Aww... i suck at this! :(

af_thefragile

Here's my story. I really haven't written much since i got out of school. When i was school I didn't take english as seriously (now i realise i should have!).
I always loved writing stories though. And i've got this brain which i believe is ultra-creative but random that keeps coming up with all these amazing ideas and plots to write novels on but with no direction!

Well, lately i've managed to grab hold of this one story line, got all the characters down, got the events time line and also I know how I'm gonna write it and what the finished piece should look like. So basically i've got it all down apart from the hardest and the most important bit. Writing it.

Problem is I suck at writing! I don't exactly know how to write it. Everything I write seems to only belong at the bottom of the bin. I can't seem to figure out how to get on with it and take it in the direction I want it to go...

Now I've given myself what i believe is quite a comfortable time period of 2 years to finish this off. So I'm not trying to rush it or anything. But i've never written anything on this scale before and its quite depressing to read the quality of script that streams out of my pen...

turgon

Hey bud, do you read a lot? I know its hard to hear if you dont, but I think reading helps a great deal. It can be curious the kind of things you pick up. A few weeks ago I wrote out a part of a dialogue scene that was in my head (I dont write, but I felt I needed to put it down for some reason). Reading back on it the influence I had kind of taken from Ernest Hemingway was a bit startling. A kind of sub-conscious thing.

You were talking in Politics about this project. I wont pry, you probably want to keep it all private (and rightly so). I ordered that book Jenifer Government you recommended though, and you said it was in the same vein

davyjose

Well, as someone mentioned Max Barry; there's an example of someone who wouldn't be the most amazingly gifted writer, but has a very solid understanding of what he's trying to say, and is an authority in the what he writes about -- corporations/marketing (his qualifications are in this field -- he worked for HP).

But as they say, a writer writes. Like any "gift", it's 1% inspiration, and the rst perspiration. So I would say to you, if you haven't written much and you want to learn your trade, then put this project aside for a year or two, and just write -- every day. When you find your own voice, then you'll find yourself at a decent enough standard, you will be able to put on paper what it is you want to say in your novel.

EileenG

Just write it. Sometimes as you go on, you discover your writing voice and learn what works for you. Even if you are convinced it all belongs at the bottom of a bin, once you have it written, you can start to clean it up and improve it.

The post you wrote is clear and lucid and well written. Why should your book be any different?

Livvie

Find a local writers group. I'm sure that would help you enormously - your opening post makes me think that you only need a gentle shove in the right (write ) direction.

Matt Holck

have you tried the personal issues forum?

Frankiestylee

You say you have loads of ideas so why not try your hand at loads of short stories. It'll give you writing practice and allow you to keep a record of your ideas. When you feel able you can go back to your collection of short stories and give the chosen few the time and energy they deserve.

Sarky

Matt, that's hardly helpful. Be nice or don't post here.