Wangst and weemo

[feuervogel]

I read a lot of writers' blogs. Or LJs, whatever. And I've started to feel like I'm inadequate and inept as a writer, because I wasn't an English major. I'm not Trained in things like Narrative Technique, Structure, and Symbolism, and I'm not well-read enough in classics, folklore, or myths to make use of Allusions.

I'm an impostor.

All I've got is some characters, a story idea, and 20-odd years of reading spec fic (and some Real Books™). No technique, no ideas for creative symbolism or structure or literary allusions.

I'm never gonna sell anything.

Comments

[feuervogel]

My brain is a very strange place, and my weemo surely isn't helped by the part of my brain that wants to name things and put them in ordered little boxes. (I'm a sensing-thinking-judging type, and having read what that means on a couple MBTI sites, everything makes so much sense now.)

But how do you know if something is interesting? How do I make this idea into something people would want to read? *sigh*

[chris-smith-atr.livejournal.com]

Oh I am very much an INTJ or ENTJ (depending on when I take the test) so don't worry :)

Interesting for me is when the story is pulling you forward. For instance I don't really LIKE the character I'm writing from First Person POV at the moment but he fascinates me by being very much himself. The story started out simple but things kept on piling up and sub-plots developed of their own accord. Everything is tying together perfectly -- like it would not in real life -- and all leading to the denoument.

That is what I call an interesting story. It also helps that the feedback I receive is positive. I have two very trusted friends whom I've known since fandom-days who're more than willing to tell me "this is shite."

So, write what makes you want to write and have good people who'll call a spade a spade in summary. :)

[feuervogel]

I'm an ESTJ.

Maybe if I get further into this stupid thing (I have 2000 words. With a target of 90000... ;_; ) I'll feel better. I sure hope it gets/stays interesting...

[chris-smith-atr.livejournal.com]

If you're very "I want to know where I'm going" have you ever tried to outline. It does not work for me fully (in that I tend to completely re-write my outline after every chapter) but it gives me a sense of knowing where the end is....

Feel free to post in meta_writer if you want tips from people who are a lot saner than me :)

[feuervogel]

I'm trying an outline this time, since I've never used one before, and I've wound up getting mired in plots that make no sense and require rewriting heavily.

Of course, it's also possible that I'm bored of it, because I know where it's going and how it ends. I've already procrastinated over an hour with the file open on my desk.

[chris-smith-atr.livejournal.com]

LOL. I do that all the time.

Here is something quite evil: www.etherpad.com. Invite people to come and watch you write live. THEN you end up ramping up your output.

Your outline is very detailed - much more so than mine (can't post it online as for something VERY specific and don't want it availble). I tend to keep it to a line per chapter i.e. "Edgar goes to the brothel to talk to Archie and they fight because Archie wants to directly challenge Tarrant". From that I get about 1.6-2k.

I know what you mean about being bored. Hence I write the one line things. Hope that is of some help.!

[feuervogel]

That sounds terrifying 0_0

I don't think that outline exactly maps to chapters - it's like, this is what's going to happen with enough backstory for me to work it out without having to go back and fix gaping plot holes, only small ones. (And since then, I've decided I need to include a POV from the resistance on Centauri 7, but I'm stuck on them at the moment and moving on.)