like I want to start writing a book but I find it really hard to get past the first few pages and keep the characters going and keep consistent or anything. Ive written a whole bunch of short stories and poems but I want to do something more substaintial iykwim?
#how to get more into long creative narrative writing rather than short stories?
wheat tartan
snow lava
I think a good starting point is preparing and structuring from a more overarching view. Preparing characters perhaps, plotlines, structure and narrative before beginning the actual yknow, writing process.
livid quiver
I think Markus Zusac takes a great approach
wheat tartan
thank you!
twin turtle
like I want to start writing a book but I find it really hard to get past the fi...
as someone who’s self taught prose, i understand the struggle
i think the most important thing is to know what you want to do before you actually do it
design your characters, their personality, goals, place in the plot, everything. even down to their appearance and personal preferences so that you can really picture and connect with them. what i’ve found that makes this easier is basing most of my characters after a few traits of my own self and then dramatizing it. that then gives you the base of the character to build upon- but ofc that comes down to the author
the same can be said for your plot. it doesn’t have to be developed, but at least pick a point A and then a point B
you don’t even have to know how you want to conclude, just where it’s gonna be and where it’s going. ex: it ends with the enemy not being defeated, and the protagonists almost die—> you don’t need to know your enemy, or how that fight will go. but it gives you something to push towards
once you have the “skeleton” of your book ready, the best thing to do is to just write write write when you have inspiration. don’t worry about repeating words, spelling, grammar, any of it. just get the thoughts out. you can come back later and refine it. but if you spend too much energy trying to make it perfect from the get go, you’ll lose the flow of the plot you had from the beginning when you started
and ofc, don’t push yourself. if you’re out of ideas, take a break. forcing things will just sell out your quality and induce writers block
hopefully this helps!! and good luck
it’s worth noting that while some authors(like myself) can and prefer to write for hours at a time, getting several thousand words down in big bouts, some only can handle 30-45 minutes at a time
if you have ideas but not the energy to write them into your book, take notes
i personally have a private discord server where i store ALL my world building content and character analyses which helps keep my thoughts organized and no ideas get wasted because i don’t have the time or energy to write it into the book
and if you have a big bout of writing block, those notes make it easier to refresh your mind on everything that exists already so you don’t feel like you’re having to relearn it through rereading the entire book(though that can be helpful if you’ve forgotten the events and plot progression as well)
not to mention—> the more you write something down, the better it sticks in your brain
sometimes reading over old stuff or talking about it aloud with a friend you trust is a great way to get ideas or second opinions. i personally have a friend who knows every nook and cranny of my “universe” and has helped me a lot with design, thought organization, and brainstorming
oh!
one other thing
remembering all the things that have helped me LOL
READING!!
although some people don’t enjoy reading, if you do, it’s a great hobby to pick back up or try to start. obviously you don’t want to copy, but it can expose you to how other authors use descriptive words to create vivid imagery as well as ways to make dialogue flow nicely
it will also expose you to a wider range of vocabulary to keep your books full of variety and keep your mind busy / thinking so that you don’t enter that ‘brain dead’ state if you’re not actively writing
i personally don’t read so much anymore but i used to be a major bookworm and i know for a fact it definitely helped my writing and vocabulary especially when i was younger— considering i read the harry potter series in like 3rd or 4th grade and started writing for fun when i was about 7 or 8
wheat tartan
i personally don’t read so much anymore but i used to be a major bookworm and i ...
yeah I can definately relate
I do agree that reading is what got me into writing
but I really need to try and push my self to write a novella and not just a couple of pages of short stories
wheat tartan
not to mention—> the more you write something down, the better it sticks in your...
yeah developing a world with someone else so you have more than one brain working on it sounds good
bright hemlock
like I want to start writing a book but I find it really hard to get past the fi...
don't start writing immediately
plan
a
lot
💀
character profiles, setting, backstory, other worldbuilding depending on the genre
and then finally a basic layout
can be just a long summary of ur book idea or a chapter by chapter sentence summary
that's what I do
kinda like this???
