I think I might have a huge problem and I am in desperate need of help. I hope this is an okay question to ask.

I am very good at coming up with story ideas. I can get every little detail worked out and everything perfect. I can do all of that, but in my mind. I can't write it down otherwise it doesn't work out. I can write a whole entire story in my head then not be able to write it. That's my problem I have ideas I just can't write them. What I mean by that is I sit down at the computer and my mind goes blank. It's not Writer's Block I just can't write it. I get distracted and I keep putting it off. I really need to 'cure' this because I want to finish my first fan fiction (well posted on here) this summer. I really want to more than anything. But I need to be able to write it.

Any advice?

You may not be a write-at-the-computer person. Have you tried a notebook and a pencil?

I'm afraid there really isn't any answer to it. If you want to write, sit down and write. It's a long, slow job and is often boring, but nobody can do it for you and there is no magic bullet to make it easy.

Well, cathrl is right. You may just be a paper person.

Okay. So you've got the story plotted out in your head. To start off with, just write down your notes. Start off with a blank document, press enter a couple of times, and write your notes at the bottom of your page (or, if you're working on paper, a separate page). Say, if you know that your protag is blonde, just write that. And then you'll find yourself writing down the rest of his/her description. Write your outline for where you want it to go. Then maybe you'll get more sucked into your story, and begin to flesh it out with what you've thought of. Alternately, you could think of one major plot point in your story and write the scene. You can always go back to the beginning later.

I haven't really tried this, but maybe you should have a go. Let me know if it does or doesn't help; I'd be really interested.

Lol, I used to be you. I used to have so many great ideas, but I couldn't hold a story together to save my life. Not written down, anyway. I could do it all in my head, but as soon as pen met paper, it all kind of fell apart. Guess how I solved that? I ignored the fact that I couldn't write a story and just wrote stories. I practiced and learned and got better, and now I can write really awesome stories that actually last for more than a page.

All you have to do is stick it out. And the computer doesn't have to be where you start. You can use pen and paper, pencil and paper, pen and your arm, whatever works for you. Heck, you could even plot it out with pictures if that helps you. The computer can be your last step once you've actually gotten the story's words all down.

Also, there is no rule that says you have to write it all in order or make any kind of sense when you start off. You can just pick a scene you know you want, write that, and skip stuff if you don't know what you want there. Sometimes I write scene direction and dialogue when I can't connect, then edit later to add in the narration. There are no rules.

I'm strictly a pen-and-paper person when it comes to first drafts. I think the best piece of advice I got was that your first draft is allowed to be messy. Want to add more description but can't think of any? Scribble in a margin note that reads 'describe here' and draw an arrow to the appropriate point in the page. Can't think of how to end a scene even if you know what happens? Scribble a note from "this happens" and arrow draw an arrow. You can always go back and fix it later when you type it up. Don't worry so much about getting it right the first time. Just get it down. You can go back and fix it up later.

First drafts? No way. I alter too much and keep wanting to move stuff around, forgetting things and having to add stuff in later. I like the computer better, but I can't take it everywhere, so I have to settle for whatever I've got with me at the time if inspiration strikes while I'm out and about. But if I'm at home with my computer, you bet I'm gonna wait until it boots up before really getting into a story idea.

Still, if your mind blanks every time you look at a computer screen, go with whatever's handy instead.

Don't worry so much about getting it right the first time. Just get it down. You can go back and fix it up later.

A lesson it took me about a year and a half to learn. But thankfully, I learned it now and now it's much easier to write stuff. Oh, and remember that since you're just learning now, writing on an amateur writing site, you really don't need to worry about whether or not you're doing your idea or fandom justice until the editing phase. When you get to the editing phase, it's okay to see the flaws, but until then, ignore everything wrong and just concentrate on what's right! That'll make it a LOT easier to get through a chapter and keep going. Nothing is set in stone anyway, and you can always rewrite a fic later when you learn more and get better.

@ Resident Bishounen:

Yeah, that's the way I do it. Not for fanfiction, though; just for original fic. No offence, but I can't be bothered to make that much effort for something that's not going to get me anywhere in lthe public eye.

But pen and paper is fantastic. For one thing, you can make notes, etc, and have several different versions of sentences stacked one above the other if you so desire. Plus nothing MOVES! You can do your own formatting without it going haywire!

And you can write in the gaps.

I work hard at fanfiction, not because of the readers, but because of myself. When I make art, I do my best every time because of my own standards. Standards which I never hold other people to, only myself.

And I actually stack multiple choices on the computer by just doing this:

Blahblahblahblahblah [blahblah? Blahblahblah/blahblah.Blahblahblah] blahblahblahblahblah.

I even did it with an entire paragraph.

As for formatting, I've never had a problem with that, but I lose papers all the time.

Ahaha, well, I have a (very basic) filing system.

I know you can stack sentences, but I hate it. It's so clunky. Another good thing is that you can never accidentally delete something.

But each to his (her!) own, I guess.

Hey LOVEKATRiNA, how are you going with all of this?

I've got a big multi-section notebook I write in. Keeps me from losing lots of loose-leaf pieces of paper I'm too lazy to find a binder for. One section per fic.

I've got another one for original fiction. Section 1 is for worldbuilding notes, character sketches, plot outlines, etc. Section 2 is for the rough draft.

What do you do when you run out of room?

So far it hasn't been a problem (because I have a hard time finishing a fic that lasts longer than 10K words), but I suppose I'd just get another notebook, make a note at the top of page 1 which part of which fic it is, and keep going.

To me, that is messier than having looseleaf :)

That's why I saved two pages in the front for a table of contents. That way, when I put other stuff in the middle of an active fic, I can just write down what pages each fic is on and go through it that way. But I abandoned that idea when I got my computer and now just plan on writing down a hard copy version of each fic (just because I like that better than wasting ink and computer paper).

Smart. ha ha, but I like having to copy stuff over to the computer. It forces you to do a second draft and to edit stuff.

Yeah, except that I make more mistakes in transcription than a regular edit misses. I'll miss whole words that way, in fact. I've found it's just easier to edit five to ten times before posting, then get someone to beta.

Problem with that is, I sent my parody out to get beta-ed, and my beta thought a note I put in there was actually supposed to be in there! I ended up having to go back and replace the chapter when I discovered this. I felt so embarrassed--until I realized that everyone thought it was supposed to be like that. Then I started laughing!

Still better on the computer.

Lol, that 'note incident' is funny. I suspect our minds work in different ways.

Yep, sure do. Oh well, at least it was funny. Pretty much the whole point of writing that parody!

Hey, would it be too much to give Starfire some face-time, but write it as essentially a drafting-phase note, like I just couldn't be bothered writing her a part?

LoveKatrina, I have the same problem as you. I sit down to write something, and am suddenly checking my e-mails, my messages on different sites, and playing chess on my computer. Everyday I have ideas floating around in my head, but I get less than 1/2 of them down on paper.

I don't know how you can cure this. Maybe take everyone else's suggestions and try writing them down on paper. I used to do that and liked it much better, but now I'm somewhat afraid my sister or my parents will see something written in them. It's not like I write anything pornographic, it's just that they still think I write innocent little stories and I certainly do not. But I remember writing in journals did help me concentrate more. Less distractions kicking around.

If you're afraid papers will somehow make it to them, try doing it one day at a time. Write stuff on paper, then before the papers leave your sight, put it into your computer. Then dispose of the papers in the neighbor's garbage/recycling bins, all ripped up. Can you see any flaws in that? It's extra work, but if you really want to get writing done, it can be worth it.

I have the same problem as you. I sit down to write something, and am suddenly checking my e-mails, my messages on different sites, and playing chess on my computer. Everyday I have ideas floating around in my head, but I get less than 1/2 of them down on paper. I don't know how you can cure this. Maybe take everyone else's suggestions and try writing them down on paper. I used to do that and liked it much better, but now I'm somewhat afraid my sister or my parents will see something written in them. It's not like I write anything pornographic, it's just that they still think I write innocent little stories and I certainly do not. But I remember writing in journals did help me concentrate more. Less distractions kicking around.

I have a notebook I use for story ideas alone. Hide it in between books or something on your bookshelf.

Personally, I need to have goals that I absolutely have to accomplish if I want to get anything done without being distracted.

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