what to do...

Godfather · Dec 17, 2005

i have three ideas for books in my head, which i would really like on paper.

but i neither have the time to write them, and am far too undisciplined anyway, i write poetry, but i sincerely think these ideas should be written in novel/screenplay/play format, probably preferably novel.

any advice?

loquax · Dec 17, 2005

Pick out your favourite and write it. Discipline is one of those things you have to force yourself into. I, for example, no longer watch TV. It's pretty easy, just get rid of your TV. I have little else to do but read, write, and surf the net. I work long hours, but read and write in my lunch break. Then there's the weekend.

It's really not as hard as you think.

jules · Dec 17, 2005

I also have gotten rid of my TV.

The results have been more time procrastinating on the internet, and threatening letters from TV Licensing, who don't seem to understand the idea that somebody could not watch television.

Ahem.

Birol · Dec 17, 2005

Lack of discipline sounds like an excuse. A cop-out. Pick an idea. Start writing.

Perks · Dec 17, 2005

I think you should at least give it a go and start one of the novels. If you find that you love it, you'll make the time and learn the process. Otherwise, it's perfectly acceptable to abandon three great ideas from someone I know to be an admirably competent wordsmith and save the rest of us the competition.

Yeah, the more I think of it, the better I like that one. Just let 'em die.

DamaNegra · Dec 17, 2005

Lack of discipline is just an excuse. If your life depended on writing one of the novels, you'd do it with no problems. Although I tend to find myself agreeing with Perks... it would mean less competition for us poor souls

However, you really should pick your best idea, write the others down for later and start writing.

Godfather · Dec 19, 2005

yere right.
(but i might keep my tv for the time being)

man... i gotta get to writing.
but honestly though, i have school all week,
and then the weekend.

ill see what i can do, and give ye chapter one.

Peregrine · Dec 19, 2005

Most writers have something else going on all week. You'd be amazed at how much you can get done in short bursts, though. I've done some of my best writing on 20 minute bus rides to/from work.

Ken Schneider · Dec 19, 2005

Pick one and write it. If it fizzles out from lack of material, try another. If nothing comes from any of the ideas, then go back to what you know. At least you would have given the novel ideas a chance. Maybe one will blossom into a full novel.

All it really takes is stick-to-it-tivness. Whether it is any good is another matter, but I know you can finish a novel if you want to do it.

Ken S.

DivaNicoletta · Dec 19, 2005

This is just my two cents: I think that a person who is really, really passionate about writing can always make time. A writer writes, always.

zornhau · Dec 20, 2005

Bang the ideas together into one super novel.

But just because you can do something, doesn't mean you must. Perhaps you are a poet, not a novelist.

PeeDee · Dec 20, 2005

Godfather said:
yere right.
(but i might keep my tv for the time being)

man... i gotta get to writing.
but honestly though, i have school all week,
and then the weekend.

ill see what i can do, and give ye chapter one.

I work a full time job. By full time, I mostly mean, I live there. I also occasionally try to spend time with my wife, who misses me a great deal when I'm not around.

I write during the very late hours of the night, because it's when I have to write. I also write in the morning, before work, if I have time, I write on slow days at work, I write out loud while walking, and I write in my head.

The passion carries you. It also helps with the discipline thing too.

(If I didn't have my dearest long-suffering wife, the television would've been out the window eons ago)

Flapdoodle · Dec 20, 2005

Godfather said:
i have three ideas for books in my head, which i would really like on paper.

but i neither have the time to write them, and am far too undisciplined anyway, i write poetry, but i sincerely think these ideas should be written in novel/screenplay/play format, probably preferably novel.

any advice?

Open up your word processor, and write:

"Once upon a time..."

And keep going until you reached "The End."

what to do...

Godfather

back door man

loquax

I verb nouns adverbly

jules

Bored fanatic

Birol

Around and About

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

DamaNegra

Mexican on the loose!

Godfather

back door man

Peregrine

Ken Schneider

Absolute sagebrush

DivaNicoletta

zornhau

Swordsman

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Flapdoodle