6 replies to this topic

[snowham12345]

So I like to write..
I’m not very good at it but it’s been a hobby of mine for the last couple years.
I’m currently working on a short story (probably total 20-30 pages max)
I don’t want to really say the idea song it because I don’t want anyone to steal the idea.. let’s just say it’s about coming to terms about death and moving on.. but from a different perspective..
Anyways I’m super stuck with it. I know what the storyline will be (as a broad statement- I’m not 100% sure of exact details and such)
How can I get the ideas flowing?

[imhungry]

So I like to write..
I’m not very good at it but it’s been a hobby of mine for the last couple years.
I’m currently working on a short story (probably total 20-30 pages max)
I don’t want to really say the idea song it because I don’t want anyone to steal the idea.. let’s just say it’s about coming to terms about death and moving on.. but from a different perspective..
Anyways I’m super stuck with it. I know what the storyline will be (as a broad statement- I’m not 100% sure of exact details and such)
How can I get the ideas flowing?

I usually get my ideas from just looking around me. Nature, shopping malls, my bedroom are all places I sometimes look for inspiration. Another strategy you could try would be to read/watch a variety of creative content and take parts of each one and combine it into a new idea. It's just what has worked for me, hope it works for you too! Goodluck with your story

[top tier hippo]

So I like to write..
I’m not very good at it but it’s been a hobby of mine for the last couple years.
I’m currently working on a short story (probably total 20-30 pages max)
I don’t want to really say the idea song it because I don’t want anyone to steal the idea.. let’s just say it’s about coming to terms about death and moving on.. but from a different perspective..
Anyways I’m super stuck with it. I know what the storyline will be (as a broad statement- I’m not 100% sure of exact details and such)
How can I get the ideas flowing?

OOOOHHHHH BOY. 

 

Hehe, writing here we come. 

 

Okay, so I have a few ideas that you could try. I don't know if they'll work, but I definitely know what you're struggling with bc I'm dealing with the exact same thing and have been for months. 

 

1) Write down literally anything you can think of that even kind of relates to it. Anything at all. Find a direction and roll with it. Explore it. 

 

2) Use pen and paper, not a computer. I find that old school paper and a pen help my thoughts sometimes, and I want to write more with it. Then, when I have an actual idea, I type it out and see where it goes. 

 

3) Look around and find inspo. Go do something. Even something mundane. Might give you some ideas. Look at that tree. Maybe it's a fantasy story and there are magical trees that can grant you one wish if you plant another tree to spread the forest and promote nature. Who knows?

 

4) Research something that's been interesting you. An animal, a hobby, history, something you've been wondering about for the past little while. Maybe inspiration will strike you dead, like lightning :DDD And a good ol' research spiral never hurt anyone (except for writers, they kill writers daily O_O), but that's fine :DDDDD

 

5) Freewrite. Stop thinking about grammar, ideas, plot, all the intricate nuances of writing. Just write down whatever comes to mind for like, 5ish minutes. Don't let the pen stop moving. Just write and things might come to you that you hadn't even thought of before. 

 

6) Find inspiration from other stuff. Books. Movies. TV shows. Whatever. It's not copying, not stealing, it's inspiring. "Nobody would write at all if inspiration were off-limits." Find your favorite movie or something and take little bits of different pieces of media and concoct something original. 

 

7) Write what really makes you happy. Find the story you want to tell by going where your heart is pulling you. Feel an inclination, a pull in your gut towards that specific idea that you might be scared to tackle or are generally unsure of? Go with it. Dig deeper. And see what you can find. 

[Hamustars]

So I like to write..

Naturally. So do I!

 

I’m not very good at it but it’s been a hobby of mine for the last couple years.
Whoever said you had to be good at something to enjoy it clearly didn't have any fun at anything!!

 

I'm currently working on a short story (probably total 20-30 pages max)

I. LOVE, SHORT. STORIES! Can I read it? uwu

I don’t want to really say the idea song it because I don’t want anyone to steal the idea.. let’s just say it’s about coming to terms about death and moving on.. but from a different perspective..

oop.. Never mind, if you don't want to share it I'm fine!

 

Anyways I’m super stuck with it. I know what the storyline will be (as a broad statement- I’m not 100% sure of exact details and such)

That's ok! The storyline is all you need to start (emphasis on START) a story!!
How can I get the ideas flowing?

Well, how I normally get ideas flowing is I stare at the computer for around 30 mins a day trying to figure out my story (LOL)

Is your book set in a certain place or time? Maybe to spark ideas you could try drawing your lay out... I find inspiration came to me when I went back to where I got my idea for my story.. So for instance, I had an idea for a book while I was playing a game. When I had gotten the first couple chapters down I found I was stuck and didn't know where to go. So, I went back to the game and played it through my character's eyes... And sure enough now I have a full book that I am planning on sending to publishers!! I know that often, people get inspiration when in the shower, or in the bathroom (That also happened to me to lol) Maybe you could try an surround yourself with things that remind you of your story or that have sparked inspiration in the past. I, for one cannot tell you how to find inspiration... It will just come to you! Hope this did help though! Write on!

I see hippo has beaten me to this but let me just say..... OHH GIRL!!!! (Haha, see what I did there?)

[snowham12345]

I see hippo has beaten me to this but let me just say..... OHH GIRL!!!! (Haha, see what I did there?)

  

OOOOHHHHH BOY. 
 
Hehe, writing here we come. 
 
Okay, so I have a few ideas that you could try. I don't know if they'll work, but I definitely know what you're struggling with bc I'm dealing with the exact same thing and have been for months. 
 
1) Write down literally anything you can think of that even kind of relates to it. Anything at all. Find a direction and roll with it. Explore it. 
 
2) Use pen and paper, not a computer. I find that old school paper and a pen help my thoughts sometimes, and I want to write more with it. Then, when I have an actual idea, I type it out and see where it goes. 
 
3) Look around and find inspo. Go do something. Even something mundane. Might give you some ideas. Look at that tree. Maybe it's a fantasy story and there are magical trees that can grant you one wish if you plant another tree to spread the forest and promote nature. Who knows?
 
4) Research something that's been interesting you. An animal, a hobby, history, something you've been wondering about for the past little while. Maybe inspiration will strike you dead, like lightning :DDD And a good ol' research spiral never hurt anyone (except for writers, they kill writers daily O_O), but that's fine :DDDDD
 
5) Freewrite. Stop thinking about grammar, ideas, plot, all the intricate nuances of writing. Just write down whatever comes to mind for like, 5ish minutes. Don't let the pen stop moving. Just write and things might come to you that you hadn't even thought of before. 
 
6) Find inspiration from other stuff. Books. Movies. TV shows. Whatever. It's not copying, not stealing, it's inspiring. "Nobody would write at all if inspiration were off-limits." Find your favorite movie or something and take little bits of different pieces of media and concoct something original. 
 
7) Write what really makes you happy. Find the story you want to tell by going where your heart is pulling you. Feel an inclination, a pull in your gut towards that specific idea that you might be scared to tackle or are generally unsure of? Go with it. Dig deeper. And see what you can find.

  

I usually get my ideas from just looking around me. Nature, shopping malls, my bedroom are all places I sometimes look for inspiration. Another strategy you could try would be to read/watch a variety of creative content and take parts of each one and combine it into a new idea. It's just what has worked for me, hope it works for you too! Goodluck with your story

Thank you all for the amazing tips!
I’ll be trying those out.
It is set in a specific place- which is quite vital for the storyline haha
Rn I’m just trying to figure out what exact tragic accident kills off the main character (spoiler alert- the main character is dead and his pov)
It’s sorta almost like a 3rd person in a way.. but not quite..
The main character is a ghost, he narrates the story.
Hah that is all you get.
And yes I might post the story when it’s done- I have only like 2 pages written so far.

[DangieHamster]

I get adrenaline when I think of the big city, NYC, preppy summer stuff,  storms, big sport matches, and it makes me want to write about those things, or something similar. It happens because I want to see and do that stuff someday, and so it gets my mind flowing, and could even help with things that are not related at all!

 

So, think about those things that make you feel like that. Those feelings are not the same for everyone, it could do with personality or interests, but, for example, you love big waterfalls or superstorms. If you imagine what you would do if it happened right now, that could help with writing.

[top tier hippo]

I get adrenaline when I think of the big city, NYC, preppy summer stuff,  storms, big sport matches, and it makes me want to write about those things, or something similar. It happens because I want to see and do that stuff someday, and so it gets my mind flowing, and could even help with things that are not related at all!

 

So, think about those things that make you feel like that. Those feelings are not the same for everyone, it could do with personality or interests, but, for example, you love big waterfalls or superstorms. If you imagine what you would do if it happened right now, that could help with writing.

The way you explained this, gosh <333 

 

Dangie's right. Write what makes you feel "happy butterflies" in your stomach, or what makes you excited on a day-to-day basis. If it makes you happy, maybe you'll be able to finish it <33333