{ ＩＮＫＬＩＮＧＳ v.4 } A Thread For Writers

[Nocte Luna]

In the past I've tried NaNo, but it hasn't worked out very well, I didn't have very good plotlines or characters, so it got more and more difficult. Now I feel like I could maybe do it, but only if I could start with what I have done right now, which is currently at ~8000 words and has nine chapters (tenth is in progress).

Speaking of, I've gotten a little farther with the piece that I posted a couple pages back, and it's now an actual story (or part of a real story) with author's notes at the end if you're interested in what goes in my mind. (Click here to read) If you'd like to critique, please send me a PM with your critique, other than that, any questions/comments/concerns can be posted directly to the thread. I'd love to hear what you have to say to help develop up into a better story.

I'd definitely agree with Captain Peregrin, though - good stories help shape your own. You can experiment with different authors' styles and create a style for yourself that is very unique. Reading is the best way to become a better writer.

[Ranger of the North]

@Peregrin that's interesting how you learn stuff! I pick up lots from reading, too Although I more notice grammar, now~

I've never done NaNoWriMo - it'd take a lot of time, plus the thought is really terrifying O.O - but I did Camp NaNo earlier in the year! I set my goal for 12k words and only just made it......

[Captain Peregrin]

Good grammar is important, of course, but it will only get you so far. Studying Linguistics actually cured me of a lot of my grammar nazi ways, as there's much more focus on how people use language, not how it "should" be used.

[joji]

trying to get back into writing, i have a story id like to investigate when i have the time. any good tips on how to ease back into it?

[beezki]

viewtopic.php?f=57&t=3276956&p=104374458#p104374458

Not sure if any of you are interested, but I'm going to be doing a travel log. It's not exactly story-writing but still an exercising in technique, etc. Especially description. So if any of y'all want to follow along that'd be cool!

[NopesaurusRexx]

trying to get back into writing, i have a story id like to investigate when i have the time. any good tips on how to ease back into it?

Start by writing a little here and there, even if it is just a random scene. Then work at slowly connecting them. You'll get into the writing by writing the scenes that are right on your mind and it will get you excited to work on the rest.

[Ranger of the North]

Good grammar is important, of course, but it will only get you so far. Studying Linguistics actually cured me of a lot of my grammar nazi ways, as there's much more focus on how people use language, not how it "should" be used.

Huh, cool. I do IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) and I do their grammar books as well as the structure/style ones—it's really fun and helpful!

trying to get back into writing, i have a story id like to investigate when i have the time. any good tips on how to ease back into it?

Hmm... well you could look up prompts online and write a few short-stories to ease back in, or you could find similar style/plot/whatever books to give you ideas/inspire you or something? c:
...other than that: no, sorry...

http://www.chickensmoothie.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=3276956&p=104374458#p104374458

Not sure if any of you are interested, but I'm going to be doing a travel log. It's not exactly story-writing but still an exercising in technique, etc. Especially description. So if any of y'all want to follow along that'd be cool!

I'll check it out

[Nitro Indigo]

Speaking of grammar, Fanfiction.net user named ScytheRider has some very interesting writing advice. I'd like to try bettering a story I didn't like one day.

Also, I have an idea for the general plot of Dragon Flightless now...
"The first thing you need to know about griffons is that everything you know about griffons is wrong."
In the world of Glory, Lightning Daybreaker is a young, wingless dragon who lives in a remote valley in the country of Alpinia. When he leaves home one day to climb the nearby mountain, a rite of passage for the locals, he comes across an injured griffon named Amelia [insert surname here]. While most dragons hate griffons, Lightning slowly forms a friendship with her, and the two eventually change the world.
...Problem is, I can't think of a good way to get it started.

[Captain Peregrin]

[i]"The first thing you need to know about griffons is that everything you know about griffons is wrong."

That right there seems like a good beginning (at least for a first draft) ^.^

[Nitro Indigo]

Now that you mention it, maybe I could write it in first-person? I enjoy writing internal monologuing, and first-person would allow it to have a more "chatty" tone. I was originally planning on having Amelia say that, by the way.

I'm also having second thoughts about calling her "Anima", since it's Italian for "soul", but the meaning goes no deeper than "I happened to like the word", and when people do that with Japanese they get accused of cultural appropriation.

Speaking of being accidentally offensive, I'm worried that having Lightning go off to do a rite of passage like that might make him look unintentionally Inspirationally Disabled. Except... you don't need to be able to fly to climb a mountain, in both our world and theirs.