The Mighty Pen Writing Club discussion

Got a problem of anykind with your story? Un-expected situation, character names? Title? Need another opinion on anything?
Tell us your problem here, and im sure we can all help you!

Okay one of the worst problems I seem to always face is perspective. Right now, I want a sibling combination, and but I don't know whether to make it older sister-younger sister, older sister-younger brother... it seems so basic, but a lot of times I get the scenario in my head (ordinary teenager meets supernatural creature) and I don't have the characters figured out, like which one is the boy and which one is the girl...

Wow that's a pretty big confession, because it seems so basic, but yeah I think of the scenario and then go back and forth on the characters. I also have a hard time with point-of-view.

Amelia (Imagination in Focus) wrote: "Okay one of the worst problems I seem to always face is perspective. Right now, I want a sibling combination, and but I don't know whether to make it older sister-younger sister, older sister-young..."

I hope I would be able to help...
The younger sibling is most of the time the innocent one right? So I think that if the girl is the older one, she should be trying to teach her younger brother what is right from wrong [ex: telling the little bro not to be a player and break girls hearts in the future] If the brother is older then he should be protecting the little sister from getting hurt by other boys and getting picked on.

POVs are hard at times and I, myself am hard up and paranoid when it comes to stuff like that. I always think "Am I doing this right? Am I seeing it properly as the character should?"
My advice to you is that you should write the POV of the character you know most and are more comfortable with. Writing different character POVs is like acting; when actors try and feel the character and play them. In our case as writers we need to understand and feel the emotions of the character we are writing about, we need to get into their personalities and try to see and understand what they see.

Uh...
I hope I helped you, I'm not really used to giving advice to another author. I'm sorry if I sucked and if I didn't make sense... :)

Take Care
x

An older brother would seem tougher i think....

And perhaps a younger sister more innocent.

But im not sure if thats what your going for?


I have a question!

My story is an urban fantasy/mystery story about a detective set in modern day London.
SHould my detective work for Scotland Yard (the actual forensic science/Police HQ in London) or hosuld he work for a fictional place called EDA-English Detective Agency?

What would you rather read about?

I think fictional would be easier to write, and if you flesh it out enough, more interesting to read.

Booklover23 wrote: "An older brother would seem tougher i think....

And perhaps a younger sister more innocent.

But im not sure if thats what your going for?


I have a question!

My story is an urban fantasy/my..."


While Scotland Yard has always had a certain... glamour shall we say, you'll have to work way too much into methods... I think EDA is better. No movies about it. Don't know what to expect from it. Maybe they're methods will be rather unorthodox or something?

Hoped I helped ^^

If you do Scotland Yard, you'll probably feel bound to be realistic, which may not work for your story. Maybe substitute EDA for Scotland Yard :]

Ooh, (Hi!!!) when I have problems with my stories, I really have to take a break from them for a while, go and do something else or go and read something that might possibly help with my lack of inspiration... POV for me isn't MUCH of a problem... I am one of the people who has trouble with creating a whole middle part of the plot, even if I have written a well structured plan, it seems to crash and burn miserably when it comes to creating the middle for reasons unknown. I am FINE with the whole beginning section and the ending of the story isn't that hard for me (unless I decide to leave a cliffhanger like in my fanfiction - i get SO flamed for that)

so yeah, that's generally what happens with my mind lol.

I cant read within an hour of writing.

If i read before I write, i steal ideas and style

If I read while I right, i steal ideas and style

If I read after I right, I loose all confidence wit myself, because my story is not even edited, and im reading a story in a book.
Its not good.

Booklover23 wrote: "I cant read within an hour of writing.

If i read before I write, i steal ideas and style

If I read while I right, i steal ideas and style

If I read after I right, I loose all confidence wit my..."


Never compare your stories to other stories.

Amelia (Imagination in Focus) wrote: "Okay one of the worst problems I seem to always face is perspective. Right now, I want a sibling combination, and but I don't know whether to make it older sister-younger sister, older sister-young..."

Well...there is also stories in which the younger is the stronger one rather than the older...think about how the story is to go...how you want it and then decide what relationship better suits the circumstances you are giving. Unless that's the problem. I think you have to create the character and then from there get to know what they would do...how they would act...and then it'd come naturally. As to which relationship is better. :D

Oh my gosh I've come up with lots of ideas, only to find that someone else has taken them!
Like right now, I'm writing a story that is particularly creative (I think) but I'm so afraid that someone else is going to publish something similar.

For example, let's say I'm writing about...kelpies. I'm so afraid there's going to be a book published before mine that is about kelpies. And then agents may be like, "you totally stole that idea." And I'll swear that I didn't, but they won't believe me.

:(

Amelia (Imagination in Focus) wrote: "Oh my gosh I've come up with lots of ideas, only to find that someone else has taken them!
Like right now, I'm writing a story that is particularly creative (I think) but I'm so afraid that someon..."

Minds do tend to think alike. I don't know what you save your work in. I save mine in Word. Word has a date that you started the story and even when you have modified it. Plus, email your story to yourself. If you have to do it each after you write something for the day or night. Email will have when you have sent the story to yourself. So, even if someone's book come out, they can't say you have stole their ideal. It would be hard from them to say that, when you have proof as to when you have started your work and updates.

That's true, but I'm less afraid of being accused of taking others' stories than I am of agents/publishers saying "no, we've already got something like that already."

Much as I would love to say that I just write for my own amusement, I do plan on sending out stuff for publication.

agreed

Amelia (Imagination in Focus) wrote: "Oh my gosh I've come up with lots of ideas, only to find that someone else has taken them!
Like right now, I'm writing a story that is particularly creative (I think) but I'm so afraid that someon..."

If you came up with your idea independently, it will show. Nobody will say you stole it, since people do tend to think of ideas that are similar, at least. I mean look at all the vampire stories--nobody there got sued for plagiarism yet there are some really obvious Stephenie Meyer rip-offs.

Anyway, yeah, agents will reject you if they already represent a similar project (this has actually happened to me long long ago when I wanted to write a faerie novel) which totally SUCKS. There isn't really a way to guard against that, either, except to make your story the best and most unique it can be. And there are SO many agents out there. The likelihood that they ALL will be representing "kelpie" stories at the same time is so slim. :)

That's true. Sometimes the numbers boost my confidence. I'll go into a bookstore and look at all the authors' names and say "they all got represented at some point. I'm sure I'll find SOMEBODY SOMEDAY who'll give my story a go." :P

If not, well that's why I'll have a career to fall back on

yup.

I agree.
When im older, i am going to either be a lawyer/journalist or teacher.

A teacher could help writing the most-because you get extra holidays, and you can work with the age group you are targeting.

But the thing with getting published, is editors are looking for really original stories.
Like your idea, Amelia.

I want to own my own bookstore. Think about it, my job would be to read books and recommend them to other ppl for money! It'd be great!

Awwwww...

Lol psh details details...

Booklover23 wrote: "yup.

I agree.
When im older, i am going to either be a lawyer/journalist or teacher.

A teacher could help writing the most-because you get extra holidays, and you can work with the age group y..."

Aww thanks!
And weird -- I entered college as pre-law :] You'd make a great teacher!

yep :P

Hmm, i want to be a writer too though when somebody asks me i say "comic and animation is what i am considering". Thing is, c. and a. will enable me to combine my two passions : creating a story and drawing.
But everyone's like "There's no such school in Greece".
Like I didn't know.
So UK it is. Gotta study and become better with every chance I get!
:)
Also, how come this conversation ended up being for proffesions? >_<

I guess we are all to blame!
XD

Much as it would be cool to write full-time, I think having a job is a must. That's one of the reasons why I'm going to be a teacher - besides liking kids and all that, you get like all major holidays off and summers off too. Writing time!

Or Stephen King
He could publish his shopping list and it would be a best seller. Plus, we'd all be scared to death.

Id like to either be a teacher, lawyer or journalist.

Jillian -always aspiring- wrote: "@Amber: Thank you (again). :)

Alkyoni wrote: "Hmm, i want to be a writer too though when somebody asks me i say "comic and animation is what i am considering". Thing is, c. and a. will enable m..."

Thanks! Always nice to have someone rooting for you!
Boys thing. Ugh! Many great comics and manga have been made by FEMALE writters. They h=just don't admit we're as good enough as them at some things. Jeez. Art is for everyone...

@ Amber
It doesn't happen only in the US. In Greece too. Actually, I think everywhere around the world.
Thank you!!! (for rooting as well ^^)
By the way, I think engineer would be cool too!

@Booklover23
Yeah, we'd all be scared because we'd expect stuff like creepy "jack-in-the-box" and we'll find Barbie Mariposa for a niece or whatever. We'll all be like "what the-? Steve??"