I haven't written anything in a while, & likely never will again, but I came across these writing questions a while back.
The thought that if I DO start writing what my characters are showing me, they'll eventually leave me alone. They can be such naggers! They're like little kids inside a candy store, or my dogs begging for those Beggin' Strips treats.
Aside from that, a really good book (which is torture for me) or movie usually does the trick. Also thinking about what I want in MY OWN LIFE at that particular time. I mean, if something in my own life is lacking why not create a world for it on paper?
Certain scenes won’t grant me peace until I write them down in chapter form. So yes, oftentimes I have no choice but to write... even when uninspired. But, feeling that inspiration or not, I’m a slave to that story until it’s finished. When I’m writing, it’s usually because I’ve become OBSESSED with those particular characters.
And I’ve discovered that discipline is definitely the key to seeing my stories through to the end. Writing exhausts me, especially when I’m just 4 chapters or so away from the conclusion. It’s a lot like having to drag myself out of bed each morning. I’m not exactly inspired to, but it has to be done.
Research, in the form of A LOT of reading. Researching different authors and how they write. Just soak it all in and decide what I do/don’t like from these authors.
In the beginning I did simply b/c I had a limited list of favorite authors. But these days, through reading novels from several different authors, I’ve definitely unearthed my own writing style. It did take a while though.
My first finished book definitely has a different voice from the 2nd and 3rd. The others (uncompleted) are a little different from how I write today, but it worked out well that way. I do believe that the writing styles in each of my stories - whether completed or not - are as they should be. Even now, I wouldn't change those stories much.
Nah. I think all writing is beneficial. Not to mention writing on a message board can be therapeutic b/c it’s no big deal if I don’t dot all those I’s and cross all those T’s. It’s like a mini-vacation for me.
As you can probably tell from my my websites, I’m not exactly overly obsessed with grammar while online.
For instance -
Commas are the bane of my existence, I'm a big fan of parenthesis and overusing italics, & then there's my worst habit of all. The infamous ......... showing up in probably 1/3 of my sentences. (Or maybe that's a case of OCD rearing it's ugly head?)
Honestly.....
I cannot help myself on a blog or message board.And believe me, I have tried!
