How To Write a Story

[warina5511]

who is he?

[Samuraicat13]

Thanks!

[PotawatomiApiwa]

i was on board with you until steps 2-5 contridicted step 1. i'm just gonna follow step one. F the other steps.

[MrRudale]

"Step one: ignore every one else's advice; step two...."

[Justinfh2point0]

We can't listen to other people's advice? Does that include yours? >__<

[isabellalegara]

Tankies, helped me a lot in improving to write story and it also encouraged me to write more story.

[DecimasRex]

Thanks sir!I am only 11 years old and I am writing a story!

[Hellhammer3383]

@shebzydon Don't be an ass. He's only trying to help people. if you think reading is boring, then you shouldn't be writing.

[shebzydon]

bullshit advice, thanks for nothing. i searched 'how to write a story' not 'how to kill your family members with boredom'.

[20MDM]

I don't think he blinked xD

[Hermit1397]

I'm trying to write a book but I do not now how to introduce a character.

[Hermit1397]

I'm trying to write a book but I do not now how to introduce a character. sorry about the spelling.

[Vindog76]

Some good advice about writing here but you forgot all about the story part.

[Grapefruitdisaster]

I love to write a lot and I was afraid to tell my friends that I wrote cause I thought they would laugh at me. But my 6th grade LA teacher said we each had to write a story about how gum got on here ceiling, what she did not tell us was that she was going to have a contest between everyone's story, mine ended up winning I was proud and I felt more comfy writing story in the 6th grade. but soon I will be in 7th and there is a lot more kids and I don't know if I will be comfy again. it will be bad

[216kingDavid1]

@Grapefruitdisaster write what ever comes to you. the more you add to your story the better it will be. if youre scared youre never gonna be ready for anything in life. just do it. if on version isnt how youd like then have a different one. take what you like from each story, put it together and see how it ends up. write for yourself first, if you enjoy what you produce chances are at least one person likes your story theres bound to be someone else out there who like your storys.

[MrCreepyPants]

Yeah, wouldn't it be great if ANYBODY I KNEW, ACTUALLY CARED ENOUGH to read my writing?

[zivnavoth]

@MrCreepyPants Luckily there are a number of community sites you can submit your material to. Try webook [dot[ com for example.

[BlueRoseOfWater]

@MrCreepyPants You could always post your stories on places such as Fanfiction. com thats what i do.

[DsAhLaLrApS]

I'm just gonna follow your first step and not listen to you.

[zivnavoth]

@DsAhLaLrApS Good move!

[TheHopey97]

@DsAhLaLpS If u dnt listen to him the 1st step will be ignored

[Skeletonwitharaygun]

@DsAhLaLrApS

LMAO.

[xXGreenXx90]

I wanted to write a kids story that sells in stores that's probably not going to happen. :P but i am going to go for it :DD i am thinking of making a island book about something i am not going to tell :D because there are men and women out there that will steal my pro plan of madness ....

[catawba909]

@ storyjoin Checked out you site STORYJOIN and loved it.

[storyjoin]

I'm not much of a story writer but do enjoy to read. I had an idea to write a story but couldn't finish it, so I started a webstie called STORYJOIN It allows you to create stories with other members. You start a story and others finish it for you, it's fun to see how the story ends.

[xhaziie]

tou are totally right with the first step, ive had so many lessons and everybody says diffrent things :/

[madmethod21]

What I would like to know is how do you write about a character that isn't you e.g a Wall Street executive, or Captain of a ship, when you yourself are not one? I always find myself only writing from my perspective, because that's all I know. How can I start to create fictional characters?

[zivnavoth]

Part of this is life experience, part of this is talking to a lot of people and asking them about their life and part of it, the most important part, is imagination. It takes practice (letting your imagination roam free), but it's worth the try.

[XAwesomeAwesomenessX]

exactly imagination is the key... no writer writes without one. writing is a passion, and if you want to write you have to research and work really hard.

[KissNMakeUpx3]

Try and research and be creative.

[PhyrPhly]

If you are having some trouble with characters just do a couple of things. First, people watch. There is nothing better than observing the conversations and actions of random people. Second, read a lot. You can take and combine characters to make one of your own. I prefer people watching, but when I'm stuck, I read.

[XAwesomeAwesomenessX]

to be a good writer, whether your writing fiction or non fiction you have to have a good imaginary. You have to imagine yourself as your character by choosing your characters personalities and strenghs and weaknesses. And if yu have a character say a princess, then you should read about oone and research one and imagine that your a princess.

[qweenofthestars]

very inspirational and helpful! I can't wait to get start writing :)

[MooglePlushie]

lolz the first step, you said kinda tells us not to listen to this XD

[MegaJmaynard]

lol sort of ... i caught that aswell

[zivnavoth]

This is a cool idea - thanks for sharing this.

[storyjoin]

Since I don't like to write entire stories, I just go to STORYJOIN since it allows you to write stories with other members.

[ZenBarracuda]

Help! I write short stories and I've written sixteen pages of something I hope will be special but I've hit a wall. It's not writer's block. For some reason I can't put myself in my character's shoes. I can't place myself in his situation. How might I work through this? Suggestions please.

[zivnavoth]

Try thinking about what your character wants most and what's stopping him. It usually the tension between those two that propels a story forward. If everything is going well for him/her, drop a big fat obstacle in their way. If everything is going wrong, have them meet someone who might help them out.

[ZenBarracuda]

Thanks for your advice. I hope to God it gets me off the ground again. I think it will.

[goldendragonlord]

You have the honor of courage, thanks for the help...it really meant alot.

[MrRandyKomi]

amazingly this actually helped ALOT!!

[xLindsey777MCRx]

Ok I''l write the truest sentence I know.

I am telling the truth.

lol

[twilight2magic0]

Hi zivnavoth!

I am writing a noval (fiction) and i would love some advise on how to make people want to read it and tips ect.

Awesome vid!

Thanx

Soph.

[TheUnknownBoy94]

I was hoping if you could rate a story i have been writing. Do you have a hotmail account?

[TheUnknownBoy94]

I was hoping you could help rate a story i have been writing. Do you have any hotmail?

[zivnavoth]

Thanks for the comment Jan. This is what I've learned - that the secret to writing (short) stories is that you need to get a few things straight and have a couple of rules in place. Beyond that, it's very simple - you wake up in the morning, you set next to the computer and you write. I could spend an hour talking about the process, but I figured you'd prefer to spend less time getting the same piece of advice.

If you want more details on any of the steps I'm happy to add them.

[JanSDJ7]

Techniques? Where's the beef?

Is it behind the motivational speech?

[viledischarge666]

does any one know a community were i can read others and post some of my own short stoires?

[thanotron1222]

wouldnt the first peice of advice negate the rest of the advice you gave in this video,

and slap whoever blindly followed it in the face?

either way.. thanks... im just a lookin arround for stuff like this... kinda havin a bit o writers block.

[zivnavoth]

It does. That's why you need to follow my advice and not anyone else's. Or don't follow my advice at all. Most important - don't look for more stuff. "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." (Hemingway)

[qbairik]

This video sucks, it gives me no advice on the structure and where to begin. What's this guys' problem

[zivnavoth]

Sorry you didn't get what you wanted from the video dude - it's hard to condense everything into 1:21min. Are you trying to write short stories - a long novel? Tell me more and I'll see if I can help. Z.

[airbear320]

Thank you for this video! It's not long and drawn out. It's simple and precise! Awesome!

[hotcrosc]

Great advice. ;) Thanks a lot.

[kaykay600]

this is really good advice! thank you!

[nexmires]

Aww. Thank you! I really needed some help staying motivated in writing and this actually really helped me. I love you!

[tianqi063]

Thanks I am gonna write one :)

[misterfisherman]

hmmm yes

[cococolonel]

Not really sure about #2, but I'll be sure to follow.

[eternal4v]

^-^

[5CharityHope]

Excellant advice which I will follow. Thank you.

[zivnavoth]

Check out some more stories on nanotales dot net

[zivnavoth]

1. Forget about what other people tell you

2. Find a muse - someone who believes in you

3. Find an audience

4. Make them a promise (a story every day, a chapter every week)

5. Keep it!

[floppyorange]

Oh, I gotcha. I was combining two. Thanks for the advice!

[konnorevans]

Thanks for sharing your advice!