Shall we Relax? - The Writer's Lounge Forum

Topic: Shall we Relax?

Well, now that I've read our ever-present rules, I feel I may make a topic, since no one else has as of Oct. 23, 2006. Some authors on fictiopress are serious writers who practically beg for story ideas so they may eternally wallow in such stories, spending hours at a time writing.

Now, nothing's wrong with any of that, especially writing for hours, but I am a thirteen-year-old who recently acquired a "life" and plans to keep it. Even so, I love writing and posting on forums, helping writers who have no clue I'm not twenty and creating various topics. So begs the question I have been trying to ask:

"What's new?"

#1 Oct 23rd 2006, 7:14pm

Nothing much. Just daydreaming. The best chance I get to write something down is when I daydream.

#2 Oct 24th 2006, 2:34pm

diamond-dust08

oh, the very first topic here!

uh, yeah. don't have anything to do.

heatless flame, you're so right. FP authors are so serious! they need to unwind once in a while, lol.

#3 Oct 24th 2006, 7:40pm

I agree with you there; sometimes, when I'm waging war with writer's wall (try saying that five times fast!XD), I just need to cool down, and, y'know, get all Zen-like. Yup XD.

#4 Oct 25th 2006, 3:15am

diamond-dust08

i don't really know if i experience writer's block. i think it's more of a... well, an uninspired phase when i sit down at the front of a PC, write a page or two, and then suddenly delete all of what i typed because they seem like crap.

but hey, immersing yourself in water (a long shower or in a tub) really helps. the relaxation offered by the bath gives you a lot of ideas.

#5 Oct 25th 2006, 6:49am

Well, some people experience writer's block, and some don't; it's usually the amateurs who suffer from it. But I'm no amateur...nor am I a pro, somewhere in the middle, I think, leaning towards amateur. And I am currently waging war with writer's block as we speak (I managed to write a poem about writer's block, actually, and I'm considering posting it).

Sometimes music can give writers inspiration. Sting is one of my favorite artists to look at for inspiration.

#6 Oct 25th 2006, 8:28am

But I relax THROUGH writing!!! I've got an exam tomorrow and what do I do? I post three chapters in two days, THAT'S what I do!

(I've never kept a fantasy story up for more than three weeks, but one day, one day I will)

#7 Oct 25th 2006, 5:13pm

Okay, okay, chill, man, chill!

#8 Oct 26th 2006, 3:26am

Hey, diamond-dust, I'm Lya S. Been wanting to thank u for the review u gave me some time ago. I thought it was great. Btw, what you mentioned doesn't sound like writer's block, it seems to be exactly my problem too, which is merely the problem of execution of an idea.

Reminds me of Marx's theory/praxis (anyone ever heard of that?)

#9 Oct 26th 2006, 10:17am

Mya von Dor

Hey, one way you can try to combat writer's block is to sit down and just write the first thing that comes to your mind and don't stop writing for a period of time you set for yourself. Even if you have to write the same word over and over, do it until you come up with something else. It's amazing how well that works. Or, if you don't want to do that, you can start with a word or a sentence and write on that (in much the same way). But the way I typically combat writer's block is by writing something else. Hey, nothing beats writer's block than starting another story, right? But then again I'm insane and can juggle, well, about 3 novels currently, though I've really got five or six unfinished ones sitting around. :D Although in all seriousness, my writers' block normally consists of not knowing how to connect plot or plot point A with plot/plot point B, not the actual unability to come up with something to write that I think is what writher's block normally is.

And if anyone wants to try this and can't come up with a situable word or what have you, try blood, I got something rather good off that one. :D Hope I didn't bore anyone to death.

Edit- And just so you all know, I've been writing (novels) for about eight years, so I'm not just spouting stuff from nowhere. :) Though in my opinion the best stuff always comes to you when you're doing something else.

#10 Oct 27th 2006, 1:13am . Edited Oct 27th 2006, 1:15am

Mya von Dor

But I relax THROUGH writing!!! I've got an exam tomorrow and what do I do? I post three chapters in two days, THAT'S what I do!

(I've never kept a fantasy story up for more than three weeks, but one day, one day I will)

Lord-of-Fools--I know exactly what you mean! When I had three papers due at the end of the week about a year ago or so, each worth HUGE percentages of my grade (one was actually worth most of it) what do I do? I come up with this really fantastic story idea, complete with detailed characters and complex back stories.... So worry not, you're not alone!

#11 Oct 27th 2006, 1:20am

Just out of curiosity, how do you write 3 chapters when you have a bunch of tests the next day? I mean, shouldn't there be some studying going on or something in that gonre? Now, don't start thinking I'm one of those crazy poeple who obsesses over grades, i was just wondering, because this sounds like a very useful feat to master.

#12 Oct 31st 2006, 12:21pm

Well, I personally can't write three chapters in a day no matter what, but maybe you kinda have to use writing to relax. Actually, how I first got hooked on writing was how it made me feel when I wrote. I wen t all blank, get sucked into the words of the prologue (for a 6th grade asiignment. Now in 8th grade). It was also pretty cool because we had to read it in front of the class and everyone liked it a lot.

Here's a little story I want to share.

So, in 7th grade I haven't written anything for, like, months. Then one day a really cool kid in my class came up to me and asked if I was still writing short stories. I responded, baffled, that I hadn't written in a while. Then he told me that I was pretty good and should start writing again. I did. I got inspired and began to write again. Help can come from the weirdest places....

#13 Oct 31st 2006, 1:38pm

Well, okay, I exaggerated a TINY bit. I probably could do three chapters, but generally I don't because, yes, I am busy! But for the subjects I did this year, it's hard to study, all you can really do is practise writing essays and read the books again.

I don't remember when I started writing exactly. I think I always did it, from when I could first read (which was when I was around three or four) and write. I didn't ever manage to finish stories until it was for school assignments (the first being grade two) and for recreation, the first story I finished was around 300 pages long and only one part of a ginormous fantasy saga. However, it wasn't very good, so I scrapped the whole thing. But I guess the starters of this thread are right in that I am very serious about my own writing- it's just that I'm not so serious that I stress over it, because it's my destress...er.

#14 Oct 31st 2006, 3:17pm

Writing somehow is both relaxing and stressful ..

#15 Oct 31st 2006, 7:42pm

true true. You stress over when or what you write in the stressy heap of crud that hits you from the moment you wake up in the morning and more or less heads with you into the day. But if you can find time to write, a happy soul you are.

Heatless, so young and carefree...I remember back when I had free time, so long ago, it seems.

Man, I sound old.

#16 Nov 01st 2006, 12:47pm

And today, like just a few hours ago I got hit by this new idea like BAM! And i got all excited, and started making plans and formulating some traces of a plot for this new infant story, and I was like 'I can't wait to start writing this!'

Yeah, right after you finish your homework, and your poster, and your chores, and your painting you promised this lady two months ago and your other story and.....

My life is rather like my mother.

I love it to death, just can't ever escape reality.

#17 Nov 01st 2006, 12:53pm

Dveyoni

wow relax, what is the meaning of this word? i wish i could do that ^ the whole get great idea and go for it i tend to have to wait and think on it for a while b4 i can write anything lol oh well *shrugs*

#18 Nov 03rd 2006, 6:17pm

diamond-dust08

hey guys haven't been here for a while.

how's it going? still have a head on your shoulders? still writing? thought so.

i'm getting too burned up by work and i can't even sit down and write up a chapter these days.

#19 Nov 05th 2006, 7:05am

Yeah, I guess I can't really complain. I'm only freshman in highschool, so 'free time' is still actually existent for me, where as my older sister, who is a senior in college, is holding down three jobs and her schoolwork and it takes her a month just to answer an e-mail.

#20 Nov 05th 2006, 8:42am

True, true, I love being in eighth grade. I have plenty of free time, but consume it with writing and video games and TV and sports.

#21 Nov 05th 2006, 10:18am

I just decided I don't like you anymore

#22 Nov 05th 2006, 5:50pm

okay, whatever. there must be something more interesting to discuss than argue about how little time we have to write.

#23 Nov 06th 2006, 6:57am

How about this? I'm sure we all have problems getting to sit down and write and all, but does anyone else agree that it's also hard to end a story? I always have a hard time deciding what should happen - a happy ending or not? Should so-and-so end up with their love interest? And should anybody die?

#24 Nov 07th 2006, 12:59am

In shorter stories, I used to end it by killing the character- it was an easy way out. I've stopped doing that these days. I find ending stories quite easy myself. Okay, so most of my stories end up being sagas, I just have to be strict with myself as to where to begin and end.

#25 Nov 07th 2006, 1:05am

Haha, it is fun to kill characters off, just to shock the readers. I can relate to the stories becoming sagas bit. I have a thing about wanting to do never-ending sequels ...

#26 Nov 07th 2006, 1:15am

I try not to kill characters off unless it's an absolutely necessary part of the story, even villains. About one in twenty of my characters end up dieing anyhow, for some reason.

#27 Nov 07th 2006, 7:53am

I try not to kill off major characters, but don't mind killing off secondary and backround characters. By the way, Rosemarine, I LIKE eighth grade. Don't be jealous of my lack of homework, schoolwork, life, etc.

#28 Nov 07th 2006, 1:14pm . Edited Nov 07th 2006, 1:14pm

killing off side characters as part of a plot is fine, but ending a story with death is kinda dumb because all you readers will hate you. By the way, Heatless, I never said anything about being jealous of your life, it's just fun teasing you because I'm actually older than someone for once.

#29 Nov 07th 2006, 3:14pm

I don't kill characters in the longer stories unless it's absolutely necessary for the plot. Mostly this is because I get rather depressed killing characters I've known and had this nice time with, especially if I know the effect their death is going to have on other characters. Of course, it depends on the situations, for example, if you're writing a story with lots of battles, it's given that eventually one or two of the good guys is going to die (even if it's only temporarily). If your characters are in a situation that is absolutely ensured to get them killed, it's also a bit of a cop-out to have some sort of Deus Ex Machinas ending where SUDDENLY some angel comes and kills the baddies, or SUDDENLY I woke up and it was all a dream and even SUDDENLY they all died is bad... make it interesting. It IS possible to use these terrible, terrible endings and make them interesting.

#30 Nov 07th 2006, 3:20pm

Well, I've only ended a story once and that was for a series. Is it bad to end with the hero letting the bad guy escape? It's rather cliched, I fear. By the way, what did you mean if only temporarily. Personally I despise having characters who died, especially major ones, come back to life.

For example, in the fifth book of Harry Potter (SPOILER!) Sirius Black dies. Now, he was easily my favorite character so I despised J.K. Rowling for a time. It was a revolution. Therefore, it would be bad writing to have him come back to life.

Sorry, Rosemarine, I misunderstood your comment. I am VERY young, so excuse any sarcasm or rudeness or misunderstandishness or any other pre high school attributions.

#31 Nov 07th 2006, 4:18pm

Oh, I agree! I wouldn't bring any of my dead characters back to life (maybe as a ghost or in a dream, but most likely in flashback if ever). Sirius was my favourite character too, but it would really spoil the story if he came back to life, in the same way that it would ruin it if Harry's parents came back! Argh! Anyway, I was merely allowing for the possibility if someone chose to do so.

Egads, I can't be the oldest one here!

#32 Nov 07th 2006, 4:32pm

I like Sirius too. I wonder what's the deal with age on here? I'm 23 .. anyone beat that?

#33 Nov 08th 2006, 12:21am

I don't get it either. 17 here, not that it matters much.

#34 Nov 08th 2006, 12:23am

Mya von Dor

Ending a story problems? Never had them. I like to know the ending before I start a story, or at least shortly into it, though I do have problems with setting a timeline that's way too long. I have a tendency to write stories where the events take place in a year, then I have to skip months because I've gone on waaay too long. Heck, one of the stories I've got going right now I could publish in at least two books and I'm not even done with it yet! Sounds like others have that problem, too, though. But if you think about it, this is actually a good thing. Writers typically make the most money writing series, cause people want to know how it ends, whereas if you write a lot of things all over the place, people are less likely to read it. I know I'm not typically one of those people who reads everything any given author writes....

I also tend to only like to kill characters to further plot. There's no point in doing it for no reason...people tend to get annoyed with that. But then again, a character death does change dynamics, so you could say that it always furthered the plot...if written right... That doesn't make sense, does it? Oh well.

Course, most things only work if done right, really. Like bringing characters back from the dead, normally a thing you should typically not do...but like any rule in writing, it's not entirely hard and fast. You'd just have to pull it off really, really, really well, which is probably why a lot don't even go near it. :)

Oh, and as far as ages go...I'm 22...granted, it doesn't beat you, Lya S, but...

P.S. If you really want to talk about having time...try being unemployed. It's a rather unhappy situation, but on the other hand I've written 30,000 words in the past 7 days for the www.nanowrimo.org thing. Course, it also helps that I have no life :)

#35 Nov 08th 2006, 1:52am

Oh yeah? Well, my...er, uncle is 43! So there! :D

And you know something, Heatless, you may be young now, but next year, all of the sudden you'll be all growed up and think you're superior to everyone else. It is an unfortunate condition that unfortunately effects many, many teens at about my age.

Oh, and incase anyone cares, i'm 14.

As far as ending story problems go, I've only ever had the oportunity to actually end something once! But the one time, it wasn't too hard. I guess you basically just A)have some kind of resolution B) tie up all or most loose ends C)have an ending that leaves your reader wondering or wanting more

#36 Nov 08th 2006, 12:16pm

Mya, I understood what you meant about death changing dynamics. Let's face it, it's kind of fun to shock the readers, and it does add something to twist the remaining characters round. Besides, if your story has things like war and fights going on, it'd be kind of stupid not to have anyone die.

one of the stories I've got going right now I could publish in at least two books and I'm not even done with it yet!

You seem to be going through the same thing I am. I don't know when I'm going to end mine! It sounds like you're working on quite a few stories too ... scary.

Rosemarine and Lord-of-Fools, you guys really sounded older than your age to me, but that's just my opinion. Anyway, I firmly believe that age is just a number. I still feel like a teenager, and my mum thinks so too seeing as I watch cartoons like Spongebob hahahaha.

#37 Nov 08th 2006, 11:06pm

Well thank you ;)

The story I'm writing now (should be finished very soon) was originally a stand-alone, but by the time I'd finished the first version (this is the third rewrite, probably not the last) I realised I wanted the story to continue. So I wrote a sequel, albeit not a very good one. The second time I rewrote this story, I tried to write a sequel, but got distracted half way and gave up. For most of this year, I'd been working on a backstory to the one I'm working on now, about the main character's father and his evolution from depressed teenager into lunatic (in a nutshell). I never intended to go anywhere with it, but was still considerably upset when I DELETED the whole thing accidentally. Now that I've rewritten the original story for the third time, I am again considering a sequel, and now more storylines are jumping out at me over the Berlin Wall and other historical situations. It's turning into a whole family saga!!! I suppose it's because of my interests-- how one's history affects future reactions and attitudes. But seriously, I need to end it one of these days. Maybe one day I will try to have it published, but if that's going to be the case, it needs to have some sort of ending, because I don't want to write serials. I have too many ideas to be so wrapped up in one for so long. That said, I had a whole fantasy trilogy thing going on for a while too.

#38 Nov 08th 2006, 11:16pm

I don't know if I'd be able to keep up a story if I lost the whole thing. But then again I'm not very confident in my own works. The more I learn about writing, the more I realize how little I know. It's practically ruined reading "professional" works for me because I notice plot devices and clishes.

#39 Nov 09th 2006, 10:25am

You know, I have very little patience for reading. Therefore, I write. ANyone else like that?

#40 Nov 09th 2006, 3:52pm

Ink-Mouse

Qlmmb, I can relate to what your going through. I used to be like that and I wouldn't publish my work because everytime I read something new, I felt like mine was a piece of doo-doo (I read the rules on here! Yay I didn't curse!) and every time I had the courage to post something, I'd delete it and give up on it and never finish it, but now, (thanks to my causin) I can post my stories and accept harsh criticism with out a problem! AND I feel a bit more confident (and even when I don't I force myself to keep posting them, but that doesn't happen to me anymore)

Oh, and since everyone was doing this, I'll do it to: I am twelve years old (HAHA! No one's younger than me!)

#41 Nov 09th 2006, 6:53pm

Shoot. I'm thirteen. Curse (not an actual curse word) you heavenline! By the way, one of my new stories is out, Mercenary, if anyone wants to check it out.

#42 Nov 09th 2006, 7:01pm

Ahh, yes, I quite like reading myself, but I've found recently that I can't read BAD things. Okay, so I always knew that, but now that I've studied literature, I have zero tolerance for many things. This is comforting in some way, because I know that I am better than some writers who ARE published, it's just that I know I'm not better than the authors I admire (who at the moment are Sebastian Faulkes, Terry Pratchett and Haruki Murakami among others). I've been writing since I was tiny though, and I find reading is a good way, if you pay close attention, to pick up grammar points and spelling. However, I understand what you mean about plot devices and that sort of thing. PRatchett and Murakami are good because they're quite unconventional. They're both very, very different writers though.

#43 Nov 09th 2006, 8:19pm

Oh, I just remembered, I'm not actually fourteen. i'm eleven. No, really.

#44 Nov 10th 2006, 1:34pm

... you "just remembered" you were 11?

Qua?

#45 Nov 10th 2006, 8:35pm

Are you serious Rosemarine? You're writing indicates someone older than me? And how do you forget your age?

#46 Nov 11th 2006, 6:31am

Good grief, i was kidding! Yeah, I'm really fourty-eight, didn't you know?

#47 Nov 11th 2006, 7:40am

This whole 'age war' is pretty amusing :)

especially since this is a forum and no one knows who's lying and who isn't...heh heh...

#48 Nov 11th 2006, 7:44am

I give Rosemarine a 98% chance of still not having said her/his true age :P

I'm 20 in three days, by the way.

#49 Nov 11th 2006, 8:09am