lil rant: I'm finding it incredibly difficult to come up with any good ideas. Every single time I do think of something thats cool, after thinking about it for a bit I realise that its been done already. Or less often, if I try to make a new take on an existing concept, I find it difficult to rename or redesign the thing because it just seemed so perfect already? I understand most stories are just ideas recombined but idk I'm struggling to do it in a way that's convincing or doesn't sound like a blatant rip-off of something else I guess.
ahhh it's so frustrating. The whole thing just feels like its missing something.
I really wish I could just say eff it and do what I want even if its already been done or is cliched but I just find it really difficult.
Thoughts? Anyone else want to share their writing problems haha :')
lil rant: I'm finding it incredibly difficult to come up with any good ideas. Every single time I do think of something thats cool, after thinking about it for a bit I realise that its been done already. Or less often, if I try to make a new take on an existing concept, I find it difficult to rename or redesign the thing because it just seemed so perfect already? I understand most stories are just ideas recombined but idk I'm struggling to do it in a way that's convincing or doesn't sound like a blatant rip-off of something else I guess.
ahhh it's so frustrating. The whole thing just feels like its missing something.
I really wish I could just say eff it and do what I want even if its already been done or is cliched but I just find it really difficult.
Thoughts? Anyone else want to share their writing problems haha :')
I have a problem with this too :/
I have a problem with this too :/
I have had the exact same problems xc
I have had the exact same problems xc
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Eriferret No shame in retreading a bit of ground...if you abstract things enough,
everything's been done before. Fantasy setting with elves and dwarves? Done to death! Gesture-based magic? Old hat! Living spaceships? Yeah, sure, why not. It's like cooking. Roast chicken's roast chicken, but the precise combination of spices and seasonings you bring (all of which have probably been used before) are what make the dish. And hey, even if you've already had rosemary chicken, who's to say you won't enjoy it again?
Also, I personally tend to
toss up a bunch of worlds at once to see what sticks. It's not for everyone, and I'm still pretty new at the whole thing, but being able to free my brain up to consider new worlds helps me pare away the weak ones.
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Eriferret No shame in retreading a bit of ground...if you abstract things enough,
everything's been done before. Fantasy setting with elves and dwarves? Done to death! Gesture-based magic? Old hat! Living spaceships? Yeah, sure, why not. It's like cooking. Roast chicken's roast chicken, but the precise combination of spices and seasonings you bring (all of which have probably been used before) are what make the dish. And hey, even if you've already had rosemary chicken, who's to say you won't enjoy it again?
Also, I personally tend to
toss up a bunch of worlds at once to see what sticks. It's not for everyone, and I'm still pretty new at the whole thing, but being able to free my brain up to consider new worlds helps me pare away the weak ones.
Something you could try is simply doing everything backwards. Think of something, even if it's cliche, and do the opposite. It doesn't always work, but sometimes it's an easy way to spice up an idea.
Also, just because you've seen something done before doesn't mean everyone has! Remember that being original isn't always a good thing, too. At the same time, doing something again isn't automatically a bad idea. There is a reason cliches are used a lot (not to say that's an excuse to get lazy, but I think you get the point I'm trying to make).
Good luck and I hope you figure it out!
Something you could try is simply doing everything backwards. Think of something, even if it's cliche, and do the opposite. It doesn't always work, but sometimes it's an easy way to spice up an idea.
Also, just because you've seen something done before doesn't mean everyone has! Remember that being original isn't always a good thing, too. At the same time, doing something again isn't automatically a bad idea. There is a reason cliches are used a lot (not to say that's an excuse to get lazy, but I think you get the point I'm trying to make).
Good luck and I hope you figure it out!
I was told once that there are really only 12 plots that every piece of writing shares. It's what you do with those 12 plots that makes the story unique.
How many Chosen One stories have you read? They've all been different in some way. How many Quest For The MacGuffin stories have you read? They've all been different. Sure, you might want to write a story in a fantasy realm and that's probably one of the most saturated markets, but there are so many ways you can take it. Maybe you want to add elves, but they don't have to be tall, noble Tolkien elves or tiny, Santa Claus elves.
I was told once that there are really only 12 plots that every piece of writing shares. It's what you do with those 12 plots that makes the story unique.
How many Chosen One stories have you read? They've all been different in some way. How many Quest For The MacGuffin stories have you read? They've all been different. Sure, you might want to write a story in a fantasy realm and that's probably one of the most saturated markets, but there are so many ways you can take it. Maybe you want to add elves, but they don't have to be tall, noble Tolkien elves or tiny, Santa Claus elves.
Hey, friendly reminder to drink water, stretch, and take a short break if you can. Stay healthy! Also, don't forget about any chores or tasks you might be putting off.
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Eriferret
I always struggle with coming up with an initial idea for a piece of writing, which seems similar to what you're describing. Things are so broad and open that I find it difficult to pin something down and decide definitively what I'm writing about.
What has helped with that problem is looking for purpose. If you know what purpose you're trying to achieve with what you're writing, everything else will slowly fall into place. If you decide on a purpose first of all, you can ask yourself what characters, setting, and other elements best suit that purpose.
Now, unsurprisingly, advice I also have is to share your basic ideas, ask others what they think, because it is very true that you are your own harshest critic and what you think is unoriginal or uninspired, others might find fascinating.
I completely understand how taxing creative writing can be. and I've disliked doing a task when I know it's not my best, but it's a skill just like drawing or painting, you're never going to get better if you don't practice and develop your skills. Of course you're going to write some bad pieces, but that one bad piece is one down in the way to your great piece.
I'm currently trying to write a short piece of crime fiction, and whilst it's a genre I absolutely love, I'm having a hard time getting anything to stick, it's a struggle :'D
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Eriferret
I always struggle with coming up with an initial idea for a piece of writing, which seems similar to what you're describing. Things are so broad and open that I find it difficult to pin something down and decide definitively what I'm writing about.
What has helped with that problem is looking for purpose. If you know what purpose you're trying to achieve with what you're writing, everything else will slowly fall into place. If you decide on a purpose first of all, you can ask yourself what characters, setting, and other elements best suit that purpose.
Now, unsurprisingly, advice I also have is to share your basic ideas, ask others what they think, because it is very true that you are your own harshest critic and what you think is unoriginal or uninspired, others might find fascinating.
I completely understand how taxing creative writing can be. and I've disliked doing a task when I know it's not my best, but it's a skill just like drawing or painting, you're never going to get better if you don't practice and develop your skills. Of course you're going to write some bad pieces, but that one bad piece is one down in the way to your great piece.
I'm currently trying to write a short piece of crime fiction, and whilst it's a genre I absolutely love, I'm having a hard time getting anything to stick, it's a struggle :'D
Thanks everyone!
A solid purpose seems to be at least one of the missing things, thanks for helping me realise it :')
I'm horribly indecisive and find it hard to stick with an idea. I think up a concept that seems cool, then I'll think of another one but they don't work together or contradict each other rip. And you're right about the being my own worst critic part, I'm being waaay too harsh on myself about trying to avoid cliches that are most likely unavoidable :')
Thanks everyone!
A solid purpose seems to be at least one of the missing things, thanks for helping me realise it :')
I'm horribly indecisive and find it hard to stick with an idea. I think up a concept that seems cool, then I'll think of another one but they don't work together or contradict each other rip. And you're right about the being my own worst critic part, I'm being waaay too harsh on myself about trying to avoid cliches that are most likely unavoidable :')
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Eriferret Something that works for me with writing when I'm not fully sure what I want to do/ am scared of accidentally copying something is to set yourself an ending phrase/sentence/objective (eg at the end this character will die).
Because you have a vague ending but nothing definite, you can change your story however you want as long as it ends up in the right place. Thus creating something that's completely random but fits together well. Sometimes an idea isn't even and idea - it's just a sense of 'hey look, that sentence would make sense with this and would look cool there' and the story flows towards the end.
Anyway, that's what makes it easy for me, sorry if it doesn't work for you.
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Eriferret Something that works for me with writing when I'm not fully sure what I want to do/ am scared of accidentally copying something is to set yourself an ending phrase/sentence/objective (eg at the end this character will die).
Because you have a vague ending but nothing definite, you can change your story however you want as long as it ends up in the right place. Thus creating something that's completely random but fits together well. Sometimes an idea isn't even and idea - it's just a sense of 'hey look, that sentence would make sense with this and would look cool there' and the story flows towards the end.
Anyway, that's what makes it easy for me, sorry if it doesn't work for you.
