What kinds of media help you engage in your writing process?

[happyyy_]

White noise. 8 hour YouTube video of a crackling fireplace and a blizzard howling outside a house.

I like thunderstorm noises for writing, I haven't considered blizzards though! Great idea

 

[happyyy_]

If no guys in this thread say porn, then we know there are some liars.

for some reason when I made this thread I didn't think of video media at all?? I haven't watched porn in a long time Sometimes I struggle to think through the action aspect of sex positions when I'm writing, now I'm wondering if watching porn would have helped with that all this time.

 

[Rob_Royale]

There are outside influences to my creativity, lyrics or the occasional image, but just the story in my head is what sets me up to be ready to write.

 

[Writer61]

I write in a universe with multiple story lines, which I guess is broadly akin to a full-length novel in terms of complexity. So I use a couple of tools to help me visualise people/events and maintain consistency and continuity.

In Excel I maintain:

• a list of characters partly so that I can avoid re-using names, keep track of physical characteristics, etc.
• a timeline to help with continuity, character ages, life events, etc.
• a list of story names and taglines to keep some consistency between them; will start tracking tags too.

In Powerpoint I have what are essentially mood boards:

• mostly with images of people that represent the character, as I find it easier to write when I can picture them, can include comments to the effect of 'this person but older' and so on,
• sometimes with a map/plan or picture of a location,
• last week, for the first time, I have included a picture of something relevant, in this case a dress; expect to do more of this.

In Word I have an outline of planned/potential stories. Typically each is a one line synopsis and a few bullet points. When I am writing something that might be relevant later I add a note. Also helps with the overall story arc.

For specific stories I sometimes have detailed timelines (e.g. Monday: this, Tuesday: that) or, when there is a lot of partner-swapping, a list of who is paired up with whom at each moment. These may be in Excel or Powerpoint.

When writing I avoid anything that needs attention, e.g. TV/movies, podcasts/audiobooks. Music is not so distracting but I generally don't put any on. Might try ambient noise.

 

[happyyy_]

In Excel I maintain:

• a list of characters partly so that I can avoid re-using names, keep track of physical characteristics, etc.
• a timeline to help with continuity, character ages, life events, etc.
• a list of story names and taglines to keep some consistency between them; will start tracking tags too.

In Powerpoint I have what are essentially mood boards:

• mostly with images of people that represent the character, as I find it easier to write when I can picture them, can include comments to the effect of 'this person but older' and so on,
• sometimes with a map/plan or picture of a location,
• last week, for the first time, I have included a picture of something relevant, in this case a dress; expect to do more of this.

Wow that's really interesting! I guess powerpoint would actually work really nicely for mood boards, its easy to set up a board of sorts and paste/format your images.
I am curious how you format your excel sheets- is it just a basic table? I always conflate excel with work, so I never thought of its story crafting potential

 

[Jorunn]

I prefer silence when writing, but try to find an inspiring physical location when possible.

The ideas and crafting of the story can be influenced by news reports, poems, classic literature, folk tales and legends. I will put music lyrics into the mix as well.

 

[WhiteTailDarkTip]

I write in a universe with multiple story lines, which I guess is broadly akin to a full-length novel in terms of complexity. So I use a couple of tools to help me visualise people/events and maintain consistency and continuity.

In Excel I maintain:

• a list of characters partly so that I can avoid re-using names, keep track of physical characteristics, etc.
• a timeline to help with continuity, character ages, life events, etc.
• a list of story names and taglines to keep some consistency between them; will start tracking tags too.

In Powerpoint I have what are essentially mood boards:

• mostly with images of people that represent the character, as I find it easier to write when I can picture them, can include comments to the effect of 'this person but older' and so on,
• sometimes with a map/plan or picture of a location,
• last week, for the first time, I have included a picture of something relevant, in this case a dress; expect to do more of this.

In Word I have an outline of planned/potential stories. Typically each is a one line synopsis and a few bullet points. When I am writing something that might be relevant later I add a note. Also helps with the overall story arc.

For specific stories I sometimes have detailed timelines (e.g. Monday: this, Tuesday: that) or, when there is a lot of partner-swapping, a list of who is paired up with whom at each moment. These may be in Excel or Powerpoint.

When writing I avoid anything that needs attention, e.g. TV/movies, podcasts/audiobooks. Music is not so distracting but I generally don't put any on. Might try ambient noise.

Yep, I do a lot of this. I also follow the weather for the location and the timeline. It can be quite inspiring

 

[LonRivers]

Currently, with my Vampire story, listening to my Lizzy Borden discography helps tremendously. I get such wonderful ideas from his music, and others like WASP or Judas Priest.

 

[MyBareTorso]

If no guys in this thread say porn, then we know there are some liars.

Porn

 

[Writer61]

I am curious how you format your excel sheets- is it just a basic table? I always conflate excel with work, so I never thought of its story crafting potential

The story and character lists are exactly that, with a little use of formatting to help me. For example:

• after a character name is first published I make it bold so I know I cannot change it
• similarly, a name that is tentative is in italics
• "highlight if duplicate" is on for the name column

I use a letter+number combination (series+part) as a sort key for both sheets.

The timeline has a column for the year and then, for each series lead, key events (e.g. 'go to university') and age. An earlier version included individual stories as well, but it was getting tricky to read. The latest has allowed me to spot and align cross-over opportunities more easily.

Nothing complicated or Excel specific, you could achieve the same in Google Sheets or other similar software.

 

[Codoc24]

I have to have silence to get inside my head or it distracts me. No video, no music, no audio of any kind. The only sound is my tapping on the keyboard and my laptop's cooling fan. We used to have a cat that would meow occasionally, but sadly, we had to put him to sleep several months ago.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

I prefer silence when writing, but try to find an inspiring physical location when possible.

The ideas and crafting of the story can be influenced by news reports, poems, classic literature, folk tales and legends. I will put music lyrics into the mix as well.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I use music to set the mood for what I am writing.

 

[CiaoSteve]

Don't tend to use anything. I just switch off and dream, and the writing seems to follow.

 

[DukeofPaducah]

This. Though it can be very distracting. I was writing a story (I got 12k words in) set in Bristol in the noughties. Around that time my wife was quite involved in the local music scene, so I was having fun tracking down all the bands she used to go and see then, creating a you tube playlist. It got very distracting!!

But music is such an inspiration for me. My story Thirty basically came from the lyrics to this song:

Meanwhile, Love is a Place took it's name from this song:

The artist in Thirty has amazing vocal range.
More often than not a song will provide a spark for me, set the tone for a premise. I believe there’s a reason the lyrics strike a chord of emotion.
There are so many great artists from which to choose, each with a nuanced perspective.
Bob Dylan for nostalgia. (Lay Lady Lay, Girl From the North Country)
Don Henley for love lost. (The Heart of the Matter, The Last Worthless Evening)
The Rolling Stones for sleaze. (Under My Thumb, You Can’t Always Get What You Want)
Amy Winehouse for tragic soul. Teddy Swims. Miley Cyrus. The well is artesian.
I’m in awe of musicians. They. possess a one-two punch of melodies and lyrics that knock back my cap.

 

[DukeofPaducah]

Heya ex-Halloweeners,
I’m interested in recalling some of my less than stellar work for revision but have been unable to attract
the attention of a moderator of influence to date.
Is there a particular protocol I should abide by?
I would appreciate any direction you may provide.

 

[kinktotell]

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

Ah... Equisite words Madame Millle.
A little off topic, but which version? Simon & Garfunkel or Distrubed?
I grew up on S&G and their version will always have a special place in my heart, but the power, intensity, and raw emotion provided by David Draiman and Disturbed gave new life and meaning to these words and forever changed my Pavlovian response to them.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I love both... There's also a takeoff of the song I love, The Sounds of Starbucks!

 

[MillieDynamite]

But it would be hard to write to!

I love both... There's also a takeoff of the song I love, The Sounds of Starbucks!

 

[kinktotell]

But it would be hard to write to!

Delightful!!!! I loved it. Thank you!
And yes, I can't write with music playing. It's just me, my computer and the hissing of my tinnitus.

 

[RetroFan]

Listening to music from the era when I'm writing a story set in the past.

 

[MillieDynamite]

I write to music, just with words in it! Except sometimes, Ode to Joy, but I don't understand German, so it's just more music!

Delightful!!!! I loved it. Thank you!
And yes, I can't write with music playing. It's just me, my computer and the hissing of my tinnitus.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Quite often I find a song will spark off an idea for a story or a character and then I like to play the song on a non-stop loop and have a few images in front of me.

For example, when I was writing Gangsta's Paradise I had a series of images of Mallory - and the song too....

 

[happyyy_]

Quite often I find a song will spark off an idea for a story or a character and then I like to play the song on a non-stop loop and have a few images in front of me.

For example, when I was writing Gangsta's Paradise I had a series of images of Mallory - and the song too....

View attachment 2421218View attachment 2421220

I could definitely see how images would help! I find I moreso discover write at first, so I don't have any images or settings planned until I'm actually writing them. But I could see how having them from the beginning to help the creative flow.

Do you find having the song on loop helps you sort of stay distraction free and on topic while writing, or does it help you come up with ideas?

 

[ChloeTzang]

Do you find having the song on loop helps you sort of stay distraction free and on topic while writing, or does it help you come up with ideas?

I find it helps me stay in the mindset. Sometimes the lyrics will give me ideas as well but it's more the mindset that helps me stay on theme for the story