For as long as I can remember, my dream has been to become a writer; but to be forthright with you, I not only want to write but to write so well that I am remembered for it. I know that sounds quite cocky and selfish, but I really don't think myself all that skilled at writing anyhow. All I know is that I enjoy putting words on a page and expressing myself that way; it's a cathartic experience, one I hope to share with others of this generation and generations to come. I recently hit a wall. I have about three different manuscripts in the works, but I'm not entirely happy with any of them or their plots, which are weak at best. In my desperation, I thought to seek some advice on what to do next, and my search led me here. I hope to get some useful advice on brainstorming and "idea generation"; for as much as I like to read, I often worry that any story idea I come up with is either uninteresting or too heavily influenced by what I spend time reading. I need help becoming a better writer and telling better stories, and a community dedicated to these endeavors seems like a real blessing to me! Thanks for reading, and I look forward to my time here.
Hello there, Cap'n! Welcome. Sounds like you'll fit right in. We're all learning here, and trying to become better at our craft . Here's our New Member Guide to get you started. Participate, explore, and have fun! -Kat
HI Cap! Everyone should have goals! (Doctor Who reference incoming) David Tennant used to get in trouble in school because all of his compositions and projects were about and around Doctor Who. He was obsessed about one day being The Doctor. He became the 10th Doctor. Never be ashamed of a goal. I seriously recommend listening to this season of a podcast called Writing Excuses. There are several seasons, but you can start at 10. They talk a lot about letting yourself be influenced, but avoding plagurism or just plain bad ideas. As the season goes on they are actually helping with idea generation and writing. http://www.writingexcuses.com/category/season/season-10/ ETA: They are also quite short. I think 15 minutes, if I remember correctly.
Thanks, guys! In my youth, I wrote a lot of fantasy (I imagine that's where many aspiring writers like to start out), but I've since drifted towards more "dramatic" types of works, usually within the realm of historical fiction. Thomas Hardy and F. Scott Fitzgerald are probably my two biggest influences, stylistically speaking.
