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Question: Need help with my creative writing please!?
Hi! I have always written short, trashy stories for my own enjoyment, but I constantly tell myself that one day I'll sit down and write a proper novel!.

To be honest, I have not given this much thought!. I have certainly put no energy into constructing the framework of a story, and as I have an office day job, this isn't the best stimulus for the creative intellect!. Quite often I get home in the evening and I simply do not have the motivation to start sketching out any ideas!.

However recently, and without any deliberate input on my part, my mind has started to conjure up the vaguest notions of this new story, mostly when I am sat staring out of the window during the quieter periods at the office!.

I have not got a clue what the story will be about, who will be involved, what the setting will be or even the genre!. It's hard to describe what I am running through in my mind's eye!.!.!.they really are the most mercurial notions, and I suppose the best way to describe them would be the 'mood' or 'tone' of the story- or perhaps it's more akin to the mindset I will need to be in to write!.

Do you ever experience this, and if so, how can I motivate myself to write and how can I develop these notions!? Thanks!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Set out to use this "mood"!. Save a weekend or similar where you have no commitments!. Turn the phone off!.
Let yourself daydream; watch the clouds, watch the traffic, go for a walk!. let the scenes develop!. follow one or two and play with it in your mind until it feels as if it is becoming real!. Then jot down a few words or sentences that try to capture that fleeting mood moment!.
Make this a habit for any time you are able to let your mind run on "idle mode"; it's effectively like allowing seeds to germinate without knowing what you planted!. When the seeds have begun to develop, you can start to identify what each of them might be and what they might be a part of!. Those you don't identify, put to one side and let them grow unchecked and come back another time and see what they are becoming!.
Carry a small journal or notebook with you everywhere, and leave it by your bed at night!. Sometimes these ideas come from dreams and it is vital you jot them down while you can!.
Then one day you will probably wake up and think, "Hey, I know what I am going to write," and you will be ready to write it!.
Good luck!.

ps!. I'd advise looking at Julia Cameron's books on the creative process, "Walking in this World" and "The Artist's Way" as these give a great deal of help!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

How about doing a writing course of some kind - either distance learning, or on-line, or joining a local group!. I'm doing one with the Writers Bureau that's quite good (and certainly cheap)!. Just google "creative writing course" and see what's available!.

Alternatively, start with finding some books on Creative Writing on Amazon - they should give you a good idea of how to move your writing ideas on!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Get a notebook and keep it with you at all times and just start writing down ideas!. I've been writing short stories since I was young and I just recently started writing again!. Usually what I do is I write down my ideas for the story then I start writing an outline then I go from there!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

It has been a dream of mine to one day write a novel!. I have found a publisher and all kinds of help to do this but I haven't sat down to really work on it!. I have a few ideas that I played around with but I hope to one day make this dream a reality!. Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Don't think about it just go for it!. Once you start writing your creative juices will just start flowing!. I started writing a book a year ago and it is now near completion!. I had the same problem as you but once I got going I couldn't stop!. Good luck!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

well im not really into short stories but i write lots of poetry, drama and songs and the best way to go about doing so is when you write never write what you want to say directly always leave some form of suspicion so that your reader could figure it outWww@QuestionHome@Com

It might sound mad, but just make note, of every little thing you think of that you feel has relevance to your prospective story, once your feeling your creative juices flowing, sit, read your notes and see where it takes you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Thinking and having the ability to write are two different things my friend!. Everybody thinks that they can write a novel but few can!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I do the same!. I have random passages on bits of paper or on pc! haven't found a way to harness it yet! Good Luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Keep a notepad by you, or have your pc's word processor up and running when you start conjuring!.
Jot down whatever fragments of thought come to mind, pick just one and begin writing about it!. If it's a mood or setting, try getting deeper into it and describing it; if it's a person, describe them or what you imagine them doing; let your ideas take you where they lead!. The more you use your imagination to fill in the details, the more likely it is that you'll find a story growing up around you!. No matter what it is you write, save it, remember it, work with it, play with it---writing leads to more writing!.
Write so that you can't wait to see what happens next!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I can empathise with your position!

I wrote a lot of poetry and one day the idea came to me for a full length novel!. Writing down my ideas and structuring the story was the easy part though, although I'm still adding little bits in here and there!.

The problem for me is, like you, when I come home from a day's work I'm too tired and unmotivated to actually get down to the nitty gritty writing part!.

I guess there's no easy answer!. You get out of it what you put in, and you just have to push yourself to put the effort in even when you don't feel like it!.

Sometimes I try listening to inspiring music or some of my favourite books to help motivate me!. Other times a good film!. Anything that captures my imagination usually puts me in the mood to write!.

Hope this helps!Www@QuestionHome@Com

i was inspired last year and started my own writing - i admit it wasn't brilliant!.!. it would need a lot of work doing to it, but after about 12 or 13 chapters, i suddenly ran dry - i know what i want to write, but i can't get back into this one novel that i started!.
however, i wrote a short story last christmas for my daughter - which friends and family and most importantly my little daughter loved it!.

finding the time is difficult for most budding authors, try separating yourselves from your daily life for an hour a day - without any distractions in order to just see what you can write!.
then, once you get into the habit!.!. keep it up and also try to increase the time you spend writing!.

good luck!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The best thing you can do is to let things stew in your head for a while longer!. Maybe get a notebook, or start a new Word document, where you can write down key words or phrases that come to mind!.

Once you start seeing "scenes" (ie you think up a good conversation, or think of a good description of something) write that down too!.

Pretty soon, you'll find you have the skeleton of a book there!. And then it's up to you to flesh it out and fill in the missing pieces!.

Just remember, books don't have to be written in third person, in linear order, or even realistically!. You may find all these little scenes can be pieced together in a new way, something interesting that perhaps heightens the tone!.

Practice makes perfect, and I know it's hard to get started when you're working full time, but even writing a little hear and there is better than nothing!.

Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

yaa i experience this ! i thought i'm the only one how feel like that!!

but not in writing, actually i hate writing to death, specially because my mother language is not English
and i take an English writing class this semester , which make me under stress, really i don't know what to do

& about your question, i experience this when i use the Photoshop to make designs,
i feel like !.!. i have no new idea!.
but you know what,
when you feel like you want to write, even if you have no idea, go directly and take the pen !.!.
and you will like there is an ideas come to your mind !.!.!.!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hello, I actually have the same problem as you because I also write short stories and when I decided to write a novel, my mind goes blank and I haven't a clue what to write!.
I suggest that you try looking at some of the shorter stories that you have written and try to build on them!. "How could you describe this in more detail!?" "Could another character be introduced in this part of the story!?" etc!.
Or, maybe be even more creative by combining your stories!. If one story is about a wizard (not copying Harry Potter or anything!) and another story is about a war, then try combining them!. You could end up with a war of magical creatures or something!.
I also suggest that you set yourself some goals!. It doesn't have to be anything big, such as completing chapter one within a month or anything stressful like that!. Start small and then work your way up to bigger things!. Your first goal could even be to think of just one character idea within one month!. It may take a long time, but at least you will get there in the end!.
After you have completed your goal, then reward yourself!. That will be something to look forward to and it will motivate you more to complete your goal!.
When you are bored and have nothing to do, turn the TV off and anything that may be distracting you!. Then, turn the lights off, close your eyes and try to think of ideas that way, so basically, just daydream about an idea and more ideas will come to you!. This may seem a bit daft, but it always works for me and I write short stories and novels all of the time!.

I do hope this information has been useful to you!. If you need more answers then email me at brc17@yahoo!.co!.uk, or post another question on Yahoo Answers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yep! This started with this short story I was writing, and then a few days later I'd written it! Sometimes you do just have to wait for it to develop, and look for inspiration anywhere and everywhere, such as magazines, people, internet, music,etc!. etc!.!

The book I'm writing was just a sort of "mood' a very very vague idea, and now I'm well on my way with it!


As for no time, and the office being a non creative place, how about if you get an idea just jot it down straight away in a notepad!? This is where ideas start to form, even random and I mean seriously random things!.

Never throw anything away because it could come in handy someday for a brill story!. Even something that came into your mind e!.g they guy worked as an accountant!.


The mind is a great thing and picks up on a lot!


Good luck and happy writing, let me know how it goes!Www@QuestionHome@Com