Thank you for sharing this. Amazing advice.

Here's a good question, Peter. I have an idea for a great background (world) but can't think of a good plot to happen in that world.

Any ideas where I might come up with one?

I had the same thing happen in a conceptual illustration class in college. The entire class worked together for two weeks to come up with this massive environment concept -- it was for a planet with reverse gravity, where a man-made shell had been built around the planet. The ore under the planet's surface was responsible for the gravitational push, and after its discover became the fuel that made artificial gravity possible in space stations and interstellar ships. So the whole planet was basically one huge mining operation, with different levels designated for different classes of society; the closer to the planet, the lower the class, with the surface dwellers being all industrial miners and whatnot. The wealthiest lived on the outermost shelf where they could enjoy access to the sun and other privileges.

Then we realized as a group that we had no freaking idea what kind of story to tell using this environment. As cool as it sounded, we all just kinda shelved it away.

My recommendation would be to try and come up with some concepts for characters within the world and see what kind of story they lend themselves to. Putting that much detail into an environment without basing it around a story ahead of time can lead to a road block.

very nice

Been trying to write a story for the last... 4 years.

Mine has been in the works for the last 20. It's finally getting almost done, but I'm constantly putting finishing touches in. And editing. And re-writing parts. And adding new stuff. It will never be done. I need to find what's publishable and publish it as the first book...

I haven't finished the first chapter.

You'll get there.

Getting so close to the end and constantly changing things to make it "perfect" is so annoying. I'm such a perfectionist when it comes to these things. It has to be just right.

I needed to read that, thank you.

What a nice thing to post. There so many great storys out there that haven't been written yet. I read voraciously, so we need all those unwritten storys done so I have something to read in the future. *grabbypaws*

I have the same but opposite problem. I can draw my stories, but putting them on paper in a way that others would understand what I'm saying is my biggest weakness.

Still the beauty of being an "artist" (general term, meaning anyone who creates) is that you can find YOUR way to tell your story. Even if it's not wildly popular (believe me on that one), even one or two fans who support your idea is a blessing that anyone could appreciate. Just keep striving to improve and you'll find what works and appeals to you best!

Yeah it's easy to get overwhelmed especially consiering the wild popularity spikes on the internet and the media really making it seem as if the "random joe" could never make something big, but honestly, unless you literally sell your soul to the devil to be controlled by corporations or get really luck and happen to be the guy who uploaded that 4 billion viewed video of a cat falling into a box, everyone who's known is known because they put thier idea out there and never gave up.

I've been bitten, kicked, pushed, tortured, and even spit on by people when I'm hardly 5000 page views popular (heck that was when I was 2000 page views and thought that was an achivement). Only 100+ subscribers (most people complain about only having 1000), and an average of 20 page views, but I stood my ground and kept writing and developing.

I'm sure this will come up soon, but the biggest advice to give is: "Create your story for YOU and assume only your best friend will read it."

The key to that advice is that it destroys the notion that the only reason people develop this stuff is to get rich/popular and forces people to become slaves to the fans, rather than having any control over their story, characters and ideas. Sure there are many sell outs who are wildly popular by drawing fan art and distasteful porn for hundreds of dollars, but don't let those people influence or tell you that you can't be a good artist, because they're a reflection of the corporate controlled side of art, where money determines the value of art more than it's actual value. Just upload and let people come to you, you'll be much happier when people like you for what YOU'VE created, than you'll EVER be having hoards of fans who only like you cause you draw their fetish or you draw what's already popular.

Oh and if you make money and a good following off of what you do, then that's beautiful. If you enjoy drawing what you draw and people happen to like it, that's beautiful as well! Just don't treat being an artist like a sensational act or you'll honestly never become a good artist and will kick yourself for all the wrong reasons.

and on a final note: you don't HAVE to be a good DRAWER to be a good artist. Some of the best artists out there play music, write witty dialogues, even have stick cartoon characters. Just find your niche and roll with it. Everyone has something they enjoy doing, so make that your "Art".

It is best you write what you want - you'll have more fun doing it and if all else fails, you'll always have at least one reader.

*cough*

I think you should upload the rest here too...

Should've added that this is very informative…I was always a "create characters first" kinda guy…


Also…Lily the Samurai Panda…draw eet!

Hehe, I already have! She's the main character from my other comic, The Chronicles of Ademar (which I still have yet to really start drawing, it's a work-in-progress at this point). You can see what little work I've done on it so far on the site at http://www.lilythepanda.com/ Though keep in mind, I haven't drawn anything new for it or updated it in like, 4 years.

Oh wow…I've never even heard of this. I can understand why it's on the back burner for now…but still…I'm loving the setting...

Once upon a time ago I started doing a story that I was excited about doing, having planned many chapters of content in my mind and many scenes that I looked forward to enough to envision in my head over and over.
Upon telling a friend the general idea of my plot, the exact sentiment that "Dude, that sounds just like ____" got to me and I haven't been able to touch it since.

So I've seen it. And felt it. Don't let it hit you. If you want to write it, draw it, make it, do it? You're the only thing that should ever stop you.

This amazingly good writing advice that i'll look back to each November, or whenever I start writing again
I reblogged to my Tumblr to share the knowledge! :)