Gathering of the Figments

pommie42 · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:06 am Post subject: If you're stuck...

Try and get into the characters mind is a well publicised fact, and trust me it does work.
Try listening to some music, try and avoid loud music though...
Don't go solid for hours, take a break, relax, do something else, like post on this forum Wink

If you arent at a computer, keep a notebook handy too...

This is just what works for me, it may or may not for you too...
_________________
It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.

Temeraire Forums
The Dragon's Lair!!

Rainfallen · Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:43 am Post subject:

Sounds like handy advice. Wink

_________________
Walk
In the rain

DarkWaltz · Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject:

I find that though I write mostly on the computer, if I print out some of what I have and then sit there with a pen, I have more ideas and I can write more easily. It's easier to edit on a computer, but I like writing on paper more.

~J
_________________

~DancingEponaTinuviel

Hawkins · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject:

I like computer writing a bit more. Because I have terrible handwriting, I end up scribbling out a lot and then writing stuff above that or around it (which is hard to read) and I run out of paper. Fast. I tore through an entire box of notebooks in a single summer once. They're all under the sofa now, I think. If so, they've got holes in them now...

Ack, what is that noise? I came up to Mae's for the week (the boys are having their spring break, so they need someone to torment, plus there's supposed to be a Noreaster coming through Sunday/Monday and she'd rather I live to at least 30.) and Key's been going nuts and meowing and now it sounds like she's taking a block of wood and thumping it on the floor. She doesn't like it here...as for Duke, he's been out cold at the foot of my bed since we got here and Mouse never makes any noise unless I have something important I'm trying to concentrate on.
_________________

Tyler's on vacation...to CANADA...*sad*

butterflii · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:18 am Post subject:

Yes, I much prefer computer writing because when writing on paper my arm starts to get tired and my handwriting screws up and then when I decide I didn't like a couple of sentences I have to scribble them out and try and right the replacements in. But I do seem to be able to plan better on paper but as for actually writing something out the computer comes out top. Especially for time. I can type almost 80 words a minute (I did this typing thing in school) but with quite a few errors! As for writing with a pen and paper, I'm exceptionally slow.

However when I'm stuck, I try and think of what to write and end up going on a tangent and in an hours time being no better off with ideas. So it's definately better to take a brake and relax for a while then come back to your writing all fresh.
Music always helps me, but with me it CANNOT be ravey dance music because that's my favourite typ eof music to dance to and I'll end up making dance moves for competitions instead of writing.
_________________
Spider, Spider, on the wall.
Have you got no sense at all?
Can't you see the walls been plastered.
Now you're stuck you stupid . . . spider.

Hawkins · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:17 am Post subject:

I can't even listen to that soft, slow, peaceful music. It makes me homesick in the worst way.

I used to live in Maine, right? It was the perfect childhood, plenty of places to explore, we lived in a boarding house, (but only Mae, Ty and I lived in one room, my grandparents in another, and a woman named Leena in another, and my genius uncle living in a trailer about 100 feet away.) and then when I was about five, we moved to Vermont. My grandma still lives in that house, and when I go to see her, it's always quiet, and she keeps the radio tuned into soft, slow music and I can just see me and Tyler running around, laughing...

So I get homesick whenever I hear that kind of music. And then I end up getting all depressed, so...I prefer legos. Very Happy

_________________

Tyler's on vacation...to CANADA...*sad*

butterflii · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 3:51 am Post subject:

LEGOS ROCK!

I went out the other day with my friends, in town and stuff. And I went into Toys'r'us, the kiddies toy shop and brought like £10 worst of lego and went home to play with it. And my 6 year old brother got uber-excited and was all

"Yaaay! Lauren you're the greatest! I love you, can I play with the lego now??"

I couldn't say, "No kid, sorry, I brought it for myself. Duh! Havn't you every heard of a 15 year old girl playing with a the pirate-style lego collection?"

So instead we have to share it, but it worked out ok, we ended up doing a POTC style scene. It was sooo cool =]

But I still want to play with it by myself. . .
_________________
Spider, Spider, on the wall.
Have you got no sense at all?
Can't you see the walls been plastered.
Now you're stuck you stupid . . . spider.

Hawkins · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 8:12 am Post subject:

Jordan had this uber awesome viking ship/dragon/orc lego set, it was so freakin' awesome, and then I arranged them so nicely in a mega battle scene with dragons and vikings and orcs all killing each other...then Tyler came along and decided he wanted the dragon to hang from the ceiling. (...?)
_________________

Tyler's on vacation...to CANADA...*sad*

butterflii · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:46 am Post subject:

Yeah kids have strange ideas about stuff like that.

When we had the baby puppies (splee!) and we kept one, we were all like "Hmmm what to name it?" And thomas was like "Sweet William, and we can train him to eat girls"
We explained to thomas that if the dog ate girls then he would have to eat, me, my mum, grandma etc. etc.
So he just concluded that he could put us in the pond, to stop the dog from eating us . . .

Good idea Tom?
_________________
Spider, Spider, on the wall.
Have you got no sense at all?
Can't you see the walls been plastered.
Now you're stuck you stupid . . . spider.

Hawkins · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:26 pm Post subject:

Sounds like something I would say. Don't it?
_________________

Tyler's on vacation...to CANADA...*sad*

luv2dream · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject:

Ok, I have a question.

Do you have to fully develope your characters before writing the story? Or can you just develope them as you go along? Is it easier to develope them before the story, so that you CAN get in thier head?

And I have another question,

What if say, you worked at a funeral home and there was a really creepy looking guy working there who was the stereo-typical vision and character of the cartoony versions of a mortician. Could you write a story with him as the main character and just change the name?

Because he would be perfect for a short story I have been tossing around in my head. He would be the main character which is really scary, if I have to get in his head.

OK, now another question. Say you had a really crappy scary childhood and events from long ago still give you nightmares or rather night terrors.. Would you think it would be good for one to develope a evil character knowing you would have to get in his head to write the story? Kinda like a face your fear thing. (Just curious what one would do)
_________________
Jenn

Figment · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:48 pm Post subject:

I don't think you have to have the character totally developed... You just need to know a little about them and what drives them... throughout the course of the story they will reveal more things to you than you could ever develop just by looking at them and asking "Who are you?"

As to the character being based entirely on a real person... I would suggest taking those main aspects... And then you can make them better or worse as you choose...

Unless the person looks at the character and goes "Hey, that's me!" then it should be ok... But it's better to be safe than sorry...
If the person can prove that you were writing about them, they can sue you for defamation or something i think... That is if they would want to bring up the fact that you had based that terrible character on them...

It would be hard to do that, with the night terrors and stuff... But i also think that it would be amazing if you were to capture that character... and the true terror that they give everyone... Characters who have elements of people we actually know, and stories that have aspects of things that we have experienced, are always deeper, and that little bit "extra" compared to stories written by people who have not had a situation like that...

It is easier to make an audience cry at the death of a character, if you have experienced death in your own life... Because you can look back and see what you were feeling, and put it into the story...

So in short, it might be difficult... But i really think that you, and your audience would benefit from it!
_________________

pommie42 · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject:

I find that no matter how much I try and develop my characters beforehand; they still always manage to surprise me with new quirks and traits that I had never anticipated. The characters will always grow and develop in ways that you, as the author, do not anticipate. So, keeping this in mind I always find it better to limit your character development to a miniumum to begin with; and then develop that character as they progress through the story.

That's just how I roll, it may be different for others, I don't know, but just so you know how I tick.
_________________
It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.

Temeraire Forums
The Dragon's Lair!!

Hawkins · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject:

I usually get the main idea worked out in my head. The basic plot, right? Not the full plot with all the loopholes and near-death experiences, but the basic idea. Then I'll start writing, and when I come to a place where I need a new character, I just come up with a name, and he/she decides how they turn out. *shrug* Originally, Troy was supposed to be a normal kind of guy who liked normal stuff, etc. Then he decided he wanted to be different. PFFT!
_________________

Tyler's on vacation...to CANADA...*sad*