Writers gonna write

[Imbri]

I've seen several people here who are in the process of writing books, either stand alone or series, and fanfiction, and thought it might be nice to have a spot where we could talk about them, both the victories and defeats. So, tell us about your projects!

I have a couple in various stages. My main (and longest ongoing) is a 6-book series of middle grade fantasy. I have finished the first book, but the remaining 5 are in various stages of rough draft, ranging from "not bad, this is definitely workable" to "what was I even thinking?" Some if it has been characters who are contrary and won't do what I want and some has been continuity issues as I go back and reread the first one. This year, I've started putting together a binder to act as my series bible. It's a lot of work, and I'm still going through the first one to pull out the information I need on characters, settings, important hints, and general info on the world, but it should be easier going forward. AND it will keep me from making that mistake of marrying my mermaid to a human again (when I clearly said in the first book that she had married a merman. Now I have to figure out how to make a shifter fit the bill).

There's the collection of fairy tales I'm rewriting in a Fractured Fairy Tales manner, which makes the princesses the heroes.

Finally, there's an idea that's been languishing in my folder. I love the thought of it, but can't figure out how to make it work. It's based on the idea of plot bunnies. These bunnies are anthropomorphic (think Bugs Bunny) and work as idea generators for writers. They specialize in different genres and drop ideas via dreams. The main character is one of the "editor" bunnies, and she ends up in a romantic tangle with the head of security. Security is actually a group of Ninja Bunnies (of course) who have a run-in with the North Pole, but ultimately team up with the elves to foil a plot by the Easter Bunny to take over the world. Can't imagine why I'm having trouble with it!

 

[Lady Timpani]

This is a cool thread! The only original fiction I’ve ever written was short stories here and there, alongside some longer stories that I would get maybe three chapters into before giving up since I never really had a plan for them. I also used to write fanfiction and have been sort of getting back into that in recent years, but I haven’t uploaded any of them. I haven’t really written much fiction in awhile so any time I do lately I find myself super critical of my style. There’s a multi chapter story I’ve been kicking around for about a year now and have written a little bit toward, but again, I’m not sure how I feel about my writing style.

Anyway I didn’t mean to write so much haha. Have you been published or are you planning on writing more in the series beforehand? I know you probably wouldn’t want to say what your series is for privacy reasons but it sounds interesting! Good luck with it.

 

[Corrie]

I've only written fanfiction but even those I've planned and made character arcs. It's really fun! I love writing so much!!

 

[Hatsushimo]

Oh my goodness, I love this thread. Perhaps when I finish my current creative project (in New Horizons...) I'll post about my own works here. Thank you for making this!

 

[Saylor]

All of those sound really cool! I love the idea of those fairy tales.

I only really write poetry. I've been getting back into fanfiction after reading some of my friend's stories, and sometimes I'm tempted to write my own because I get really invested in certain characters and kinda go off in my own imagination with them, but I don't know where to begin trying to write something more structured.

 

[Soigne]

i typically stick to poetry and short fiction works (i'm positive my professors in college influenced this. most of what i read was poetry) but i haven't gotten anything decent in the past few months.

 

[moonbox]

so i've received an award for one of my screenplays i wrote my senior year in college...

but post-grad depression + me just being a mentally ill dingbat have completely robbed me of proper inspiration and i think everything i write is ****e so :c but i feel the weight of this unproductivity heavily

 

[Imbri]

This is a cool thread! The only original fiction I’ve ever written was short stories here and there, alongside some longer stories that I would get maybe three chapters into before giving up since I never really had a plan for them. I also used to write fanfiction and have been sort of getting back into that in recent years, but I haven’t uploaded any of them. I haven’t really written much fiction in awhile so any time I do lately I find myself super critical of my style. There’s a multi chapter story I’ve been kicking around for about a year now and have written a little bit toward, but again, I’m not sure how I feel about my writing style.

Anyway I didn’t mean to write so much haha. Have you been published or are you planning on writing more in the series beforehand? I know you probably wouldn’t want to say what your series is for privacy reasons but it sounds interesting! Good luck with it.

Sometimes I think short stories are harder, since you have such a limited number of words to get your ideas across. With a novel, you can always add another chapter.

I self-published the first book, although now I kind of wish I had waited. Oh, well. Hindsight and all that.

I've only written fanfiction but even those I've planned and made character arcs. It's really fun! I love writing so much!!

That's definitely valid writing! I'd love to hear about some of your stories.

Oh my goodness, I love this thread. Perhaps when I finish my current creative project (in New Horizons...) I'll post about my own works here. Thank you for making this!

Yes! It's such a solitary thing, it's nice to get a little outside feedback, don't you think? Makes it a bit more real.

All of those sound really cool! I love the idea of those fairy tales.

I only really write poetry. I've been getting back into fanfiction after reading some of my friend's stories, and sometimes I'm tempted to write my own because I get really invested in certain characters and kinda go off in my own imagination with them, but I don't know where to begin trying to write something more structured.

I love poetry. I've tried it in the past, but wasn't terribly successful. Still, I do enjoy reading it. Sometimes with a story, I find it easier to start if I show up in the middle of a scene. You can always go back and set the stage later.

i typically stick to poetry and short fiction works (i'm positive my professors in college influenced this. most of what i read was poetry) but i haven't gotten anything decent in the past few months.

Aw, I'm sorry you've had a block. I hope you get past it soon.

moonbox - It won't let me quote you, but that is so amazing! (The award, of course) I'm sorry for the troubles you're having now, and I hope things get better. (also, you are not a dingbat! )

 

[Jellieyz]

I tend to do plans of stories that never come to fruition; it's the step of actually writing it is what stops me from time to time. Sometimes the planning process seems more fun to me than anything else haha

However, I do write chapters here and there of one story about an OC I made. I filled in a huge character form for this guy, and I want to flesh him out through various moments of his life. It's like a hobby thing more than anything.

Then there's this Hunger Games fanfiction that I am in the middle of writing. It's not about any of the characters in the books, but of user submitted tributes. So in total I have twenty-four tributes-or main characters-to write about, all with their own personalities submitted by the author.

Currently I'm stuck, with work and everything going on.

 

[Shellzilla_515]

I'm not exactly good at writing or story development, but I try anyways to have fun. I try come up with silly interactions between my villagers in New Horizons and how they'd react to it. Me and my sister roleplay sometimes so it gets our creative juices flowing a bit!

 

[theravenboys]

Finally, there's an idea that's been languishing in my folder. I love the thought of it, but can't figure out how to make it work. It's based on the idea of plot bunnies. These bunnies are anthropomorphic (think Bugs Bunny) and work as idea generators for writers. They specialize in different genres and drop ideas via dreams. The main character is one of the "editor" bunnies, and she ends up in a romantic tangle with the head of security. Security is actually a group of Ninja Bunnies (of course) who have a run-in with the North Pole, but ultimately team up with the elves to foil a plot by the Easter Bunny to take over the world. Can't imagine why I'm having trouble with it!

This sounds AMAZING, I would totally read something like that!

Anyway, I'm a writer! I've written several books and self-published 2 of them (but started literally probably a hundred more that I never finished smh). Right now I'm working on a YA book about kitsunes. I've become very distracted by ACNH, though ;;-;; I'm going to try to force myself to write soon because I always brainstorm ideas as I'm lying in bed trying to go to sleep and I have like a thousand ideas for stuff I want to add to the story but I'm too lazy to open the document and start writing :|

 

[Midoriya]

Thank you for making this thread!

I’m currently in the process of writing a book series that I hope to get manga and anime adaptations for someday. I only have 40 pages so far, but now that I’m finished with school I’m going to start spending more time writing in it. I need to go back and revise a lot, and then continue from where I left off. It’s going to be fictional with elements of sci-fi and action. It’s also a concept that hasn’t quite been done before.

 

[Xara]

hoo boy it’s my time to shine. i mainly write short stories and poetry as i’ve never been able to dish out a whole novel but i wrote a short story earlier inspired by the song that i was listening to and i’m kinda proud of it;u;

 

[LadyDestani]

I love to write but I've mostly completed a bunch of poems and short stories. I have started on several novels, but I have yet to come close to completing even a first draft for any of them.

The furthest I've gotten was with a novel I started a few years ago based on my life growing up in a dysfunctional family and then going straight from that environment into a mentally abusive relationship. I got somewhere between a third to halfway through that story before I lost all motivation and stopped working on it.

I've found that I'm a very emotional writer so poetry is really my best form of expression. Whatever I'm feeling, I'm able to put that emotion on paper in the form of a poem before I lose it. Because once my emotions shift, I suddenly want to write something different that's more in line with what I'm feeling at the time.

I seem to lack the discipline needed to stick with one story for a long time even though I have so many ideas. So that's why short stories seem to work out better for me when I want to cover more ground than what a poem can typically do.

 

[Imbri]

This sounds AMAZING, I would totally read something like that!

Anyway, I'm a writer! I've written several books and self-published 2 of them (but started literally probably a hundred more that I never finished smh). Right now I'm working on a YA book about kitsunes. I've become very distracted by ACNH, though ;;-;; I'm going to try to force myself to write soon because I always brainstorm ideas as I'm lying in bed trying to go to sleep and I have like a thousand ideas for stuff I want to add to the story but I'm too lazy to open the document and start writing :|

I promise that if I ever get my Ninja Bunny Romance Novel® finished, I'll definitely let you know!

Oh, kitsunes are interesting! Good luck with that!

My writing group (when it is safe to meet again) is going to pair off and do a version of the Letter Game, where we each write as a character from one of our projects. It'll be interesting, because not everyone is in the same genre, but should be a fun way to get to know how characters should react to unexpected situations and what makes them tick. I'm kind of looking forward to it.

 

[salem_]

Awww! My relationship with writing has always been a roller coaster! It's either I write 32482 things in 2 days, or nothing for ages. The last complete thing I wrote, was a short horror story for a festival's contest, endend up in 2nd place so it made me really happy!
Also, trying to come up with a story-background, in order to give more context to my island and character!

 

[aericell]

I used to write fan fiction a lot in high school/early college and even published some online but I think I started taking them down after receiving one not-so-pleasant complaint about one of my plots and not really knowing how to deal with the criticism when I'd received a lot of praises and compliments, especially with how hostile the person came off

I stopped actively writing for a couple years (a combination of too much other work and not enough motivation) and tried to get back into it but it was just on and off with me getting excited about an idea, writing it, taking a break and never touching it until the next new idea.

I'm working on my own fiction now with OC's, kind of influenced by events and experiences in my life and things I'd wished had happened instead. The story's been ongoing in my head so I have more hope for this one than others :')

 

[Imbri]

Loey, I'm so sorry that jerk ruined things for you. Negative reviews are hard, but when they veer into mean or personal, it can destroy you. I'm so glad you've started again and wish you all the best!

 

[FRANS_PLAYER]

I... may have written a Tom Nook x Redd fanfiction :/ It started when I saw this amazing Tom/Redd fan art on TikTok. I made a separate account from my main one and asked if people would like me to write it. People really wanted it, so I wrote it. It’s garnered 27.6k views on Wattpad

I cannot believe I’m doing this, but I’m linking it in case anyone wants to take a look
https://www.wattpad.com/story/223238854-it-couldn't-be-love-tom-nook-x-redd-fanfiction

 

[Chris]

I've more free time than usual after finishing a work project a few days ago, so I want to put more energy into writing again. I've a screenwriting degree and I've been writing fiction in my free time for ~20 years. My first piece was published fourteen years ago. Most recently I have been focusing on a military/sci-fi epic, but I could do with a break from it, so I'm starting a new project. It explores the internal conflict that arises from having both LGBT+ and religious identities. It has been rolling about in my head since Sep/Oct 2019. Now is the perfect time to get it down on paper.