How does one write?

Question

I get these ideas in my head, sometimes only characters, sometimes conflicts and events without specific characters (atleast initially). I don't consider myself the creator of these ideas as they just come with no effort. They live in my mind and develop themselves and sometimes combind with with other "unrelated" ideas with slightly more effort than it took to birth them. Then on the rare occasion that I attempt to put them in print I can not even begin to articulate them. My words are ackward, there is no flow though I feel with certainty what I want to say. There seems to be some kind of breakdown between these two different parts of me. I quickly am defeated because what I have down is not what I ment and it dishonors what I have inside and I cannot continue the comprimise. Do people have to pound it out into their goal? Others seem to write just like they're ringing a bell. I speak well and have a good command of the language but I just can't seem to get it there.

Answer 1

With a pencil HAHA

Answer 2

I sometimes have the exact problem you are talking about. I start by just writing down my characters, nothing else. I delve into them write all you know and then start to question all you have written. Why is she a blonde? Why is she 30? Why does she look at stars? If the answer comes easy look some more, you don't want cliches. Once your characters are fully fleshed out with habits, motives and dreams, etc. Then you can begin inserting them into your story. For me the story is always told, it is the characters who are the sticking point so I start there.

Answer 3

I could have written your question myself. I definitely feel (and have always felt this way) that there was a breakdown between my characters in my head, and the paper. I suppose Plato would say that that was only the natural order of things.

Practice and emulation of other works--and believe me, the frustration only lessens, it doesn't go away. Plus, as writers and creators, we are so close to our work, we only see the failures, rather than the successes we may have accidentally achieved. I read once that Mozart was so frustrated by much of his work, that he torched his entire collection, only to have to recreate it from memory at the behest of his patron. I am no Mozart, but I certainly empathize.

I have an MFA, two published books, numerous short stories, but I always remember what my mentor said: To be a writer, you will serve the longest apprenticeship of any discipline. No one achieves the hood of 'master' until death.

Answer 4

Writing takes so much practice. I know exactly what you mean about the ideas and scenes and characters in your head. For years I've tried to put these on paper. Today when I look back at my old writing, it makes me want to laugh. It's ridiculously primitive and amateurish. But I've been writing as much as I can anytime I can for years and I know my writing has improved greatly.

It's tempting to be easily frustrated but give yourself a break. You've got the creative spark, you just need to tame it with practice.

Take writing courses where you can get feedback from a professional instructor. Join critique groups, in your town or online. Read, read, read and learn from authors whose work you admire. Most importantly, write. Write whenever you can.

Like the artist who first picks up a pencil, their skill develops over time. So will yours.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I asked for some good sites for amateur writers a while back and these are the answers I got that I thought were the best. They have lots of help on one of them for writers block as well.
You may also want to get a recorder to record your ideas as you get them. This helps me when I am writing music. Good luck!

Answer 6

I do get ideas and they are fast yeah you are right, what I do I close my eyes and I keep on thinking about idea I got previously and then able to write them down or sometimes draw them.

Answer 7

Take a composition class or literature class. That will teach you, especially the comp.

Answer 8

just write it down one at a time and later add it all up