Advice on writing a short story?
I have to write a short story. Problem is, I've never written one before, I don't write fiction, I'm not a great writer of any kind, and I really don't have much of an idea on what to write. I don't even read short stories that often. But write one I must. The good news is, it's not due until May 1st, so I have some time to work with, although it won't all be devoted to writing and rewriting said story. Now, to the writers and short story aficionados, what should I know beforehand? About brainstorming, planning, plotting, writing, editing, anything and everything? Do I need to eat special waffles, or inject myself with creative juices each morning? Will wearing my lucky rocket ship underwear help me get good ideas, or will I have to do handstands for that? Thank you.
I'm struggling to write my own story. Any advice?
This question is probably asked numerous times on here daily. I've even asked it several times myself and have usually received harsh and demoting answers from users here. I've wanted to write my own series of books for some time now. I have characters and a plot outline which I'm sure is cliche and has been done before by someone before me. However, I still would really like to write out this story I have in my head but I feel like I just can't stick with what I write. I always have to rewrite the scene or change certain aspects to the characters. I obsess over the title of the story and the profiles of my character as well as the nagging in my head that my story isn't original enough and that nobody will appreciate it. Ultimately I end up not having any fun while I write because I stress out some much over these issues. Does anyone have any advice as to how I can go about writing my story, while ignoring the fear of failure and enjoying what I'm doing?
Advice on how do write a sad/drama story?
Come up with a subject that causes you sadness or you think will make others feel sad. To figure out what might make others sad, find the "said" subject of sadness and ask several people if they think "its sad", but best to go with what you feel is sad. Learn how to write a drama in the dramatic format, search the web or take a literature / writing class. Write what you know, write what you like, put it all together correctly, and there you go. For better inspirations, trying reading some sad romance novels, or watch a movie.
What is some advice you'd give on writing your first story?
There’s plenty of advice to give and not everything will suit you. But let me give a few anyway. Disregard them as you will if you feel it’s not doing anything for you. Everyone’s different after all.Don’t worry about your proseWrite your story without bothering to write it the best possible. You can always touch it up later, but the most important thing is to get it done while it’s hot and fresh in your mind. Every time you feel ‘I can phrase this better’, you’re disrupting your thought process. Besides, by the time you’ve finished your story, you will have a much clearer idea of what the scene is supposed to do. Chances are you’ll rewrite it later on anyway, so don’t worry about how you write it.Write what you want to writeDon’t write what you think people want to read. Write what you want to write. Don’t force yourself to write something that might sell, write a story about something you would want to read. There is a story in you that only you can tell, so write about that. And write it in the way you would enjoy reading it.Don’t listen to people when you writeIt’s tempting to let people read your story, but usually when you write it’s a draft - it’s not meant for other people to look at and criticize. It’s not finished. It’s a draft. Afterwards you can finetune it, but until you do so it’s your story. Don’t let people tell you how they would write it.Once you feel you’re done, that’s when you show it to people. And if you pick the right people, they will tell you what’s good and what isn’t. Only then you should listen to them and review your story to see whether they’re right about it.Hope that gives you some insight.
Writing Advice: What would be the best story-line to write a play on euthanasia?
That IS the story line. Try looking at the sources cited here and reading the books listed.Final Exit
What is your advice for first time short story writers?
The process of writing and the process of falling in love are essentially identical in practice, in my experience.That is, for both you can sit around and listen to advice all day, but you aren't going to find what you are looking for until you go out and just do it and fail a bunch. Also everyone's experience is different and entirely dependent on their experience, and since circumstances between people are so different it is rarely wise to expect that your experience will be similar to the experience of any other, and so not wise to expect that the advice that they give you will work for your experience. Basically take all the advice you hear with a grain of salt. Know what you are looking for and pursue that, but be willing to bend or change your goals when you get something good.Never settle.You will only get out of it what you put into it, be giving and gracious and forgive yourself. Then, naturally, write and read as much as you can, only do what feels natural and good.Like procreation, and love, story telling is a skill and instinct that has contributed to human survival, to the survival of your ancestors, for literally tens of thousands of years if not longer. That means you very likely have it as an innate skill and like any other instinct your main job is to sort of tap into it, get out of the way and let it do its thing.
Can you write a story entitled 'Advice not taken'?
Advice not takenAround 9 years from today, a little girl had a dream. She dreamt of an opportunity to fulfil her ambitions-yes, she was 9 and she had ambitions. She wanted to go to a good school, she wanted to receive a proper education. In her school in the village, the English teacher couldn't speak in English. This girl loved to write. She had many stories to tell, many ideas to share. So she, with her parents supporting her, decided to appear for the admission test to the best school in the nearest city. Composing sentences and essays in English was difficult for her, as she had been taught to memorize them from the book at her school. Once, her father gave her some English words to compose sentences with. She failed. She was nervous. She started shaking from inside. Her father yelled at her. Spoke some harsh words. Her mother did nothing. Finally, her father said harshly, “Close your books. It's of no use. You don't have to go to that school. Just stay in this school and do your homework like you do everyday.”I'm glad that I didn't take his advice. I didn't close my books that day. My name came in the merit list of the students admitted into the best school of the city. I did better than all the other kids who had studied in some of the top schools in the city. Today, that image of me as a 9 year old, shy but resilient girl brings extreme satisfaction to my heart.
Writing Advice: What makes a story worth telling?
Consider the following justifications:Outrage.Fear.Love, and sex.Desire.Familiarity (when your readers can relate to what you're saying).Attraction (when we are interested in or attracted to the topic).Loss.Tragedy.Shame.Greed.And more ...Can you spot the common thread that weaves its way through all above topics? Emotions and personal experiences that people have are what drive 7 billion stories. Most go untold. Perhaps you can change that - one story at a time.Try also combining opposing emotions in your characters within the same story, and experience where that takes you. Why?People are complicated: perhaps that phrase is all you need. Every story starts with a question.Simply asking the question, why are people so complicated can lead you on an epic, unforgettable journey, through which you can invite your readers along.You can explore any of the above ideas, and much more, to create truly remarkable page-turners.
I'm having trouble writing a story. Can someone give some advice?
This has been done so many times that it has got a little boring. However if you feel passionate about writing a story with that plot then by all means do it. But if i was to give you any advice I would say take that plot and add YOUR own style to it. Grab it and make it yours. I'm pretty sure you've read tons of books that have a similar plot to the one you choose to write so how about you try something different with it. For example how about end it with a tragic or sad ending that has a moral to it or has a philosophical teaching rather than the typical happy ending that we see all the time. The most successful of writers have something that makes them stand out from the rest of the writers and their readers will never fail to notice it. So the question is, what is yours? Don't rush or get impatient, you sound very young so you haven't found yourself yet. Take what I said into consideration. Read a lot of novels first and pick out things that the writer has done that you like and things that you don't like. Take the things you do like and expand on it, add a bit of spark to it. And I wouldn't advice on abandoning things you don't like, I would say you should take those techniques and work on them and make use of them in your own way to create a successful story. Good luck honey.