Site Meter Fiction Scribe » Blog Archive » What to write…

What to write…

by

pouting.jpgNo, I’m not talking about lack of inspiration; I’m talking about finding your form.

There are so many people I talk to who desperately want to write something. They don’t know what it is, but they know they have the desire to put pen to paper.

As with most things to do with writing, finding your ideal form is a labor of love. Many people who want to write but have yet to try it, look at friends who write and want to try writing that. Or, they read novels and think they should write novels.

That isn’t the case at all. I love reading flash fiction, but that doesn’t mean flash fiction is the best form for me. There isn’t a lot of poetry I actively follow, but I adore writing poetry.

This post was inspired by talking to a friend of a friend. He always wanted to write novels, but felt he lacked the creativity to write an entire novel. (It’s not at all a matter of a lack of creativity.) His specialty was more for shorter pieces.

I introduced him to flash fiction.

Finding your form isn’t just finding the type of writing that is best for you, though. It is also finding what works best to help get you writing. My friend had difficulties coming up with ideas for his writing.

I told him about exercises and prompts.

Flash fiction might not work for him, and/or writing exercises and prompt might not work for him. However, it is a start.

Part of the joy of writing is exploring, not just within yourself and the worlds you create but within the craft. Try writing something of another genre. If you’re a novelist, try writing a poem. It’s hard to leave your comfort zone, especially if you truly feel you have a good thing going, but what do you have to lose?

And look at all you might have to gain.


9 Responses to “What to write…”

  1. Elisa Says:

    Well, I write poetry…and then everything else I work on ends up looking like…poetry. This is working out surprisingly well for my wee fanfiction that I’m working on for my husband.

  2. Jaime Says:

    Working on a fanfiction? Cool. Based off…? At least you’re trying new things. :)

  3. Elisa Says:

    Doctor Who. My fella has recently gotten addicted to Doctor Who fanfiction (He’s reading! OMG Who is he and what has he done with my husband?) I’m doing pretty well for someone who can never seem to finish any fiction. I’m halfway done with parts 3,4 & 6 now. (fingers crossed)

  4. Jaime Says:

    Awesome job! It does help to have someone reading. :) Though that’s not always the way it goes. Hehehe. I’d be interested to see what you have. :)

  5. Elisa Says:

    If/when I finish it, and overcome my nervousness enough to get my friend to beta it, I will send you a link…and I am planning on posting it on whofic.com. *knock wood*

  6. Jaime Says:

    Awesome. :D

  7. First Round of Blog Additions « EK’s Star Log Says:

    [...] Writing White Paper Fiction Scribe How To Write and Blog Better Write Now! So You Want To Write Rosebud Lighthouses Storyteller Book Blog Alicia’s Writing Forum A Writers Words an Editors Eye Suspence Thriller The Conjurers A Writers Eye With Jacob Malewitz Bearing Life 52 Novels Write and Publish Fiction Custom Book Publishing Library Girl CopyBlogger Freelance Writing Jobs These Words Finding the Right Words Reading For Writers Successful Blog(gers) Copy Writer Underground Angela Booth’s Writing Blog Ink Thinker Ask Allison Content Done Better The Golden Pencil Blogs In Space The Human Race The Black Blog(Italian) OLIN e-Book e-Publishing How to Promote Your Self-Published eBook (or Print!) Corner of Writers Block Scribe Life O Making Many Books Dragons of the Pyramid Book Reviews WriteLines Fantasy SF Horror [...]

  8. Guy Hogan Says:

    It’s tough finding your genre. Everybody can’t be a novelist. Everyone can’t write poetry. Luckily for me flash fiction is a perfect fit. You’re right. Just get some words down on paper and experiment. It’s the only way. I’ve been published by Word Riot, Chick Flicks Ezine, The Pittsburgh Quarterly, Ellipsis, Brilliant and have stories forthcoming in Poetic Diversity and The Steel City Review. There are a lot of writing tips on my site. Check them out. There may be something there that helps.

  9. JM Says:

    Congratulations on all the publications, and thanks for the link. I’ll check out your site.

Leave a Reply


About Fiction Scribe

Is your spelling less than stupendous? Has getting published gone from possibility to problem? Are you alienating your readers with alliteration? Here at Fiction Scribe you can find what you need for prompts, publishing opportunities and advice, fun wordplay, and more. Use Fiction Scribe for the encouragement you love, the information you want, and pointing out the mistakes writers make that you need. Fiction Scribe: Your source for everything writing.

Fiction Scribe Author(s)

Blogging Flair

Books & Writing Channel Posts

  • A Book by Any Other Name - God(s)
    Welcome to this week’s A Book By Any Other Name! The game works like this: Each week I will choose a word and offer a few titles that I’ve come up with containing that word in the title. Then [...]
  • Saturday Poll - The New Year
    What are your writing goals for the new year?(online surveys) The funny thing is I'm pre-posting this in July. It's almost scary to be thinking about 2010... [...]
  • A Book by Any Other Name - Sign
    Welcome to this week’s A Book By Any Other Name! The game works like this: Each week I will choose a word and offer a few titles that I’ve come up with containing that word in the title. Then [...]
  • Saturday Poll - Holidays
    How are your holidays going?(poll) [...]
  • A Book by Any Other Name - Need
    Welcome to this week’s A Book By Any Other Name! The game works like this: Each week I will choose a word and offer a few titles that I’ve come up with containing that word in the title. Then [...]
  • Saturday Poll - Music
    Do you listen to music when you write?(polls) [...]
  • A Book by Any Other Name - Promise
    Welcome to this week’s A Book By Any Other Name! The game works like this: Each week I will choose a word and offer a few titles that I’ve come up with containing that word in the title. Then [...]
  • Saturday Poll - Pen Names
    Do you have/plan to have a pen name?(surveys) [...]
  • A Book by Any Other Name - Right
    Welcome to this week’s A Book By Any Other Name! The game works like this: Each week I will choose a word and offer a few titles that I’ve come up with containing that word in the title. Then [...]
  • Saturday Poll - Tis the Season
    Do you write 'seasonal' stories?(polls) [...]

Hot Off The Press