23
votes
Accepted
I can't write without an inspiration
Let me tell you something: ALL WRITERS, OR AT LEAST THE VAST MAJORITY, HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS.
Don't worry. I've experienced this before. This is something many of us as writers face.
But if you wait ...
- 992
13
votes
I can't write without an inspiration
I understand the feeling. However, the way to write better is to critique. Write a full scene when you aren't inspired - force yourself to finish it. Then critique it - what is missing from the scene ...
12
votes
Accepted
How do I stop my writing sounding like a bad imitation of whatever author I've just been reading?
The first thing you should do is look at the answer to this question. Then realize that this is not an issue, but something that you can use greatly to your advantage. However, you still have the ...
10
votes
I can't write without an inspiration
Are you absolutely certain that your writing is bad when you're not inspired? Or is this just what it feels like to you at the time?
For me personally, the best writing advice I ever heard (although ...
- 1,905
9
votes
Accepted
How do you get feedback when sharing your ideas makes you not want to write?
As somebody who has lots of story ideas but really struggles to get them written to completion, I can personally relate to this, and I would love to offer some advice that helped me to get through ...
- 8,772
7
votes
I can't write without an inspiration
Two things come to mind.
1. Try to figure out what time of the year you have periods of high creativity.
If you have consistent trouble coming up with ideas in spite of all other factors remaining ...
- 4,676
7
votes
What questions do you ask yourself to get inspiration?
R L Stine suggests asking 'What if ...?' You have to fill in the dots. What if cars could fly? What if I could see when people are going to die? What if I could read people's text messages without ...
- 7,936
6
votes
I can't write without an inspiration
Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.
— Michelangelo Buonarroti
There is a convincing, exciting, captivating story that you are carving ...
- 666
5
votes
What to write when I cannot create stories?
Ghost writing? You can even make money from it. Editing would also be good for you I think. Also journalism, biography novels, travel stories, memoirs. For example you can create a blog and include ...
- 406
5
votes
Accepted
How similar can something be before an idea is *stolen*?
If you have similar characters, scenes and plot line, you are too close to the source material. Having a similar plot, idea or device is fine, but you have to find a way to make it yours.
If simply ...
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5
votes
What questions do you ask yourself to get inspiration?
One thing I find helpful for my own writing is to watch bad movies, read bad books, or look at bad characters in genres I want to write in and think to myself, "If I were to remake this, what ...
- 13.5k
4
votes
How similar can something be before an idea is *stolen*?
RE copyright: Copyright protects the specific words in a story, not an idea. If you took someone else's book and rewrote it all in your own words, changed the names of the places and characters, etc, ...
- 25.7k
4
votes
Going from worldbuilding to writing a short story
It's okay to have a world without ever writing a story set in it. Nobody is telling you that you have to do anything with your world; sometimes it's fun to just imagine. That's perfectly fine.
If you ...
- 623
4
votes
What to write when I cannot create stories?
If you can describe things well then don't worry about not being able to create story. Every writer is different in his/her style. Once you start writing you can move into different genres of it. For ...
- 163
4
votes
Accepted
Working backwards from "Delete the people, keep the math and jazz." (SciFi short story)
You’ve a start at an idea. And, as you’ve recognized an idea isn’t a story.
The term for the next step is Pre-writing. The web is full of differing processes and ideas on this subject. One process ...
- 12.8k
3
votes
What to write when I cannot create stories?
“Where do you get your inspiration?”
This is an often hated, and feared, Q author’s get. Their ability to generate good ideas at the drop of a pin seems unnatural and exceptional to non-writers. ...
3
votes
I'm unable to read any book or write a single line
I've suffered something similar, though not exactly same situation.
My suggestion is that you make a simple excel sheet and daily record how many words you wrote and how many pages you read that day. ...
- 289
3
votes
I can't write without an inspiration
So who is this Grace person? What is she stealing... a tin of beans or a mink coat? And, more important... why is she stealing it?
I like to think I 'know' my characters... who they are and what they ...
- 81
2
votes
How do you get feedback when sharing your ideas makes you not want to write?
The other responses give wonderful advice that alleviate the symptoms. I find the root cause for my own block is perfectionism.
Becoming enveloped in the world I’m trying to portray, writing as many ...
- 101
2
votes
How do you get feedback when sharing your ideas makes you not want to write?
Sciborg's excellent answer tells the truth plain and simple. I'd like to add a few psychological tricks to make the process hurt a little less.
If you are a parent to a young child or know someone who ...
- 3,245
2
votes
I can't write without an inspiration
To be perfectly honest with you, take a step back from the story and write something else - even if it's a three of four page scene of another story you have envisioned. In my case, it helps.
- 21
2
votes
Going from worldbuilding to writing a short story
I agree with this answer that developing characters will help you to write stories (which don't have to be full-blown books). Another approach you can take is to write very short stories or even just ...
- 21.5k
2
votes
Accepted
I'm unable to read any book or write a single line
I've experienced something very similar, in fact I still have it. But I have gotten to the point where I can read again and/or write. I just still have depression.
It's hard, but if it goes on long ...
- 992
2
votes
I'm looking for inspiration for spells and potions
Of course, since spells and potions don't exist in this world, all we have are sources from people who believed they existed.
For spells, you could check out the Malleus Maleficarum. It's a medieval ...
- 15.9k
2
votes
I'm looking for inspiration for spells and potions
I'd use a TTRPG Rulebook. Pathfinder's Core rulebook is found online: Google 'pathfinder core rulebook pdf'
Lots to go on there, and if you need more - find the subsequent additions i.e. Ultimate ...
2
votes
What questions do you ask yourself to get inspiration?
Look for stories that touch you emotionally in some way. A newspaper can be a good source. Or everyday life.
Whenever I come across something that touches me, I take some notes and try to figure out ...
- 191
2
votes
What questions do you ask yourself to get inspiration?
You say you need to know what questions to ask.
I write in different phases. The first is the idea-capture phase. This one is tricky because I'm not at all sure it can be forced. Either you have an ...
- 6,100
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