A question for anyone who writes

[cynicalprofit 0]

I just wrote again yesterday for the first time in a long time, well, fleshed out some ideas is more accurate, but thats not the point. I was sitting in a starbucks, not a normal thing mind you, just killing time, and I could strangely just write. And I wrote alot, especaily sinec Im a lazy mofo. But Ive got no idea where that motivation comes from. So my question is , how do you get motivated to write? Its been just sorta this thing that used to happen where, boom, theres inspiration and I could just go, but after that 14 page masterpiece being lost, I haven't wrote squat outside of poetry in like 4 or 5 years. And id really like to find that motivation again if anyones got ideas. (And Id go back and write at the starbucks again, but its sorta outta the way)

[Guest FrigidSoul]

It sounds corny but I usually get into a mood where I zone everything else out and only focus on my feelings and thoughts...then I place them down.

[cynicalprofit 0]

It sounds corny but I usually get into a mood where I zone everything else out and only focus on my feelings and thoughts...then I place them down.

Good idea, but when Im trying to write a movie, that doesnt work to well. Slipping into the role of a serial killer is SO not going to help.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Why wouldn't it, so long as you're not killing anybody. Actors slip into those roles all the time and get into the mindset weeks before filming. Ask Anthony Hopkins

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

I write fiction, usually short stories. I usually just get hit with an interesting idea or relationship sometime during the day, sit down, and start typing. If I'm in a class or out somewhere, I'll write a note on my hand. The first few pages of stuff I write on any project is uniformly awful, but very quickly I can get the good ideas out of it and really go to town. As long as you don't mind writing trash and then pushing it aside when you get to what it is you really want to write about, it's not too tough.

 

Once I'm already into it, I generally read. A lot. And while reading other people's books, an image resonates, or sometimes just a word. Then I toss down the book, run to the computer, and write whatever I can until I get tired. On a tight schedule, I'll listen to music instead of read - it's not as good as reading for inspiration, but it works a lot faster, since you have sounds, words, and the blend of the two all at once. The more you read (and the more styles of writing you read), the better a writer you'll become. Period.

 

Basically, you just have to be patient. And be ready to throw out a huge amount of what you've done once you get to revising. You can't really write a great story in a few days, unless you've got either an all-time amazing concept, incredible first-draft skills, or enough cocaine to stay awake for 168 hours. Or you could be Ernest Hemingway.

[cynicalprofit 0]

I actually think music helps here, cause the main guy is basically a slipknot song come to life. And so far i redrafted the 17 steps into 15 now listening to the first 10 or so tracks of the album.

 

I already know enough about serial killers to get a gist of what i want outta this guy. But still the reading idea is a keeper.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

I'd say watch some movies involving serial killers that are abnormal. Like, instead of your typical slasher fare, check out American Psycho. Could help you formulate a solid reason as to WHY they kill if you haven't figured that out already.

 

I've been working on a script for a horror/action movie called Necrominatia for the past month and a half now, but I'm only 20 pages in (and I'm aiming for a minimum of 60). This shit is damn near impossible work (although, in truth, I don't have enough time to dedicate to the script).

[cynicalprofit 0]

Why he kills, thats easy, he collects human fingers, hence the movies name finger. after that, cause hes a sick and twisted human being who gets non sexual jollies from killing people

[Downhome 0]

Set up some sort of interview and actually talk to convicted murderers and serial killers in prison. I know people who have done it, and I will do so myself in the next year or so.

 

As I write, I allow my inner self to become the characters, whoever they may be.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Man, I would say the exact opposite of what you guys are suggesting with the "sink into the character/inner self" thing. I mean, I guess it's okay for a first draft, but if you get into a situation like that, you're going to give almost zero attention to any supporting characters or story elements, and you'll end up with a character study that's regrettably shallow outside of one good portrayal.

 

Getting into a character's mindset is fine, I guess, as long as you remember that not everything in the narrative is going to be in line with his mindset. Unless you're specifically writing this as a sort of post-modern "character controls the narrative/strictly through his POV" thing a la most of American Psycho, which is a really, really difficult task to pull off well, especially if you haven't written a lot before.

[Downhome 0]

When I write, I like to flesh out every single person involved in the story. I obviously take more time with the main characters, but I do it for everyone involved. I don't mean dive into just one character, and just write for them.

 

I mean to do so with everyone, it just allows for everything in the story to just feel more real to me, more spot on. You can tell when you watch films which writers took the time to do this, it's quite effective. For instance, I just got home from watching Mystic River. To me, I really feel as if the writer took time with everyone involved in that fantastic story.

[godthedog 0]

if you want to write seriously, the main advice i would give is write. write, a lot. especially when you don't feel like writing, and especially when it isn't working and you want to give up. don't put it off, don't think about what you're going to write, just write. laziness is your enemy; this shit is hard to do, and it takes a LOT of practice to get good at. make yourself write, don't wait for inspiration. you don't necessarily need to develop a strict daily routine, but it does require discipline. you need to be able to tell yourself "okay, i need to work on ____ scene, i'll go to starbucks and work on it for an hour & a half after dinner," and then go do just that. after a while, it'll come naturally and be like breathing. it isn't even something i think about now, but i remember how hard it was starting out.

 

and don't spend that time writing notes & outlines and shit. notes and outlines and such are fine & can be helpful, but they're dangerous for beginners i think. it's so much easier to write about what you're going to write than it is to actually write it, so there's the danger that you'll start spending all your time on that & create this beautiful little fantasy work of art that never actually gets done. i still have a problem with this, sometimes i'll get lost in all my ideas & write gobs and gobs of notes without getting anywhere.

[Sandman9000 0]

Write as much as you can. Read as much as you can. You can't improve if you don't do those two things.

 

We had a poet come to visit my creative writing class last semester. A girl in the class said she wanted to become a poet. The poet asked her who she regularly read. She said no one. He said she couldn't improve any if she didn't read anyone and everyone.

 

You need to see what other people are doing before you can do your own thing.

[Nighthawk 0]

Why he kills, thats easy, he collects human fingers, hence the movies name finger. after that, cause hes a sick and twisted human being  who gets non sexual jollies from killing people

Cute, but I'm afraid that's terrible. Non sexual? What, are you afraid to create a sex murderer? Well, I got news for you, jack. Serial murder is a sexual crime by definition. I thought you said you knew enough about serial killers to get what you wanted, and apparently you don't know the first thing. Do yourself a favor, quit prancing around with your childish foolishness and stereotype of an idea, shut your mouth , and get back to me when you've written something worthy of wiping my ass with.

 

 

 

Now, take what I've just said, what that made you feel, and use it for motivation. That's my advice.

[cynicalprofit 0]

Why he kills, thats easy, he collects human fingers, hence the movies name finger. after that, cause hes a sick and twisted human being  who gets non sexual jollies from killing people

Cute, but I'm afraid that's terrible. Non sexual? What, are you afraid to create a sex murderer? Well, I got news for you, jack. Serial murder is a sexual crime by definition. I thought you said you knew enough about serial killers to get what you wanted, and apparently you don't know the first thing. Do yourself a favor, quit prancing around with your childish foolishness and stereotype of an idea, shut your mouth , and get back to me when you've written something worthy of wiping my ass with.

 

 

 

Now, take what I've just said, what that made you feel, and use it for motivation. That's my advice.

It doesnt make me feel anything.

 

Im not affraid to create a sex murder, its just been done to death. And yes more serial murder is sexual based, but not mine. Its my story I can do with it what I wish.

 

My whole point to the story is to make you HATE the character, any remote sympathy you could give him will be completely stripped away by the ending of him killing his gf.(im going to give him one point of connection to anyone normal, he gets a gf, and them in going to strip it away in a completely cold fashion)

 

Im not writing this moive to make people enjoy their experience. I want them to leave feeling like that guy needs to be killed and praying then never meet a person like him. Make them feel like they just walked in the shoes of a person they could never be.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I haven't been motivated to write in almost a decade.

[Nighthawk 0]

Why he kills, thats easy, he collects human fingers, hence the movies name finger. after that, cause hes a sick and twisted human being  who gets non sexual jollies from killing people

Cute, but I'm afraid that's terrible. Non sexual? What, are you afraid to create a sex murderer? Well, I got news for you, jack. Serial murder is a sexual crime by definition. I thought you said you knew enough about serial killers to get what you wanted, and apparently you don't know the first thing. Do yourself a favor, quit prancing around with your childish foolishness and stereotype of an idea, shut your mouth , and get back to me when you've written something worthy of wiping my ass with.

 

 

 

Now, take what I've just said, what that made you feel, and use it for motivation. That's my advice.

It doesnt make me feel anything.

 

Im not affraid to create a sex murder, its just been done to death. And yes more serial murder is sexual based, but not mine. Its my story I can do with it what I wish.

 

My whole point to the story is to make you HATE the character, any remote sympathy you could give him will be completely stripped away by the ending of him killing his gf.(im going to give him one point of connection to anyone normal, he gets a gf, and them in going to strip it away in a completely cold fashion)

 

Im not writing this moive to make people enjoy their experience. I want them to leave feeling like that guy needs to be killed and praying then never meet a person like him. Make them feel like they just walked in the shoes of a person they could never be.

I wanted to piss you off. Anger is good motivation. Mission failed, apparently.

 

Good luck though, what you're trying to do is pretty tricky to pull off.

[cynicalprofit 0]

Unless Im fucking you and you're refusing to give me head, I really dont get angry any more.

[Mole 0]

I just sometimes get these thoughts in my head and write them down.

 

If I have to write a paper and it is due the next day, I just pop an adoral and I get really motivated. Next thing I know, I have more pages then I needed and I need to cut a bunch out.

 

I get it back a week later and I see that great B+ or A.