Writing Stuff

[Secret Chief]

Does this mean I oughta up the quality of my antiperspirant?

Perhaps you'll help me figure out pinterest..?



Thank you.

I used to do the 'journal burn' when I was a kid/young adult... I stopped journaling at some point, though(which the reasons why are a story onto themselves). The burning was therapeutic, yes. Watching all those pains, losses, and disappointments turn to smoke... it was a relief.

I've never used pinterest. Thought that was for pictures?

 

[JustGeorge]

No.
But fortune cookies....that appeals to me.

They appeal to me, too. You do the writing, I'll do the eating?

I've never used pinterest. Thought that was for pictures?

I thought it was for making me swear at it when I'm looking up recipes, and it makes getting to what I want difficult...

 

[Heyo]

We're all gonna die.

Yep. But not today.

 

[vulcanlogician]

For me, and a lot of other writers, rule #1 is NO DISTRACTIONS... sometimes even the possibility of a distraction can really trip me up.

Secondly, writing is something you do. Not something you achieve. If you write poorly one day, you simply wrote poorly. That doesn't mean a revision or a rewrite won't be successful in the future. Just write in a way that feels natural to you. Give your work time to materialize on the page. And see what you get. If it's bad, throw it away. If it's good, work on it with several coats of polish.

 

[JustGeorge]

Yep. But not today.

Hey, the day's not over yet! Though I'm hoping if its my time, I can at least wait until after the next thunderstorm hits. I love storms!

For me, and a lot of other writers, rule #1 is NO DISTRACTIONS... sometimes even the possibility of a distraction can really trip me up.

Secondly, writing is something you do. Not something you achieve. If you write poorly one day, you simply wrote poorly. That doesn't mean a revision or a rewrite won't be successful in the future. Just write in a way that feels natural to you. Give your work time to materialize on the page. And see what you get. If it's bad, throw it away. If it's good, work on it with several coats of polish.

No distractions!?

I'll have to wait until I'm dead, then...

 

[Secret Chief]

@JustGeorge
If you do consider a blog then Blogger is the one to use I would suggest. It's the simplest one there is.

- Blogger.com - Create a unique and beautiful blog easily.

 

[Brian2]

I had my weekly therapist appointment today.

I talked a bit how I felt writing on the forums has been helpful for me. She approved wholeheartedly, but also suggested I should consider writing a book, as a therapeutic tool(and because she thinks I have some stories to tell).

Its not the first time someone's poked me towards doing such, some for my personal benefit, others because my life is a walking comedy.

The problem is... I don't know how to write.

I mean, I know how to put fingers to the keyboard(we don't want to talk about my handwriting) and formulate words, but other than a few paragraphs here, and a colorful expression there, working on a large piece confuses me. How does a person string things together? How do you formulate a beginning, middle and end(because that's what my elementary teachers said a story has) for something that doesn't have a beginning middle and end? Is that even important?

I ask here because it all genuinely confuses me, and I don't know where to begin. Any insights?

Some people write books by not actually doing all the work but by having someone who is better at writing actually help.
I presume they help by asking questions and piece things together and write what is dictated etc.
I remember doing an obituary for my brother and the more I thought about it and noted memories, the more I remembered.
Going about it this way initially without a formal structure, you might find that you organise things as you go (things fall into place naturally in your mind) and eventually you end up with so much material that when you come to doing the actual writing you need to cut material out (or write another book).
Going backwards and forwards in time at relevant places is interesting I find when watching movies, as long as it is not too confusing.

 

[Revoltingest]

"The last thing this world needs is another book."
Just as some very good art is hidden in some Grandma's basement, so too is some great literature hidden in a manuscript somewhere. But hey, that's just life.

Just saying that most books never see the light of a reading lamp.
So exercise judgement if committing oneself to writing one.

 

[JustGeorge]

@JustGeorge
If you do consider a blog then Blogger is the one to use I would suggest. It's the simplest one there is.

- Blogger.com - Create a unique and beautiful blog easily.

Thanks for the link.

 

[Sedim Haba]

I had my weekly therapist appointment today.

I talked a bit how I felt writing on the forums has been helpful for me. She approved wholeheartedly, but also suggested I should consider writing a book, as a therapeutic tool(and because she thinks I have some stories to tell).

Its not the first time someone's poked me towards doing such, some for my personal benefit, others because my life is a walking comedy.

The problem is... I don't know how to write.

I mean, I know how to put fingers to the keyboard(we don't want to talk about my handwriting) and formulate words, but other than a few paragraphs here, and a colorful expression there, working on a large piece confuses me. How does a person string things together? How do you formulate a beginning, middle and end(because that's what my elementary teachers said a story has) for something that doesn't have a beginning middle and end? Is that even important?

I ask here because it all genuinely confuses me, and I don't know where to begin. Any insights?

Try having a Diary first, it'll get you in the habit of writing. The form is simple, and you
can just record whatever you want. If you really want to write a book later, it's reference.

 

[Vinayaka]

Just saying that most books never see the light of a reading lamp.
So exercise judgement if committing oneself to writing one.

This isn't said enough. Way too many folks think they can write, and can't. That's how vanity publishers make their money, preying off those poor naive blokes. Personally, I am under no illusions with regard to that. Still, some people can write.
The situation reminds me of Canadian youth hockey, and the chances of making the NHL. I'm sure same is true in US high school football and basketball programs.

 

[Revoltingest]

This isn't said enough. Way too many folks think they can write, and can't. That's how vanity publishers make their money, preying off those poor naive blokes. Personally, I am under no illusions with regard to that. Still, some people can write.
The situation reminds me of Canadian youth hockey, and the chances of making the NHL. I'm sure same is true in US high school football and basketball programs.

I could never write fiction.
I don't do all that emotionally engaging stuff.
I could do non-fiction....but I've no interest or
ambition to take on such a demanding project.

 

[JustGeorge]

Try having a Diary first, it'll get you in the habit of writing. The form is simple, and you
can just record whatever you want. If you really want to write a book later, it's reference.

I've got a journal I was trying with... trouble is, its not very engaging.

Maybe I could try recording things on one of the cats...

This isn't said enough. Way too many folks think they can write, and can't. That's how vanity publishers make their money, preying off those poor naive blokes. Personally, I am under no illusions with regard to that. Still, some people can write.
The situation reminds me of Canadian youth hockey, and the chances of making the NHL. I'm sure same is true in US high school football and basketball programs.

I will say I'm thankful for all the folks that can't write that want to make a cookbook with Grandma's recipes... yeah, the ingredient amounts are all wrong, but I can generally pick out what it was supposed to be(oh, you meant tsp, not tbs). These cookbooks have been very helpful in helping me explore world cuisines.

 

[Vinayaka]

I could never write fiction.
I don't do all that emotionally engaging stuff.
I could do non-fiction....but I've no interest or
ambition to take on such a demanding project.

'Demanding' being the operative word. I have done non-fiction. Some people are naturals I guess. Not me. My challenge was always when to stop editing.

 

[Revoltingest]

'Demanding' being the operative word. I have done non-fiction. Some people are naturals I guess. Not me. My challenge was always when to stop editing.

It can Does it ever stop?

 

[Vinayaka]

It can Does it ever stop?

Not really, no. At book signings I get bored and read my own stuff. I come across something, and think 'I should have worded it differently.' What's more embarrassing is finding very elementary errors in punctuation or word usage. I can't afford a proofreader, so do it myself. It's time consuming for sure. One sentence at a time backwards helps.

 

[Brian2]

I've got a journal I was trying with... trouble is, its not very engaging.

Maybe I could try recording things on one of the cats...

I doubt that the cat would like being written on.

 

[JustGeorge]

I doubt that the cat would like being written on.

I have one oddball that actually would...