Is It Just Me?

[oOScarletWingsOo]

Or does anyone else have a hard time writing "themed" stories. For instance a forum gives you a topic like "sex toys" and you write around or at that topic.

I feel like I can't get those kinds of pieces out as easily as those that come from my own dreams or inspiration.

Am I the only one?

And if I am what are some ways to get those types pieces to work for me?

SW

 

[SeaCat]

To me it depends on the theme and how I feel about it.

Cat

 

[cantdog]

I can always write a scene, but a story requires some kind of inspiration.

As to your second question? I'm not sure. It seems to come easily to me at first. I used to go to the Story Ideas board and write to order when I had run out of strong ideas what to write next, and that's much the same, except that you do get to choose from a range of different ideas. Once in a while there's a 'writer's challenge' thread here in the AH, and I usually snoot 'em. I guess I pick and choose, as Cat suggests.

 

[rgraham666]

It's not just you.

The only reason I have a story in the Halloween contest is serendipity. I just happened to be working on a story that would fit.

If I try to force my imagination it goes into a major sulk and won't do anything.

So I have no advice on how to force a story out.

 

[oOScarletWingsOo]

If I try to force my imagination it goes into a major sulk and won't do anything.

Pretty much where my pen and mind go.

*sigh*

 

[Alex756]

I can't write things if I don't feel like writing them.

I know how to inspire certain things, like if I want to write my fanfic, I know the exact episode to watch to see the impressive fight scene and the muscles and .. why don't we have a falling down in drool smiley?...

Horror I write better at night.

If I really force myself to think about something I can up my chances, like when I wanted to write the story in mature I did, I spent alot of time thinking back to my undergrad days and a certain prof I never missed a class from... well technically I camped out for a class I wasn't even registered for too...

But I'll never do the survivor thing because while I think I could write a story in any catagory, if I don't feel like it, it won't be enjoyable.

~Alex

 

[BlackShanglan]

I think the limitation is a good sign, actually. It means that you're looking for more to your story than "deals with X."

Like Rob, I ended up in the Halloween contest by luck. I actually got the idea last year about 24 hours before the contest closed, and sat on it until this year. Until that point I didn't really have any inspiration, and I didn't think it much of an artistic goal to try to cudgel out a sex story with Halloween trappings. I wanted something to moved me or meant something to me. I think the best stories I've seen up are the ones that use a small part of Halloween as the inspiration for a foray into something richer and more intriguing.

Shanglan

 

[cantdog]

On the other hand, the "Rainy Day Challenge" stories somehow grabbed me. I struck it and responded, and wrote one of my highest rated stories on purpose to meet the criteria.

 

[oggbashan]

I find that the themed contests are easier than just a blank canvas.

If, as for the Halloween contest, there are parameters then I start think about plots to fit those parameters.

If there are no guidelines, my muses suggest dozens of possible stories, many of which end up as incomplete drafts.

My muses produce far too many ideas. That is why I wrote 15 stories in one entry. It kept the muses quiet for a few hours.

What I do find difficult is deciding which of a series of ideas is worth turning into a story. Some of my posted ones should have been still-born. Some of the incomplete ones deserve better but there are so many of them.

We all have different problems with our writing. If you have one particular problem that doesn't make you unique. You may be able to sail through problems that other writers find insuperable.

Og