Our Aspiring Writers League (O.A.W.L)

[KoolAid&Cyanide]

I usually get all my ideas from music. I have to have music in my ears around the clock, I'm not sure why xD. The words usually bring up characters to mind and then I just go along with the song and set a plot line to it. xD It's weird, but hey, oh well.

THIS. And when I write a story, I have to listen to whatever song went with it when I was thinking it up. It helps put me in the "mood" of the story.

I also find that when I'm doing my chores, I get a lot of ideas and am able to write easily in my head, but as soon as I sit down to my computer the words stop flowing in. It's frustrating, but at least I usually have an idea of where I want to take my story. I think I work better when I'm busy doing mindless tasks, but if I'm just sitting still, like in a boring class, my brain shuts down and I can't think of anything. I've tried brainstorming in class and its always a failure.

I've got a lot of ideas from music. I have a short story based off of Nothing by The Script, inspired by Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade (now it sounds like I listen to this kind of music all the time), and one inspired by Silent Night by Casting Crowns. Yes, a Christmas Carol. The Casting Crowns version pretty much hit me with a story. Usually, it's only one scene, and then I build the story around that. The novel I'm working on right now is based off of God's Not Dead by Newsboys. At first, it was a fleeting glimpse of the cover that gave me an idea, and then the whole story built relevant to the song.

And the whole thing about getting an idea and then it not building on paper is a b*tch. Happens to me all the time. Inspiration strikes, and I'm like, "I need to write this story!", so I put all else on hold, and then, nothing.

[Redwall]

Ya I write both ways too. The Narnamajig is bits and pieces right now. :3

Same thing, Red! Whenever I need an idea (as in, situation with access to paper and pen, or boring place) my brain seems to hit its little panic button....And I write complete garbage. XD

Bits and pieces is easier to write, In a way, because you can procrastinate at your leisure, and then when you get a really good idea for chapter XYZ and you're working on chapter ABC, you can just do it and fill in the rest later. It's harder to write yourself into a corner.

Yes. ^.^
I haven't been feeling like writing lately, but when I do I think I will certainly do some bits and pieces, while still working my way in order.

I've got a lot of ideas from music. I have a short story based off of Nothing by The Script, inspired by Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade (now it sounds like I listen to this kind of music all the time), and one inspired by Silent Night by Casting Crowns. Yes, a Christmas Carol. The Casting Crowns version pretty much hit me with a story. Usually, it's only one scene, and then I build the story around that. The novel I'm working on right now is based off of God's Not Dead by Newsboys. At first, it was a fleeting glimpse of the cover that gave me an idea, and then the whole story built relevant to the song.

And the whole thing about getting an idea and then it not building on paper is a b*tch. Happens to me all the time. Inspiration strikes, and I'm like, "I need to write this story!", so I put all else on hold, and then, nothing.

I see we have some of the same interests in music(:
<3 The Script.
Music always helps me write. But I also get a lot of my ideas from things I experience/see/hear/etc. I think we all do lol. But I always keep my eye out for small things to include in my stories. Stuff I've learned from my parents, stories told by friends, grandparents, going places, all that jazz. What I hate, though, is when I see a picture, certain phrase, or hear a song that sparks something in me, but I have no idea of what story I could write. For example, the cover of one of MercyMe's albums, The Generous Mr. Lovewell I think, and that name, Mr. Lovewell, makes me want to write a story sooooo badly, but I don't know what. Maybe one day I'll think of something.

[MoonheartTheWarrior]

I sometimes base the personalities of my characters off of some songs (or their "theme songs", I guess...) and when I think I've got enough characters, the next song or two I hear will help me come up with the plot. Music also helps me get over writers block. A lot, actually. I finally got "rid" (I guess) of my writer's block. And now I completely lost the muse for the first (I think) story I posted here, still can't remember the rest of the plot for the one about the teenager, and want to make another CS pet journal. No one reads those, so there's no point in trying to. Or trying to reuse some characters/a plot from one of the other ones I've written here. But it still fails.

[MBRShorse]

Hello everyone! Sorry for not being super active lately. My life thought it would be fun to get all tangled up, so I'm currently in the process of detangling it. My hiatus will end shortly. I'll probably be back to my normal self by the end of next week at the latest. In the meantime, continue talking and being creative! If you have not been accepted yet, please send a message to Imagination or Lasesi (our new mini-mods! Yay!), telling them what page your form is on. Also, I will be on daily for a few minutes to check PMs, so I can still answer questions.

I apologize for any chaos or confusion that probably hasn't happened in my absence. Cheers!

-MBRShorse

[Helreith Brynhildar]

Don't look at me. I'm a noob here.

[*~.Imagination.~*]

Arm- Accepted.<333
OneDayMore- 'Role' is what kind of writer you are. A Poet, a Novelist? Just add that and your accepted ^.^


Ok, so I have a book idea running through my mind. I'm just in love with the concept. I have a very vague idea with it.

Its centered around a 13(ish) boy who is a great pick pocket/thief. The boy is an illegitimate child who doesn't know his father, and whose mother died when he was 10. He's lived on the street for his whole life and does his best to stay alive. His light hand and quick mind are helpful to him, though his witty tongue can get him into more trouble than it should. He has a short temper, but over the years he's learned how to out-smart his enemy's, since his small stature made it hard to out fight them. He's clever with a knife and can pick a lock with relative ease, but he has trouble with direct confrontation. His strength is in sneakiness.

Thats all I have so far. What do you think?

[kitten;]

I often find that I get random plot ideas, such 'what would happen if' type of things, and then I go from there. I usually start with the climax of the plot or an interesting point in the plot and go from there, eventually adding the ending, the beginning, random one-shots in the middle, and adding them together. I'm in the process of doing that now, actually; it's a fanfiction with canon characters and I'm constantly editing their personalities because I never get it right, but one day I'll get there. :3
And also, I always listen to music. Whether I'm in school or just sitting at my desk doing nothing, there's a song playing by 90% of the time Coldplay or other bands that worm their way into my field of interest. Anybody got any good reccomendations for songs that you can play on repeat? Usually I get so caught up in finding a song Ilike on shuffle that I spend more time on the music than the actual writing.

Do you guys often find you're losing motivation for writing?
...I do ;u; And I think it would be pretty useful to have somebody to remind you to keep writing once in a while...
Ehh, the caffiene's getting to me. Ignore that.

[MoonheartTheWarrior]

Do you guys often find you're losing motivation for writing?
...I do ;u; And I think it would be pretty useful to have somebody to remind you to keep writing once in a while...
Ehh, the caffiene's getting to me. Ignore that.

Well, whenever I start writing things, I just completely forget about it, and, when I remember it, I just lose the motivation to continue writing it... :/

[Redwall]

Anybody got any good reccomendations for songs that you can play on repeat? Usually I get so caught up in finding a song Ilike on shuffle that I spend more time on the music than the actual writing.

Do you guys often find you're losing motivation for writing?
...I do ;u; And I think it would be pretty useful to have somebody to remind you to keep writing once in a while...
Ehh, the caffiene's getting to me. Ignore that.

Hmm. Well, I can give you a list of a few songs, but it all depends on the mood of your story. These are ones that I may not listen to a lot right now, but when I do hear them, they really put my mind in that imaginative working mode. I think writers' music lists are very personalized though, and I don't think I could be very helpful, but if you want a detailed list of everything I listen to, I'd be happy to give it, though I doubt anyone would really be interested, lol. Anyways, here are some songs I particularly like:
- Cosmic Love and Heavy In Your Arms by Florence + The Machine
- E. T. by Katy Perry
- Paradise by Coldplay
- Your Love Is a Song by Switchfoot
- Canvas and 2-1 by Imogen Heap


And yes, I lose motivation very often. I hate it, and I haven't quite figured out how to motivate myself more. I think I just have to force myself to sit down and write.

[Lasesi]

I is mini-mod now? :O Gasp! *does the happy dance* 8D [/offtopic]

Do you guys often find you're losing motivation for writing?
...I do ;u; And I think it would be pretty useful to have somebody to remind you to keep writing once in a while...
Ehh, the caffiene's getting to me. Ignore that.

Well, whenever I start writing things, I just completely forget about it, and, when I remember it, I just lose the motivation to continue writing it...

THIS. Yes.

Motivation, where hast thou gone? RETURN! *cries in my corner*
I dunno, i find it really hard to keep myself motivated a lot of the time. It's not that i don't enjoy writing, and it's not that i can't do it, it's just that.. well... I can't be bothered. I'll catch myself staring at a blank screen thinking "i should be writing" and then i'll try and nothing comes out ¬.¬ i get writers block like no other! it's so frustrating!! Anyone have any good motivational tips? I always try to write something at least once a day... but yes, it's hard.

Also - Not sure if anyone here is good at critiquing poetry, but i just tried my hand at some free-form prose type stuff, and was wondering if i could get someone to read it over for me? I'm not even sure if it makes any sense XD But I would like some critique