Writing is pretty much my forte. It's what I do. It's the only talent I really have and my only chance to gain any success whatsoever. However, despite the fact I enjoy writing I rarely actually do much. I just seem to be horribly lazy. I acutally want to be given assignments or something so that I have a reason to continue. I can never seem to come up with an original idea that will work and that I can write. How exactly do I come up with unique ideas? I don't want to be just another horrible fantasy/fan fic writing starry eyed kid, I know literature better than that.
my advice is to get out of your house and live a little. you know, experience things. really good literature comes from some of the most personal experiences you've been through. maybe that'll help.
I'm like that too. Extremely lazy. But at least write on forums that interest you, like this if it does. I write on mushroom forums, used to be hacking when I was younger and it inspired me, and it'll build up your creativity for writing. Then when you feel motivated enough to write something, write it. Make it different, even if you think others might find it weird. They'll find it interesting because of that, which is why even if you arn't good at other things, your writing always is intuitive, creative, and different AKA interesting as FACK. Edit: Sorry, for interesting ideas, smoke pot at night with your favorite music. It'll relax you man, and that's when ideas come. Kid Cudi, Eminem, Snoop are just a few incredibly creative rappers, that write stoned. Eminem said he wouldn't of came to rap without it, and cudi only rhymes in his "dreams" stoned. Snoop, is Snoop, not going to add more on that chill mastermind. Btw I don't write, but you sounded like me creative wise so I fealt I should reply. Always get top mark in English Essays haha, still no idea why, neither do teachers. 52 Average xD
I'm the exact same. The old saying, "Write what you know," is very helpful. I don't know what genre you'd like to write but that's irrelevant. Inspiration is everywhere if you really look. I personally find long walks in nature inspiring for poetry, and short stories that have ethical/moral content. Depending on what genre you're looking to write, you have to surround yourself in that environment so it becomes a reality that you interact with and gain new insights and ideas. For awhile I was into sci-fi, so I would get really high and watch movies like 2001: A space odyssey, the cube, close encounters, tron, etc. You have to personally become a physical manifestation of the world, environment, morals, and things you'd like to write about. Ever wonder why Edgar Allen Poe's writing was so ominous, dark, and full of horror? Because he was an extremely depressed alcoholic who had a horrible painful life and a tortured soul. Ever wonder why Walt Whitman wrote such fantastic progressive poetry? Because he was a personally progressive man with open morals and ideas. Become what you want to write about and you will see the world through the eyes of your subject. Inspiration is everywhere, all you have to do is look. Laziness is the bain of every writer and most every single one suffers from it. But if you feel as strongly as you do about writing, it's be a shame to let your laziness stand in the way. Could you imagine if John Steinbeck had been, "too lazy," to write 'The Grapes of Wrath' or if Nietzsche had been too lazy to write 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra'? Theoretically it is a very sad thought.
I'm high, but I have enough sense to say you're a really in-tune guy. I really like what you wrote haha; bookmarked fo sho
You haven't said anything about your own experiences. Often an author can use his experiences as the basis of a work, developing a story line that borrows from his own life but doesn't necessarily mirror it. Have a look at Hemingway writing about bullfights, World War I (Italian front), hunting in Africa, or fishing in Cuba. He didn't research these works by watching travelogues. As one of the other posters here said, you have to get out and live a little, then you'll have something to contribute by way of a story.
Check out this place http://watchout4snakes.com/CreativityTools/Main/Main.aspx it's a random word, phrase, sentence and paragraph generator. The sentence and paragraph generator is kind of weak but see what comes to mind after fooling around with the random phrase generator. I use this once a day just to put something on paper; I find a phrase that tickles my fancy and write for at least a half hour. Hope I can help
when I can't come up with anything I just grab a blank sheet of paper and give it a title. doesn't even have to be clever or specific(it can be changed later). then, i write what whatever comes to mind from the title. I hope that tip was helpful.
If you can't come up with anything, don't. Who wants to read crap from a random word generator? Don't waste people's time.
there is no point in writing if you don't have a story worth telling... you need experience and inspiration.... sometimes they can take years to accumulate till then you can practice your writing, good suggestions in this thread... also so keep a journal.... try to write existing stories in a different style... write something factual.. the list is endless
Without sounding rude, you cannot teach yourself to have an imagination. You either have one or you don't, if you can't come up with anything creative even a a brilliant concept will be faulted by the ability to back it up. Though, as a few people have said, try and get a little experience. So many characters I have ever created have been influenced by some of the more complex individuals I have met.
I agree. It all starts with imagination. Whenever I sit down aand write it's because I have been daydreaming about something for several days or weeks and feel like I need to start a story based on those daydreams. A lot of my daydreams are not even about me but about characters I have created in my head. I have been like that since I was a kid and that's where my stories come from. Sometimes I have a story line going in my head for weeks before I sit down and write. If you start with just paying attention to the things you think about regularly or sudenly pop into your head it might be easier. Try not to pressure yourself though, that will surely kill any budding ideas cause you'll be too nervous to write anything.
