Published June 13, 2023
Just ramble. Just spout off words. Just spill onto paper whatever comes to your mind.
This is the writing advice they give. For brainstorming. For coming up with stories. For getting yourself out of a writing rut.
So I do it. I begin with something stupid, because that's what they say to do. I write something stupid. Because writing something stupid is a start on the journey to writing the big things that call to me. I know I'm meant to write. So I start with a silly little step.
I just ramble.
I ramble about stories that inspire people, that cause them to see beyond the darkness of the world where a light of hope is still flickering. I ramble about the creations I want to build out of words - people and worlds and plots where the driving truth is that you can survive. By cloaking it under the guise of a novel, short story or poem, I will slip big ideas and life-changing concepts into people's minds. Yes, this is what I want to achieve. So I ramble about big things.
I ramble about small things. I talk about characters who fight over petty matters. People who judge and belittle and demean their peers because they have not yet learned to be the bigger person. I smash the keys to tell of individuals who have not yet had their character arc, about those who learn to conquer, and about those who do not. I write about mundane, everyday events, about characters who are bored, about tiny, seemingly insignificant occurrences. By dressing it in the narrative of regular people, I sneak in small lessons. And I ramble about details.
If you don't begin by rambling, will you ever get anywhere? If you don't start by just spitting out your thoughts all over the paper, will they ever take shape? These are the questions I must ask myself. I must face myself, look her in the eye, and say:
"Just write it. Do it poorly. Get the stupid stuff out, because it might not be so stupid once it's woven into the big picture."
I grab myself by the shoulders and I say:
"Just ramble."
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138,126 Literary Works • 672,075 Reviews
This is perfect advice!
Every writer who is stuck should try just rambling. I like how you said:
I totally get that. Basically you're saying if you don't start somewhere, you won't get anywhere. As you said, it all starts with a silly little step.
I think I need to do more rambling about details. Sometimes I don't include enough imagery in my stories/poems. This advice is really helpful! Next time I feel like I don't know where to start in describing something, I'll remember to just ramble. I'll start rambling, and hopefully by doing so I'll eventually get somewhere. And even if I don't,
What I have gathered from this literary work: Just start writing. Even if something terrible comes out, at least you've written something. Because sometimes it's the terrible things that lead to the best things.
Thank you for the advice.
Howdy hey! Gengar here to leave a review!
I think this piece came to me at just the right time. I'm currently struggling to write a chapter of my story; nothing about it feels quite right.
I think this is all very good writing advice that anyone, regardless of skill level, needs to hear. I like how you made a paragraph about small things, as well as one about bigger things.
I also like the imagery in this line:
My only suggestion is to put the first paragraph in quotes, since it is something that someone else is saying.
Keep up the good work!
--GengarIsBestBoy
Wow! I have come across some excellent writing advice here. And as a stuck author myself, I find this to be of particular interest. All right, I'll keep my personal grievances out of it.
Just ramble. Just let the words spill out on the page. You can organize them later. *Sigh* I know I need to do this, and you've just pushed me a bit closer to actually doing it. Rambling is important. I guess, when you get so caught up in the details, you forget that.
This is so true! You sound a lot like me as far as your writing interests and abilities go. That's awesome. Our goals are also matched. I love throwing in little lessons that are almost invisible at first glance, but are hidden deep in the middle of my writing. But how do I get there? *Light laugh* I ramble. I never thought about that before. But it's so true.
I once read somewhere that a first draft just needs to exist. It doesn't need to be perfect. It doesn't need to be refined. It just needs to exist. I've kept that writing advice close to my heart. And I'll keep this rambling advice, too, because both of these are useful.
Thanks for sharing, fellow writer!
-Kaia