Used to write but stopped?

[geekpenguin]

Sitting in front of the computer is probably the worst place to get ideas. My advice is to read what you've got so far and then go for a nice long walk or something. Just keep the story lurking in the back of your mind and ideas will start to appear, usually when you've no means of writing them down...

Annoying isn't it? I usually find my ideas come to me whilst driving, which is even worse, cause you either have to stop and find something to write with or try to keep it in your memory until you get wherever it was you were going.

 

[SpookyFrank]

This is why we need a thread for people to showcase some of their writing; that way the internet becomes a source of encouragement to come up with some new shit...

Maybe we should ask the nice mods for a writing sub-forum where people can post things up as new threads and get some input that way, that sort of thing works really well with music, photos etc elsewhere on urban but writing by its very nature takes up rather more space.

 

[Roadkill]

Sitting in front of the computer is probably the worst place to get ideas.

Indeed. Computers are an excellent tool for writing, and they give you much more freedom to move bits of text about, change wording and so on, but I do all my thinking away from the computer and I always plan out pieces of written work with pen and paper before I go near the computer.

<e2a> In my experience it's a good idea to carry a notebook and pen around with you. I've certainly come up with a few ideas in odd places, and it's as well to be able to scribble them down...

 

[kerb]

Annoying isn't it? I usually find my ideas come to me whilst driving, which is even worse, cause you either have to stop and find something to write with or try to keep it in your memory until you get wherever it was you were going.

or when you get in bed and then you have ideas and think 'ill remember that in the morning,' which invaribaly i never do

 

[SpookyFrank]

Annoying isn't it? I usually find my ideas come to me whilst driving, which is even worse, cause you either have to stop and find something to write with or try to keep it in your memory until you get wherever it was you were going.

Happily I have a very good memory and can store large tracts of prose in my brain for later transcription. MY current novel appeared almost fully formed in my head one day while I was walking through an ASDA car park, then the setting appeared later and the ending shortly after that. Most of my job now is filling in the blanks really, letting characters form themselves and building on the basic themes.

 

[geekpenguin]

or when you get in bed and then you have ideas and think 'ill remember that in the morning,' which invaribaly i never do

Yeah, I feel your pain! I've been getting it a lot with assignments lately, sadly though, not stories. Keeping a notebook by your bed kinda helps. I tend to write just before I go to bed anyway, because I don't have the time in the day!

 

[kerb]

Yeah, I feel your pain! I've been getting it a lot with assignments lately, sadly though, not stories. Keeping a notebook by your bed kinda helps. I tend to write just before I go to bed anyway, because I don't have the time in the day!

i keep a note book by the bed most of the time, but i find that when i'm nearer to sleep my ideas and sentences are more fluent and coherent than usual. the simple act of turning on the light, disturbing my girlfriend ruins my train of thought. I've written the best stories in my head. Everything else is just what i can salvage in between

 

[geekpenguin]

i keep a note book by the bed most of the time, but i find that when i'm nearer to sleep my ideas and sentences are more fluent and coherent than usual. the simple act of turning on the light, disturbing my girlfriend ruins my train of thought. I've written the best stories in my head. Everything else is just what i can salvage in between

Hahaha poor you! I know what you mean though. It's like trying to remember dreams in the AM - you remember them as if they've just happened as soon as you come round, but by the time you've woken up enough to get a pen and notebook, it's just gone. Shame that .

 

[quimcunx]

i;m starting again

Good.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Just thinking about this. I used to write quite a lot of poetry, but have hardly written any in the past five years. It kind of coincides with getting together with gsv - somehow, knowing that he doesn't like it makes me feel embarrassed about it and uncomfortable doing it. I've also kind of run out of inspiration.

I think I'm actually not bad at it - certainly, after working a summer job at the Poetry Society and seeing letters they get and competition entries, I did enter some poetry competitions, as I knew that my stuff would at least merit serious consideration from the judges, unlike 90% of the entries, which I'd describe as 'I cry and cry/ I want to die' kind of stuff.

But I just can't seem to get it together anymore, and everything I think of seems to repeat old ideas/images too much... meh.

I've had the odd stab at starting my sci-fi/fantasy novel, but I just don't think I'm good enough to come up with full-length fiction.

That's very similar to me; started writing poetry/lyrics from about 13 years old, but about four/five years ago just found I didn't have the inspiration or time to do it really...also being in a stable loving relationship doesn't help with writing sorry tales of anger and despair!

 

[kerb]

Hahaha poor you! I know what you mean though. It's like trying to remember dreams in the AM - you remember them as if they've just happened as soon as you come round, but by the time you've woken up enough to get a pen and notebook, it's just gone. Shame that .

dreams i can do, but i have to do it immediately otherwise its gone.

 

[Diamond]

To all budding writers calling for a writing extract thread, we already have a well motivated and accomplished collaborative effort going on here:

http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=272185&page=2

 

[Zeppo]

I beat myself up most days. People talk to me and say I am a writer. True I have a written a book but not much writing these days. Discipline writing even it is crap is needed. Andy Warhol said it was all down to "work" funny as he had all his assistants to put together his art.

I have a novel in my head and I guess it is going to be hard work but the writing starts this month. Lets go to work!