Out Of Gas

[mythingperson]

The blank page looms before you, the prompt taunts you, and you’re feeling completely and totally out of ideas. You want to write a story, but where do you start? How do you start? When all the ideas have been had and there’s nothing new under the sun, how do you create anything at all, much less something awesome

Comments

[theun4givables]

My process is a bit different. When it comes to prompts, usually the prompt will remind me of a setting/situation/character and I can go from there. The ones that make me think of a setting or a situation, I tend to create new characters for that set of events. Those take a little longer, because I have to think through the setting and the situation, just to really get to a character. Because characters are necessary things for me and I can't function without 'em.

The character ones are easier. If I'm reminded of a character, why? What particular trait is getting hit on by this topic? What can I write that would clearly display that particular trait? And usually that's all I need and I go go go. :)

If I'm entirely stumped, though? I take the topic. I dissect it. Play word associations/stream of consciousness that shit until I arrive to either of the things mentioned above. And run with it. :)

[mythingperson]

Starting with a character is something I do once in a while, too, but it's a lot rarer compared to other methods (especially if I'm feeling stuck!). Very occasionally the 'seed' will even be a character for me - a person I've written about or roleplayed, someone who just pops in my head, that kind of thing. But I always have a much harder time verbing those nouns and finding the action in such a story.

I think it's neat to be able to identify things about your writing by the way that you find things to write - you are clearly a very character oriented writer!

"If I'm entirely stumped, though? I take the topic. I dissect it. Play word associations/stream of consciousness that shit until I arrive to either of the things mentioned above. And run with it. :)"Ohhh yes, this happens with me too. This is usually step one of my "I'm not stuck, I'm just getting started!" process, except for me, it usually leads to the kind of seed concept I can run with. I do a lot of thinking about a prompt and how I can do something entirely unexpected

[theun4givables]

"Character oriented" doesn't even begin to describe it. ;) Things like plot and setting and blah blah blah? Yeah those are only present because they're kinda necessary to an over all story. But I can't get started without a character-concept. I just can't. xD

I'm one of those people who are blessed with vague ideas right off the bat, 90% of the time. The rest of the time I have to dissect things. Or when I'm trying to do something out of my comfort zone, like humor. Because then I have to think through the jokes, too. It takes a little longer, but it ultimately works for me.

[mythingperson]

Ok, so this seems opportune - I get a daily digest from the creative writing opportunities mailing list (it's a yahoo group - search for CRWROPPS-B) and I saw this in the digest this morning:

call for submissions: Conclave
Wed Aug 7, 2013 11:38 am (PDT) . Posted by: "AllisonJ" aejos
Conclave: A Journal of Character is open for submissions for Autumn, 2013. We are particularly seeking photography submissions, but also consider short stories, poetry, and short works of all creative forms.

Conclave is a bi-annual print journal that focuses on character-driven writing. See our website to see what we believe comprises great character: http://www.conclave journal.com/

We select six of our best works each year to be nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

You may read all submissions guidelines at:
http://www.conclave journal.com/ submissions/ submissions. html

Just sayin'.

[mythingperson]

"Your method sounds pretty fun or at least the way you worded it. ;)"

Thank you! I think it's fun, and I know a few other people who have had fun with it, too - it's often works out really well when brainstorming for intersections, because you can do a lot of back-and-forth and idea bouncing and concept generation with partners.

"I don't know about my own. I just do a lot of things on a whim and when I have to pinpoint or grasp at the details it's hard to figure out any sort of method."

I get that! Sometimes if you try to focus too much on the how when you're doing something, you lose the thread of what you were doing altogether, and trying to figure it out after the fact is a little like trying to remember dreams - grab too hard, and it all just slips away

[kathrynrose]

I threw out an idea a while back that I don't think I can write, but I'd love to read if someone else did. But basically, politicians who support a needless war apparently randomly drop dead, but the reason they're dying is because a soldier fighting the war has been shot.

[mythingperson]

I love the idea of karmic justice like that.

[anyonesghost]

I really liked this. (I was curious to see how the other "Out of Gas" entry went.) Ironically, I was also contemplating a rash of footnotes this week ... glad I went in the opposite direction! What sort of html / css trickery do you use to get them in superscript? The tags I've tried don't work on LJ.

That also sounds a lot like my process -- though I pick central concept first, and then pick the genre that I'd like to dress it up in. (Of course, half the time I don't follow my process and I just start typing and wait to see what happens next.)

Good job, and good luck!

[mythingperson]

"I really liked this."

Yay, I'm glad you liked it! :)

"What sort of html / css trickery do you use to get them in superscript? The tags I've tried don't work on LJ."

It's nothing too fancy - just the sup tag around the number.

"That also sounds a lot like my process -- though I pick central concept first, and then pick the genre that I'd like to dress it up in."

Hey neat! It's fun to find someone else who brainstorms in much the same way I do. :)

[halfshellvenus]

Out of the context, characters are born. In the midst of all this idea-generation, I ask myself “well, what kind of person would be interesting to see in this context? This part of your process really has great results. Your people very much feel as if they belong in their stories, and they're very different from one to the next

[mythingperson]

" I try to let go as much as possible and give the subconscious free reign to just write. One of the Idol stories from S8 was the result of that (also, much of the Prufrock fanfic poem, to be honest)."

I am still awed and AMAZED at that Prufrock poem - it ranks way up there with my favorite things I've read on the internet period. The fact that you were able to make it happen just by letting go and writing... wow. Just wow.

"Your methods are much more likely to produce regular professional writing than most, I'll tell you that. Keep working them!"

We'll see! I think staying in regular practice and just committing to write a thing start to finish is the real trick - procrastination is easy, and finishing things is hard.

[halfshellvenus]

I'm glad you like that Prufrock poem so much-- so few people read it, but it's still one of the things I'm most pleased about!

That poem has always struck me as being slightly subliminal, as if part of it is happening underneath the conscious level, and if you look too hard it will flit away.

I don't know if other people feel the same way, but to try to duplicate that style and to create something that makes sense to the reader below the level of direct reason... I have to write from that level as well. One hand on the tiller to guide the rhyming scheme and word choice, but much of the time the boat must simply float.

I'm probably not describing the process very well, but I've used it before and that was its most successful result, I think!