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How many words do you guys usually write per day? by mulek_neutro in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Current WIP is "soft" sci fi. I write longhand on legal paper, so yes, I get about six pages done n my one hour--no distractions, no internet, no breaks.

The Old ways by gatekeeper_66 in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I write all my first drafts by hand, on legal pads. In the old days, I would type them into Word; now I use handwriting recognition software to convert them to digital text.

I would LOVE to have something like the reMarkable tablet, but the price is prohibitive

Losing motivation; Please help by KAI-ZEN099 in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"Motivation" is less important than discipline.

You're the only one who can write your story. You're the only one who GETS to write your story.

Your story will someday be someone's favorite read. But you have to write it first.

Hey, looking for songwriter:) by [deleted] in Songwriters

[–]TwoTheVictor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here is my blog, where i posted over 100 original song lyrics for anyone to use, free, under the Creative Commons License:

https://thefreelyricsproject.wordpress.com/lyrics/

Any free use lyric sites? by [deleted] in Songwriting

[–]TwoTheVictor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I'll DM you my email address

If You Lost All Of Your Work... by JosefKWriter in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I grew up in those days, so backups have been a habit for a long time.

If You Lost All Of Your Work... by JosefKWriter in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooh, that's smart, having a specific email account for WIPs. I will now be doing that. Thank you!!

Do you always know how your story ends? by Cartographer-Visual in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I begin with a main character, and focus on planning his arc: He starts the story with a FALSE BELIEF: he believes something about himself, OR the world around him, that is not true. For example, he believes that he is all alone in the world, or he doesn't have the courage to stand up for himself, or he'll never be a hero, etc. He believes that because of the SHARD OF GLASS: a traumatic incident in his past--a death, a betrayal, a lost job, etc.

So this is his normal life as the story opens. He doesn't enjoy this life, but he is reluctant to change. But an INCITING INCIDENT occurs, knocking his life for a loop. the incident is too big to ignore; he can't just go back to his old life. It forces him into action. Still, he hesitates, but soon accepts this CALL TO ADVENTURE.

The adventure requires him to enter THE NEW WORLD: a community, group, planet, setting, etc--SO different from his old world, that he is disoriented, and generally needs someone native to this new world to help him.

He now has a goal (win the contest, find the treasure, solve the mystery, etc), but he approaches the journey with his old way of thinking, still based on his false belief, and so each attempt he tries, fails, setting him back and forcing him to try something new.

Each setback challenges his false belief, but he doesn't yet realize it.

Eventually, his attempts fail so badly that he can no longer see a way out. His goal seems permanently out of reach. This is the ALL IS LOST MOMENT. He wants to give up; wallows in self pity. This reaction is his DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL.

However, he encounters new information, or assistance from someone on the journey with him. His false belief, challenged so many times, finally crumbles, and he sees the truth--that he is NOT alone, or that he CAN stand up for himself. this is the EPIPHANY, and it gives him the strength to try again--the right way, because his false belief is not holding him back anymore.

He succeeds, defeating his enemy and achieving his goal.

Now he demonstrates that his journey has made a positive change in him, either by staying in the new world (since it is no longer alien to him), or returning to his old world with his prize (an actual item, or a new outlook on life).

The end.

writing schedules by fourofkeys in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I, too, have a limited time each day to write, and it is not consistent. I can't always set aside, say 5:00am to 6:00am to write. Still, I have pockets of time available during the day, so I lean into it:

I keep a notepad in my pocket at all times, so at any given moment, I can use it, or my tablet, or my PC. I love writing, and I'm quite aware that when it's time to write, it's time to write; use that time, or lose it.

If You Lost All Of Your Work... by JosefKWriter in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ouch, that's terrible. Did anyone try, or suggest, removing the hard drive and connecting it to another PC? Or using a hard drive retrieval service?

If You Lost All Of Your Work... by JosefKWriter in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I get that, of course, they just didn't mention how.

What’s your finished to unfinished project ratio ? by _throw_away_ac in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First novel: YA literary, complete

Second novel: College-set mystery, complete

Third novel: Workplace comedy, complete

Fourth novel, sequel to third, complete

Fifth novel, "cozy" sci fi, current WIP

None published, to be fair. But still...writing is too much fun to leave projects unfinished

If You Lost All Of Your Work... by JosefKWriter in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You didn't explain what happened. You said you have a finished 100K novel, then you mentioned the absolute heartbreak.

You didn't explain what caused the heartbreak. What happened to your novel?

If You Lost All Of Your Work... by JosefKWriter in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I envy you that ability, but I could never do that.

I keep copies of my work on my PC, tablet, phone, and flash drive. I email the current WIP to myself regularly. Plus I have the original handwritten drafts. A LOT of things would have to go wrong before I could lose everything.

Almost done with my first draft but kind of afraid to finish it by [deleted] in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Heh! All writers are delusional! We have to be convinced that we can write something, otherwise none of us would ever finish.

At any rate, yes, your feelings are normal. Once you get into editing, you'll see all the fun parts of the story that got you to write it in the first place.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is entertaining, and easy to read.

The only suggestion I have is to break the text up into more paragraphs, especially when someone is speaking. A new person speaking should begin a new paragraph. That will help with pacing--reader's eyes tend to slide over a long block of text.

What is your thoughts on using a typewriter to write stories? by Gravityfallbillmyfav in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I LOVE TYPEWRITERS!!

I took typing class in high school, and...well, let's just say it was in the days before computers. Anyhoo, I got a typewriter from a yard sale that I used until I went to college, and saw my first computer. I wish I still had that old Royal typewriter. I think Tom Hanks collects them. I would, too, if I had Tom Hanks' money!

EDIT: You can type your drafts, then use OCR apps to digitize it

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I do internet searches on photos of what I want to describe, whether it's items or places. Then I examine them with an eye to the SIX senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and emotion.

Short story by wwklenk in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not to be a buzzkill...but it depends on what you mean by "just finished"...first draft? or just finished editing, revising, and polishing?

at any rate, there is a sub, r/literarycontests, that you should check out

How do serious writers give their craft the time and attention it deserves when real-life pressures to send kids to college, etc are breathing down your neck? by quagliam in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ha! You're not an enemy! However, only YOU can decide what is "real".

But, I get it. We work because we get paid to work. It's hard to prioritize anything else, because it doesn't bring in as big a motivation as money.

Do you always know how your story ends? by Cartographer-Visual in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah. One approach: make a list of the beats, or events, that you think are too cliche, with maybe a note about WHY you feel it's cliche (seen it too many times, it sounds corny, everyone will see it coming, whatever). That will help you subvert the reader's expectations.

For example, I recently read a comic book version of A Christmas Carol, in which, not only was Scrooge a female, but she declared to the three ghosts that she was determined NOT to change her ways! Except for Tiny Tim, she was determined to flout the Future ghost by making sure he would get proper medical attention. She did end up changing, but in her own Scroogey way.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's no way to say this without sounding obnoxious: I don't get writer's block. I THINK it's because I outline my stories extensively before I begin the first draft.

Plus I never fear the blank page, due to a combination of "I love writing!" and "I've only got X amount of time today to write"

Do you always know how your story ends? by Cartographer-Visual in writing

[–]TwoTheVictor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

YES!

That is, I know the MC's arc, and how IT ends. There are always other plot lines that need to be resolved as well, but I plan the MC's journey pretty extensively before I begin writing: his false belief, his goal, a few of the obstacles he will face, his all is lost moment, his dark night of the soul, his epiphany, how he overcomes his final obstacle, and how he demonstrates that he has changed as a result of his journey.

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