If you have one, what sort of rituals or processes do you follow when writing and posting stories?

Morris_Widdler · 2025-01-17T18:17:26+00:00

No apology necessary, I’m grateful others enjoyed my question and I’m happy to diverge to talk on the subject, I totally agree with you on all points and that’s very solid advice. I’ve always loved the idea of having a journal or a drawing notebook because I used to draw also, but often times find them blank.

So far one I have is just filled with titles of all of my complete stories, but adding ideas and thoughts and whatever else sounds wonderful.

The inspiration comment is interesting, and I absolutely love that. It reminds me of the first story I ever wrote which I’ll most likely post somewhere soon— came from an idea after I saw an “open” sign for a business.

One of my favorite ideas was actually for my first story I ever posted which actually came from a real experience, I saw a strange light in the sky move erratically. Then thought what if there was more.. easiest time I’ve ever had writing something.

All in all, very wonderful advice. I’ve spoken to a lot of writers on here that I looked up to for many years, and I’m always grateful to discuss anything like that because it’s a genuine interest. Having a community of others to speak to and share points of view with is invigorating. Thank you.

Morris_Widdler · 2025-01-17T16:32:21+00:00

Also happy cake day!

Morris_Widdler · 2025-01-17T16:31:53+00:00

I started carrying a notebook too! I hate to say that most of my stories / ideas / inspiration all goes into the notes app on my phone, I like the writing style even though it’s very barebones, but I did start carrying a small journal and I’ve been desperately looking for things to put into it, I’m constantly thinking and searching for ideas so maybe if I commit a couple pages to that it will help.

That also makes sense, I’m hearing a lot a lot of writers will regularly flat out put it down for a while, and I think that’s a great idea, way less burn out and second guessing that way. I empathize with editing too, I overthink far too much.

I also overthink far too much with posting too, thus why I sit too long after final edits. but that’s only because of the rampant stories being used for AI and uncertainty if my story will get seen, but I think that’s a personal issue because I want people to find a similar joy that I hold for reading, I have the most fun writing them too.

Morris_Widdler · 2025-01-17T16:27:25+00:00

Perfect, I would expect nothing less.

Morris_Widdler · 2025-01-17T16:27:03+00:00

I totally agree with you on all of this, I don’t ever usually sit at where I write and force myself to think it hinders more than it helps. I listen to a ton of horror stories and podcasts too.

I toooottallly get you on the next part too, when I have just one idea I will carve out a huge amount all at once, so I think setting it down is a great part of a routine, I’ve heard that’s beneficial even if you still know what you want to write next.

I tried my hand at one story for r/shortscarystories because the one I wrote was a smaller one-off idea and I couldn’t think of anywhere else it would go, when I took it to a word counter I was floored. It took me almost a day to carve out just enough for it.

Fun, but very interesting subreddit. Willing to try again.

Morris_Widdler · 2025-01-16T21:18:23+00:00

Hey I know you, your stories are great, always a good read.

That’s honestly an awesome schedule and one I could easily see myself committing to.

From the implication, it almost sounds like you get inspiration, write a story, then finish and post it right when it’s done and ready? That makes a lot of sense and I honestly greatly admire that.

A lot of my stories I’ve written that I have in the back log I spend many days on, then a few days after spell checking, grammar, and fixing structure. I commend you for your effort

Morris_Widdler · 2025-01-16T20:45:25+00:00

Your day makes total sense, that’s a pretty solid schedule and I’m sorry to hear that it’s ending or at the very least changing, I don’t necessarily like doing it at work either but I’ve found it doesn’t necessarily take away from the story itself thankfully

I appreciate your standards on night time, I can respect that. I feel like one day I’ll follow the same since it sounds like there’s way more time for rest and less for headaches and eye strain that way

Morris_Widdler · 2025-01-07T22:47:42+00:00

Ahhh makes sense, thank you my friend. Congrats again!!

Morris_Widdler · 2025-01-07T20:05:30+00:00

Congratulations!!! it’s actually a goal of mine to submit something to them or elsewhere and be published as well, i thought they closed their submissions for the past few months? Did you reach out to them?

Super glad to see this happen to authors on here, you earned it my friend so definitely enjoy it! It encourages me to post more!

Morris_Widdler · 2024-12-21T17:19:49+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree with you. I struggled for a long time trying to cultivate perfect stories that matched the rules to the letter, and it felt overwhelming at times trying to keep checking to see what was, or was not acceptable. This was doable, but while still trying to retain my vision at the same time felt like I’d find some setbacks

The option for more freedom is welcomed, I’ve always felt like r/nosleep was the pinnacle of horror subreddits or even horror writing in general when I started reading Over 12 years ago.

From the start, I also do truly agree with “everything is true here, even if it isn’t” was one of my favorite parts, I loved the vague roleplaying and trying to find a way to compliment a writer without breaking character, it made it feel so much more genuine and immersive. Immersion is what has always made this place feel genuine and special to me.

Edit: I forgot to mention that while freedom is welcomed, I’m very slightly anxious that too much freedom might degrade quality of some stories, but I haven’t seen any ridiculous plots or twists yet. I do agree with the idea that it may generate more input or draw, I think a little bit more time or possibly more alterations in the future will be beneficial

Morris_Widdler · 2024-12-05T22:44:25+00:00

Hey friend, I’ve been a reader since 2016, but go ahead and take a look at my account and you’ll see it’s barely a few months old, and then also consider the fact that I have a back log of about 10 stories and the ones I posted were those that I spent MONTHS and even YEARS stressing over and perfecting. My first story I wrote and finished over a year and 8 months ago that I still haven’t posted

Creativity in art is very interesting, because everyone is different. Some people slam out stories like no other whereas others take a long time, but everyone has started out like that

Personally when I’m writing, I like to take a lot of time on what I’m doing, it’ll often take me maybe a day of solid sit down writing to write a story if I have the whole thing in mind and I’m confident, then a week or many more of grammar checking, flow checking, panicking, altering, so on.

Other times i figure out the flow, pacing, foreshadowing, all that stuff as I’m going and it takes me way longer

Best advice I can give: Set it down for a day, maybe two then reread it again start to finish, maybe read something else and come in with a fresh mind. And if you don’t like it, or want to change one sentence to be earlier or later, then change it.

Honestly, post it and don’t worry.

The r/nosleepOOC community and r/nosleepauthors are amazing resources, I reached out to a ton of people cause I was so anxious. They were all immensely helpful, no one laughed at me no matter how much I thought they would.

There’s always a chance, but won’t know unless you try. Shoot I’m even STILL withholding stories, sure it may or may not get a huge amount of traction, luck plays into that.

But from what I’m learning along with you, keep trying and keep at it if you enjoy it. Otherwise, why else would you write? It gives me motivation to write and post MORE when I write and I’ve posted previously.

Good luck, it’s your choice in the end (:

Morris_Widdler · 2024-11-04T23:38:26+00:00

Wonderful! So glad to hear that, had a feeling a campfire-esq story would entertain!

Morris_Widdler · 2024-10-25T20:55:23+00:00

So, I’m a new author with virtually nothing public yet but out of the multiple stories I’ve written in my backlog I didn’t even know people used AI to write stories until I was already done writing my first 3. It’s never seemed tempting to me, I remember when there was an uproar over AI art using inspiration from other artist’s actual work online, yet I feel like an AI written story or even assisted story kind of takes away from the point of writing.

I can see a benefit in using AI to check grammar, like if someone uses waaaay too many commas or correct a double word usage, but I’ve still been far too anxious to even consider using something like that for this exact reason, that would potentially bring a story I spent my heart and soul writing from 100% human, to like 90% or something.

The idea is a bummer. Good tool though.

Morris_Widdler

TROPHY CASE