Post by dust on Jan 7, 2011 16:42:09 GMT -5
I've been writing stories ever since I was able to pick up a pencil and form words with it. Some stories were good, others...well..let's just say they were good for practice;) I've been writing so long it's such a natural action for me. I just start pounding out the words on my laptop or scribble notes on any paper available if I'm not within reach of the keyboard. Even when traveling paragraphs and scenes run through my head. I even fall asleep with changing and stretching chapters. 
So it's a bit hard for me to understand how some can have difficulty in writing. But then again, try explaining to me how much fun it is to get on a board with tiny wheels and zoom down a long concrete slab! Personally I think it's nuts. I don't get it but I've seen kids do it as naturally as breathing. Same with writing, I guess. One just does it.
Not to say there isn't any guidelines! Or advice! That's why I'm here. To share a bit of insight and hopefully aid those who might feel a bit overwhelmed with the printed word. Don't be afraid, sentences can be easily erased:) RPGs are not the place where we think 'Oh what a lousy writer!' No, what we think is 'Ok, how can I fit my character into this?' We're not handing out grades or thinking any less of you as long as you try. And believe me, it'll get easier and easier the more you do it.
Ok, let's get started. First off, imagine your character. Got him/her? Right. Now look at where you've got them standing, or sitting. Is it on sand? Rock? Is it a sunny day? Warm? About to snow? Is your character relaxed? Pondering something? Vexed? Set the stage. Now introduce some interesting bit, such as a squirrel bounding by. Now you're set. You have your characters, allow the scene to unfold and just write about it! That's it! Starting is the biggest hurdle in writing. I've found the best way over this is to simply...Start! You can always go back and change things later.
I must enter a word of caution here. There has been more than one time my characters have run off with me! I have this tale I'm currently working on and it seemed a bit dull so I introduced an antangonsist for my main character, just to stir things up a bit. Well then, I started writing and before I knew it I had four chapters down and not only did this new character try to kill off my main one but she was also blackmailing another into giving up a litter and was plotting to poison the clan mother!!!
I sat back, reread all this and thought 'now where the heck did THIS come from?
?' I didn't plan it but there it was!!! I felt I was simply a reporter on a news story!
(I called up my daughter after this happened as she also writes, to inquire if this had ever happened to her. She laughed and said 'Mom, I had this one guy in my story that I had planned to only use for a small part but suddenly not only did he get a bigger part but now he's bringing in his whole family!!' So while you may feel in total control there will be times that will befuddle you;) )
Another bit of advice, don't be afraid of using new words. In fact read a dictionary to pick up some. Your work will shine with the new descriptions and you won't find yourself nailed into a corner trying to think of a new way to describe a fight. Just be certain of its meaning first. Some Japanese words I've seen in public don't have the innocent phrases people think they do. -Always- look up an unknown word before using it.
Of course there is the danger of over-describing something. Read over what you wrote. Does it flow smoothly or does it seem choppy and uneven? Are there places that would be better connected with a comma or should a long run-on sentence be chopped in two? Is it easy to read or does it tend to cause a bit of a headache to creep over? Is it all relevant to the subject? There has been more than one time when I skimmed over a post because it was just too painful to read!
Punctuation is very useful as sentences running on without them make it difficult to read After a while one just gives up because they run out of mental breath So always use the proper punctuation marks when needed
Oh, and remember folks, SpellCheck is our friend!!!
If you think your post has a bit too much action crammed in you can always step back and tell us of what the character sees, or feels. Perhaps an old memory will come to light. Such scenes will add depth to your posts because it will give us a more rounded view of your character. To say your 'Rosey' is a wolf/husky hybrid with blue eyes is one thing but if you add that the sound of an acorn falling in the woods makes her wistful because it reminded her of her puppy days chewing on them and chasing squirrels adds a whole new side of her.
Well, I think I've rambled on long enough but hopefully I will add some more tips to this as time goes on. I do hope you have found something to help you as well. If not, at least I had amused myself in doing this!
So it's a bit hard for me to understand how some can have difficulty in writing. But then again, try explaining to me how much fun it is to get on a board with tiny wheels and zoom down a long concrete slab! Personally I think it's nuts. I don't get it but I've seen kids do it as naturally as breathing. Same with writing, I guess. One just does it.
Not to say there isn't any guidelines! Or advice! That's why I'm here. To share a bit of insight and hopefully aid those who might feel a bit overwhelmed with the printed word. Don't be afraid, sentences can be easily erased:) RPGs are not the place where we think 'Oh what a lousy writer!' No, what we think is 'Ok, how can I fit my character into this?' We're not handing out grades or thinking any less of you as long as you try. And believe me, it'll get easier and easier the more you do it.
Ok, let's get started. First off, imagine your character. Got him/her? Right. Now look at where you've got them standing, or sitting. Is it on sand? Rock? Is it a sunny day? Warm? About to snow? Is your character relaxed? Pondering something? Vexed? Set the stage. Now introduce some interesting bit, such as a squirrel bounding by. Now you're set. You have your characters, allow the scene to unfold and just write about it! That's it! Starting is the biggest hurdle in writing. I've found the best way over this is to simply...Start! You can always go back and change things later.
I must enter a word of caution here. There has been more than one time my characters have run off with me! I have this tale I'm currently working on and it seemed a bit dull so I introduced an antangonsist for my main character, just to stir things up a bit. Well then, I started writing and before I knew it I had four chapters down and not only did this new character try to kill off my main one but she was also blackmailing another into giving up a litter and was plotting to poison the clan mother!!!
I sat back, reread all this and thought 'now where the heck did THIS come from?
?' I didn't plan it but there it was!!! I felt I was simply a reporter on a news story!(I called up my daughter after this happened as she also writes, to inquire if this had ever happened to her. She laughed and said 'Mom, I had this one guy in my story that I had planned to only use for a small part but suddenly not only did he get a bigger part but now he's bringing in his whole family!!' So while you may feel in total control there will be times that will befuddle you;) )
Another bit of advice, don't be afraid of using new words. In fact read a dictionary to pick up some. Your work will shine with the new descriptions and you won't find yourself nailed into a corner trying to think of a new way to describe a fight. Just be certain of its meaning first. Some Japanese words I've seen in public don't have the innocent phrases people think they do. -Always- look up an unknown word before using it.
Of course there is the danger of over-describing something. Read over what you wrote. Does it flow smoothly or does it seem choppy and uneven? Are there places that would be better connected with a comma or should a long run-on sentence be chopped in two? Is it easy to read or does it tend to cause a bit of a headache to creep over? Is it all relevant to the subject? There has been more than one time when I skimmed over a post because it was just too painful to read!
Punctuation is very useful as sentences running on without them make it difficult to read After a while one just gives up because they run out of mental breath So always use the proper punctuation marks when needed
Oh, and remember folks, SpellCheck is our friend!!!
If you think your post has a bit too much action crammed in you can always step back and tell us of what the character sees, or feels. Perhaps an old memory will come to light. Such scenes will add depth to your posts because it will give us a more rounded view of your character. To say your 'Rosey' is a wolf/husky hybrid with blue eyes is one thing but if you add that the sound of an acorn falling in the woods makes her wistful because it reminded her of her puppy days chewing on them and chasing squirrels adds a whole new side of her.
Well, I think I've rambled on long enough but hopefully I will add some more tips to this as time goes on. I do hope you have found something to help you as well. If not, at least I had amused myself in doing this!
