Category: Writers Block
well here's a survey I did on another site have fun with it.
Why do you write?
I find that writing actually relaxes the tension in my head for competing thoughts, and ideas. Often it gives me a space to express my views that no one really wants to here. It's a canvas for my ideas. It's also been a hobby for years. I have been writing for 12 years no matter good or bad. I have a decent imagination and it sometimes needs to get out so I write. Also, People seem to like my work and there's some incentive there to keep putting stuff out.
Where do you get your stories from? (What inspires you?)
Life in general. that's really my inspiration. every story I write is what I see or imagine the ideal people to be. What I write is what I see. Sometimes I write what I don't see but really really hope to see. Every story of mine you'll see some sort of challenge or calling to the world to be better and to improve. a lot of times I base a story on some sort of moral standard or ethical concern out there that I am obviously concerned about and that I think might get people going or thinking.
How do you begin forming your writing? (or do you not form at all, you just start writing whether or not you know characters/plot/setting/etc.?)
I just built it all in my head simply and with a general idea of what is what and who is who and go from there. I don't plan much to be honest. I am too excited to write the story. It's a bad idea probably but, oh well. I do it. I do sit there and imagine the scenes first before I write them though then I write them down as if I am describing a motion picture. I don't always do the seeing and writing in one sitting I often do it throughout the day and I think about events. sometimes I do it during a boring leccture or at a party when I am bored and awkward. there's been instances that people have caught me in these seens most of them more unpleasant such as a man beating his wife or a baby crying. I tense up in an odd fashion forgetting that it's only in my head.
How do you get through writer's block?
I don't believe in writers block if you have it there's something wrong with your story and something needs to be examined and rearranged. so, sometimes I do that. Sometimes I revise it and keep writing sometimes I must say that my idea isn't any good and should belong in the junk heap. So, I abandon it and find a new one.
What do you think separates good writing from great writing? Or what makes writing terrible?
good writing pokes through the surface it might appeal to you and you like it. You'll give it credit honestly for all the good stuff, but it's a story and you just leave it floating behind you. I believe that art if it's good and effective should change a life, force you to re-evaluate, allow you to learn from it, and really take something from it. It shouldn't be something you go "Oh it's great!" and just put your approval on and can forget about. It should be a lifetime thing and should allow you to bring it all around and remember it. YOu should be able to proudly point this piece out to people and exclaim, "read it! it's truly amazing, life changing, gives you a new perspective, and is fun too!" Art is not for the past and it's not about seeing it once it's about communications and something you can treasure! It is truly awesome if it's done right. Terrible writing is just that. pieces that are out there that are just haphazardly thrown together and you have a sense of how little conviction they have. Then you have the terrible pieces that you can't seem to understand because it's so badly written that there's nothing to it it's just an empty shell and it lacks all convictions. there's also pieces that goes in circles eternally and maybe somewhere in the writers there's a spot of some fragment of attempted conviction but you can't seem to tell what the heck it might be.
I don't judge a piece by grammar and spelling or struccture. I judge it based on meaning, values, and convictions. If it can tell me why it got written, that's good, if it can tell me why it was written and change my mind on some issue that's brilliant and if it can do neither. I've clearly wasted my time.
From your experiences what should other writers know or learn?
Art is a great great tool in life. You just have to use it the write way like everything else in life. If you miss use it it's ugly and useless. It has to express you as an individual. It has to stir something deep inside someone if you truly want it to be great. It can not just be a surface piece. Think a moment, why art exist. the cave paintings were drawn by caveman not to be wowed at and forgotten. it was to pass on messages that were to be remembered. some left print marks of themselves.
Has being a creative writer helped you in "the real world?" If so, how?
yes, most definitely, If I didn't write and expressed myself as much as I have I would probably be in the mental hospital at the moment. I mean, it's helped me through tough times and through good times. it has help me think and reflect. It has helped me relax through the drama I go through not by choice. It makes my day to sit down and write down my rough spots as stories and social commentary. I don't journal openly like some but it is still theraputic. If yu look carefully enough you'll see where I have included my thoughts on things and other very very rather obvious moral lessons in my fiction and commentary. It has let the steam die somewhat that it doesn't drive me to the point of insanity and keeps me alert. It also provides a shelf for ideas so I can think about something else.
Any other extra thoughts on writing? (opinions/advice/ideas/etc.)
Keep your readers interested.
have some true lesson in mind
and don't forget allow the piece of paper in front of you be your therapist. trust me it will help you out a lot perhaps you'll do even better in the real world.