z

Young Writers Society


The start of my new writing journey



User avatar



Gender: None specified
Points: 336
Reviews: 2
Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:55 pm
View Likes
TheArchon says...



The following is an email I sent after realizing my perfectionism was killing me. Hope this helps others in the same boat as me!



Just write. That's been the secret this whole time. Thank you for telling me that. Though you were not the first, you were right. If I never write, I will never get out of this rut. It's going to be difficult to accept that I suck for a bit, but I will get over it. I will write.

As for the Santa story, I gave up... because there is a story I would much rather write. I lost passion for that story, so I'm leaving it for now. Perhaps I'll come back to it next Christmas season, but I won't worry about that. I left that story for one I've been writing for as long as I can remember, writing in my mind that is.

I remember Adam Gidwitz, author of A Tale Dark and Grim, visiting my school when I was in 8th grade. It was one of the greatest moments of that year. I loved hearing talk about the origins of his book and his writing history. What interest me the most was when he said that ever since he was little he was a writer. He recalled playing with action figures and making up stories in his head. That, to him, was writing.

I don't know if it hit me that day, but I've been doing the same thing forever. Ever since elementary school, I've daydreamed about having adventures with my friends and fictional characters, constantly imagining new scenes. Depending on my interest at the time, I would infuse them with things I liked. All throughout middle school and even now, I constantly put myself in different hypothetical situations. Emotion plays a big part in what I inagine. The stories aren't always action, sometimes they are merely emotional resonances. I love my friends more than almost anything in the world, so they are always on my mind. There always seems to be at least one person I want to befriend that doesn't want the same. It's these scenarios and deep thought processes, I think, that keep me sane and hopefull (not to mention they are fun as heck!) From Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z to time travel and my own worlds, I am always daydreaming of possibilities.

So, with all that explained, I want to write a story about the things I've imagined for the past eight years or so. Actually, a series of stories. I know most of my ideas are silly, ridiculous even, but they are so fun to thinl about. I often get lost in them, and replicating them in the form of writing sounds awesome. I'm going to have choose which scenarios and daydreams to include, as well as think of new ones, but it all sounds exciting. I am even going to include both aspects of my real life and of my imagination. As of right now, the plan is to write an opening story that introduces myself and a few other characters, the main villains, the components of the story (such as The Vest of Knowledge and that black notebook I always carry around with me), and the world in which we live. Then, I will write a series of stand alone stories. New characters will appear in each one, but most characters will reoccur in several. Perhaps I'll even add an overall arc.

I don't know if I'm getting ahead of myself or if I'm biting off more than I can chew, but my daydreams are starting to make sense now. I wrote a little snippet of my character questioning why he was chosen to wear The Vest of Knowledge and promising to tap into both The Vest's powers and his own to become what the civilization invisioned.
"I will achieve this, for I am Juan Marcos Sanchez!"
It was complete crap (pardon my language), but I kind of enjoyed writing it. I felt annoyed that I couldn't write perfectly, but I kept going and wrote an entire page. Like I said, it's taking some time to let go of my perfectionism, but I will. (Btw my character is even going to call himself by the fake name Juan Marcos Sanchez, just like I like to do in real life!

What do you think of all this? This series of stories will not be the only stories I write, as I have other ideas, too. Plus, essays and such. I'm still worried that my writing will not work out, but I'm doing my best to push past that. Thank you once again for putting up with my complaints and giving me advice!!!!! I hope to show you and the rest of this website my work soon. :D
Wibbly wobbley time-wimey stuff
  





User avatar
1272 Reviews



Gender: Other
Points: 89625
Reviews: 1272
Mon Jan 05, 2015 10:07 pm
Rosendorn says...



Sounds like a good idea!

Series are fun to write. My one suggestion is to make the first book able to stand alone, then keep one or two key traits about the characters to re-introduce for the rest of the stories, to make sure they really stand alone.
A writer is a world trapped in a person— Victor Hugo

Ink is blood. Paper is bandages. The wounded press books to their heart to know they're not alone.
  





User avatar



Gender: None specified
Points: 336
Reviews: 2
Tue Jan 06, 2015 12:37 am
TheArchon says...



Rosey Unicorn wrote:Sounds like a good idea!

Series are fun to write. My one suggestion is to make the first book able to stand alone, then keep one or two key traits about the characters to re-introduce for the rest of the stories, to make sure they really stand alone.

Great idea! It's a short story, not a book, but great advice nonetheless! Btw if I have more questions regarding these stories should I post them below this topic or staff a new one every time?
Wibbly wobbley time-wimey stuff
  





User avatar
475 Reviews



Gender: Female
Points: 461
Reviews: 475
Tue Jan 06, 2015 12:42 am
Apricity says...



To that question, it is entirely up to you. If it's something you want more opinions on, by all means, go for a new thread because people tend to notice them more. But if you just want to to update us on how you're going with the story, you can post them here.

By the way, I'm glad you've gotten past that issue of perfectionism. You write for yourself and no one else, you write to express what's inside of you. Just one short story? Have you thought about a series of short stories but all related to that one theme?
Previously Flite

'And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.' ― Friedrich Nietzsche

~Open for business~
  





User avatar



Gender: None specified
Points: 336
Reviews: 2
Tue Jan 06, 2015 4:36 am
TheArchon says...



Flite wrote:To that question, it is entirely up to you. If it's something you want more opinions on, by all means, go for a new thread because people tend to notice them more. But if you just want to to update us on how you're going with the story, you can post them here.

By the way, I'm glad you've gotten past that issue of perfectionism. You write for yourself and no one else, you write to express what's inside of you. Just one short story? Have you thought about a series of short stories but all related to that one theme?

Yes that's what I meant. I am going to write a series of short stories related to that premise. I was simply referring to the opening story.
Wibbly wobbley time-wimey stuff
  








“Rise like Lions after slumber In unvanquishable number. Shake your chains to earth like dew Which in sleep had fallen on you— Ye are many—they are few.”
— Mary Shelly