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  • Subject: I need help in writing books, any advice?
Subject: I need help in writing books, any advice?

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Every time I start a story I always trail away from the main plot, how can I prevent myself from doing this? (a perfect example is I did 95 pages of one story but scrapped it as it trailed away).
And I always describe things over-the-top or don't describe things enough, how can I describe things that will fit in between?

I can link some of my work so far if anyone needs an example of what I am talking about.

[Edited on 12.15.2012 1:44 PM PST]

  • 12.15.2012 1:43 PM PDT

Posted by: Alex Mac Kee
If pen­ises were planes Jimmy's mouth would be an airport


Posted by: DarkBen64
Don't punch a British kid, the queen'll come after you.

Do what you're doing now but even more so

Critics love digression and ergodism

  • 12.15.2012 1:45 PM PDT
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I like games and music

Write a red line that explains what the characters will be facing and doing till the end

Then write around that detailing environmental stuff.

  • 12.15.2012 1:45 PM PDT

The human element always mucks things up.

Boobs.

  • 12.15.2012 1:46 PM PDT
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Writer's Corner
6/15/2011 11:39 PM: bobcast [2597260] issued a 3 day ban expiring on 6/18/2011 11:39 PM.
Reason: A Bungie.net Forum Moderator has banned you for violating the code of conduct and/or rules of the forum in the thread below
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=61704535
Inappropriate. Went a little to far with the butt hole tearing.

Plan out your story. That's an easy way to keep things on track.

As for description, you just need to keep practising and experimenting.

Maybe just post an excerpt? People don't like following links.

  • 12.15.2012 1:46 PM PDT
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I do not want to stop asking. I do not ask to stop wanting.

Actually, that's quite good. It means that you really want to craft your own universe (are you writing sci fi? That's one of the hallmarks of a good sci fi writer).

Just keep writing. Write everything. Even your differentiations- they'll eventually end up bolstering your universe with even more depth if you manage to incorporate it into the story.

[Edited on 12.15.2012 1:47 PM PST]

  • 12.15.2012 1:47 PM PDT

Dont do anything to ambitious to start with. Try some short stories first.

Im a rookie writer too

  • 12.15.2012 1:49 PM PDT

http://www.capturemyhaloclips.com/ - Get your Halo clips captured.
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Posted by: petitminou

Maybe just post an excerpt? People don't like following links.

Alright, I'll do that. I'll just have to find a good example.

  • 12.15.2012 1:49 PM PDT

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Posted by: Haloroach
Actually, that's quite good. It means that you really want to craft your own universe (are you writing sci fi? That's one of the hallmarks of a good sci fi writer).

One of my works is a sci-fi piece, the other is fantasy but both are big in their own rights.

  • 12.15.2012 1:52 PM PDT

http://www.capturemyhaloclips.com/ - Get your Halo clips captured.
The Artists Corner - Show other members your artistic talent.
Storywrite - Where I am writing my book.

Below is a piece taken from Guardian Angels - Part 5 - Angels and Demons on Earth. This is used as an example and it is copyrighted.




Daemon was a group that was first brought together as a desperate attempt to drive the angels back to heaven back when earth was created. The group was and still is made of five demons: Nightmare, Daydream, Armageddon (or Arma), Physic, and a demon only known by the name of Shutter.

"Okay Daemon" Armageddon said, turning around and addressing the rest of the group, "We have reports of angel activity in and around the area of Warwickshire, England. Rumour has it that several hundred Creations went down from heaven there and we intend on getting them and freeing them from the archangels illusion".

"What angels are we up against?" Daydream asked, her purple eyes locking onto Armageddon's.

"Most likely just the regular angels but there might be the odd guardian angel there and if we're extremely unlucky an archangel" Armageddon replied.

"There won't be any archangels around Arma" Nightmare said in a calm voice, and he turned to look at his sister, Daydream, "Think you can handle a few guardian angels?"

"Sweet brother, if I couldn't handle a few flimsy guardian angels then I wouldn't be here" Daydream replied in an innocent sweet sort of voice.

"Portals opening" Shutter said in a quiet voice.

Armageddon turned around and saw that she was right. A blue portal had opened right behind him; a portal that lead to earth. Armageddon looked back at the group, nodded, and was the first one to run through it and disappear; Nightmare pulled out his giant sword and thundered through followed closely by his sister Daydream; Physic looked at Shutter and gestured saying "Ladies first". Shutter gave a small smile and leapt through the portal and out of the other end onto earth.


[Edited on 12.15.2012 1:57 PM PST]

  • 12.15.2012 1:55 PM PDT


Posted by: TheSpiderChief
Every time I start a story I always trail away from the main plot, how can I prevent myself from doing this? (a perfect example is I did 95 pages of one story but scrapped it as it trailed away).
And I always describe things over-the-top or don't describe things enough, how can I describe things that will fit in between?

I can link some of my work so far if anyone needs an example of what I am talking about.

Read Michael Crichton books, and see how he did things.:)

  • 12.15.2012 1:56 PM PDT

My advice would be to give up at the first sign of writer's block or whatever it's called. Just drop the idea instantly. If at first you don't succeed then just give up. Am I right?

  • 12.15.2012 1:57 PM PDT


Posted by: Mitochondrion
My advice would be to give up at the first sign of writer's block or whatever it's called. Just drop the idea instantly. If at first you don't succeed then just give up. Am I right?

No you are wrong.

  • 12.15.2012 2:00 PM PDT
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Writer's Corner
6/15/2011 11:39 PM: bobcast [2597260] issued a 3 day ban expiring on 6/18/2011 11:39 PM.
Reason: A Bungie.net Forum Moderator has banned you for violating the code of conduct and/or rules of the forum in the thread below
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=61704535
Inappropriate. Went a little to far with the butt hole tearing.


Posted by: TheSpiderChief
Below is a piece taken from Guardian Angels - Part 5 - Angels and Demons on Earth. This is used as an example and it is copyrighted.




Daemon was brought together as a desperate attempt to drive the angels back to Heaven when Earth was first created. The group was and still is made of five demons: Nightmare, Daydream, Armageddon (or Arma), Physic, and a demon only known by the name of Shutter.

"Okay Daemon" Armageddon said, turning around and addressing the rest of the group, "We have reports of angel activity in and around the area of Warwickshire, England. Rumour has it that several hundred Creations descended there and we intend on getting them and freeing them from the Archangel's illusion".

"What angels are we up against?" Daydream asked, her purple eyes locking onto Armageddon's.

"Most likely just the regular angels but there might be the odd guardian angel there and if we're extremely unlucky an archangel" Armageddon replied.

"There won't be any archangels around, Arma" Nightmare said in a calm voice and turned to look at his sister, Daydream, "Think you can handle a few guardian angels?"

"Sweet brother, if I couldn't handle a few flimsy guardian angels, then I wouldn't be here" Daydream replied in an innocent, sweet intonation.

"Portals opening" Shutter said in a quiet voice.

Armageddon turned around and saw that she was right. A blue portal had opened right behind him: a portal that lead to Earth. Armageddon looked back at the group, nodded, and was the first one to run through it and disappear; Nightmare pulled out his giant sword and thundered through followed closely by his sister Daydream; Physic looked at Shutter and gestured saying "Ladies first". Shutter gave a small smile and leapt through the portal and out of the other end onto earth.


I edited it a little. =)

  • 12.15.2012 2:08 PM PDT

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Posted by: petitminou
I edited it a little. =)

Lol, you couldn't resist could you? xD
Anyways I don't know if that was actually a good example to demonstrate what my particular problems are ...

  • 12.15.2012 2:21 PM PDT

If you are watching this you have clicked on my profile or stolen this. I dont know why you would do that...

About me? I love Astronomy, I like to play guitar and watch anime. My future lies in Astronomy and so does the future of all of humanity. You should join my Astronomy group Space Explorers.

I am currently trying to write a book and I have decided that I will even splitt it up into two. It all started of with one chapter and I expanded upon it outwards from there.

Before I carried on I spent weeks just writing down ideas. Things such as characters as I go. Of course I always keep in mind the main plot though my main plot has plenty of roads to get there.

I would say you should sometimes just sit down and write down a bunch of notes as to how things can go. Such as what will happen in the first bit of the story? Then what will happen in the second? Sometimes when you feel a bit lost you should write down a lot of notes.

Also you should first write a draft of some sort. Don't try to finish the story in one attempt. Just write down roughly how you want that scene to go. Then when you have written the draft of the whole story, you revise your whole story and try to rewrite it. Now you can add details and see if they also make sence for the rest of the story.

It works for me, but I can't say if it works others.

  • 12.15.2012 2:53 PM PDT

Break down, every single one of you.


Posted by: xXPhantomLinkXx
I would say you should sometimes just sit down and write down a bunch of notes as to how things can go. Such as what will happen in the first bit of the story? Then what will happen in the second? Sometimes when you feel a bit lost you should write down a lot of notes.

Also you should first write a draft of some sort. Don't try to finish the story in one attempt. Just write down roughly how you want that scene to go. Then when you have written the draft of the whole story, you revise your whole story and try to rewrite it. Now you can add details and see if they also make sence for the rest of the story.

This guy seems to know what he is talking about.

Before you write anything else, I would make a bullet list of all the plots points you want to take place, in the order they should occur. That way you have a general map of where your story should be going at the time. This, of course, will change with the revisions you make to your novel.

Remember, people take years to write books. Take your time. Write it all the way through once before you go back and start revisions.

  • 12.15.2012 3:03 PM PDT

http://www.capturemyhaloclips.com/ - Get your Halo clips captured.
The Artists Corner - Show other members your artistic talent.
Storywrite - Where I am writing my book.


Posted by: xXPhantomLinkXx
I know for a fact that it definitely won't work with me. If I start writing/typing up a draft then my brain will "shift" and instead of writing/typing a draft version it'll start to turn into the actual version.

  • 12.15.2012 3:06 PM PDT