Sitting down and actually writing...

[gekiganwing]

My current goal is to create a visual novel by May 19 2011. Lately, I've struggled to sit down and actually *write* for more than five minutes. If you have specific advice on how to get started, and continue writing, let me know. For instance, should I unplug my modem so that I don't waste hours browsing the web?

[SilverxBlue]

For me, if I want to actually get work done. I ask everyone to leave me alone and I open Itunes while I write, the music actually helps me write, but if nothing comes to mind then I'm turning it off, oh and if it helps, you why don't you eat some sweets before you write or actually have some food with you while you write. I usually eat if I get distracted from writing and after that I can get back to work.
And I think you should unplug your modem, the internet could be really distracting, it could give a few ideas though.

[clannadman]

I turn off the lights and work in the dark. It helps to keep out the external light since it's distracting. I can't work with music unless it's in a foreign language or just classical, since being able to understand the singing just distracts my thought process. It's also good to just write without thinking about it. Even if what you produce isn't usable in the context of your story, you can save that stuff for later or a different story.

[Agent Zero]

I joust browse the web ( Yes I'm lazy but I don't have any project to wok on sense it's school time ). When I come across an Idea i immediately start working ( but I really do shut down the web ) on it. If you have typing or writing use the voice recorder on your PC.
But that is joust me.

[pondrthis]

If your idea isn't good enough to interest you over surfing the web, then it won't interest readers over surfing the web.

I just flat-out don't write unless my ideas sound more interesting than whatever else I might be doing. And in that case, being inspired is a non-issue.

EDIT: On a personal note, I'm feeling inspired right now, but I should be preparing to take my girlfriend to the opera tonight. v.v Oh well, I love opera.

[MiSi]

If your idea isn't good enough to interest you over surfing the web, then it won't interest readers over surfing the web.

That's right... when I'm writing, then it is because I can't find the story I want to read. So I have to write it myself. I'm so fascinated by how a whole new set of characters, places and possibilities develops, that writing is the only thing I do for a very long time and at every possible place... (aand I need music, yes )

[YonYonYon]

Usually I'm going to cafe or library. 'cuz I have a lot of thing to do in home.

[KomiTsuku]

I generally get little work done until a moment of sheer inspiration hits me, then I knock out anywhere between 8-10k words. Then I go back to writing between 500-1000 words a day until it hits me again days later. Like the artists love to remind me, you can't force it. XD

But, yes, the internet is not your friend when it comes to productivity. Sometimes you just got to turn off the modem to get things done.

[Agent Zero]

I generally get little work done until a moment of sheer inspiration hits me, then I knock out anywhere between 8-10k words. Then I go back to writing between 500-1000 words a day until it hits me again days later. Like the artists love to remind me, you can't force it. XD

But, yes, the internet is not your friend when it comes to productivity. Sometimes you just got to turn off the modem to get things done.

Copy/paste in your browser address bar

Code: Select all

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n529/Agent_Zero_3000/slavery.jpg

Seriously . Work needs to be done. Unless you are writing an e book ( as in using Word ) then turn off the PC because he is useless.

[YonYonYon]

Copy/paste in your browser address bar

Code: Select all

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n529/Agent_Zero_3000/slavery.jpg

Seriously . Work needs to be done. Unless you are writing an e book ( as in using Word ) then turn off the PC because he is useless.

I don' think that slaves worked with inspiration

[Agent Zero]

Can't tell if trolling or just Failing >.>

Code: Select all

http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n529/Agent_Zero_3000/double-facepalm-demotivational-post.jpg
http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n529/Agent_Zero_3000/3r6w50ffsd.jpg

[clannadman]

Can't tell if trolling or joust Failing >.>

Do you think this is 4chan or something? By the way, the word you keep using should be 'just', not 'joust'.

[IonicMomo]

My productivity depends a lot on the setting and time of day. If I'm tired or stressed after a long day of class and work, I might need to waste an hour surfing the web, watching TV, or talking to my roommate before I can actually sit down and do something useful, like homework, studying, or in this case, writing. I also find that I work best late and night, while listening to music (usually a Pandora station). If my room is too distracting, I might go down to work in my dorm's study lounge for quiet, or the cafeteria for food, which also sometimes helps.

If you're really experiencing writer's block, the best thing to do might be to get up, go for a walk, talk to someone, make a sandwich (if you're hungry!), or read. And often, my best ideas come to me as I'm lying in bed, trying to fall asleep. If you're struck by inspiration while getting ready to sleep, you have two options: 1. Go to bed anyway, or 2. Get up and get to work. While the first option is tempting, and you always want to believe that the idea and excitement will stick with you until morning, in my experience it's always best to just start working then, unless you have a specific reason not to. Generally, the first spark of inspiration will dissipate rather quickly if you don't take advantage of it then and there, and you don't know when it will hit next. Which is why I never leave my room without a notebook and pen.

It's funny, because I often feel most inspired and eager to write during the most inopportune times, like during finals week at school, or when I've already made plans with someone else for the evening.

[Agent Zero]

My productivity depends a lot on the setting and time of day. If I'm tired or stressed after a long day of class and work, I might need to waste an hour surfing the web, watching TV, or talking to my roommate before I can actually sit down and do something useful, like homework, studying, or in this case, writing. I also find that I work best late and night, while listening to music (usually a Pandora station). If my room is too distracting, I might go down to work in my dorm's study lounge for quiet, or the cafeteria for food, which also sometimes helps.

If you're really experiencing writer's block, the best thing to do might be to get up, go for a walk, talk to someone, make a sandwich (if you're hungry!), or read. And often, my best ideas come to me as I'm lying in bed, trying to fall asleep. If you're struck by inspiration while getting ready to sleep, you have two options: 1. Go to bed anyway, or 2. Get up and get to work. While the first option is tempting, and you always want to believe that the idea and excitement will stick with you until morning, in my experience it's always best to just start working then, unless you have a specific reason not to. Generally, the first spark of inspiration will dissipate rather quickly if you don't take advantage of it then and there, and you don't know when it will hit next. Which is why I never leave my room without a notebook and pen.

It's funny, because I often feel most inspired and eager to write during the most inopportune times, like during finals week at school, or when I've already made plans with someone else for the evening.

This guy is the most right of all.
And the last line. He is right we wrote down most of our project ideas when the test week is coming ( like 18th~22th April ).
We should be studying but instead we are writing down on paper ( and e paper ) Ideas.
Right now 3 Projects and 16 ideas.

@clannadman

This is why I have a B+ in English ( 95% grammar and vocabulary but the spelling keeps getting in the way... )
Thanks for correcting me.

[Auro-Cyanide]

An encroaching deadline does absolute wonders for me. In my final year of uni, I saw soooo many dawns because I stayed up all night working, then I had to catch 1 or 2 hours before actually going to uni. I am surprised I survived that, but when stuff has to get done, it has to get done. Maybe you should just write and worry about fixing it later. Or, figure out WHY you are stopping every 5 minutes and fix that problem. It is usually an underlying problem, not just that you want to change the TV channel. Maybe you are tired, hungry, stressed, worried about something else. All these things can hinder your productivity. Sometimes it is easier to try and deal with the main problems then to try and work through it.

I am a bit like IonicMomo though, after work I am terrible, I am simply too tired to do anything :/