First of all : Please don't hit the newbie.

Second : Cheers everyone ! *hands out drinks randomly*

Third : Reading AlienSlof's DoX-stories fired me up for writing like I haven't been in about 14 months now, so my first Predator story is just taking shape in my head. I have the skeleton for it, if only 'very' rough though (have the 3 main characters, a planet, a target for the hunt and some personal/emotional sideplots for the characters, but all not properly put together and nothin).
Who'd wanna help a rusty writer ? IDEAS PLEASE !!

Glad to see I've inspired yet another headful of ideas! First thing to do is - get those ideas written down - doesn't matter what order to start with, just get them down so you don't forget them! I do my DoX 2 like that - if an idea comes along, I jot it down in a separate word file. Some I don't use and others I do - sometimes one that got discarded comes in useful somewhere else! It's what I advise any writer to do - write 'em down! My memory isn't great, so I would lose the ideas if I didn't!

Also helps if you have a character sheet - plus with those damned hissy names I insist on using, I load each one into Word's dictionary, because I can't spell the buggers either! On the character sheet, I add descriptions and personalities, likes and dislikes for each one, then I know where I can develop little sub-plots to keep things juicy!

Ya, good hints for a start.
Still, problem is : When I start writing a story I usually have it finished in my head already before I start writing down the first word, because I fear if I write on into the unknown my story might end up somewhere where I don't like it anymore... and unfinished stories suck. It seems writing as you do either requires a LOT of experience or a totally different way of thinking about things....
Anyways, I got something like a first chapter finished. While sticking pretty closely to the code of honor of the Predator's and their language, I still try doing things like you did in DoX -- giving the characters more personality and a bit leisure... you could say my Predators are gonna be 'part human'.
Ideas are starting to fill my head again (when I have free time that is, school's eatin me up), ideas to spice up my little story further. Glad I found my way here.

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It seems writing as you do either requires a LOT of experience or a totally different way of thinking about things....

I don't have that much experience surprisingly! Only been writing a year - exactly a year on New Year's Day no less! Before that I didn't even know I could write at all!

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When I start writing a story I usually have it finished in my head already before I start writing down the first word

I went through that same thing dude. I was lying in bed one night and suddenly ideas started popping into my head, I had the begging and ending finished before anything else. Now all I have to do is think up a middle to my story that conects the both of them (and hopefully makes sense).

I start to write once the story is mapped out in my head. If it changes direction during the writing process then so be it. It usually changes direction because something isn't right, isn't practical or is going to get long winded. The direction change is usually for the best. Don't be afraid of a change of direction. I usually have a start and an end and let the middle firm up as I go. If it wanders down an alley or two it doesn't matter so long as it's gently pulled back on course to meet the ending.
However, having said that, anything big gets the notebook treatment although that doesn't mean that a change of direction in the middle doesn't happen.

Anise.

Well when I write I only have I basic idea what the story is about normally have a image of how it will end and what comes in the middle depends on where writing takes me.

You can't let it come to you, you gotta force yourself to come up an idea

The best ideas are rarely forced, they generally hit you when you least expect it! The more forced they are, the more contrived and false they'll seem. I use as an example my DoX2 - the first chapter of that went through 3 incarnations - yes, 3!! Because I tried to force it, it came out all wrong! First and second attempts at chapter 1 were diabolical! I don't even have copies of what I did it was so bad!

Forced ideas will read as such. Just let 'em flow!

Whoa, that's what I call help. Thanks, guys !

Hey AlienSlof, got the 1st chapter finished I think, it might actually be good for somethin... I'll send it to ya for proofreadin along with my request to open my writer's account.

I'll do the best I can, thanks for all the advice.

Joking slof, joking...

i usually do the same thing... i was three entire books in my head.. but i have no time to write tehm all... so im working on one that i started in 5th grade.... it was deleted, so i rewrote it.. it was better, now im rewriting it again... and i am completely and totally happy with that first chapter

oh and... if you will, i would like to read it myself... email it to me seikken53@hotmail.com