• Deciding to start writing a book, any ideas?
    38 replies, posted
Well, my teachers have always said I'm talented in English, and I've wanted to be an author for a while, and I was stuck for ideas, so I was wondering if Facepunch had any ideas. I posted this in Fast Threads because I believe it's not really deserving to go into GD. I had an idea, but it seems very similar to an already-written book. Any help would be very much appreciated :buddy: PS: No stupid ideas please, I'd prefer anyone to be able to read this.
Someone who decides he will write a book because his teachers told him he's "talented" and then proceeds to go on a forum to ask for "ideas" really shouldn't be writing a book. Especially if he ends the aforementioned plea with "No stupid ideas please, I'd prefer anyone to be able to read this." It is unfortunate that the barriers to entry of the actual act of writing are so low; otherwise we'd be able to filter out bullshit like this. ... Ten points from Gryffindor.
Giant dicks are invading earth and are smashing everyone who declines to worship DickGod. Shit, i should write a book 'bout that
[QUOTE=ConcerningWood;23085950]Someone who decides he will write a book because his teachers told him he's "talented" and then proceeds to go on a forum to ask for "ideas" really shouldn't be writing a book. Especially if he ends the aforementioned plea with "No stupid ideas please, I'd prefer anyone to be able to read this." It is unfortunate that the barriers to entry of the actual act of writing are so low; otherwise we'd be able to filter out bullshit like this. ... Ten points from Gryffindor.[/QUOTE] I'm sorry, I don't understand what on Earth you said. Also, I don't want to start writing a book because someone said I'm talented, that is a reason that assists my self-esteem to become an author. And by ideas, I mean [b]ideas[/b]. As in, you tell me a very basic plot, I flesh it out, add characters, detail, interesting stuff, an ending, etc. [editline]09:04PM[/editline] [QUOTE=MadMaxJ;23086111]Giant dicks are invading earth and are smashing everyone who declines to worship DickGod. Shit, i should write a book 'bout that[/QUOTE] Interesting, but I'd prefer the book to be OK for kids to read if they wanted to, not saying it's a kiddy book with no words longer than 10 letters, but preferably no silly things.
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;23086172]I'm sorry, I don't understand what on Earth you said. Also, I don't want to start writing a book because someone said I'm talented, that is a reason that assists my self-esteem to become an author. And by ideas, I mean [b]ideas[/b]. As in, you tell me a very basic plot, I flesh it out, add characters, detail, interesting stuff, an ending, etc. [editline]09:04PM[/editline] Interesting, but I'd prefer the book to be OK for kids to read if they wanted to, not saying it's a kiddy book with no words longer than 10 letters, but preferably no silly things.[/QUOTE] My point is that the very notion of you going to a forum to ask for help implies that you are inept and any shitty thing you put out will be a disaster. Books are not trite little stories with a definite beginning, middle, and end with the so-called "tipping point". That's all just absurd bullshit that undereducated public school English teachers feel the need to indoctrinate their students with. The trouble here is that you cannot even currently fathom what constitutes something worth reading, and it's doubtful that you'll ever be in a position to create something worth reading. Good books are complex, poignant, confounding, and difficult. An example being David Foster Wallace's "The Broom of the System". Your efforts, in contrast, are laughable. Children's writers are also laughable. Also, please don't resort to the horrible sesquipedalian argument as if implying that long, strenous, and pedantic words constitutes sophisticated literature; it annoys me horribly.
[QUOTE=ConcerningWood;23086246]My point is that the very notion of you going to a forum to ask for help implies that you are inept and any shitty thing you put out will be a disaster. Books are not trite little stories with a definite beginning, middle, and end with the so-called "tipping point". That's all just absurd bullshit that undereducated public school English teachers feel the need to indoctrinate their students with. The trouble here is that you cannot even currently fathom what constitutes something worth reading, and it's doubtful that you'll ever be in a position to create something worth reading. Good books are complex, poignant, confounding, and difficult. An example being David Foster Wallace's "The Broom of the System". Your efforts, in contrast, are laughable. Children's writers are also laughable. Also, please don't resort to the horrible sesquipedalian argument as if implying that long, strenous, and pedantic words constitutes sophisticated literature; it annoys me horribly.[/QUOTE] I understand what you are saying, but you have to consider that many people who write those kinds of books spend years and sometimes even their entire lives writing the book, and continually editing and cutting and changing the draft. Sometimes, they do not even release the book before their death. I understand that perhaps asking for assistance on authoring a book on an internet forum was perchance not the best idea, but if you have no constructive ideas, I would kindly recommend to you another thread. Thank you. In English: Please leave.
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;23086322]I understand what you are saying, but you have to consider that many people who write those kinds of books spend years and sometimes even their entire lives writing the book, and continually editing and cutting and changing the draft. Sometimes, they do not even release the book before their death. I understand that perhaps asking for assistance on authoring a book on an internet forum was perchance not the best idea, but if you have no constructive ideas, I would kindly recommend to you another thread. Thank you. In English: Please leave.[/QUOTE] David Foster Wallace starting writing "The Broom of the System" in college, in his very 20s, and finished it by his mid-20s. For a 600-page book, that isn't bad (not implying that length is indicative of quality, as Pynchon's "The Crying Lot of 49" shows, which is a tiny little book). The real problem here is that you want to write a book for the sake of writing a book. So you can then proceed to inform people that you're a sophisticated, troubled man who enjoys wallowing his oh-so-very troubled time in his little troubled booth in the Starbucks down the street, all whilst being troubled. Your motives are entirely social and entirely condemnable.
the dude has a point
Why does a musician become a musician? Why does an actor become an actor? Why does a managerial businessman become a managerial businessman? Because they want to do these things. I'm simply saying that I want to become an author. If it doesn't work out, I'll just continue to do my backup job and earn an honest pay, perhaps retrying later. Currently, what you are saying is 'You are crap, your whole psychology is crap, give up, kill yourself, you have no point in living'. Perhaps that was slightly exaggerated, but you are currently trying your very hardest to not let me become an author. [editline]09:19PM[/editline] ITT: Argument between me and ConcerningWood, wait, what ideas for a story?
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;23086459]Why does a musician become a musician? Why does an actor become an actor? Why does a managerial businessman become a managerial businessman? Because they want to do these things. I'm simply saying that I want to become an author. If it doesn't work out, I'll just continue to do my backup job and earn an honest pay, perhaps retrying later. Currently, what you are saying is 'You are crap, your whole psychology is crap, give up, kill yourself, you have no point in living'. Perhaps that was slightly exaggerated, but you are currently trying your very hardest to not let me become an author. [editline]09:19PM[/editline] ITT: Argument between me and ConcerningWood, wait, what ideas for a story?[/QUOTE] Is there something wrong with that? If you want to be a physicist but can't get through Physics 101, then yes, you should most certainly give up. Contrary to popular wisdom, you cannot aspire to be anything.
Listen, this thread is clearly getting absolutely nowhere, so could someone either post something or could a mod lock this, thank you.
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;23086545]Listen, this thread is clearly getting absolutely nowhere, so could someone either post something or could a mod lock this, thank you.[/QUOTE] I prefer it this way. :3
You should start by writing small stories. Writing a book is more complicated than you think.
I have to agree with ConcerningWood, really. You can't just decide to write a book, then publish a amazing book which everyone loves. And if you need ideas from teenage boys on a online forum, you probably aren't the best author.
[QUOTE=Ker‎o;23086569]You should start by writing small stories. Writing a book is more complicated than you think.[/QUOTE] Never said it was going to be a massive 300 page novel, just said 'Ideas for a story'. [editline]09:28PM[/editline] But thank you for not completely attempting to destroy my hopes of doing what I want to do. [editline]09:29PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Ascensive;23086638]I have to agree with ConcerningWood, really. You can't just decide to write a book, then publish a amazing book which everyone loves. And if you need ideas from teenage boys on a online forum, you probably aren't the best author.[/QUOTE] Everyone gets mental block, and I can't think of anything truly original. Teenagers mainly have brilliant imaginations, it's like a goldmine of thoughts.
Ah, but it's not a story if one person needs ideas from others. Look, I've had a single idea floating in my head for THREE years now. I can get up to page ten or so before I scrap and re-write. But you know what? I always do it because it can be better. So my suggestion is just go around, find things that interest YOU, and others, find a distinct theme. That's the key. One that you WANT to be involved in. One you HAVE to work on.
OK guys, here's an idea... Perspective. Ever tried shutting an eye and pretending to squish someone's head? What if someone developed a method to make that real? Not fleshed any story out, just wondering if it had been used before.
Hmm...not that I can recall, but you'll have to build. If you wish, I can provide more assistance. I would go for a sort of...game based on it. A tron esque kind of thing. But less futuristic I would guess. [editline]03:36PM[/editline] Oh perhaps about it being used as a tool, by the ever so cliche corrupt and totalitarian government?
Clichés, clichés. I don't want something that'll blend right in, I want something new, something different. However, the game idea seems very interesting indeed... OK, how about this: Scientists find a way to defy physics and make a person's perception become reality. They create a game from this, simple but difficult; just get everyone else before they get you. It's a sort of virtual reality, like Tron I suppose, but a game. No silly twists like 'It's not a game', but when the military manage to steal one of the perceptionification machines, it all goes to Crapville, Tenessee. Bit more fleshed out, and not too cliché. [editline]09:46PM[/editline] BTW, thanks a ton for your help.
Check you're PM. And really, it's not a problem. [editline]03:48PM[/editline] Like they start altering the VR to do things it shouldn't, making a false nightmare or so?
[QUOTE=Jad Hinto;23087086]Check you're PM. And really, it's not a problem. [editline]03:48PM[/editline] Like they start altering the VR to do things it shouldn't, making a false nightmare or so?[/QUOTE] Ooh, even better than what I was thinking, hackers. I was thinking the military would try and use it in their tactics, but since it's designed for VR time-space has a hissy-fit. [editline]09:49PM[/editline] Also, I've replied to the PM.
Ah, because they try to plan out all of their enemy's tactics, so eventually the impossible simply HAS to happen, causing Crapville to come up on the radar?
[QUOTE=Jamsponge;23087049]Clichés, clichés. I don't want something that'll blend right in, I want something new, something different. However, the game idea seems very interesting indeed... OK, how about this: Scientists find a way to defy physics and make a person's perception become reality. They create a game from this, simple but difficult; just get everyone else before they get you. It's a sort of virtual reality, like Tron I suppose, but a game. No silly twists like 'It's not a game', but when the military manage to steal one of the perceptionification machines, it all goes to Crapville, Tenessee. Bit more fleshed out, and not too cliché. [editline]09:46PM[/editline] BTW, thanks a ton for your help.[/QUOTE] [img]http://imgur.com/yWWFm.jpg[/img]
Wouldn't scientists use that technology for a more practical use? Like, if the physics were like the physics in this world, then they could test out experiemtal designs before building the thing in life and potentially wasting millions of dollars.
Obviously they'd have their own copy of it. Think of it like a super MMO. Cep't...worse. Also, wouldn't they have to spend worthless time coding it into the game?
[QUOTE=MadMaxJ;23086111]Giant dicks are invading earth and are smashing everyone who declines to worship DickGod. Shit, i should write a book 'bout that[/QUOTE] Kayne sat at her computer desk, reading an article on The Onion about invading dicks. She accidentally stumbled upon this while trying to Bing redtube. Kayne was a resourceful news woman who wouldn't usally do this, but the Bing search had a picture of a penis. "No one can resist a picture of a dick.", she said and clicked on the article. During her reading, something crashed in her living room. Thinking that it was her cat, she went to investigate. There, she saw something she really couldn't make out. It looked pale and fleshy. Her cat was tugging at the floating small thing. She was scared to get close to it but then two more came our of her kitchen cupboard. They were two 4 inch penises. to be continued...
Good luck with your writing, it can be a tough thing to follow through to the end. I've been writing a story for 7 years and I've only managed 8 and a half pages. I think I should get back to it.
[QUOTE=z156;23087461]Good luck with your writing, it can be a tough thing to follow through to the end. I've been writing a story for 7 years and I've only managed 8 and a half pages. I think I should get back to it.[/QUOTE]Well now apparently we're planning on workig together to some extent on something. I'm not completely sure yet. Meh. I need something to fill my days and spend my creativity on. EDIT: And I feel you. I have an idea been floating around for three years. I can write a few pages, get irritated with something I did in the story, completely restart. But the basic plot is always the same. [I]Amber[/I].
I love Complex Love stories :D from a guy's point of with excentric girls, and a pervert friend, you have a secret crush on some girl, but she utterly hates you. Then suddenly the world goes wrong, only you 7 survive(him his friend the girl and some other boys/girls) zombies everywhere, everyone is getting killed(except them ofc). But you said for kids, kids aka from 14? I would read that with 14 :D
That good old apocalyptic feel in books...gotta love em'.
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