writing
My life long dream is to be a author / screenwriter, its a shame i can't actually be bothered to do it.

I have started hundreds of short stories and never come back to them after either finishing a chapter or completing the first draft and deciding I don't like the idea any more and scraping it.

I have had an idea for a trilogy of films for almost 10 years, the story swims around my head almost every night constantly updating itself and fine tuning every character, every motive and every scene. I've tried many times to put it into words but my fingers just can't do justice to the image in my head.

Since i have had the idea Heroes has showed up and shared some key themes with what I had planned, not that heroes was all that original but i wouldn't have a problem with someone reading my work and saying "this seems inspired by X-men" whereas if someone said "this is a bit like heroes" i might actually want to hurt someone.

i've even tried to write short stories about me not being able to finish anything i've started, though i did come back to that twice several months later (the story reflects this by random changes in seasons with the characters noticing that it took several months to walk down some stairs) I just can't find the time to finish them.

I have recently discovered i have much easier time hand writing then typing and actually completed a short peice but then disliking the premise and decided not to bother with a second draft.

has anybody got any tips for getting my arse in gear? talking to an author the other week he told me that having a publisher breathing down your neck for your next book is a good way to get on with it.

Sorry about the length this is probably the most i've written in months!
(That Random Guy, Fri 25 Jun 2010, 10:08, 7 replies)

Writing is hard
My best friend is a professional writer. He hasn't published anything in 2 years. That's not from lack of trying, but somewhat like you, he's not satisfied with what he writes.

What he *does* have though is a routine. Sits at the desk for 2 hours in the morning minimum. 3 hours in the afternoon minimum. Turns off his internet access during those times by parental control (password controlled by his g/f). He's generating tons of stuff, and at some point, will be able to go back and massage his writings into publihsed material. It's a grind, but a grind writers have to do.

Could you get into the rhythm and discipline of doing those hours? I'd say a work ethic is the one common factor in all successful writers. I may be completely wrong, of course ;)
( Claws of Doom I am no longer infected, Fri 25 Jun 2010, 10:16, closed)

problem there is
that i need to work a 9 to 5 job to pay the bills, i would LIKE to have time to sit down and just write (thats generally when i do the most when i spend the evening with a note book in my room away from the temptations of internet or TV) but a lot of the time i am so mentally drained from my job that the idea of picking up a pen again just makes me want to cry, then there is the problem of still maintaining a social life which kicks the weekend in the balls.

I was tempted to quit my job and moving back into my parants and just working part time to make just enough for food and board but not enough to go out every weekend, but instead i got a mortgage and so now i can't quit my job.

I think work ethic is certainly the most important part of becoming successful and i'd like to think that i am fairly disciplined in general its just finding the time to apply it to a creative pursuit.
(That Random Guy, Fri 25 Jun 2010, 10:38, closed)

Make your choice
"there is the problem of still maintaining a social life which kicks the weekend in the balls"

Well, tough. If you want to have a social life, and you want to pay a mortgage, and you want to write something, you're going to have to make a sacrifice somewhere, because you're not going to do all of these. Particularly if they're really excuses for not writing the great masterwork. However, since your profile says your occupation is lurking on B3ta, I don't think you'd lose much money if you jacked your job in.

A 9 to 5 job isn't that much. I managed to write a novel last November at the same time as pulling a 50 hour work week, without eliminating my social life, and without giving up going out and exercising. Perhaps you don't really want to do it that much. Or perhaps I didn't write a very good novel. But the great is the enemy of the good, etc etc.

If you do want to do it, change your schedule so it allows you to do these things.
Stop wasting time on B3ta.
Disconnect the television.
If you're too tired to write in the evening, get up earlier and write in the morning.
(mrweasel, Fri 25 Jun 2010, 11:53, closed)

www.b3ta.com/questions/unfinishedbusiness/post766076
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Fri 25 Jun 2010, 10:22, closed)

Make yourself
write a little bit every day, but don't set any lower limit on how much. Even if it's just changing a single word then you've done your bit for the day - but be rigorous about making yourself do that bit every day. If you don't feel like doing it ask yourself "what - I can't write a single word?"

I've found that often I sat down intending to do the minimal amount, but ended up doing more.

(this wasn't for a novel by the way, it was for my game, but the principle is probably the same)
(apeloverage committed the vile act of onanism on, Fri 25 Jun 2010, 12:28, closed)

Just stick it out there!
A useful maxim that I try to remember for getting stuff done in my line of work is "The aim is progress, not perfection."

If you're happy to be the kind of author who is remembered only for one epic, perfect masterpiece then carry on as you are. You may end up being a skint, hungry author though. If you actually want to make a living of it I think you're going to have to submit some stuff that you feel is less than perfect for publication and aim to make each work better than the last.

This leads onto a seconds maxim "Never reread your work once it has been published."
(flimflam_machine, Fri 25 Jun 2010, 13:07, closed)

Read Stephen King's book 'On Writing'
He doesn't pull any punches about how hard it is to be a writer - most writers hate it.
Routine is the answer - it's a job just like any other and you have to get the habit of doing it. Try setting aside an hour every day - this has two benefits, firstly you make time to write and secondly you give yourself permission to write which friends and family respect. During that hour shut yourself in a room without distractions - no internet, no mobile phone, no television and so on. Sit with pen and paper or PC - whichever works best for you but I would recommend pen and paper. You *must* sit for one hour and during that time if you can't think of anything to write then you just sit there - I guarantee that after about ten minutes you become so bored that you write something to entertain yourself. You finish when you reach 1,000 words - if that ends up being less than one hour, great.
The point is that the 1k you write is not supposed to be good quality - it's just turning your head out onto the page. Put it away once finished and don't return to it for at least six weeks. Then in six weeks time read it and hopefully there will be something there worth using - even if it's only a vague idea you had or a sentence or two that are good.

You should aim at churning at least 5k of words every week, ideally 10k.

That's how writers work - the hint is in the name.

Good luck!
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Mon 28 Jun 2010, 11:50, closed)