General Writer's Block thread

I'd write it out first, and get feedback. Only way you're gonna know.

Just found out about a website called Wattpad, which seems to have a very big community even though I've never heard of it before. Interestingly, it allows you to put up covers for your stories as if they were books.

Interesting thanks for the heads up :D

I think my school's internet filters actually blocked that site at one time. There was even a petition going around the freshmen to have it unblocked.

Does it count as a social networking site? It seems pretty tame to me.

So recently, my thinking about this one series I wanted to do that screws with the gender dynamics of the Magical Girl genre reignited my desire to do this other series that screws with the gender dynamics of the Magical Girl genre... At first I thought, "Why not just marry the two concepts so you don't have to choose?", but upon further inspection, I realized that these two stories just too different when it comes to plot for something like that to go well.

So now I have a dilemma: Should I focus on one, or the other?

It's way too easy sometimes to try and glue two stories together that shouldn't really be combined, so I understand that.

Hard to tell which to pick when you tell us so little, but don't completely drop the other. Continue taking notes for it whenever you think of something. In my experience nothing brings breakthroughs in a story idea like trying to concentrate on a different one!

Anyone interested in collaborating with me on a short story based on this dream I had?

Sure, I could give it a shot! Although I warn you, I've only written a couple of short stories and they're not very good. I do regularly plagiarize my dreams for inspiration though since I'm apparently a way better writer asleep than awake.

edited 27th May '12 10:46:00 AM by Kesteven

Hi WB. I've been enjoying tvtropes for about a year now but I haven't looked into the forums until recently. Just figured I'd introduce myself.

edited: I picked the wrong thread for this, didn't I? Off to an amazing start here.

edited 30th May '12 4:58:53 PM by NanoSquid

Head over to Writer's Block Daily. It's the updates and introductions thread, as well as the collective digital water cooler. Just say hello there and all shall be right with the world.

Or not, 'cause, you know, the world...

So I need some advice - I have a PC with a lot of things on it that tend to distract me (Steam, Pokémon Online, Skype, Facebook, emulators). Because of my slow Internet connection uninstalling them is not an option and neither is handwriting, since my hand cramps very easily. Anyone got some advice to block out these distractions when I'm trying to write?

turn off your internet.

If you want to go hardcore, and have some basic computer savvy, you could set up a small Linux partition with only the writing tools you need and its Firefox armed with Leechblock.

edited 31st May '12 4:00:42 PM by KillerClowns

Hmm, a partition doesn't seem like too bad of an idea, it's not like my laptop can't handle a dual-boot (only problem there is I hate Linux but I definitely have the savvy to install a dual-boot, I just finished my Level 3 computing BTEC)

I just have really bad concentration problens sometimes, so I need to sort them out, and disabling/enabling my Internet connection is just a single keystroke (as well as not affecting all my offline concentration drains) so although thanks for the idea, I don't think that would work.

edited 31st May '12 4:10:37 PM by Plumbum

the author of XKCD turns off his computer when he feels the urge to procrastinate. Then in the time it takes to reboot, he has time to tidy up his desk and remember what he ought to be doing.

So there's a compilation of said bookisms◊ going around at the minute and everyone's like "I hate the word said!". What are your opinions on said bookisms? I can't stand a particular few of them. "uttered" is top of that list.

edited 3rd Jun '12 8:54:05 AM by Pattyunknown

I don't like "warned". Don't ask me why, because I don't know either. Doesn't sound right as a synonym for 'said'.

We've already got a thread on this.

Yes.

Do we ever.

never mind.

edited 7th Jun '12 7:52:37 PM by MrAHR

I just realized I'm feeling... Envious of a story. As in, envious I can't come up with anything as good.

What's wrong with me?

edited 7th Jun '12 7:54:32 PM by risingdreams

I think that's a pretty normal reaction, if anything.

edited 7th Jun '12 7:17:38 PM by CrystalGlacia

Yeah, although you might be thinking you should be able to come up with something as good, when actually whoever wrote it is probably a lot more experienced than you.

And probably also smarter and more talented. And prettier.

edited 8th Jun '12 9:48:30 AM by Kesteven

Nah, that's not the case. I know full well I won't manage to do something nearly as good.

edited 8th Jun '12 6:27:37 PM by risingdreams

Ah, but that doesn't mean you don't feel like you SHOULD be able to equal it, unless you're Immanuel Kant. Humans are perfectly capable of feeling bad about failing to do things they could never reasonably be expected to do, and equally capable of projecting that resentment onto others. Just a thought, though.