Writing requires serious commitment, do lots of little bits here and there to practice at first, don't try for that massive novel yet.
So I kinda wanna write a book...
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Have a plan. Just jumping in and starting writing rarely works. If you don't know where your books going to end,you'll usually end up with a lot of stuff happening "just because", and the ending itself feeling slightly out of place.
Though, the best advice I can give you, if you feel up to it: write it. God knows it'll be better than some crap that's big these days...
Though, the best advice I can give you, if you feel up to it: write it. God knows it'll be better than some crap that's big these days...
don't give any person in your story psychic abilities unless you out line the limits because that can create plot holes also top hats everyone likes top hats. I started writing a novel and realised that my plot and characters would be better for something like comics my point is fully think through your ideas so you don't realise halve way through you wasted your time.
Try your hand at a short story and see how it goes. Like with any artistic creation process, writing is well done when enjoyed. From what you're saying it sounds like you're not experienced with writing so don't expect too much of yourself on the first try.
Ideas, ideas... it all depends on what kind of story you want to tell.. steampunk is just a setting not a plot hook so try and think of what kind of feeling or theme you want to get across. Do you want your story to be horror? A mystery? Romance? Start with the basics. I'm unsure to give any more advice with so little information to go on.
Ideas, ideas... it all depends on what kind of story you want to tell.. steampunk is just a setting not a plot hook so try and think of what kind of feeling or theme you want to get across. Do you want your story to be horror? A mystery? Romance? Start with the basics. I'm unsure to give any more advice with so little information to go on.
Write because you enjoy it, don't write thinking that you will be published. It should be something that you genuinely enjoy in its own right. Just sit down with a pen/paper or keyboard or whatever you prefer and just let yourself start writing. If it isn't working, don't make it a chore, regard it as an exercise and start again.
It can be useful to keep notes if you start building a body of characters in a specific piece you are writing just to keep your details straight - I tend to write longhand and the back page of my books always have diagrams, ages, places, locations, time frames, surnames, details that I might need to verify later.
It should be fun. Keep it fun.
You might find that your creativity is helped by designing an outline and then filling in. You might find that you want to write scenes/scenarios as they occur to you, you can be non-linear and decided that you will stitch everything together later. You can work hard on the story and decided to go back later and polish the craft of grammar/punctuation etc. There are no rules to it.
Oh, and personally I don't think that it is a good idea to post unedited first drafts to get opinions. The writer may please themselves. The reader needs to be respected and not have text that doesn't even seem to have had a single proof read.
It can be useful to keep notes if you start building a body of characters in a specific piece you are writing just to keep your details straight - I tend to write longhand and the back page of my books always have diagrams, ages, places, locations, time frames, surnames, details that I might need to verify later.
It should be fun. Keep it fun.
You might find that your creativity is helped by designing an outline and then filling in. You might find that you want to write scenes/scenarios as they occur to you, you can be non-linear and decided that you will stitch everything together later. You can work hard on the story and decided to go back later and polish the craft of grammar/punctuation etc. There are no rules to it.
Oh, and personally I don't think that it is a good idea to post unedited first drafts to get opinions. The writer may please themselves. The reader needs to be respected and not have text that doesn't even seem to have had a single proof read.
My book, if you could call it that is 20 ideas trying to be combined into one. Enjoy the thought process as it doesn't happen overnight. Well it does but thats not the point. Here is a free idea though.
Trench warfare. Take of that what you will.
Trench warfare. Take of that what you will.
Working on the assumption you intend on writing a book that others will read, some tough love here...
Firstly, this isn't the place to discuss writing if you're serious about the craft. There are numerous dedicated writing forums full of people with genuine expertise (I'd suggest doing some lurking in the writing forum at www.sffworld.com, if SF/Fantasy is your cup of tea).
A few pointers:
Being able to write well is not a precursor to being able to write fiction well. The depth of your own creativity is far more relevant.
Picking a genre (Steampunk in your case) isn't a good way to start. You need a specific concept that will flesh out naturally (or at least, logically), not a vague sense of what your hero and his sword-gun will look like.
Get someone else to read your stuff. My most positive feedback often comes from bits of work I don't think I executed well, and other bits I really like are rarely as well-received. Objective criticism is the key to all good writing. EDIT: To clarify, your own opinion is still the one that matters. But you won't improve without at least listening to advice.
Don't make your first story your life's work. It's going to be GARBAGE. Utter drivel. Don't feel bad - 99% of writers would say that about their first serious attempt at writing. Don't force it if it's not working - take a break, wait for inspiration. True, you need all the practice you can get, but bad habits are difficult to break in this game.
Finally, don't let naysayers like me put you off. A wannabe writer is an incredibly common thing. Those willing to stick it out are much rarer.
Oh, and as Valksy said, enjoy it. Don't bet your house on it. You're the guy who's making furniture in his shed. Somewhere along the line someone might want to buy some of it, but do it for the satisfaction of making something, not selling it.
Firstly, this isn't the place to discuss writing if you're serious about the craft. There are numerous dedicated writing forums full of people with genuine expertise (I'd suggest doing some lurking in the writing forum at www.sffworld.com, if SF/Fantasy is your cup of tea).
A few pointers:
Being able to write well is not a precursor to being able to write fiction well. The depth of your own creativity is far more relevant.
Picking a genre (Steampunk in your case) isn't a good way to start. You need a specific concept that will flesh out naturally (or at least, logically), not a vague sense of what your hero and his sword-gun will look like.
Get someone else to read your stuff. My most positive feedback often comes from bits of work I don't think I executed well, and other bits I really like are rarely as well-received. Objective criticism is the key to all good writing. EDIT: To clarify, your own opinion is still the one that matters. But you won't improve without at least listening to advice.
Don't make your first story your life's work. It's going to be GARBAGE. Utter drivel. Don't feel bad - 99% of writers would say that about their first serious attempt at writing. Don't force it if it's not working - take a break, wait for inspiration. True, you need all the practice you can get, but bad habits are difficult to break in this game.
Finally, don't let naysayers like me put you off. A wannabe writer is an incredibly common thing. Those willing to stick it out are much rarer.
Oh, and as Valksy said, enjoy it. Don't bet your house on it. You're the guy who's making furniture in his shed. Somewhere along the line someone might want to buy some of it, but do it for the satisfaction of making something, not selling it.
This actually feeds into my advice pretty well:Skullkid4187 said:
Write your story without considering whether it's similar in theme, setting, or story to anything else that has ever existed. If you start writing, and your main character is a sarcastic, genre-aware, movie-quoting, too-nice-for-his-own-good, wizard, don't stop and say "well, this is just the Dresden Files". If you write a starship captain who's brash, and direct, but brilliant, quick-witted, and funny, he's not necessarily just an expy of Mackenzie Calhoun, and even if he is you can write him in interesting stories.
There's literally no story which is wholly original. Gaiman has a story very similar to Harry Potter which came out prior to Rowling's work, both of which were based largely on The Once and Future King.
Pick an idea you like, and just write it.
Ding ding ding.Julianking93 said:
Also, let's face it. The chances of you getting published or even having 100 people read your story is somewhere between zero and an ant's life expectancy on the surface of the sun.
My advice? Short stories, or even better, "blog". It's like that famous quote about artists, everyone has 10,000 or so horrible sketches, you just have to get them all out first.
Also, don't get an ego. Pounding out a few pages a day doesn't make you a "writer", it just makes you a hobbyist that enjoys writing. After all, a writer's biggest critic should always be himself. If you are happy with what you produced then it's not good enough.
Ah, and don't post your stuff on the Escapist as you go along, that's a terrible idea and people will grow to hate you for it.
EDIT: Also, if you're serious about writing something then write and speak properly wherever you go. Whether it's on the Escapist, in the middle of a FPS, or speaking to your friends your grammar should be impeccable. That way you will notice any errors when you start writing "for reals".
I agree, everyone thinks they know how to write a book and its easy but its not.SaintWaldo said:
I second this.SaintWaldo said:
One does not simply just "write a book". It will take you writing everyday, starting small, and doing a lot of research.
I recommend this blog, it puts a lot of things into perspective in a blunt harsh way about the writing world - even if you aren't trying to get something published, I recommend reading it.
Clicky
Otherwise good luck. Try writing short stories first, a page long, every day. See if you can accomplish that, and you will get better as time goes on. Practice makes perfectish.
You just summed up the last year of my free (non-gaming) time.Spinozaad said:
OT: Just think up a few characters. Maybe build them off people you know. Maybe sketch someone randomly and then give them a life. Give them problems, and try to think of a solution. Keep going and eventually you'll end up with this (hopefully) diverse cast. Setting is really huge, so you may even want to establish that in your mind before doing anything else. And if you later decide to change something major... try it, but keep a backup of the first version. I cannot stress that enough.
Warning: This will be entirely character-development... And wordy.
Also, they're my ideas.
How I would do it (and am doing it currently*)
*[bare in mind I'm trying to make a comic]
I create a character, awesome! I've got a character I like the look of, they're not exactly easy to draw (yet) but in time I'll be drawing them like she's a basic circle.
After that, flesh 'em out! This bit is a bit of doozy, luckily I surrounded myself with creative, like-minded people; so they know how my thought-process works and what directions I'm likely take. So they serve as the people I'll be bouncing off of during development.
How do I flesh out a character? Well typically I look at the character, subconsciously I add little details that lend themselves well to creative 'additions'.
Like say this character:
As you'll notice she's not exactly alive (as her skin tone and hopefully name implies).
So typically she's a zombie. As we're all aware on this site; zombies aren't very original.
So how I do make her original? Well I consider what a zombie could conceivably do.
So I look at other types of zombies, I've seen things where zombies retain their humanity, and really that interests me, so this character will have that. Another thing I thought would be good is despite being dead and dealing with that in the typical way that I've noticed which is to be dark, broody and have a kind of depressing insight into what death is like.
I went against that with this character. She's a fun-loving, fairly laid-back character who instead of acknowledging that she's dead sees it more as a release from her own mortality.
Ok, so I have a fun-loving cute girl zombie, what makes her at all special?
Well, I'm a sucker for a good superhero, nothing makes me more giddy then the concept of a 'super-power'.
Of course, this super power makes her a bit 'invincible' and that's not really any good, there has to be some kind of limitation.
Even Superman has his Kryponite.
So how do you impose the limitations?
Well that part I can't really help with, because it depends on the character, I suppose.
I slipped in the little 'she never needs to return to her body, but she does out of comfort'.
Which hopefully implies an element of care she takes in using her gift, when she's not in her body, it's fragile and vulnerable.
On top of that I created a form of 'threat' that she can encounter while seperated from her body, She's not a ghost, she's a spirit.
She can see the outline of the physical world at best without the aid of a possession.
As another incentive to only use the gift sparingly I included a unknown element. a stalking malevolent force in the shape sickly thin, masked man.
His intentions are completely unknown and seemingly threatening at first glance.
Viola! A some-what fleshed out character! Well, almost.
Seems I'm missing something... Oh! A setting!
This I can help with!
(It won't be for Lady Cadaver though, I feel I've revealed too much of that for now).
You say you wanted to have a Steam-punk setting.
Well I certainly appreciate that notion, Steam-punk is awesome.
A while ago I wrote a 'story' for a video-game concept I was creating for college.
The idea was that it was a land where magic and mysticism once ruled until the innovation of steam pressure came along through a fated encounter between a budding scientist and a young boy with the affliction of having molten rock for skin.
(basically they were sharing water from a cantine and the lid burst off because the boy accidentally boiled the water inside it.)
This caused the scientist to create mechanical devices run through steam pressure which caused upset with the magical societies and the mystical, nomadic people who worshipped the land.
He was forced to leave, but not without new followers who were intrigued with the concept of science and invention, in time this lead to them creating their own society and eventually; when differing beliefs collided it led to civil war.
What I came to call the 'steam-nation' created a super-weapon that reduced the entire northern expanse to mist.
Years passed and the game would start, where you're playing as the young molten boy, long after the magic has near-faded from the world and he's resorted to working as a bounty hunter in a gold-rush style coal mining colony.
I put real thought into it, and if there is anything in there that you'd like to adapt and make into your own (Besides the Lady Cadaver stuff, that is indeed taken) then feel free.
I wish you luck in your endeavours.
Also, they're my ideas.
How I would do it (and am doing it currently*)
*[bare in mind I'm trying to make a comic]
I create a character, awesome! I've got a character I like the look of, they're not exactly easy to draw (yet) but in time I'll be drawing them like she's a basic circle.
After that, flesh 'em out! This bit is a bit of doozy, luckily I surrounded myself with creative, like-minded people; so they know how my thought-process works and what directions I'm likely take. So they serve as the people I'll be bouncing off of during development.
How do I flesh out a character? Well typically I look at the character, subconsciously I add little details that lend themselves well to creative 'additions'.
Like say this character:
So typically she's a zombie. As we're all aware on this site; zombies aren't very original.
So how I do make her original? Well I consider what a zombie could conceivably do.
So I look at other types of zombies, I've seen things where zombies retain their humanity, and really that interests me, so this character will have that. Another thing I thought would be good is despite being dead and dealing with that in the typical way that I've noticed which is to be dark, broody and have a kind of depressing insight into what death is like.
I went against that with this character. She's a fun-loving, fairly laid-back character who instead of acknowledging that she's dead sees it more as a release from her own mortality.
Ok, so I have a fun-loving cute girl zombie, what makes her at all special?
Well, I'm a sucker for a good superhero, nothing makes me more giddy then the concept of a 'super-power'.
Of course, this super power makes her a bit 'invincible' and that's not really any good, there has to be some kind of limitation.
Even Superman has his Kryponite.
So how do you impose the limitations?
Well that part I can't really help with, because it depends on the character, I suppose.
I slipped in the little 'she never needs to return to her body, but she does out of comfort'.
Which hopefully implies an element of care she takes in using her gift, when she's not in her body, it's fragile and vulnerable.
On top of that I created a form of 'threat' that she can encounter while seperated from her body, She's not a ghost, she's a spirit.
She can see the outline of the physical world at best without the aid of a possession.
As another incentive to only use the gift sparingly I included a unknown element. a stalking malevolent force in the shape sickly thin, masked man.
His intentions are completely unknown and seemingly threatening at first glance.
Viola! A some-what fleshed out character! Well, almost.
Seems I'm missing something... Oh! A setting!
This I can help with!
(It won't be for Lady Cadaver though, I feel I've revealed too much of that for now).
You say you wanted to have a Steam-punk setting.
Well I certainly appreciate that notion, Steam-punk is awesome.
A while ago I wrote a 'story' for a video-game concept I was creating for college.
The idea was that it was a land where magic and mysticism once ruled until the innovation of steam pressure came along through a fated encounter between a budding scientist and a young boy with the affliction of having molten rock for skin.
(basically they were sharing water from a cantine and the lid burst off because the boy accidentally boiled the water inside it.)
This caused the scientist to create mechanical devices run through steam pressure which caused upset with the magical societies and the mystical, nomadic people who worshipped the land.
He was forced to leave, but not without new followers who were intrigued with the concept of science and invention, in time this lead to them creating their own society and eventually; when differing beliefs collided it led to civil war.
What I came to call the 'steam-nation' created a super-weapon that reduced the entire northern expanse to mist.
Years passed and the game would start, where you're playing as the young molten boy, long after the magic has near-faded from the world and he's resorted to working as a bounty hunter in a gold-rush style coal mining colony.
I put real thought into it, and if there is anything in there that you'd like to adapt and make into your own (Besides the Lady Cadaver stuff, that is indeed taken) then feel free.
I wish you luck in your endeavours.
You could write about a pink panda wielding a golden sword fighting a demon leprechaun on top of a cake. In space. On fire. Possibly in an other dimension. Involving iPods in some way.
..I'm actually serious, I would love to read that.
Please?
..I'm actually serious, I would love to read that.
Please?
Are you bored? Thinking of being more cultural? Tired of having no money? Write a book! With out handy step by step guide, you can be the new best selling author!
Step 1. Open MS word - Forget that whole idea bollocks, that stuff is for chumps. Your sheer writing prowess will be all you need.
Step 2. Give you story a title - Every book needs a title, right? Make it eye catching, make it mysterious, make it with wordart.
Step 3. Stop reading this - No, seriously. Stop reading this bullshit step by step I made trying to be funny. It's not funny anymore and you asked for help.
Step 4. Look below for my serious advice - um... yeah...
Okay, do what all the other guys tell you. Write some short stories and get your character bios thorough and realistic. Everyone hates a character that isn't realistic, even in fantasy novels. You probably aren't going to be the next best seller, so just keep things little. Don't imagine how your book will be directed when it's made into the biggest motion picture ever, just keep things simple, realistic and enjoyable; both for yourself and the people who will read it.
EDIT: This may be because I'm in a Fallout phase (that seems to be lasting till the end of time, fuck yeah!), but I'd say write it about a world falling apart. Maybe because of massive political disagreements that led to people rioting and ruining the world with human instinct driving their every move, maybe because of nuclear warheads being sent around the world.
Step 1. Open MS word - Forget that whole idea bollocks, that stuff is for chumps. Your sheer writing prowess will be all you need.
Step 2. Give you story a title - Every book needs a title, right? Make it eye catching, make it mysterious, make it with wordart.
Step 3. Stop reading this - No, seriously. Stop reading this bullshit step by step I made trying to be funny. It's not funny anymore and you asked for help.
Step 4. Look below for my serious advice - um... yeah...
Okay, do what all the other guys tell you. Write some short stories and get your character bios thorough and realistic. Everyone hates a character that isn't realistic, even in fantasy novels. You probably aren't going to be the next best seller, so just keep things little. Don't imagine how your book will be directed when it's made into the biggest motion picture ever, just keep things simple, realistic and enjoyable; both for yourself and the people who will read it.
EDIT: This may be because I'm in a Fallout phase (that seems to be lasting till the end of time, fuck yeah!), but I'd say write it about a world falling apart. Maybe because of massive political disagreements that led to people rioting and ruining the world with human instinct driving their every move, maybe because of nuclear warheads being sent around the world.