Learning How To Write

[Sylvie]

I've never been much of a writer and I usually stick to reading, which I do a lot of. But recently, after creating a character in the Adventurer's Guild (Points at community games, for those who don't know what it is) I got a lot more interested in writing something. Only, I can't seem to get the inspiration to do so.

So I decided that I'm going to shelve that for a while and write three short novels with around 10 chapters or so each and 2,000 words per chapter.

Please give me some one-liner writing prompts that I could use as a base. I'm going to choose three out of them and write on those. You can make it more detailed if you wish, but it isn't necessary. Any genre is fine. If possible, I would like to choose three different genres out of the given suggestions.

Edit: Since quite a few people think that this isn't the way to go about it, I think I'll scrap this plan. I am still going to write, but maybe I'll come up with my own ideas instead of using ones given by others. Thanks to those who gave their advice!

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I don't think this is how people should learn to write, but you do you.

 

[Sylvie]

I don't think this is how people should learn to write, but you do you.

I'm not completely terrible at it and my English is not bad. What I think I need to learn, is how to put out the plot in a decent way. So I thought, what better way than to actually write?

Also, doing the actual thing is a lot more fun.

 

[Mechaphobic]

A hero summoning is performed, but they only get farm animals.

Aliens have come to the planet. Why? Competitive dance.

A love story between a yandere and a person with split personality disorder. It's like a harem with only one person.

Reborn as a fly living on a magical airship.

I hope this helps...

 

[Sylvie]

A hero summoning is performed, but they only get farm animals.

Aliens have come to the planet. Why? Competitive dance.

A love story between a yandere and a person with split personality disorder. It's like a harem with only one person.

Reborn as a fly living on a magical airship.

I hope this helps...

Thanks a lot! I love the second one!

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I'm not completely terrible at it and my English is not bad. What I think I need to learn, is how to put out the plot in a decent way. So I thought, what better way than to actually write?

In my opinion, writing is about your imagination and desire to tell something. Yes, there is a technical aspect, but if you don't have any ideas\desire to write something specific. Or if you don't want to tell\share with other people, why even bother? To become a ghostwriter?

I get the message behind your thread, but I think that if you have such a question, "what to write?" writing isn't for you. Yes, there are cases of severe procrastination. When a person wants to write but doesn't do it. But I think your case isn't about that, do correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[luxia]

*points at @minacia ‘s thread* https://forum.scribblehub.com/threads/random-story-outlines.2694/

For me, I find it easiest to sit down and imagine a full story in my head. Then I write down a summary of the entire story.

I mainly do this as an exercise because I find it too easy to come up with a premise but then drop after five chapters. Over time, I sort of found that I really enjoy designing stories in my head, and even completing a summary can give you a feeling of accomplishment if you’ve been struggling to find motivation (or consistency with finishing stories).

If you’re able to complete a few story summaries, perhaps you’ll be better positioned to write a complete story in the future!

If you aren’t able to produce a summary that you like… there’s a chance that you won’t end up liking the story you write either (and end up dropping it down the road), so writing the summary can often give you a sense about how much you love this particular story!

 

[Mechaphobic]

This is only a small sample of the thoughts that spawn in my head. Part of being a writer is that sometimes you need to let your imagination wander, and then take notes on it. Never tell yourself no, just let your thoughts wander and grow. After you have created a very thorough picture, much like a movie, it is just getting it onto the paper. I think anyone can become a writer, but you have to train your imagination. You should never be restricted when it comes to your own thoughts and imagination. A lot of the problems I faced when I first started writing was learning to let go of my hesitations. A lot of the blocks we experience are a result of mental limitations we place onto ourselves.

 

[Sylvie]

In my opinion, writing is about your imagination and desire to tell something. Yes, there is a technical aspect, but if you don't have any ideas\desire to write something specific. Or if you don't want to tell\share with other people, why even bother? To become a ghostwriter?

I get the message behind your thread, but I think that if you have such a question, "what to write?" writing isn't for you. Yes, there are cases of severe procrastination. When a person wants to write but doesn't do it. But I think your case isn't about that, do correct me if I'm wrong.

I completely agree. The reason I'm doing this is that I'm not satisfied with the way I'm putting forth my ideas. I do have ideas, but I like all of them a lot so I don't want to waste them with bad writing skills.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

Secret agents (like James Bond)
Miners in a fantasy land
A couple going through a tough phase because they argue about whether or not they want children.
Groundhog day but the mc doesn't notice for the first hundred days
Pretending to be a person you aren't
Dream life turns nightmare
Ghosts haunting your daughter, protect her
Designing a puzzle
Describe a night in haiku
Grow apart with your best friend
Become friends with your worst enemy
Your friend antagonise you and breaks off your relationship, but you find out they did it because they had a terminal disease but it's too late

 

[Sylvie]

*points at @minacia ‘s thread* https://forum.scribblehub.com/threads/random-story-outlines.2694/

For me, I find it easiest to sit down and imagine a full story in my head. Then I write down a summary of the entire story.

I mainly do this as an exercise because I find it too easy to come up with a premise but then drop after five chapters. Over time, I sort of found that I really enjoy designing stories in my head, and even completing a summary can give you a feeling of accomplishment if you’ve been struggling to find motivation (or consistency with finishing stories).

If you’re able to complete a few story summaries, perhaps you’ll be better positioned to write a complete story in the future!

If you aren’t able to produce a summary that you like… there’s a chance that you won’t end up liking the story you write either (and end up dropping it down the road), so writing the summary can often give you a sense about how much you love this particular story!

I've tried this before and I usually am able to think of decent outlines that I like. But when I try to write them, it always comes off in a monotone fashion. I ended up rewriting the first chapter of what I wanted to write multiple times and still wasn't satisfied. So I just thought that if it was a story that I don't hold too much attachment to, I would be able to go ahead with lesser hesitation.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I completely agree. The reason I'm doing this is that I'm not satisfied with the way I'm putting forth my ideas. I do have ideas, but I like all of them a lot so I don't want to waste them with bad writing skills.

It's kind of weird, I must say. Why would you fear wasting your own ideas? Yes, your writing may be bad. But that's the whole point of growing as an author. You use your own ideas, and only that way, you will understand if you delivered them as you intended or not. You keep your mistakes, and you look back at them. You won't be able to objectively look at other people's ideas. And most importantly, in my opinion, 'training' to write is exactly training to convey your thoughts. It's not about technical prowess. How good you are with your tenses, and how many typos you correct. It's about how good your ideas are, how good you are at sorting them out, and stuff like that.

There is no perfection. Even if you train with other people's ideas and you don't burn yourself out, who said your next works would be ideal, or even remotely good? Go for your own creations. It's much more productive that way. And after a year of active writing, you can start rewriting your old work(s) if you want.

 

[hauntedwritings]

The reason people will avoid recommending ideas for you to write, is that as a writer you need to imagine what's happening in the story. Which is easier if the ideas are your own.

I completely agree. The reason I'm doing this is that I'm not satisfied with the way I'm putting forth my ideas. I do have ideas, but I like all of them a lot so I don't want to waste them with bad writing skills.

If you're like me, then you have more ideas than you'll probably be able to write. Writing is something that, in my opinion, gets better when you yourself feel invested in the story you're writing. Which you will be, if it's your own ideas. It will likely be more fun as well. So I'd use the ideas that you're 'saving', and come back and rewrite them if you're unsatisfied later on.

I do have one idea though, that I don't know if I'll have time to write. We've seen a lot of stories with MC getting isekaied and turn out to be overpowered. But overpowered in this case...it's literally. OVERpowered. Can't shake a someone's hand without breaking the bones in their hand. That kind of stuff.

As it doesn't have a plot, it could just be a fun, short project for practise.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

I've never been much of a writer and I usually stick to reading, which I do a lot of. But recently, after creating a character in the Adventurer's Guild (Points at community games, for those who don't know what it is) I got a lot more interested in writing something. Only, I can't seem to get the inspiration to do so.

So I decided that I'm going to shelve that for a while and write three short novels with around 10 chapters or so each and 2,000 words per chapter.

Please give me some one-liner writing prompts that I could use as a base. I'm going to choose three out of them and write on those. You can make it more detailed if you wish, but it isn't necessary. Any genre is fine. If possible, I would like to choose three different genres out of the given suggestions.

Dude gets high as fuck and goes on an adventure for White Castle burgers with his friend Henry

 

[Ritz]

I don't know.

 

[Sylvie]

Writing is something that, in my opinion, gets better when you yourself feel invested in the story you're writing. Which you will be, if it's your own ideas. It will likely be more fun as well.

There is no perfection. Even if you train with other people's ideas and you don't burn yourself out, who said your next works would be ideal, or even remotely good? Go for your own creations. It's much more productive that way. And after a year of active writing, you can start rewriting your old work(s) if you want.

Part of being a writer is that sometimes you need to let your imagination wander, and then take notes on it. Never tell yourself no, just let your thoughts wander and grow.

If you aren’t able to produce a summary that you like… there’s a chance that you won’t end up liking the story you write either

Since so many of you seem to think this isn't a great idea, I'll come up with my own ideas. It probably will be more interesting that way too. Thanks a lot for your time!

 

[Mechaphobic]

Dude gets high as fuck and goes on an adventure for White Castle burgers with his friend Henry

This is how my writing process begins though, I have a white castle 6 blocks away, and my roommate is named Henry. I live in Colorado I should add, so this is completely legal.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Since so many of you seem to think this isn't a great idea, I'll come up with my own ideas. It probably will be more interesting that way too. Thanks a lot for your time!

Just don't give up midway. If you have an idea stick with it to the end. It shouldn't be a thousand-chapter-long novel. Even if you think that the writing is bad, set up an editing limit for yourself. Try to end the novel if it's a short one. And don't be afraid of critique. The most important thing is that someone would like your work. And also, you will be able to write even more and better in the future. So, yeah, go for it.

 

[luxia]

I've tried this before and I usually am able to think of decent outlines that I like. But when I try to write them, it always comes off in a monotone fashion. I ended up rewriting the first chapter of what I wanted to write multiple times and still wasn't satisfied. So I just thought that if it was a story that I don't hold too much attachment to, I would be able to go ahead with lesser hesitation.

Have you ever tried write forcing yourself not to edit? I also have a friend who often gets stuck in edit hell, although I think that’s just her personality as a writer.

Getting stuck on the first chapter is a very x.x Having high standards for yourself often makes it difficult..

 

[Sylvie]

Have you ever tried write forcing yourself not to edit? I also have a friend who often gets stuck in edit hell, although I think that’s just her personality as a writer.

Getting stuck on the first chapter is a very x.x Having high standards for yourself often makes it difficult..

I should probably try to do that. I've only written short stories before that I edit a lot, multiple times. This is the first time I'm trying to go for something longer. Guess I'll just write without trying to edit anything except spelling and grammar until the end......