The Writing Process

[Nerf]

I hear you, Martin (I believe I saw your name is Martin in another thread; correct me if I'm wrong). I lose focus and motivation with my stories all the time, which is one of the reasons I'm so slow. I get bunches of ideas and most of them never get written, sadly. Maybe they will someday. But yeah, I get these ideas and I want to work on them instead of the one I should be finishing.

Anyway, my advice is to maybe work on some of these ideas you are having. If you are getting a little tired of Mermaid, it could be very useful for you to work on something else that has different characters and different stories. I find that if I work on something fresh, it tends to be very freeing and fun, mostly because I'm not bogged down in the same story that I have been trying to make work forever. Then, after awhile, I return to what I was first working on with a second wind and am able to get on a roll.

It's good to be determined and stick with a project, but if you're bogged down and not really getting anywhere anyway, then hop around from idea to idea and give your mind something new to work on.

[Astral Martin]

Hehe, yes my name is Martin. I know there's another Martin somewhere on the board, so...yeah.

I just thought it was just me, but I guess alot of people get the same way. It could be a bt freeing to write something else. Not even a whole chapter, just names and settings and storylines. And even sometimes, I'll take ideas from a new story and add them to the original story.

But thanks for the advice Brandon and Nerf (I'm sorry, I don't know your name .)

EDIT: I really don't feel like double posting. So whether this gets read anytime soon or not...ehh:

I was wondering if anyone wouldn't mind describing what mapping out is? I saw Lex mention mapping out a story on the other board and thought I should ask, assuming it isn't what this thread is entirely about. I notice with some posts that it just focuses on just a chapter of a fic and not an entire story from scratch. And possibly even go more in depth into how you map something out, just so I can do more with Mermaid and future projects. Thanks!

[Astral Martin]

I really don't feel like double posting, but yeah...ehh.

I was wondering if anyone wouldn't mind describing what mapping out is? I saw Lex mention mapping out a story on the other board and thought I should ask, assuming it isn't what this thread is entirely about. I notice with some posts that it just focuses on just a chapter of a fic and not an entire story from scratch. And possibly even go more in depth into how you map something out, just so I can do more with Mermaid and future projects. Thanks!

PS, if mapping out is basically the writing process, just let me know..

[Temporal Death]

Is English a first language to you Martin? Or... have you taken any classes in English Language? And... how old are you (mentally, not physically)?
I don't mean to sound condescending, but seriously, the reason I ask these questions is because you don't understand nor attempt to infer simple phrasal verbs for yourself. You could use a dictionary before you asked this question.

Now, mapping out simply translates to planning, of events, characters, whatever it be. There is no hard and fast rule where the writing process is concerned, if you have read this thread as I have urged you to before.

I'd say stick to a process of your own in which you feel at ease.

[Astral Martin]

Is English a first language to you Martin? Or... have you taken any classes in English Language? And... how old are you (mentally, not physically)?
I don't mean to sound condescending, but seriously, the reason I ask these questions is because you don't understand nor attempt to infer simple phrasal verbs for yourself. You could use a dictionary before you asked this question.

Yeah, I guess Dictionary.com would have been helpful. I just wanted the views of other writers. But, I was pretty insulted by the age and first language question. It did come off a little condescending (yeah, I had to look that up on Dictionary). And I'll admit, I mostly skimmed the thread took the general ideas of the posts. I was just a little insulted. Bu if you didn't mean to come as that, then just forget about it.

But thanks for the response.

[Temporal Death]

Wait. Am I supposed to apologize because I hurt your feelings? If so, don't hold your breath. Whining and bitching in private helps, so I've heard.
I was blunt to begin with so that you would remember what I was trying to say. Stop asking to be spoonfed when it comes to things where the answers are right under your nose.