Advice for Writing

Ok, so I've always been told I'm a pretty decent writer...when I want to be...in other words when I can just grab a hold of an idea or concept and just roll with it.

Lately through the later years of high school and these past years of college I've lost touch with my "for fun" fiction writer side, instead writing research papers/essays/etc, and now with the summer having arrived I sort of want to start that up again.

However I'm hitting a solid wall with where to go...I can't think of anything original...when I start to come up with basic characters or a simple plot I realize that in some way they could be connected to some movie, TV show, video game, other book, etc and it's driving me crazy.

Thus I decided to start out writing something based in an existing universe - this time being the Star Wars universe.

Simply put I'm asking for reminders and advice from other writers so that I can get back into my fiction writing mode...just give me advice of any kind I just need to sort of get my bearings and such. Where should I start, what should I avoid in writing, etc etc.

Thanks in advance

Be yourself thinking about it does not mean it transfers well. I am writing a book and keeping it original is almost an impossible thing just make sure you use generic things which no-one has a claim on or take names from various people and put them together to create your own unique name or planet.

Try imagining crazy ideas from your childhood and putting them on paper.

"what if all of the religious figures were real and chilled in separate universes, then one day decided to have art competitions."

"What if the Asian dynastic kingdoms made it to the west and leveled the roman expansion, conquering all of europe?"

Also for characterization, it's really something that's style specific. You're probably going to need to make them your own to make them original. Give them specific quirks that only you as a writer would be known for.

"Damn that darth ravenous, his pedophiles are so creative and inspiring despite their sickening nature."

Mix and match from different influences, reading wide varieties of genres and studying different things helps a lot with that. That's how you make new things. "Sci-fi" and "horror" doesn't have to be nerdy, space-cliches and lasers or one dimensional, pointless monster stuff and suspense, it can have the psychological complexity of shakespeare or the romantic humanism of Marquez.

Think of every cliche you can, then do the opposite.

Originally Posted by VOP2288

Ok, so I've always been told I'm a pretty decent writer...when I want to be...in other words when I can just grab a hold of an idea or concept and just roll with it.

Lately through the later years of high school and these past years of college I've lost touch with my "for fun" fiction writer side, instead writing research papers/essays/etc, and now with the summer having arrived I sort of want to start that up again.

However I'm hitting a solid wall with where to go...I can't think of anything original...when I start to come up with basic characters or a simple plot I realize that in some way they could be connected to some movie, TV show, video game, other book, etc and it's driving me crazy.

Thus I decided to start out writing something based in an existing universe - this time being the Star Wars universe.

Simply put I'm asking for reminders and advice from other writers so that I can get back into my fiction writing mode...just give me advice of any kind I just need to sort of get my bearings and such. Where should I start, what should I avoid in writing, etc etc.

Thanks in advance

Just write, write, and write some more. When you want to stop, keep on writing.

The only way you'll get back into the swing of things is to do it repetitively.

You know, nothing is really original and someone will always compare it to something. So, like tenhauser said, just write.

I wrote performance pieces for my theatre and acting course and found plays by Alan Ayckbourn to be very good for examples of natural speaking e.g interruptions, people talking over each other, responses etc. The genre isn't really what you are aiming for (except his children's plays that always seem to involve robots) but for an interesting conversation writing style rather than the rather static style employed by so many authors I can't recommend him highly enough.

Just keep writing, and seeing how different ideas develop. Sooner or later you'll start writing and realise you've hit upon a grander idea

Go to the town center and sit down. Write about what you see. Imagine a story based upon a person or object. Keep the writing short and do it every day. Eventually something will click for a larger piece.

My advice, the last thing the world needs is more Star Wars stories.
Write about something you know, don't twist your arm trying to create original fiction, start with something you have knowledge of and then you can still port it into a fictional environment.

Originally Posted by Rapax

My advice, the last thing the world needs is more Star Wars stories.
Write about something you know, don't twist your arm trying to create original fiction, start with something you have knowledge of and then you can still port it into a fictional environment.

Roll on episode VII, VIII and IX

Yeah let me just get my bucket...

Nonsense the world always will need more star wars.

You're automatically disqualified from commenting on that.

Originally Posted by Darth Ravenous

Nonsense the world always will need more star wars.

Right you keep telling yourself that and maybe one day it will come true...

Anyways....I would just be yourself and write what you feel like Darth suggested..
No matter what you write...you will automatically want to compare it with some other piece of literature and/or media and you will find similarities...so it's best not to worry about it...unless it is somehow copyright infringement...you'll be just fine ^-^

Almost any idea you could think of has been done before, that shouldn't be seen as an impediment. Best to go with your intuition mate, thinking too much is the enemy of any writer.

I think that the idea that *it's all been done* and that there's no new original ideas anymore is one of the major ills of our society.

Originally Posted by MrMofo

I think that the idea that *it's all been done* and that there's no new original ideas anymore is one of the major ills of our society.

This is an understatement.

go listen to some rap, jazz, or soulful blues... and let ur mind wander and ull think of something

and ull get some super original ideas

trust me