the writing spot discussion

If you are trying to recover from severe writers block or perhaps just feel uninspired, this is the place to ask for help from fellow readers and writers!

Lady_Starkov wrote: "There's an app called fighter's block. Basically, type in how many words you want to type and youre avatar fights monsters. each word is a hit and once your word count is reached the monster dies. ..."

this is amazing! i've never heard of this but it definitely sounds motivating!!

personally i love setting a timer and writing for that set amount of time. whether it's 10 minutes or 30 minutes, it's always super helpful!

I’ve definitely been struggling with writers block but I recently watched a video by Polandbananabooks and she said she basically forces herself to write an hour each day at least so might try that out :)

Uzma wrote: "I’ve definitely been struggling with writers block but I recently watched a video by Polandbananabooks and she said she basically forces herself to write an hour each day at least so might try that..."

yeah i saw that too!! it sounded so useful so i'm also gonna try it!! that video was full of good tips!

For all writers who need help, here's a link to the PolandBananaBooks's video that could help the rest of you like Breanne and Uzma from the comments above me.

https://youtu.be/l9SDnYNzGms

My problem is that I lack in self-confidence in my writing skills. Every time I re-read what I wrote, I feel like it’s lame.

Do you like it while you write it but then don't like it once you go back and re read it? Seeing as you can always go back and fix things later on.

While I’m writing it I find it okay and it’s when I re-read it for editing that I find it lame and ask myself « Did I write such thing? ».

Maybe you could try lighting candles or something while you write, or listen to music really low. Or go out an find something that inspires you before you start writing. Seeing as I find that helps sometimes if I'm in a slump of 'really? did I just write that?'. It doesn't always work but it does help sometimes. Plus the more you write no matter how good it is now it's still helping you to get better.

Maybe I should try writing somewhere else. I’ve never tried it but it could help. Thanks :-) I already light scented candles since I love these and sometimes listen to music ;-)

Hi all! I'm working on a first novel and a bit confused with naming conventions/punctuation for names of places and things: in my case mainly names of planets, names of spaceships and names of bars :-D

Do I simply capitalise, italicise, quotes? Appreciate any wisdom!

Alla wrote: "Hi all! I'm working on a first novel and a bit confused with naming conventions/punctuation for names of places and things: in my case mainly names of planets, names of spaceships and names of bars..."

I'm not an expert, but I do think that you italicise.

Hey! I'm working on my first novel, and I'm struggling to find places to get feedback on my writing style (to see if it's complete BS or not!)

Any leads appreciated!

What does BS?
Sorry I'm not very good with acronyms.

I meant to say, what does BS mean?

Oh.

That's probably why I did not no what it meant.😄

Thanks, Lady_Starkov!

I am trying to figure out how to start my book!
It's the first book I am going to get published and I want the readers to be holding their breath and turning the pages.

But should I start with the main Character's background tragic story or with her talking about why she is what she is?

I can't give away to much information.
But her tragic story is that her mom aka the best illusionist in the world dies doing a trick in front of a crowd or should I have the character explain the two sides in the book (illusionists) and (magicians)?

Karsyn wrote: "I can't give away to much information.
But her tragic story is that her mom aka the best illusionist in the world dies doing a trick in front of a crowd or should I have the character explain the t..."

Is it possible to do a mix of both?

That is a really good idea! Thank you!!

Karsyn wrote: "That is a really good idea! Thank you!!"

No problem!!

Betabooks was a good suggestion, but without their paid service, it's kind of hard to find beta readers. I did manage to get a little feedback though, so we can start from there.

Katie wrote: "Betabooks was a good suggestion, but without their paid service, it's kind of hard to find beta readers. I did manage to get a little feedback though, so we can start from there."

That's great to hear that you got a little feedback. Have you got in touch with the reader yet?

How do you guys come up with names for main charters? If they just don't come to you that is.

If you have (Instagram,Facebook,Twitter,etc) then just ask people that if they want to be in your book, go ahead and send in the names! Once you get enough then just mix them up. And if you don't have anything like that,then look up baby names or crazy last names then do the same thing and mix it up!!

I hope that answered your question Cassie!
And another thing would be to write down letters that are not usually initials and start with those, if that makes any sense.

Thank you guys, that really helps!

I feel like I got character name inspirations from baby name articles I read when I was preggo

Hi guys

Hi guys

I’m stuck on a particular subplot in the middle of my novel… it’s a light-hearted space-opera.

The chapter I’m stuck on is basically a backstory of how two characters met and became friends.

What’s I have in there that I can’t change is:

A female human protagonist (after some misadventures) settles in a new place, gets a boring job in a large tech company (IT/AI department), meets a co-worker who is a spaceship mechanic (also he’s a non-humanoid, an alien). They become friends, both get fired (I imagine for helping a client whom the company refused to help), and then start a business together, which involves servicing spaceships.

This is just a small chapter but I need to fluff it out with some adventure that would show how they met and why they became good friends. Like maybe they decided to build a flyer and crashed it together or something… I don’t know. It needs to show they’ve been through something together as it’s important for what happens next (he ends up agreeing to help her with a particular crazy life-threatening plan, so there needs to be emotional buy-in). It’s just the what brought them together part...

What if the girl(protagonist) is staring at blueprints she drew, while walking down a hall. The boy turns a corner to fast ,they collide with each other and she drops the papers. He sees them picks them up says he's sorry, and admires her work. He then asks what she's planning on doing with the blueprints, and she says something like "my plan is to build it some day."
"Some day,why not now?" He asked curiously .
"Well of course not now, I don't have the equipment or the permission."
That could be her response and then he offers to help, because he has the equipment and the know how. They still don't have permission, but go ahead and build it anyway. The start of an adventure!
I truly hope this helped.

I use name generators for my characters. For feedback I have used Young Writers Online.

Do you have to be invited to vote on the poll for prompts?

Nevermind!! :-D

Thanks Karsyn! That might kind of work, especially if the roles are reversed i.e. the alien wants to build something, and she helps him

Happy to help!

Katie ✨ wrote: "My problem is that I lack in self-confidence in my writing skills. Every time I re-read what I wrote, I feel like it’s lame."

First drafts are never good, even master authors don't write amazing first drafts. And even if it sucks that's why there's editing and rewriting. It's more important to write so you can get better :)

Cassie 'The Thinker Go Go Go Go' Mis. Roben Goodfellow'\Isabelle Lightwood wrote: "How do you guys come up with names for main charters? If they just don't come to you that is."

I name them whatever pops into my head or I'll take a name from mythology and modify it. When I'm thinking of names for more contemporary stories I just pick random ones that seem to suit the story

Hey guys, I need help with my book. In the book there is a really strong friendship between a boy and a girl, but I don't want it to seem like it is romance. I know they're just friends but how do I make sure the audience knows that?

Because this is a YA book with no romance!!

Where are you planning to publish your book, Karsyn? Online or hardcopy/paperback, whatever?

Hopefully all three!

I first need an agent. When I went to TTBF a lot of best selling authors were there including two of my favorites Marissa Meyer and Neal / Jarod Shusterman. Anyways all the authors there said to "get an agent first it is one of the best things you can do" so that is what I am going to do after I write my book.

Also my friends agreed to help me film a book trailer, and I'm writing the song for the trailer!

I am to a part in my book with the two friends, and I still need help. :-(

That's really nice... You can ask for help anytime

My creative writing class is writing ghost stories tomorrow. Do you guys have any tips?