Writing Help-Group For Everyone discussion

Hello :)

A LITTLE HELP needed please (And I think this could be fun also.) I’ll be doing NaNo for the first time this November, writing the manuscript for my second novel. However, I haven’t written since I self-published my first novel except for this 500-word piece I posted on my blog, post-publishing. https://knickyla.com/2016/01/24/song-...

I don’t want to go into NaNo cold, even though I’m a planner rather than a pantser (I will have an outline for the novel completed by then for sure), so here’s my idea on how to circumvent that, and I hope the more cynical lot amongst us can take it in the spirit in which it was intended, and not otherwise. I’m just asking for a little creative inspiration, not your first-born calf.

I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a serial for months now, something to help me hone the direction my story-telling has now taken since completing my first novel. Unfortunately though, my inability to focus on more than one idea at a time has incapacitated me somewhat, and though I want very much to write and explore my new style and voice, I can’t seem to generate any actual new story ideas at the mo.

This is where you come in. I do not want your ideas, as in your best ideas, your precious and most highly-coveted brain babies. But if you’ve had the odd, fleeting, spontaneous and easily-dismissible idea that might make a good story if only someone else (me perhaps?) could do it, I would be both honoured and grateful if you were to leave it at my doorstep in a comment below, changeling-style ^.^

Aside from creative inspiration and writing practice, I could also use those ideas to create a kind of Choose Your Own Adventure serial, where the ideas I fancy most (in what would be a draw from a monthly pool) are chosen for the plot and direction the serial will take. And because you would be so generous as to provide those ideas, I am more than happy return the generosity by having those of you whose writing I fancy write guest blogs featuring your own episode/instalment for the serial.

Like an inspired, creative-prose quilt woven from and for writing practice! The story ideas could continue or prequel the 500-word piece I shared (because I really don’t know where to go with it, and it still intrigues me even to this day) or I could begin something brand new. My new direction is dark faerie tale, so the stranger, weirder, more odd and eerie the idea, all the better for the telling. Anything haunting and otherworldly, though straight up horror is a hard limit for me as I love a good night’s rest :P lols

So, what do you think? Is it a good idea? Do you have any ideas that you’re ready, willing and able to contribute? … What happens next? :)

Also, THANK YOU.

Knicky wrote: "Hello :)

A LITTLE HELP needed please (And I think this could be fun also.) I’ll be doing NaNo for the first time this November, writing the manuscript for my second novel. However, I haven’t writt..."

Hello, Knicky!

I've just got through reading your ideas, but just to be certain I've got everything right: You are asking for people to contribute their story ideas (the ones that they're not using) so that you can be helped with a creative spark? As in these ideas can help you get over a creative slump in your writing?

I'm just having a bit of trouble getting what you're saying quite straight. ;P Sorry.

Yes, you got it. That is exactly what I'm saying. I have a bit of writer's block so I'm asking for any unwanted story ideas as prompts for writing practice, in between ideas of my own :)

Ah, I see! So, in what form would you want them: A few sentences describing an idea or two, or something like a more detailed paragraph, or what?

A few sentences will be more than enough to get my brain storming. Thank you so much ^.^

Okay then:

Well, I once had this story idea that revolved around a character who was a boy in appearance (maybe fourteen-fifteen-ish) but who was actually far older, as in a century or so (maybe more). He was originally a thief by trade. Many years ago, he had accidentally stumbled upon some terrible secret or power, which had then cursed him (or attached itself to him) when he tried to steal it. It granted him unnatural long life, but it also tormented him. Ultimately, the idea had been to follow his journey to be rid of this power by returning it to it's rightful keep.

Hope that helps you some!