Tyler Lee
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hello! I am Tyler, and you may or may not remember that I emailed you once before. I have a question on techniques to writing stories. I do write out an outline and I still get stuck. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!
Michael J. Sullivan
Hey Tyler, fortunately I've never suffered from writer's block...which is probably not what you want to hear. But I do have some suggestions that may help.
1. Do you write everyday? If not, I highly suggest you do. If you write sporadically it can be harder to keep the words flowing. It's really good if you can schedule the same time each day for writing. For me, that means just after getting up and having breakfast, for you it might be right after you come home from work/school and before dinner, or maybe right before you go to bed.
2. When you are writing, start out by editing the previous days work. This will remind you of where you are in the story and you should be able to move effortlessly from what you wrote the day before to the next days stuff.
3. Don't worry about the words being perfect. Just start getting the ideas down on. Making them sing is part of editing, for now you just need to get the story moving.
4. Go for a walk and ask yourself questions out loud - There's something to be said about engaging the verbal part of your brain. Put in some earbuds and carry a phone that is out so people don't think you are nuts by talking aloud to yourself. I often ask myself questions.
What's wrong?
I have this person stuck in a dungeon and can't get him out.
Is he alone or with someone else?
Someone else.
Maybe it's the other person who is "broken out" by one of their comrades and my guy can escape with them.
Hey that might work. Will he join with them or go his own way?
Well, it might be good for him to tag alone for awhile.
I keep this up for a bit and before long I have a number of scenes to write and I return to do so.
--------------------------
I hope some of that helps.
1. Do you write everyday? If not, I highly suggest you do. If you write sporadically it can be harder to keep the words flowing. It's really good if you can schedule the same time each day for writing. For me, that means just after getting up and having breakfast, for you it might be right after you come home from work/school and before dinner, or maybe right before you go to bed.
2. When you are writing, start out by editing the previous days work. This will remind you of where you are in the story and you should be able to move effortlessly from what you wrote the day before to the next days stuff.
3. Don't worry about the words being perfect. Just start getting the ideas down on. Making them sing is part of editing, for now you just need to get the story moving.
4. Go for a walk and ask yourself questions out loud - There's something to be said about engaging the verbal part of your brain. Put in some earbuds and carry a phone that is out so people don't think you are nuts by talking aloud to yourself. I often ask myself questions.
What's wrong?
I have this person stuck in a dungeon and can't get him out.
Is he alone or with someone else?
Someone else.
Maybe it's the other person who is "broken out" by one of their comrades and my guy can escape with them.
Hey that might work. Will he join with them or go his own way?
Well, it might be good for him to tag alone for awhile.
I keep this up for a bit and before long I have a number of scenes to write and I return to do so.
--------------------------
I hope some of that helps.
More Answered Questions
Aima
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hi Micheal, a huge fan, read all of Riyria and currently in withdrawal. I'm sure on behalf of all readers l can safely convey the sentiment that our hearts sink when you use words like 'overstay' and 'get tired' of the pair. We can never get tired. Please never think of abandoning Riyria. You are so good with them l think you can write about them in your sleep.Hope you'd get back to them soon? Thanks.
Justin hight
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
I read on an earlier post that you actually don't mind tropes. Maybe because I'm a little newer to fantasy I found that I'm not sick of them yet. Do you think other authors are trying way too hard to be different ? And dark ? I should worry about just writing a great story ? Now I really want to try your books . I still like an old fashioned fantasy story .
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