How I Write a Story

[Jassy Melson]

I think a sense of humour goes a long way. I'm yet to seriously document The Way I Write because to be honest, I'm open to anything that improves that process Jassy and I certainly don't want to snatch some routine, clip its wings, cage it and state unequivocally that this is the prescribed method that works for me and no doubt for others.

Most serious writers, once they find their own style, are not open to any other style but their own. They stop being open and free and trying to find a style that suits them. There were some good serious comments on this thread, and I myself refuse to stop being serious, because the subject deserves seriousness.

Well Google was no help with this one, and now the people who monitor Google searches 24/7 think I'm a narcissist

So that's how you write a story?

You've got to have fans first.

So that's how you write a story?

[hillwalker]

Most 'serious writers' write. Only those who take themselves more seriously than their writing sit back and analyze how they write. A rather futile exercise in my opinion.

H

[Varenne Rodin]

I really wish I could do this. Or write Young Adult fiction. There's such a demand for that.

Perhaps you could. Perhaps, you should.

[Jassy Melson]

Most 'serious writers' write. Only those who take themselves more seriously than their writing sit back and analyze how they write. A rather futile exercise in my opinion.

H

Beginning writers do sit back and analyze how they write, because they're searching for a style. Your comment was indirectly aimed at me. If you're suggesting that I'm not a serious writer because I wrote an article about beginning writers, you're nuts.

[hillwalker]

Me nuts? Probably... along with the rest of the general populace.

Most 'beginning writers' depend on other writers/readers/creative writing teachers to provide feedback on how their writing comes across. This is more meaningful than navel-gazing if they are looking to improve.

This thread was meant to show how an established writer sets about writing a story - rather like painting by numbers it transpired. There was nothing in the original post to suggest you were imparting valuable insights into the writing process. It appears that you write in pretty much the same way we all do - come up with an idea, formulate a plot, develop characters and then write. In your own words:

I'd say most serious writers amateur or professional write with the same approach I do.

So that's perhaps why your thread led to such derision from certain members. A case of stating the obvious.

I started this thread on a serious note, hoping that it would inspire writers to relate how they actually go about writing a story. But I see that it degenerated into a gag thread, with people trying to be cute.

Unfortunately it inspired writers to analyze the thread.

H

[Jassy Melson]

What it was meant to do was stimulate other writers to post about their own experiences in writing a story. What it led to in some cases was a gag thread. But not all. There were some really good comments about the way some writers write a story. With all the derision and gag lines and stupid jokes I still think the thread was a good one.

[hillwalker]

I know - I appreciated the thinking behind it. But it might have been better to ask everyone how they write a story first to avoid some of them thinking you were trying to teach your grandma to suck eggs.

H

[Jassy Melson]

I took myself as an example because I don't know how other writers write their stories. Some writers chose to write about their writing; some writers chose to tell stupid jokes and gags, or tried to be cute.

[Bluehound]

I tend to wake up in the middle of the night from a vivid dream and think wow that was a great plot for a story.
Usually it boils down to nothing more than a place to start, so that's what I do sit down and start writing, I very often don't have a clue where it is going.

But lately I have had a bit of a problem, in that I dream I have woken up from a dream in which their was a great idea for a story and by the time that I realise that I am still asleep I have forgotten the first good part of the dream I was dreaming....bum.

[Jassy Melson]

I've found that if I keep a pen and paper by my bed and upon awaking write down any dreams I have had, it helps me in finding plots for stories.