Uh...writing problems...too vivid imagination?

Question

I am writing multiple short stories/novellas at the moment. However I am finding it hard to write them down on paper. I see the action vividly in my mind, like a movie with color and action and sound....however I find it hard to put it on paper. my discriptions end up revealing a totaly different picture. How do I show the reader the right picture without ruining it? I try explaining it to another person, but I end up giving them the basic details...is that a good idea? give the reader just the basic so that thier own imagination can fill in the specifics?
Help me please
-a writer in destress

Answer 1

I'm actually having a very similar problem right now. I think its cause I watched too many movies today.... can't get anything down...
usually thinking helps me. I know, no sh*t Sherlock, but words are words and finding the right ones, in a new way takes thought. Instead of picturing it try something else. Describe it. The little things- like her breathing, the roughness of the table, the pounding rain. Don't get too carried away though.
Don't talk about your writing, either. I know, its so hard not to seek out others when you need help... but try not to. We're writers and every word that is typed or comes out of our mouths is art- you're giving some of it away before you even get it down on paper! Plus plots often sound stupid to others, and even yourself until you put the magic in it and write it.
Try going scene by scene. Whats the first thing that happens. Someone walks into a bar. Okay, so describe the bar. The atmosphere. The people. It's past. Whatever's relevant. And move on. Put some action in there. A girl walks in. What kind of girl. A beautiful girl? ect ect ect.....
Go on inspiration. You know... those moments when your in the shower and suddenly your mind jump starts and you know exactly the right word to describe how the protagonist eats that hot dog, and so you yell "SOMEBODY GET ME A PENCIL AND SOME PAPER!!!!"? OK, so maybe it doesn't happen exactly like that, but the moments where your blood rushes and you feel the story, you need to write about it.
Oh and never tell, always show. There is a time for telling, and hopefully you'll know when, but mostly SHOW. If you have issues with this, look it up. Lotsa great websites.
GOOD LUCK! (for me and you both...)

Answer 2

Sounds as though you are not organising your material.

Suggestion: make a 'story board' for one script. Make the segments short and plot-developing. THEN put the details in to the characters as the plot is getting moving. Maybe add only a few details at ta time. Make the reader interested to go on reading.

Try doing only ONE script at a time. If they are all crowding in to your mind, discipline yourself to getting one complete plot written down before going to the next. Just the plot line and the basic characters.

OR make all the plots on different colored paper so that you can develop them in an order. All the red papers are the murder story, all the green are the sci fi one, all the pink are the romantic story etc. that way you will not get confused.

The basic details are sufficient at certain times, but at times you want to elaborat4 upon a character to show the motives behind an action.

Keep writing. You get better as you go along. No one is perfect the first time. Practice ALL you can. Well done.

Answer 3

I was dealing with this issue tonight but the best thing you can do is exactly what you mentioned:

>> give the reader just the basic so that thier own imagination can fill in the specifics.

Another method if you really feel like you want to do it is to pace how you include information. For example, I was writing about a being in a bar. I wanted to describe the bartender because I really felt like the bartender had a lot of character, but I realized that it's best for me to describe little parts and let the reader fill in the rest.

In one section, I said: I turned around and the bartender held a pistol in her left hand. This said: the bartender's a female, she carries weapons and can use them (and probably that she's left-handed).

Then later I said, "the Christmas lights behind her created a red halo on the edge of her afro." This said: She's of African descent, she wears her hair in an afro.

I also saw her wearing a white t-shirt and cropped jean shorts but I did not reveal this. I thought it would be okay for the reader to imagine what she's wearing. Giving up this control is fine for me. But if I really wanted to reveal it, I could have added it in later in the text, as part of the story instead of plain exposition.

For example, "She spilled the drink on her white t-shirt" instead of "She wore a white t-shirt." Don't be afraid to let go and let your readers figure it out. Pace your exposition.

Answer 4

your first sentence says it all. Write one story and finish it, first. Then move on to the next. You seem to be at a loss on how to translate what you see in your head to paper. That's a big issue because that's your job to do just that. Is it an issue of finding the right words? If that's the case, reading alot can help. If you want to be a writer you need to understand how language works. Details are key, a vague descriptive section will be frustrating for the reading. There are five senses, USE them.


Thomas

Answer 5

I know what you mean;I used to have the same problem before to
but I overcame it by doing these steps:
1)write down the entire story(it doesn`t matter if it`s sloppy or full of mistakes)
2)read it over and fix any problems you find(it might be a good idea to look up some words that matches the description in the story)
3)If you find it okay then check for mistakes and fix them
4)give it to some one to read over it to see if there is something that the reader doesn`t understand(optional)
5)If okay then make final draft

I hope this helps =)

Answer 6

simplify and focus.

you may be writing too many projects at the same time and having difficulty focusing on the important details you most want in each piece.

1 - work on one piece at a time.
2 - outline the major points (because it structures what you write as you write and helps you remember and choose which details you want to get down in writing)
3 - after you have details down in writing, don't be surprised if you don't like your first try at putting down the details. it is not unusual to picture a story in your head much differently than it can be communicated in writing.
4 - because you are trying to communicate by writing (and not by mental telepathy), you need to judge your ability to communicate in writing by comparison with other writing. a reasonable comparison is: asking yourself if you are communicating better in writing today than you have in the past, which will help you decide if your writing is improving. when you think your writing is improving, ask a friend to read your work to determine if you are communicating what you wanted to communicate. don't just ask your friend for an open ended critique; ask specific questions and judge your work by the specific answers you receive.

Answer 7

this is a curse and a a blessing. As a blessing, a marvelous mind's eye can take one to the climax of achievement. As a curse, all of us be attentive to that youngsters in maximum situations are gifted with a marvelous mind's eye beginning up at age 3. Their subconscious works as a digital laptop submitting away hundreds of glimpses of reminiscence as a results of their marvelous mind's eye. they typically pop up of their objectives and get filed back into their subconscious as digital thoughts as though that they had got here approximately in actual existence. Now, right this is how a marvelous mind's eye could be a curse. in accordance to Freud whilst a new child walks in by employing twist of destiny on his or her mothers and fathers or the different person couple on the 2d they are making intercourse, and ideas you this occurs many situations, the pictures get filed away into the subconscious to pop up in objectives being raped or abused by employing frequently an person in the kin. The journey reasons on the youngster one in each and every of those good impression that later as an person the guy shows an analogous indications of post irritating themes. under hypnosis an person gets ti be pointed out and accused of a criminal offense that he in no way committed. this is in simple terms an occasion of a curse as a results of a marvelous mind's eye.

Answer 8

This improves with practice. Don't despair, just keep writing and find someone with knowledge to give you feedback on certain segments to see if what you're trying to say is coming through better than you expect. That's possible.

A good writing community is invaluable. Try writing.com, for one.

Answer 9

Try brainstorming write down everything that comes to mind wether or not it's related to your story .three pages at least ,then try writing your synopsis then break it down into small pieces and get more specific.Try to relax.I don't know wether or not you exercise but it might help.

Answer 10

Your problems sound more psychological than of writing or composing in nature...Try to seek professional help...