Questions

Atop this hill is where it happened, where I lost everything and anything precious to me. It’s atop this hill where the only reason I kept moving forward stopped pushing me and ceased moving altogether. It was atop this hill that I decided to find out who did this and it is upon this very hill that I will take them and judge them for what they have done to me…for what they did to her. It all seems so unreal, so much like a dream that starts off innocent enough but quickly turns to shit right when things seem so cheerful. However, unlike a dream, I can’t seem to wake up. It’s been two years since I found her here, lying peacefully , undisturbed, and just as beautiful as those days when we used to lay in that exact stop and look at the stars. This time however she wouldn’t move when I nudged her, she would answer when I said her name, and she no longer was there to console me when the tears came. I stayed with her for several hours just knelling their chain smoking cigarette after cigarette, something I was planning on quitting with her help. I stayed their till I no longer had tears left to give, till my throat felt raw and on fire from the constant supply of smoke, till I realized what It was I had to do. Ever since that day I return to this hill. I return to this hill and I lay down in the spot where I found her. I lay and I think. “Who could have done this?”, “Why did they do this?”, and “What can I do to them when I find them that will make them suffer?” These are the questions I ask myself as I sort through a mental list of possible suspects and their motivations. It’s as I lay here upon this hill that something unexpected is about to happen. Its upon this hill that a new lead reveals itself to me and its upon this hill that I finally start down the ever twisting road of revenge.
- I Have Krabs

okay, so right now I’m at my dad’s for a week which means I’m three towns away from the girl who inspires my writing. My phone is dead so I can’t call her to talk to her, but I really want to write. I had promised I’d have a rough draft of the next chapter of the story I’ve been writing (she’s excited about the story), and I’d hate to disappoint her (I have a crush on her, what can I say?).

So Yahoo Answers, anyone know how I can spark my creativity and write this chapter?
- deneric | SolWind Rules!

I am participating in the challenge at http://ywp.nanowrimo.org and am going for 50,000 words…just wondering if a normal novel is 50,000 words long, or shorter, or longer…anyway, thanks in advance! Ah, actually I am just now at 513 words, haha, but I just learned about it last night. I will raise my goal, then! I think it would be absolutely fabulous to write my entire rough draft of my book in one month. Thanks so much for the quick answers. What is your NaNoWrimo username? I’d like to be your buddy. I’m Rosebud104. Again, thanks so much for the tips!
- S.

Well everyone knows how hard the last two weeks are. I have about 3 final projects left, one of which is a 5-8 page research paper comparing themes,symbols, etc. I am thinking along the lines of the soldiers personal wars (inside head) and fears…any other ideas? Rough draft due monday, final Wed…Thanks in advance!!
- Mike M

Well everyone knows how hard the last two weeks are. I have about 3 final projects left, one of which is a 5-8 page research paper comparing themes,symbols, etc. I am thinking along the lines of the soldiers personal wars (inside head) and fears…any other ideas? Rough draft due monday, final Wed…Thanks in advance!!
- Mike M

Writers block is one of those mysterious ailments that is blamed for late assignments, missed deadlines, and failed dreams. Some people claim it is merely a myth while others find it plagues their writing.

As someone with more than two decades of professional writing, editing and teaching experience I feel quite strongly that in 99.9 percent of reported cases of writers block are nothing more than a chimera. In my opinion, far too many would-be writers spend far too much time and energy on finding the right computer, program, paper, pen, location, mood-setting music, and the like before they can begin writing when that time and energy would be much better spent on simply getting down to the business of writing. These would-be writers treat their muse as something delicate and breakable, something as elusive and fleeting as smoke.

I know from years spent in the hurly-burly of newspaper reporting and snatching moments to write between deadlines and dinner dishes that a muse worth keeping is made of much tougher material and in fact may benefit from some abuse.

Most often writers block, or what is commonly referred to as writers block, is caused by one of three problems–lack of preparation, lack of training, and lack of development. Lack of preparation is often caused by not creating an individual writing process that can take advantage of your writing strengths and help overcome your writing weaknesses. Lack of training is similar to athletic training–you need to warm up and work out on a regular schedule to keep your writing muscles in top condition. Lack of development simply means that your particular idea may need more time to percolate or perhaps you are not ready to tackle that particular topic at the time.

I have three recommendations to help you work through writers block. First is to simply write through it. Give yourself permission to write garbage and focus on simply creating a really rough draft. Often once you stop worrying over all that is wrong with your writing the words will begin flowing again.

A second method of dealing with writers block is to get moving. Take a walk or hike. Do something physical away from your office or desk and do not let yourself return to the scene of the crime (or writers block) until several hours have passed. You might be surprised what your brain works out in the interim.

Finally, exercise and challenge your writing muscles with writing prompts and exercises. Sometimes simply changing the pace of your writing or your subject matter can be enough to help you work through your difficulty.

Remember, every writer experiences some form of writers block from time to time but you do not have to make a mountain out of a molehill. Working out an effective strategy to circumvent writers block when it strikes is one of the most important skills a real writer can develop.


- Deanna Mascle

I’m really new at writing, but I’m educated in it and I know how to write and everything, but I just don’t know where to start. I want to write a teen romance novel, and I usually start with an outline, but a small one at that, then a more detailed outline, a rough draft, then the final draft. But that was more of an essay or a short story with an assigned topic, so I really don’t know where to begin. Should I use those methods, other methods, or should I just dive right in and start writing? HELP!
- moomoo22189

I am going through it right now. I have a 6 page rough draft due tomorrow and ever word that I type seems painful. I just can’t seem to pump out the words. Do you have a way to counteract this? Any help would be nice.

I’m down to the last few paragraphs, but it has not gotten any better.
Thanks for the tips. I finally finished it, but I know it is not my best work. Thankfully it is only the rough draft. I will keep everything you said in mind for the next paper.
- ?ALT