Roswell Fanatics

How many people here also write original fiction?

I've been working on a few pieces, but for some reason, it never seems to come as easy as writing fan fics. Has anyone else ever had that problem? Where do you find inspiration?

I used to do it all the time, but I haven't done it nearly as much lately.

I did find it easier to write fiction from things I had previously seen/read but I think that it was mainly because the characters were already created and had a background to work with.

When you're writing original fiction, you're the one who's creating everything. Every character is just waiting to be shaped and defined and it can be intimidating (even subconsciouly) because you want to protray them the right way. It's really hard for a writer to be objective about their work. That's something I've learned.

Don't get me wrong, there are those who are, but I've noticed that most are self-conscious about it or they think it's better than it is. (The self-conscious ones however are usually the best of the two because they put so much of themselves into the piece to get it right.)

One way that I got over my problems of writing characters was to take a character whom I was familiar or semi-familiar with and write their name on a piece of paper and then put them in a box (or a jar or whatever). I would just add the name and where I had read/seen the character everytime I came across a new one I liked.

Then when it was time to write, if I was stuck on one, I could randomly pull out a name, or go through them and find one that I wanted to model my character after.

It sort of helped to break that ice or the block that was holding me back.

As far as inspiration... I have had some wonderful friends in the past (and the present) who just fill me with so much creativity.

And I love to people watch! If I just could not get out of a rut, I'd spend some time people watching making up stories about them in my mind until I felt that I had "the juices going" and could write again.

I also love quotes. Some of my favorite books/novels (including Pride & Prejudice) have or start out with quotes. I've started a small book where I keep all the quotes that I really enjoy or that mean a lot to me. This helps me with writing and with just day-to-day life.

Hope that helped some.

I can't wait to read what other people say about this topic. It's a really great one! Thanks for posting it!

Ashley

Hey, great thread idea. I'm really glad you started this.

As to writting Original work, I haven't written much yet. Mostly because I just find it hard to come up with stuff as for example the plot or coming up with all these idea's for character's. Only I find that once you do have a good plot in mind coming up with the rest is pretty easy.

Also, just wanted to say thanks to Morning Dreamgirl for all those good tips

Steph

Those are great tips, thanks for sharing them!

I've had an idea for a short story stuck in my head since I was writing my college essays. I'm in my sophomore year at college, so it's been a while. *laughs* But it keeps evolving and changing, which makes it difficult to write. I open the file and just CAN'T! It dies.

Does anyone else have that problem? Where you sit down to finally write what's been swimming in your head for so long and it just disappears or turns to total crap?

Honestly, I have not written an original story I liked for the last two years. I'm working on a new one. Kinda based on the wedding scene from Wedding Crashers where the sister is cracking up over the wedding vows. But, again, I sit to write, and it disappears.

I hate it.

I must be listening to the wrong music for concentration.

Do you guys listen to specific music for when you write? Like a certain band inspires a certain sentiment to your writing? Roswell or original?

LOL!

You gotta learn to take the pressure off of yourself, darlin!

That's the biggest thing that's stopping you!

My first piece of advice (and I'm not a published author, so take it with a grain of salt) would be to, any time you have an idea, write it down.

Basically the way that I used to do it was: if I had an idea, I wrote it down. If one just wouldn't leave me alone, I'd get a notebook (or just a folder with paper stuffed inside it) and any time I had a line I came up with and liked, or heard, I would write it down and keep it in the folder. Or if I just came up with a twist, or a new character, it would be written down.

It meakes it easier when you get stuck. I'm also a big time user of outlines. Just because they keep me on track and if I don't know where I'm going, I'll never get there.

So if there's a story you're wanting to write, just start jotting stuff down as it comes to you - don't force yourself to write saying, "I'm going to do it now," becuase that's obviously putting more pressure on you than it is helping you.

Just take the stuff you jot down and put it in a folder, or a small shoe box, or keep it all in a notebook. (Although, I prefer to have paper that I can spread out, so I tend to use the notebook only in a bind or when I really just get the urge to write a section out.)

As far as music goes - it depends.

I have, literally, thousands of songs at my fingertips because they're on my computer. If I'm writing a scene filled with passion, and I want to listen to music, I'll generally use music that I think is passionate. The same thing goes with sad, happy, etc., etc.

Other than that, it just depends on what I'm in the mood for - if anything.

Another suggestion - don't just listen to music. If you can, set the entire scene. For romantic sections, I love lighting candles (well, I love them anyways, it just gives me an excuse! ). If you're writing something happy, go somewhere you know people are going to be happy.

Being around that kind of energy always helps when you're trying to convey it in a story because you're not just thinking about it or listening to it, but you're feeling it.

Now obviously, I can't just go to Italy if I'm writing something which is set in Rome, but I can do alot of research on it. (Or at least the parts that pertain to my story.) Learning more about that which you're writing is never a bad thing!

Lastly, if you can't get ideas or still get stuck with a writer's block (which can be hell sometimes!) talk to friends/family and ask where *they* would go with it. It might surprise you. If nothing else, you'll end up (sometimes) hearing such outlandish ideas that it'll take some of the pressure off.

And always get someone you trust to read over it. You want someone who will be honest with you but not critical. Someone that can point out your weaknesses and your stengths. Heck, it can even be someone on the board! I'll do it!

Just, no pressure, listen to what music you feel comfortable with - right now I'm stuck on Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, and Grant Lee Philips/Buffalo - and when you start getting too stressed, leave it for another day. It'll still be there waiting when you're ready!

And you know that you'll go through several drafts before it comes even close to what you want it to be. Very few people have the ability to get it almost right on the first time they write. Especially for original work!

Whew!

Do I ramble, or do I ramble?!

Ashley

Morning Dreamgirl WOW, those were alot of good tips! I really liked the name/jar one. Thanks for sharing.

LOL!

I tend to get carried away when it comes to writing...

And I think it's starting to show.

But the good news is that I'm thinking about 'jumping off the bridge' so to speak about Roswell fiction.

Of course, I'm just working on ideas right now - so we (myself and all the personalities I have) are awhile off from posting... still it should be interesting to see if I can do it without pulling all my hair out! JK!

I apologize if I come across as being a know-it-all; I just tend to talk alot about the subjects I like and writing is one of them!

Anyways, you're welcome and I cannot wait to get my Roswell stories up and running - it should in an interesting ride!

Ashley

Hi, I just found this thread and found it right up my alley as the saying goes and decided I just couldn't pass by without dropping a note. I currently have 5 original stories started and a list of 15+ storylines that I hope to eventually write. My mom is my favorite person to talk to about it because she and I seem to have the same tastes in reading. She has told me that I amaze her in that I can write so many stories at once and I have to laugh because I'm not writing them all at once. When I get an idea, like someone mentioned, I immediately write the idea down. I can disgard it later if I decide it's no good or whatever but mostly, I have them in a Word document on my computer and a copy in my email. (So that if my computer crashes, I don't lose it all.) I get inspired by so many things and that's why my ideas for novels range from Sci-fi to romance to historical romance to simple best friend stories. I start writing parts of the one that is bugging me the most, usually starting by getting the characters clearly in my head because they will take the story where it should go, and then when I get stuck, I move to the next one that's bugging me really badly.

I don't think there is a right or wrong way to write. Most of my stories start out with a "character list" but not all of them. This depends on how I came across the idea. For example, if I'm inspired by a song, I avoid watching the video if there is one. One of my ideas was inspired by a song, which I'd rather not go into specifics so that eventually I can write the stupid thing, that made me think...now why did the writer write this song? What was the background of it? Who were the characters in the story? I may be totally off from whoever wrote it but that's what makes it my story and not theirs.

Then too, I have been inspired by a dream or even just a vague idea. When I get something specific in my head about it, I write it all down. I picture my characters...what they look like, what they like and don't like, their family life, why they behave the way they do, how they got to a specific point. Sometimes they become so real in my head that they take me places I hadn't planned on going. For example, I've got one story where one of the main characters was supposed to be a lonely person that eventually just disappeared from her life, not telling anyone where or why she left. In trying to get to that point, I have to answer specific questions for the audience, which starts out as only myself, like why is she a lonely sort of person? How does her loneliness express itself? Is she an extrovert, trying to cover over her loneliness or is she really shy, afraid to try to make friends or whatever?

I don't know if I'm making any sense or if I sound like a complete lunatic but I do know that history shows that the most creative people are usually insane. LOL! I figure at the rate I'm going, with starting a new story every time I get really bad writer's block and then going back when inspiration hits again, I should finish all my stories about the time I turn 80 and nobody will be interested. LOL!

One of the most important things I've learned since I started writing when I was really young, (I'm 27 now) is that I have to like what I write and write for myself. If anyone else likes it or hates it, that doesn't matter. If I can get a reaction out of them, great but I write my stories for me. Yeah, I like it if someone else wants to read it and then loves it but I don't cater to my audience. I write what I want and hope that eventually, if I ever am published, I will reach an audience who will appreciate it a little. I take constructive criticism well but not attacks on my stories or characters. If I kill off a main character and you don't like it, then I probably did it for a reason and your reaction is fine. However, if you don't like the fact that I drug out a romance until they were both too old or too sick to want to get married and you rant and rave...tough.

Ok, now I'm rambling. I think that's probably enough from me.

Beth aka littleroswell

Forgot to say that sometimes it's easier for my muse to work with a pen or pencil and paper instead of sitting at the computer. Some of my favorite ideas come to me when I'm not able to sit down and type them out so I carry paper with me all the time.

Okay, so my problem is this.

I get my characters established. I get good conflict going. I get the story line and backplots grooving. I get about 70% through the story and then I lose my mojo and can't finish it.


It sucks ass.