because I'm outlining

>> No.1884171
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1884171

>>1884163

>> No.1884185
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1884185

>>1884144
Forgot to post pic.

>> No.1884211
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1884211

>>1884144
>Currently sitting on the toilet wishing I had the time to bitch about being forever alone like you kids who don't have to support yourselves

It's a good thing you have found the time to bitch about your own personal decisions, then!

>> No.1884216
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1884216

>>1884185

>> No.1884218

Because I'm writing a screenplay, and by "writing a screenplay", I mean browsing /lit/ and /tv/.

>> No.1884220
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1884220

>>1884113
Nah man, you're not missing anything. It's first draft - the shape and the idea, half the words will have to go. I've somehow got the Marquis Of Roxborough being scalped with a revolver.

Pic related. It's Richard Roxburgh.