Writing Frenzy

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On Sunday I wrote and posted over 11,000 words on this site in three separate entries, Totally Insane;Totally Insane (Concluded) and Falling off a bike.

Quite how or why I did it, and that included help from one or two others with express proofing etc.,I don't know. Something seems to drive me, does that happen to other writers?

I know that I've written and posted three entries before on one day, but they were shorter. But what drives us to do it, to put everything else on hold to create something? Apart from essential chores, counselling a friend and talking to family and another friend, all I did was write.

I've never thought of myself as very creative, although my sheer output would tend to disagree with that. I accept it's literature lite, there are much better writers here than me, but none quite so prolific. So I must have some creative ability, albeit of a superficial nature, I'm an impulsive sagittarian who doesn't have time for the slow build up of character development or plot, as you might have noticed.

What is it that drives me to write? Seeking adulation of others, hardly, I get some good comments, but it's hardly adulation - although my ego enjoys what strokes it can get. My toughest critic is a twelve year old, who wastes no time in telling me what I get wrong, she also tells me what she likes, so there's some balance there.

I've always been able to express myself with words, so I find writing at this level fairly easy, but why do I do it? Why do I give up a couple of hours every night to keep going a story which anyone else would have stopped months ago?

I accept that Falling Off A Bike has developed its own momentum and is something of a challenge to keep a reasonable storyline while keeping it going as long as possible, and the disappointment I know some others would feel if I stopped because I didn't feel like it that day. There have been days when I haven't felt like it, or been very tired, but like showbiz, the show must go on. Little did I know it would be heading for half a million words by now and over 1200 pages.

I don't know what makes me write nor do I know why others do it. Some are obviously working through stuff, some are challenging themselves, some do it to amuse others, plus lots of other reasons which are too numerous to mention. Perhaps mankind has a built in urge to communicate and to amuse, storytelling is a very long practised art.

Anyway, as this proclivity (what a lovely word!)seems to have run most of my life and if anything is building up extra steam, those who don't like my writing will just have to ignore me for a bit longer, because it doesn't look like stopping anytime soon.

That I think is all I need to say, except that I will conclude all my serials, and continue the odd one/two parter as the idea gels. Totally Insane will probably get a third part in the near future as there seems to be an interest in it -especially from my toughest critic!

Thanks for reading this and my other stuff, I'll try not to post too many things in a day, for a while.

What drives you to write, share it with the rest of it?

Hugs,

Angharad.

Comments

Itching

erin's picture

Writing scratches in a place I can't reach. Art and music do that too but in slightly different places. Gameplaying also works. But nothing is quite so soul satisfying as writing fiction. :)

- Erin

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.

Damn, Erin!

Breanna Ramsey's picture

That is perhaps the most insightful description of the need to write I have ever seen!

That pretty much sums it up for me as well. I am much more prolific than my posting would indicate. I have thousands of words in dozens of stories that will probably never bee seen by anyone but me. A lot of my racier stuff I write only for me, to exercise those feelings in a way I suppose. The rest are just ideas that form but then whither. Some of those eventually do make it to the readers, DOA and Journey to Eden being examples of those. Both of those stories underwent major changes before they were finally posted, however.

Lately I have really been struggling. Since losing touch with Amelia it has been very hard to get anything completed. I miss her gentle correction of my numerous grammatical short comings, I miss her little tidbits of interesting information, but most of all I miss the insight she often gave me into my own ideas.

I hope you're well, Amelia. Hugs.

Scott

Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.
-- Moliere

Bree

The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
-- Tom Clancy

http://genomorph.tglibrary.com/ (Currently broken)
http://bree-ramsey314.livejournal.com/
Twitter: @genomorph

If you'd made this comment...

... a year ago, I'd have said I had NO IDEA why you write like this, or even write at all. (Though I'd have gone on to thank you for writing, as I'd already read some of Charlotte, which has some major character development I think, & SNAFU.) I mean, it'd been over 35 years since the last time I'd attempted to write anything resembling fiction.

Over that past few months... I think my perspective has changed. I know I have a LOOOONG way to go boefore I'm much of an author. Hopefully, I'm learning and improving (hey, if any of you are looking at this and have suggestions, or would prefer to tell me to stop wasting Erin's disk space, please let me know).

Why am I writing though... I've really wondered. I mean, it doesn't put food on the table. It doesn't get the laundry done. It doesn't get the lawn/yard taken care of. It doesn't clean the house. It consumes time I could be reading something really good. Why do I do it? I really wish I knew. You were actually the second person to see anything beyond more than a few paragraphs of my attempt at timeless prose. Right now. I find writing a story relaxing. (This really surprises me!) Maybe it's because nobody else is telling me to write. My one issue. I seem to have started "thinking up" more plot lines/story possibilities than I have the time to write. Is this normal? (Okay, I know I'm not normal. Alien changelings can't be considered normal. But the ideas that come up for possible stories... Is having them bubble up normal.)

So, I ask myself again, why am I writing? There's really not just ONE reason. My one shortstory was an attempt to work through some thoughts I'd had. At the time, I thought it was the best thing I'd written. But, the readers seemed to think it was no better despite all the extra effort put into it. I'm really surprised at myself, wanting to stop doing other things, so I can write. This is just so surprising to me. What is more surprising is that anyone actually wants to read my writing, and then make comments... (Comments ARE nice to get - even those that say little, or bring up good issues or criticize.)

Well, that's enough rambling. I guess the answer is "I don't know". Not real helpful, I know.

Annette

Why I write

I think the main reason I enjoy telling stories is because it's just fun. Sometimes it feels like I'm on a safari and I'm constantly surprised by the plot twists and character developments as I create a story. There's also practical reasons too, though. I sometimes find there's just no better way of conveying a certain concept or feeling. There's been plenty of times I've been in the middle of a conversation and I created a story on the spot in an attempt to clarify something. A close second is the joy of discovering someone was touched by what you had to say. It really makes all the effort needed to create a story worthwhile. :)


Heather Rose Brown
Writer--Artist--Dreamer

Reasons to Write

I don't have the years of experience to draw from that other writers here do, and I'm sure that shows in my work, but everything I write is Escapist, an attempt to get away from all my problems and just, I dunno, be someone else. I don't do a lot of scripting ahead because I want to be just as surprised as my readers.

Melanie E.

And, Angharad, you're not the only crazy Saggitarius here!

me too

I'm another Saggitarius, fancy that!

One reason I write is because of BCTS. If it weren't here, I'd still write, but not as much. Having such a GOOD LOOKING, INTELLIGENT audience is a big incentive.

Aside from that, I write because I like to make things. I love the process, which involves solving dozens of little problems, and has such an uncertain outcome.

Kaleigh

Purely selfish reasons mostly

I think I can tie some of the reasons I like to write as to why I enjoy reading.It's as good an escape as any from the ball and chain of the realities of my life.For a little while I can see life from someone elses perspective or afford someone else the chance to see from mine.I've always enjoyed reading and enjoyed writing as a youth.What lead me to write again was a test that I took not long ago that pegged me as to much a realist albeit a down to earth one and said I should work to be more creative.Angharad your work is far from average and shows a drive and passion that most don't have.the fact you've gotten past three hundred chapters in eofab and still managed to put out others stories without losing quality is a testament to that.I will resume writing again hopefully sooner than later and for those who may not enjoy my writing blame the damn test. Amy