To the writers in here

[Lai]

How long have you been writing? What's your favorite kind of story to write? What's your favorite kind of story to read? Where do you get most of your inspiration? How long does it take you to formulate ideas, and where do you get most of your ideas? When do you get your best ideas?

I've been writing for just short of a year. I started August of last year when I first joined a writing contest. The theme was Isolation. So far, my favorite things to write have been Silent Hill-esque. I haven't completed any stories, nor have I even come close, but it's something I can see myself doing sometime really soon. I would have to say that most of my inspiration comes from either dreams I have or just thoughts that run through my head. I'll get an idea about something that I think would be really interesting to read about and then I just go ahead and write it myself. Unfortunately enough for me, most of my ideas come around 2 AM when I can't sleep and have nothing to write down my ideas with.

What 'bout y'all?

[Vicious]

I've been writing for a good 6 years, (started when I started RPing). My first story was a simple short story, pretty bad actually XD. But, I rewrote it (somewhat), for your contest here. I created it from a nightmare I had the night before.

Now, when it comes to the stories I write they all involve one thing; fantasy. I was never much of a book nerd when I was young so it surprised me when I began doing this. Still, I had read so many comics, played so many games, and watched so many shows that I grew a large imagination and there was no other way I could let it out until I started writing. Along the road, role playing really help increase that ability and years later I wrote short stories that my friends and even teachers loved.

When I write I like to add portions of everything you see in books today. Fantasy is my foundation and everything else helps it fold out into a story. But my best ideas come from the personality I have. I can't stand cliche'd plots, characters, or even a book. So, it drives me to create original pieces of everything that hasn't been seen before or is rare. I use to call it a hobby, now it's one of my passions. My goal in it all is to create something that could almost rival Tolkien. Crazy? You betcha. Possible? Quite so. It's just a pity there was a limit on the contest, I don't like limits. In an infinite world where anything is possible limits cage the imagination. Well, in my opinion anyway.

P.S. - Also, don't worry about my grammar . I hardly proof-read unless it's something I'm really into.

[Toph Bei Fong]

I've been 'writing' since my senior year of highschool. That'd be 4 years ago.
I sucked back then though. I mean really sucked. But coming here and RPing with everyone has improved my writing vastly.

i remember when i 1st joined i typed like this. i mean it used 2 be really bad.

-shudder-. But now I write like this and it's much better. To answer your questions though, I write mainly Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, but I'm slowly starting to spread out.

The first genre I started reading was, you guessed it, Sci-Fi/Fantasy. But then I branched out to other genres, kind of. I'll read Mystery, Suspense, etc.

I haven't found any non-fiction books that I liked, minus some books on writing or how to draw manga.

And the way I write is kind of odd. I have to be in a kind of groove to write. I'll listen to a certain kind of music depending on the theme of whatever I'm going to write.

I also recently reflected back some of the past TOAs that I've participated in. I noticed how I could have done some things a bit differently, and noticed how in one particular battle, I didn't even post at all minus the intro post. I don't even remember why.

Though, there's been a habit that's been haunting me for years, and a few select people know about it.

My tense shifting. Though, I've been noticing it a lot more now. I've been currently trying to clean it up. I tend to just post what I write without much editing aside from spelling errors and obvious grammar errors. I keep forgetting to set it aside for a while and come back to it so I could check for flow errors.

Writing is really tough. I've been doing it for 4 years and I'm still not the best I could be.

[Vicious]

Ah, you use music too? At times when I am not sure what to write next, I put on some music like something from Final Fantasy and just kind of use the emotion from the music to create a scene in my head. Orchestrated music really works the best with this method.

[Andromeda]

I started writing when I was in 5th grade due to the journal things that my sister was doing in her 2nd grade class. She was allowed the freedom to do anything for her journal at one point, in which she started making a Star Trek fan fiction.

Well we were both big into Star Trek at the time, and seemed like fun so I started doing it as well. It was in spiral notebooks and I would write 4 page short stories of Star Trek fan fiction. I would also draw pictures to go along with them in color pencil, so I had an illustrated story almost. Usually only a couple of pictures, but that is what began my writing.

I did that for a few years, and then shifted towards a larger scale fan fiction. It was a Star Trek and Star Wars crossover fan fiction. I managed to complete the first part of a 3 part series for it. I even started on the second part, though I never did finish it. It was over 60 pages in a notebook and 100 pages on the computer, I was quite proud of myself. That was also the last fan fiction I ever did, this not including RP.

The crossover part one was completed in my senior year of high school, and afterwards I started work at the post office. That was when my new original story was created, the work was really mindless so I had a lot of free time. And over the six months I created the foundation and a large part of the first book for the epic novel that I am still currently working on.

Also during that time, I joined TFF, so I started RPing. And so for about year I was writing for probably 30 hours a week because I lived on the forums when I was not work. And then I lived on the forums for 8 months when I was not working or in college. So I was always writing.

Since then I've created several original RP works, including the Poulus Prophecy that I am working on actually making into a novel. My current work on the anime, that you can find in the Literature section. And a few other pieces.

So I have been writing for the better part of 13 years. I remember back in 5th grade I was working on this comic idea with a friend, who then kept all of my ideas for himself. No idea what happened to it. That was when I first fell in love with the name Andromeda, and it has been a part of my identity ever since.

As for music, I used to use the FFX-2 vocals, not Real Emotion or 1000 Words, but 6 pieces of music that you really did not hear in the game, but I thought were really beautiful and deep pieces to listen to. So I would have that playing constantly while I would write. If I got bored of that, I would randomly go through FF music. Currently I am using Inuyasha theme music as my mood setter.

And since I am writing anime episodes, I watch some anime each day to get my mind in that mind set of anime. While I re-read it, I actually draw it out in my mind how the story would go as a real episode. Hopefully something will become of it.

I have stopped writing fan fiction, as I grown to prefer original works. But my sister will does a lot of fan fiction. She writes LOTR fan fic, and since 2nd grade moved around to various shows writing fan fiction for countless sci-fi shows, Star Trek, Star Wars, X-Files, Sliders, etc. And while I had long stopped writing fan ficiton, I actually help her brainstorm up new ideas. She literally has notebooks filled with stories and writings.

Fan fiction has some really curious tendiencies that I never realized until I spoke to her about it. One common fact is that the majority of fan fiction writers are girls, and they love to torture their favorite character. They have terms like whiping boy, and such to describe the common torture victims. It is quite amusing what these authors will do to their beloved characters.

[Angantyr]

I use to write a bit but then I got real put off in my early teens, I started writing again but not necessarily stories but more works on philosophy and the like, during the end of last year. During my school years I didn't like doing anything except playing video games so I got low grades. My teacher said I was a good writer I just didn't put it into practise

When I was younger I use to write a lot of my own Fan Fiction in particular relating to the Final Fantasy series which unfortunatly that book has disapeared. I still have a few on my PC but it is random stupid stuff. Also I use to collect the Goosebumps books so I guess thats where most of my influence earlier influence comes from, as well as Paul Jennings.

Coming here I have started to do some RPing but unfortunatly the lack of interest from others hasn't helped much. I have yet to have a Proper RP but I am writing up my Character Profile in another forum and I will hopefully have a battle soon.

I guess you could say my biggest influence has been the old European world, in particular knights and the Vikings. Most of the stuff I write about tends to be set in a secluded world, often in a world with a mixture of Scandinavian and Asian landscapes. So far I have written a range of differant scenes in what could be part of a larger story. Mostly small events and a few battles but currently I have an interest in writing about romances (Unfortunatly I have nothing to go off )

As for the way I write, I think I have a very unique way of putting my story together, often this confuses people into think either I am new or I speak a differant language, I honestly don't know. I am sure I get a few spelling mistakes but I don't read it unless I feel I need to. I occasionally use big words but its not worth it if people don't understand. Also when I write I listen to a lot of theme based music, when I wrote Beatrik I was listening to the band that my name goes by (Paysage D'Hiver) which is really cold ambient Black Metal.

My biggest project would have to be my game, I haven't worked on it a while due to events when I was writing it but I plan on getting back into it. Currently I have written roughly 80 pages on it, basically outlining the first 5% of the game as well as the menu system and battle system.

[Chez Daja]

How long have you been writing? Hmm, about nine or ten years. I was really into reading at the time and I began to think of what could improve an authors' perspective. Of course, at the time this was the wrong way to think, because everyone has their own style of writing. As I began writing, I learnt this and then began to look over my own stories to see what I was missing.

What's your favorite kind of story to write? Well, I always put a varied type of theme into it. I like to write emotional tales, with a twist of horror. I try my best to make the characters or those involved to seem as real as possible, by trying to understand what I'd act like if I was in that same situation. I try to vary the reaction so that they aren't replica characters of myself, but characters who have their own mind, their own emotions, their own way of dealing with a situation and their own outlook.

What's your favorite kind of story to read? I'll read anything really, since anything interests me, but my favourite type of book would be those set in an old type, or a horror. I find nothing more compelling then a deep horror or a mystery.

Where do you get most of your inspiration? Usually just from sitting around and thinking. Sometimes I get inspiration from an interesting dream I may have experienced, but usually I just sit around and think until something comes to me, so I don't really get inspiration from anywhere apart from my mind. I suppose you could say SIlent Hill inspires some things I write, though.

How long does it take you to formulate ideas, and where do you get most of your ideas? It takes me a short while to grab ideas. They come from my own mind. I have a very vivid imagination, so it's easy to get ideas for my novels.


When do you get your best ideas? Anytime, really. I'll just be sitting here and I'll think of something. If I feel it's good enough for one of my novels, I'll add it in.


I also use music to help me concentrate. Upbeat songs for an upbeat mood, but I usually put on something depressing, since most of my books are based solely on a depressing theme.

[Bunny]

Originally Posted by Lai Lai Hei

How long have you been writing? What's your favorite kind of story to write? What's your favorite kind of story to read? Where do you get most of your inspiration? How long does it take you to formulate ideas, and where do you get most of your ideas? When do you get your best ideas?

I have been writing since I could pick up a pencil and move it around to form things that resembled letters. That was meant to be a poor excuse at sarcasm and humor, but I think I failed somewhere. I have been writing for a good, uh, hell if I know. 4th grade, I think. Which was around ten or eleven years ago. Those little short story things I had to write for English class were always fairly interesting. Timed writing was my thing, man.

I am a Dungeons and Dragons nerd. I do not like to admit it, but I honestly am. Well, half-nerd. I have never actually played a game, but I know practically everything there is to know about the game. Third Edition, mainly. I haven't bothered much with 3.5 or that new fangled Eberron mumbo-jumbo. Regardless, this means that I steer clear of anything not related to the fantasy genre. Dragons, warriors, magic, that short of thing. This answers the next question, too. Fantasy is my thing.

My inspiration is everything. Plain and simple. I can look at a tree, or a flower, and go from there. Likewise, I can be listening to some music, reading a book, watching a movie, anything of the like and get an idea. People probably play the biggest role, though. No one in particular, just a general statement.

For the most part, I start with a single small idea and branch out from there. I try to envision an ending and go from there, it is easier for me. Starting a story is incredibly difficult for me, but once I get it down I am good to go. I also usually end up going in an entirely different direction from what I intended, probably due to the fact that when I am writing a sentence, I am usually thinking a paragraph or two ahead of myself. I pretty much covered my ideas with my inspiration paragraph. Woo!

I get my best ideas when I am in bed, just before I am about to sleep. Sometimes they come to me when I am watching the rain too. Just relaxing somewhere will give me a few ideas of what to write.

It's actually kinda sad that I hate everything I write. Even this post pisses me off.

[Morik the Rogue]

How long have you been writing?

About a year.

What's your favorite kind of story to write?

Fantasy. Though I'm also fond of Sci-fi.

What's your favorite kind of story to read?

See above.

Where do you get most of your inspiration?

How long does it take you to formulate ideas, and where do you get most of your ideas?

When do you get your best ideas?

In answer to all three of the above: Hmm...I'd say all over the place. I get Ideas from other stories, dreams I have, some random comment someone makes, a freak occurance. Inspiration can strike anytime, anywhere. This is why I'm never far from a pad and pencil. While ideas can come anytime, my best thinking is done late at night. What I usually do is turn on MTV or somesuch, anything that has music playing, and just wander around the room,{I can't think sitting down} and listen to the music, it gets my creative juices flowing.

[Psiko]

How long have you been writing?

Well, if you want to count the stories required back in elementary school, then I would say 4th Grade. Which I believe would put it back around 1994-ish, so that means I've been writing for twelve years. My mother has kept all my decent projects from back then, and while the grammar and everything was horrible the stories themselves are surprisingly good. Who would've thought, right? Growing up I was always more of a reader than a writer, and that didn't change until the junior year of High School. So, in that case, I've only been truly writing since 2000, although I do still have some poetry that I'm fond of from 1999. What started me on writing? The greatest teacher I have ever had: Chris Sneethen. Oh yes, he perked my interest in writing and it began with a class called Fiction, Fantasy, and Folklore. Best class ever, my friends. We did some reading and some writing in that class and, after devouring The Hobbit in two days and Ender's Game in two days, I was prompted to write some stories to fill the time while the rest of the class spent the weeks allotted to read those books. The next year I took Creative Writing and AP Composition with the same teacher. He was able to help my passion develop. I am eternally grateful!

What is your favorite kind of story to write?

Fantasy, hands down. I am certain I can adapt to write just about anything, but when given a choice I will almost always choose Fantasy. Same with books. I'll always opt for a good Fantasy novel over any other genre. Not because I dislike the others, but rather because Fantasy is my comfort zone. I grew up reading Fantasy. A lot of the great RPGs I played growing up were in a Fantasy setting. My favorite movie as a young child was Willow. I was doomed from the start, really. To be perfectly honest, I don't know what it is about the genre that captivates me so much. I really can't explain why, I just know that I'll always love Fantasy above all.

Where do you get most of your inspiration?

To be brutally honest, there is no set source. Sometimes a single phrase I hear will explode into a massive idea. Sometimes something I see will spark my interest, which will then develop into something grand. Sometimes I'll simply sit and ponder, trying to find ideas. Sometimes the mood of a tune I'm listening to will motivate me. It always varies, but I find more often than not that once I develop a good character the ideas follow automatically. A character I developed for an RP a few years ago has since then become the core of my novel idea. He is no longer anything like the RP character I used, but the RP itself developed him into greatness in my mind. Expect to see him and his story develop soon. His story needs to be told.

When do you get your best ideas?

This varies. I've had everything from when falling asleep to while taking a shower. In general, though, competition is what drives me to excellence. The only exception seems to be in regards to RPBing. I just can't seem to motivate myself to get too attached to that. I've realized I'm more of a RPer. Characters, storylines, details...those drive me. Which is why I focus my RPB efforts on innovation and humor. That is all I have left because Cesar won't let me use my grand scheme for plot development! It is all his fault, you see! Blame him for my lack of effort!

Now then, to touch on a few other matters. I almost always listen to music. I agree with Griffith that Orchestrated Final Fantasy music is the way to go. I'll go a step farther and specify that Final Fantasy VI is the best to be found, especially Orchestrated. Forever Rachel is unparalleled in its greatness.

How many of you read books on writing? Until a few months ago I never really was a big fan of that, but I've become a convert on the matter. After all, who better to learn from than published authors? For those of you who do read these books, are there any you would recommend? What has help you further your skill?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158...046423?ie=UTF8

This book is the first that I picked up. While not at all what I had expected, it is still filled with information that could be useful. Note that it is a reference, and should be treated as such. It doesn't go into great detail on much, but it covers a lot of little things that you may find useful. I've turned to it many times myself as a resource. I wouldn't give it up for anything, personally.

[Rikkuffx]

I've been