Writers Unite! (Story Writing Tips)

[Havoc]

Put it in Non Oddworld Fan art & Writing

[mitsur]

I would like some help please!

I'm very slowly starting on a new project, but for it to actually work I need to do a lot of preparing stuff because the story plays in an alternate universe. The main question being, how do you come up with an entirely new world without being cliche. It needs to be based a lot on our current earth, but with some things totaly different. The political system and stuff being the main issue. Does anyone have ideas or maybe websites that help in creating entirely new worlds for stories?
Thanks a lot .

Havoc

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is a great example of this 'alternate Earth'. It is completely different in some ways, but completely the same in others. Try reading the first one, and you'll see some of the connections.

Make an Earth in which the past was different. Maybe WW I or WW II never happened. Maybe the Reds won at the battle of Tippycanoe.

Change something so vital to the world's history that it ceases being our version of the world.

In other words, make a world that could have been.

[Bullet Magnet]

A good way to formulate characters is to run them through the Mary Sue Litmus Test.

A Mary Sue is the bane of fiction, especially fan. The one I'm working on score 28, but I had to be quite generous, I mean, mudokons don't generally get involved in relationships.

[mitsur]

A good way to formulate characters is to run them through the Mary Sue Litmus Test.

A Mary Sue is the bane of fiction, especially fan. The one I'm working on score 28, but I had to be quite generous, I mean, mudokons don't generally get involved in relationships.

I did that, but filled out the answers to coincide with myself, and got a 56.

Apparently, I'm not very original.

[Havoc]

I ended up with 76 , but the character did good in the past so I don't see any reason to follow their advice.

Havoc

[mudling]

Writing a book, but for a short story got told off for my use of direct speech, what is direct speech and can someone give me advice on using it.
Also, my book will have 3-4 main characters (Is 4 too much?) who all go to the same school, but I'm not sure whether 1st or 3rd person. I mean, 1st, my characters can talk their thoughts and such, and it's more personally, 3rd person it's easier to follow them all and more realistic, I've written the first bit in 1st person.

[moxco]

This thread was more than 6 months old. But that was a very decent post so..... No flamming is neccecary.

[mudling]

Oh sorry, it was stickied, so I thought it was ok.
Thanks for the headsup though.

[Adder]

This topic has hibernated many times, it was due for a bump. It's still on topic and not too big, so no mod should care.


Direct speech (I assume) is dialoge, which is vital for most stories. Short stories that I can recall reading often do not quote the entirity of what was said. The narator tells you what the conversation involved without printing all of it to save space (since each person's dialogue needs to start a new paragraph). I assume that's why you were told off; the story was too long or there wasn't enough content.


As for your book:

4 characters does not seem like too many. 4 seems about typical (since a D&D party usualy has 4 members). Fantasy novels usually have a LOT more; thrillers will have 1-2 main heros with a side-kick for a bit and a villain you don't really hear from (4 characters, 3 with screen-time).

As for 1st or 3rd person, try reading any novel by Terry Pratchett. Even his kids books are in 3rd person but they can switch to italics to give what the character is thinking at the time (allowing 1st person content). I wouls see 1st person as harder to write, and it may get confusing if you switch to annother character's thoughts (although the Wicked series did this each chapter).

[mudling]

Hmm, thanks very much.
I have decided to try writing it again in 3rd person.
I've drawn it down to 3 key characters that the story revolves around, and several major characters connected to them.
And as for direct speech, there are quite a few ways of writing it, like
"Blah blah blah" He mumered with a blank expression on his face.
or "It's your fault!" Harry shot violently
"Is not" He replied imediatly
"Is so"
"Is not"
"Is so"
"Is not"

or something like that.
My old English teacher said TKAMB (or mocking bird) had a quite a unique way of dioluge, and therefore made it much easier to transfer into a movie.
Another major problem I have is the introduction, I find it so hard to find the perfect beginning, I was going to have 3 characters go to school speratly, through 3 parts, but then decided it was better to follow one in the begenning, introduce everyone, then go through the other characters stories.
Amd that's the problem with 3rd person, I wanted it to be told by the characters, I wanted it to be their stories, but 1st person is also alot easier in other ways, as you have said.
Thanks again heaps for your help, and sorry about all of the questions.

[Havoc]

Getting started on a story is the hardest thing you'll do throughout writing it. Even the most profound writers can sit hours and hours sitting there, trying to come up with the best way to open their story. After all, it's the first impression of your story and if that sucks then just imagine what the rest of the story looks like. My advise to you is, just start writing. Doesn't matter if it looks crap. Wonders of the computer are that you can always go back and edit it.

[mudling]

Thanks.
And I know, I've started the begiining, and I'm rewriting it again, it's hard, but I know it has to be the best bit, that and the end.

[stonetooth]

I would say just let the words flow. Once you start typing a good amount of it and just let the character(s) and environment form in your head, you don't really need to think about it and it just flows like water, but at that point it's pretty dang hard to stop typing or writing, so it may end up being to long. But then again, it'd be better to have something to be too long instead of too short.

[AlexFili]

Hi Stonetooth, haven't seen you in a while. Resurrecting an old topic is quite brave of you

I would say that it helps to do brainstorming and think about where the story will end up. Try and plan at least a few major events and have some memorable plot twists. Try and get inspiration from any kind of source, no matter what film/book/tv/game experience. Think about what works and what doesn't.

[Adder]

... it'd be better to have something to be too long instead of too short.

I disagree with this.

Although getting your story written is more important than worrying about length, it ALWAYS helps to edit it. If you read long fantasy series (and I include Wheel of Time, Dragonlance and Eragon in that category) you notice how the later books seem to drag out. Sometimes too many new characters are introduced and sometimes too many minute things are described.

The key is: Once the story is written, start editing. Try to cut out anything that you don't really need. Keep the elements that build mood, but don't spend half a paragraph describing someone who ends up doing nothing.

[AlexFili]

I also agree. It's better to write a short masterpiece than a long pointless story. I urge writers not to leave their readers hanging wherever possible... and always let the readers know when you drop a story.

[Wings of Fire]

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...le6y3x5fn1bzst

I'm dropping this in, happy experimenting.

[T-nex]

I disagree with this.

Although getting your story written is more important than worrying about length, it ALWAYS helps to edit it. If you read long fantasy series (and I include Wheel of Time, Dragonlance and Eragon in that category) you notice how the later books seem to drag out. Sometimes too many new characters are introduced and sometimes too many minute things are described.

The key is: Once the story is written, start editing. Try to cut out anything that you don't really need. Keep the elements that build mood, but don't spend half a paragraph describing someone who ends up doing nothing.

O_O ... .... WHen did you come back? havent seen you in like 10000 years.

EDIT: Forgot to add. Usually with me, if I cant figure out how to beginning a story, I'll write a bunch of things related to my idea just as they form in my head. That means throwing nonsensical sentances around your document and just writing whatever you think about. Once Ive done half a page, I look through it, organize and edit it. And then you've got a start

[stonetooth]

Damn I actually did revive this thing by posting one reply...sweet.
But anyways, what if you have a long masterpiece? There's lots of good books that are "long" and are pretty damn good, amongst these I count the Silmarillon by Tolkien. I'm sure some of the things in that book aren't really "needed" per se in it, but it just makes it better. And then sometimes, if you have a short piece of work, it doesn't build up enough suspence and action and what not, just giving you the dry minimum on details. That's why having long stories out, it helps you "see" what's going on. It's hard to make a short story with a good amount of details.

[Wings of Fire]

Law of conservation Stonetooth, less is better. It builds more of an atmosphere, you can show more than you tell and it's generally smoother and more graceful to read a laconic piece than a long rambly piece.

For the best example I've read of a truly laconic work read The Princess Bride. It's utterly brilliant and every word is needed.

[STM]

Could someone help em with this problem,

when I write I can do some very good works, however ,after a few days I get bored with the idea and have a new idea or I can only get in by about 20 pages before the story reaches it's climax

[Lord Stanley]

Just tell yourself that if you keep doing that you never get anything done, and that only losers do that. Real people finish stuff. Does that help?

[STM]

Mmm, yes, thanks

[Splat]

There's nothing wrong with short stories; in fact it's often a good thing if it's the only way you can finish anything

But seriously, when I was 15, 16, I was constantly thinking that I could get my great idea written and published by the next year, and like you I was constantly changing ideas and stuff. At the end of the day, you can relax; you have years to get a good idea and write it out and sell it; you don't have to get it done right away. Take your time; learn the skills, foster a lot of ideas and in a few years' time when you're not a hormonal, out-of-control teenager (been there) you'll be able to relax and start looking for the idea you really need. (Just about getting there myself, ish)

[STM]

out of control hormonal teenager aye

[AlexFili]

The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is a great example of this 'alternate Earth'. It is completely different in some ways, but completely the same in others.

Fantastic reference there. This also happens to a lesser extent in other shows. For example in the TV show The Walking Dead, people have no idea of what a 'zombie' is. In this alternative universe Romero's zombie films don't exist and neither does Left 4 Dead (so one of the main gamer character mentions Portal instead of L4D). If a world is missing one thing, how would that change the world? In the world of Naruto, characters have fridges and TVs but they do not have guns or fast transport. How does this change things?

A good habit to pick up is to look over your overall story plot for at least 5 minutes a week. I did this recently with one of my stories and it's amazing how much it helps with regards to tightening up the story and fleshing out characters. If you can, try to go beyond what you have. If your character has some kind of transformation (either mental or physical), why does it happen? how is it possible? how does this affect the character in the future? is there a limit to the transformation?

Brainstorming with friends can help, especially those who are also writing stories. You can bounce off ideas, make jokes and point out stereotypes (and know how to use them effectively!)

[DrSasukeichida]

Im making a awesome watch dogs fanfiction people does anyone have ideas for the story like aiden getting injured in a car crash and being in a coma

[enchilado]

aidan shuld get marred to an buaetifull womang ut shes all ready have a husban an tey hav septalcular showndwon and ten tey aplogies and make up hen htey shold make out an hav some sexxxy seens with teir sharred wief if u no what i mean id rad that

do u have an fanfiction.net??

[DrSasukeichida]

I tried making a account yes

[Nepsotic]

omdfhkbdg let me see it pls