Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with writing and creative

Please recommend books similar to Bill Simmons' Book of Basketball

reenum — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:44:05 -0800

I love Bill Simmons' "The Book of Basketball". What should I read next? I'm in the middle of Simmons NBA opus, and it fascinates as to how he's able to pack in so much info, yet have the book remain accessible. I especially love how he makes fun of and injects humor into the various characters and events in the NBA's history.

Are there other books that are basically all encompassing, sprawling accounts of a particular entity, field, event, etc., yet remain fun to read?

I know some folks might suggest Mary Roach, but I just couldn't get into her stuff.

I prefer nonfiction, but well written fiction would work too.

Thanks!

You only need to stare at a piece of blank paper until your forehead bleeds.

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:21:35 -0800

I really, really want to write creatively but I hate writing creatively. WTF? All my life, I've really enjoyed telling stories, both in my head and verbally to other people. I come up with elaborate movie plots, novel characters, personal essays, all in my head, where of course they sound brilliant! I never tire of this.

But when I sit down to actually write these things out, it is absolute torture. I hate it! The images, dialog and characters that are so clear and interesting in my head come out wooden and flat on the page. And it feels like such excruciating drudgery to type out in detail the action that goes wooshing by in my head.

Occasionally, I'll get into it, and will really enjoy writing for an hour or so. Man, there is nothing like that awesome high of starting your story out in one place and then having the act of writing it down take it in a completely new direction! But then when I try to come back to it later, I'm always disappointed with how awful it seems on review.

I understand that part of this is just the fact that I need to embrace my shitty first drafts, and I am trying. And there's a part of me that says if this is such a miserable experience, I should just stop. It's not like I'm such a genius that the world will suffer from me not writing! But that feels like stifling myself and is also frustrating.

Oddly, I write a lot for work and never have this problem there. In fact, the writing projects I do at work are some of my favorite parts of the job. But that is a completely different kind of writing - totally impersonal, and not in my "voice."

I understand that this is pretty universal among writers. So how do I get past this? Is it worth it to try, or is the fact that I'm getting so easily discouraged mean I'm not meant to be a writer?

The ideas, what to do with them?

TomMelee — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:14:45 -0800

How do I force myself to write? I have the ideas...I have the time, I think I even have the skill. I just don't have the follow-through. Lemme explain.

I'm always coming up with compelling story lines. Like...always. Several times a week, easy. Some of them are dream-based, some are true-life-experience based, and some...well, some I just don't know where they come from. I've started a couple 5th-graderish books several times, but I always leave them a couple chapters in. I've let people read them, and they always want me to finish them, but I just...don't.

When I was a late teen I used to write a lot of awful poetry but also some decent prose. Short stories because I never could think of where to take them.

So anyway, last night I had this crazy thriller-murder-torture dream centering around cyber-stalking and mefi meetups, and I think it would be a fun story to write and a fun story to read.

But I know I'll never *finish* it.

So tell me, if you write, for publication or otherwise, how do you stick to it? I flit around a lot from one task to another, that's a big part of it. Do you outline first? Do you storyboard? Do you just outline blocks of time and force yourself to write?

Writing has no place on the Internet.

SinisterPurpose — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:49:59 -0800

Is there an effective and easy to use website for writers to post writing samples? I'm looking for something like Monster or Career Builder for creative types. I'm also looking for something with which other Mefites have had some measure of success. I am aware that Craigslist and Elance function much in this way, but both have been ineffective for what I am searching. Thanks in advance to all.

When to go simple, when to go complex?

world b free — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:56:28 -0800

When creating, would you pursue a simple premise you know you can execute to perfection, or would you pursue a really complex you know might flop? I know what I'm really asking about is how to get through a creative process. I do believe you should learn how to draw before you can paint Abstract Expressionism. Maybe I just need some reassurance from Internet strangers.

One piece of me-specific information: I've been at this for about five years, but wouldn't say I can do it at a professional level yet.

Examples of successful creative grant/fellowship/scholarship applications?

gottabefunky — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:23:36 -0800

Where can I find examples of successful applications for grants, fellowships and scholarships related to writing and/or international research, along the lines of Fulbright, NEA, etc? I'm especially interested in programs applicable to longer (book-length) nonfiction projects, and grant amounts in the $thousands more than $hundreds.

The ideas are all around, floating away...

reenum — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:43:13 -0800

I feel the need to be creative, but can't figure out what sort of outlet is the best to get my ideas out. How do I figure out what sort of creativity I have? All my life, I've had lots of ideas, but I've never found an appropriate way to bring them to life.

I tried to write and got a novel done in NaNoWriMo last year, but I can never get the motivation to actually write a story. I've tried poetry, but it all comes out as maudlin and ridiculous. I established early on in my life that I can't draw. I feel like I have a lot of ideas, but nowhere to go with them.

My question is: How can I figure out what type of creativity most suits me? Any websites, books, or personal anecdotes would be much appreciated.

Need recommendations for artistic non-fiction writing classes.

jcdill — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:57:20 -0800

I'm looking for recommendations for low cost (e.g. community college) writing classes to improve the artistic aspects of my non-fiction (essay, blog entry, resume, website content, etc.) writing. I want to take a class to spice up my writing. I'm not interested in writing fiction. I want to be the type of writer where people think "I love HOW she writes!" when they read a blog entry, or my photographer's statement, or a comment posted to someone else's blog, etc.

I'd love to take a class at a local community college (De Anza/Foothill, Canada/San Mateo, CCSF, etc.). I've looked at the online catalogs but can't figure out if any of the classes cover the type of writing skills I want to learn. I would also consider similarly priced (e.g. $100 per semester) online course. I'm not interested in private "coaching" - I don't have the budget to pay $100 per session! I'm also not interested in "workshops" - I need an ongoing class where I work on this every week so I get regular practice and can put the newly learned ideas into use on an ongoing basis until it becomes second nature in my writing.

For an example of the type of writing I admire and want to emulate, see Mark Morford's column.

I'd also LOVE links to similar "creative" columns, essays, and blog entries. Mark only writes a new column twice a week. I'd love to read a daily blog from a similar writer. (Similar in writing style, not concerned so much about the subject matter.)

Thanks!

I need some tips for writing fiction that's appealing.

gregb1007 — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:14:17 -0800

I need some tips for writing fiction that's appealing. I've recently learned that my fiction is unappealing to most readers. It turns out that I have an overly "cinematic style." I imagine all kinds of details: things on walls, hallways, how bodies look and move, clothes.

The problem is that when people start reading my story, they complain that it's all description and very little plot. They also would prefer me to get rid of most of my descriptions because they consider them unnecessary.

The visual stuff is what comes to me when I free write and thoughts of concrete actions/character features/events don't. How should I get myself to integrate plot elements into my writing?

(The way it works so far is that a storyline is the last thing I add to my writing because it has to be there. But it feels inadequate and fake.) Btw, he text that I am talking about is online at http://home.comcast.net/~gregb88/sparrow.html, if you want to get a better idea of my overly-visual writing style.

Grad school recommendations: whom to ask?

Anonymous — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:09:40 -0800

If I've been out of college for twelve years, from whom do I get recommendations for graduate school? For a variety of reasons, I'm unhappy with my "chosen" career (i.e. one that I fell into a decade ago, and from which I have yet to extricate myself), and I've decided to apply to graduate programs in creative writing. All of these programs require several recommendations, preferably from professors or others who know me in an "academic" context.

I understand that my writing samples will (depending on whom I choose to believe) be 80 - 90% of the schools' decision to accept or reject my application, but I'd prefer not to handicap myself by giving up on that 10 - 20%.

The difficulty here is that I completed my undergraduate degree twelve years ago, and I doubt that any of my college professors will remember enough about me to write compelling recommendations.

I have, as I see it, only one other option-- I'm currently taking a workshop at a non-academic community writing center, and could probably get that instructor to write a recommendation.

But from whom should I get the others? Former bosses / coworkers? Friends? Family? Random internet strangers? None of the literature I've found on the subject of applying to creative writing programs seems to address this.

And before this gets called out in MetaTalk as "OMG why is this anonymous?!?!?!," it's because I know for a fact that several of my current coworkers read metafilter (and may or may not be aware of my screen name here) and I'd prefer that my workplace not know that I am unhappy in my career and considering graduate school in an unrelated field.

creative writing classes in dc

jare2003 — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:52:24 -0800

Looking for creative writing classes in the DC area. I have DC residency, so community college classes in MD/VA are out. I've taken one expository writing class before and am a voracious reader, but I havent really done much in the way of a class setting before. I'd like to take a class, also for the peer review aspect and some help getting started on writing! Anywhere that's cheap in the DC region is fine.

What is your personal narrative?

loiseau — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 07:13:33 -0800

Do you have any recommendations for solid creative non-fiction magazine columns or the like? I'm a writer and I really enjoy both reading and writing personal narratives like the NYT's "Modern Love" column or the Nerve "Personal Essays" section... the kind of thing which is sometimes called "creative non-fiction".

With a view to both finding new regular reads and finding new markets for my own writing, I'm looking for recommendations for this style of magazine writing, or anything you think is related and worth exploring. I'd prefer stuff I can read online for free, but I'm not particularly excited for Joe or Jane Blogger, unless they're professional and write in a more thoughtful memoir style, rather than this-is-what-my-kid-did-today.

Thank ye!

Creativity by the Thames

Happy Dave — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:07:52 -0800

Where can I go to get involved with regular creative workshops and/or discussion in London? A little bit Having moved to London a couple of years ago, I find myself hankering for creative feedback, inspiration and contact. I was part of a very successful creative writing group that organised pub readings, workshops and all sorts of cross-genre participation (readings mixed with gallery displays mixed with live music) back in Scotland, and I'd like to get involved with something similar down here. So, my question is, does anyone know of a gallery, workshop, artspace, cafe, intermittent travelling circus or any other kind of social grouping in London that might do this sort of thing? Googling fails me I'm afraid.

Roehampton Creative Writing Masters

0bvious — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 14:44:00 -0800

What do you know/think about the University of Roehampton, London? Most especially I am interested in its School of Arts, and its MA in Creative and Professional Writing.... Good uni? Did you attend there? What are your experiences of the Roehampton area?

Any info gratefully appreciated

Kick-start my brain!

Happy Dave — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 03:30:01 -0800

How do you kick-start creative brainstorming? I have a little time on my hands at the moment, and I want to get brainstorming on short-story and novel ideas. I've never been all that good at this part of the creative process, my stories normally arise from random stimuli like magazine articles, MeFi etc. But a lot of writers I've read and/or worked with say to me that the imagination is a muscle, and the more you exercise it, the more you'll come up with.

So what techniques, skills, habits, software or other methods do you use to get on a creative roll? I'm not looking for a magic creative bullet here that'll give me a hundred great ideas for a book, just something that'll help me do some mental 'reps' and spark off a few ideas.

One thing, I'd rather avoid those cheesy idea generator websites, where you auto-generate a person/situation/outcome and have to come up with a story. Anything else is cool though...

How can I be more original?

Rubber Soul — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 19:04:14 -0800

How can I be more creative and original? How can I be more creative and original? I write fiction, SF and fantasy, but I have trouble thinking of anything truly original. My mind seems to want to stick to the same old traditional stories and settings. And when I really try to come up with something original, invariably someone will still come along and say "Oh, that's just like (some story I've never heard of before)". Even my wildest ideas seem to have been done before. I can't read every single story in the entire world to make sure I'm not duplicating someone, but I hate the thought that people will think I am stealing from other authors just because we have similar ideas. How can I train my brain to come up with new, unique, never-seen-before ideas?