How do you become a fiction writer?

Question

I really do enjoy writing. I tend to not have enough ides to write a story though. When I actually do sit down and write, after a while the story begins to seem boring or unrealistic. How do I learn to write more realistic stories that I dont regret writing after a while? Also, what is the proper method for preparing to write a story? What do you develop first, charecters, plot, setting, supspense, conflict?

Answer 1

There is a form of writing called, "Creative Non Fiction."

Some people find this a creative way to write about the things that have happened around them and it is somewhat of a bridge to fiction.

I like to use old-fashioned 3x5 notecards to outline the general story I want to tell and then one-at-a-time I write cards for the characters. Eventually, I transfer the outline to my computer in a word outline.

My suggestion basically is to just keep writing every day and find a supportive writer's group that you can join. Eventually it will all come together.

Answer 2

If you're writing things that don't interest you, and can't come up with ideas that hold your attention, you might not truly be a novelist. This doesn't mean you can't be a successful author--you can write short stories, serials, or even shorter, young adult/children novelettes.

Novels are very difficult to write, much more so than most people believe. It's a lot more than just writing for about 400 double-spaced pages and ending with "The End."

No two authors write exactly the same way. Some hate outlines, as it feels like the story is already written and there's nothing fun or exciting to discover. Others can't begin without a mountain of research, detailed outlines or synopses, character charts/sheets, etc. I couldn't begin to tell you what would work best for you.

What I can do, however, is give you a quick exercise to better help you decide what you might find most exciting to write.

Choose five or six of your favorite novels, in any genre, by any author. Find as many (5-10) similarities that you can between them and write them down. Once you have that list, you have the type of story you are most compelled to read, and therefore, most compelled to write.

As to getting ideas that will sustain a full-length novel, I suggest you research the 'net for articles/books about creating conflict and plotting.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Not to worry, I have several ideas that I want to share with others and they should help to inspire and feel free to use whatever you wish:

I have often wondered to myself what it would be like to be in Heaven, and I have come up with a very interesting image of it!!

Now imagine yourself materializing into another realm/plain of existence beyond what we can detect in our mortal reality. When entering (Naturally as an angel), you feel totally weightless (With no pressure anywhere not even on your feet as if you are freely levitating in outer-space with total control over where you want to go "knowing that no harm of any kind will ever come to you", and being able to move at any speed, in any direction you wish, with still feeling no pressure). You then feel an infinite number of different emotions that are so mysterious and beautiful that are far beyond anything that we can even begin to imagine in our mortal realm. You then realize that you are totally cleaned of all evil thoughts, pain, etc. You also feel as if you are made entirely of the tingling sensation (A lot like the one you get when your foot's asleep), and feeling as if their is an infinite number of beams of pure white light going through your entire spiritual essence from all angles at all times. This would make one feel truly free/refreshed throughout every fiber of their spiritual being. Also being able to experience a countless number of nothing but awe inspiring sounds, positive/enlightening thoughts, sights/images, emotions, etc. Then you realize that you are hearing, seeing, etc, a complex mixture of all the positive/heavenly experiences of everyone their (Including yourself), so that every angel truly knows each others positives inside and out, without question (Both from their mortal lives and lives they are living in heaven). The visual sights/environment in Heaven would be a mixture of every ones positive experiences, thoughts and so on with everyone having true 360 vision (Sights/images beyond our mortal imaginations I am sure). You then feel as if you are truly a part of an infinite all knowing knowledge (Truly without question, being at one with God and everyone else their), feeling as if you are a part of a truly loving/pure, ever expanding consciousness (One massive mind of seemingly never ending knowledge that is continuously growing). Within this realm/Heaven everyone their will feel truly 100% whole/cleansed for all time...Is this what Heaven is really like??!!!...I guess only time will tell.......

Do I believe in God?
Yes. Even though several times life can be/seem difficult even down right frustrating, but when I look at the many wonders around me and truly open up my senses and mind, I find that God is always their in one way or another. I do truly believe that there is a life after this one and I have spent lots of time trying to imagine and rationalize what happens and what it is like for our essence to pass on in the next life. First off, I believe that for those who are not ready to pass on when their physical body passes away that they do get more chances in one way or another in a final judgment until they have truly made up and feel sorry for what they have done by going to hell forever (For a very long or seemingly endless time). When their sufferings purify and truly make up for what they have done then I believe that they will also be ready to enter a beautifully mysterious realm that is far beyond what we can truly comprehend in our current reality.

Why am I so sure of all this, well I will give a few of the endless reasons as to why. Just by looking at the effects the wind has on the leaves and branches as they are blown in several awe inspiring patterns, the sunlight making several sparkles on the water, the lovely artistic array of colours in the sky that a sunset can provide, rainbows, learning of the many stars galaxies, and so on, the many amazing art works created by man (Thanks to gods' marvelous hands of creation), etc.

Hearing the many enchanting calls of Gods' creatures, the array of sounds from the wind and rain as they come in contact with objects, many beautiful sounds from music that can easily help us to open our hearts and minds as well as emotional poetry, etc.

To smell/taste the many aromas/foods from nature as well as many other things created by man (Who I do believe were evolved/crafted by God).

Feeling the breeze as it passes by as well as the refreshing feel (And Smells) of a rainstorm and the many textures of objects that are all around us.

With all this in mind, I truly believe that God does exist. After all, even looking at this from a scientific point of view, in the very beginning how could the matter, particles, etc that were used to craft all that we know today, just simply come from nothing (Even those who say there was a big bang that started it all "One of many theories", where did the material originally come from...). As far as I am concerned, there is a higher force (God) who created the materials to eventually form the planets and so on giving birth to an amazingly abundant reality that is filled with wonders that we have only begun to imagine and unravel. I also believe in the evolution/changes of the universe, galaxies, planets, creatures, etc and that evolution is the process which allows the universe, etc to adapt to life as well as life adapting to the universe, etc.

Over time, we can properly adapt to our environments and better ourselves as well as the world around us and beyond. I do believe that all this can eventually lead to something marvelous so long as people can look out for and help each other as well as other creatures, etc. Also embracing/working towards peace, love and understanding for a better tomorrow. I also believe that God set in motion the processes that eventually created everything/one and that he is truly everywhere at all times and can be reached when we truly open our hearts and minds to him, ourselves and other people/creatures.

After all, with so much beauty available in so many ways I truly believe that the Lords' caring is truly infinite and I believe that the suffering in which people go through is how mankind can truly find themselves and help out those in need (Understanding pain, which can lead to emotions of sympathy, caring and understanding for one another) so that together we can heal and grow to eventually become a part of something that is more wondrous and greater then anything we can imagine. By opening our hearts and minds to help one another people from around the world can truly become a part of something that is far greater then anything we can possibly imagine.

We each have our own tunes to play in the song of life and by opening our selves to the Lord we can find the melodies that we need to truly make our selves whole. We each have our own uniquely beautiful/emotional tunes to add and experience the Lords' love in our own ways.

I believe that in Heaven, each angel adds to the Lords' infinite love/melodies and that the more who follow him, the more beautiful and intricate that melody/song becomes. If we can all just take some time each day (Even just around ten minutes a day) we can truly begin to heal, and feel the world around us by seeing and experiencing many wonders that would otherwise be passed by, ignored or not even noticed. Together, mankind can truly become enlightened/whole, helping their fellow man as well as caring and having loving respect for other creatures, the planet and life in general.

So yes, I can truly say that I open my mind, heart, and soul to God and helping those who are in need. I do this by showing them what life can offer and that there is a never ending supply of wonders and beauty to experience.

If people work together and help others, then in the end it will all be worth it and we will truly know what it is like to experience Gods' infinitely complex yet loving song that will truly cleanse our souls and set us free for all time!!

I have other works that you can use which can be found at:

http://360.yahoo.com/blorm_multaeeneea_lavacom