Inspire Me

Age : 31 Posts : 716

I didn't quite know where to post this, but I figured posting it in General Discussion couldn't be a bad thing...

Basically, I haven't been able to write for over six months now, and it's killing me. Writing is not just a hobby to me, I've always used it to express myself in less direct ways, and therefore writing has always been an outlet for me. A lot of tragic things have happened to me within the last few months, and I'm starting to realize this may be the cause as to why I can't write - I'm honestly still processing a lot of what happened. I've tried being patient and waiting for something to sweep me off my feet and get me writing again, but to no avail. And the more time that passes that I can't write, the less vibrant my personality becomes - needless to say, I haven't been feeling quite like myself, and I don't like it. So here I am, trying to find myself and conjure up some ideas to get me writing again. I've considered recycling a few old characters I made awhile back, and simply adding a little something to them to make them more interesting, and therefore make me really want to RP again. However, I've also considered trying something fresh - something new.

I've been lacking something that would really push me to create a real character that people will be able to capture from my writing - something I'm known for doing. I've never been a violent person, so a lot of people find it odd that I would RP on a Naruto forum. But the Naruto world isn't just about violence and power - it's about those people you meet who make such an impact that it makes you want to strive to be more. If it isn't obvious already, I'm all about developing characters and plot - in other words, I like a good story. In both life and writing, I've found that no character truly develops without something tragic or traumatizing happening to them. As twisted as that may sound, tragedy forces characters to acknowledge something they hadn't before, to decide how they will deal with such a large impact on their life, and strive from there. And it's not events that change people - it's how they decide to react to them. I have yet to entirely decide how to react to mine, and it's not exactly simple. And in all honesty, I've kept myself busy to distract myself from it. But I know dwelling on the past will only keep me from moving forward. And to move forward, I kind of have to find myself again, and more importantly, remember what it is I enjoy most and go from there.

Getting to the point, I've decided to reflect upon myself. And honestly, it has not been easy. So I'm asking you, both members who've just met me, and those friends who have known me for years - what do you see in me, and my writing? This isn't a cry for attention or something of the sort, it's more so a question out of pure curiosity and open-mindedness. I'm hoping to maybe look at myself through a different perspective, something outside of my own. It doesn't matter if you only have a few adjectives, or if you have a list of traits. This is all about thoughts and ideas. Oh, and don't be afraid to be honest either - I respect honesty. Also don't be afraid to say something that might contradict what someone else said - everyone sees one person differently. And for those of you who have known me longer, reminiscing on past experiences may help too - whether they were simple or elaborate. All I'm simply asking, is for you to inspire me.

Age : 29 Posts : 3640

Meggles! <3

It's awful to hear about your loss of writing inspiration, and I'm really willing to help you get back into something that you're obviously very passionate about.

Some words for you;
Aloof, purple, polite, intricate, time and spark.

Don't ask where I got the words from, they were the first ones that popped into my head when I thought about you. Maybe you can get something from them, or my silly explanations behind them...
Aloof- not meant in a nasty sense, to me you've always seemed a little distant but admirable, it's very hard to explain and aloof was the first word I thought of.
Purple- a mysterious colour with many meanings and connotations of peace, or brightness, all depending on the shade of purple.
Polite- you always have been polite, and I can remember your old character here was too. Politeness goes a long way instead of having rash, rude reactions to things.
Intricate- you always go into so much detail with everything you do, it really is wonderful. You obviously take a lot of time and effort, pour in a lot of love and care into your graphics, your character(s) and even this topic.
Time- I really don't know about this one, search me O.o
Spark- something that needs igniting in you with the right push.

I really hope that's been of some help, and if not then feel free to prod me on Skype or PM me to ask what the hell is wrong with my head for coming up with such random word associations. There's so much else I could write but I don't know how to put it into words either... <3

Age : 31 Posts : 2547

Honestly we haven't done much actual roleplaying in the four years we've known each other, but the little that we have roleplayed, I always found your characters/posts to be interesting and well-worded. Probably even more so than my own. I think your ability particularly shined with One Sky and Endless. The amount of creativity you were able to come up with for those makes it extremely surprising that you'd have any trouble being inspired to make a character. I suppose it can happen to anyone though, even the best of us. I don't have the best track record with making characters so me giving you advice about this is a little silly, but often I like to borrow elements from plots/characters in series that I enjoy and fit them together in a way that's logical. You can even base your entire character off one person from a different series if that makes it easier. I know that you like Arya from Game of Thrones, so for example you could have a character who was born into a royal/rich family but instead of living the lady life, she decides to become a shinobi. You could even add a little Rock Lee in there by saying she can't use any Ninjutsu and that's a large reason why her family won't support her efforts, they don't think she's physically capable nor do they think she has the stomach to live that life. And of course, she ends up proving them wrong by becoming a kickass Taijutsu expert. So yeah, that's just one example of mixing themes together.

Age : 29 Posts : 3640

Did I just see a GoT reference... <3

Age : 31 Posts : 716

Faithful Legacy wrote:: Meggles! <3

It's awful to hear about your loss of writing inspiration, and I'm really willing to help you get back into something that you're obviously very passionate about.

Some words for you;
Aloof, purple, polite, intricate, time and spark.

Don't ask where I got the words from, they were the first ones that popped into my head when I thought about you. Maybe you can get something from them, or my silly explanations behind them...
Aloof- not meant in a nasty sense, to me you've always seemed a little distant but admirable, it's very hard to explain and aloof was the first word I thought of.
Purple- a mysterious colour with many meanings and connotations of peace, or brightness, all depending on the shade of purple.
Polite- you always have been polite, and I can remember your old character here was too. Politeness goes a long way instead of having rash, rude reactions to things.
Intricate- you always go into so much detail with everything you do, it really is wonderful. You obviously take a lot of time and effort, pour in a lot of love and care into your graphics, your character(s) and even this topic.
Time- I really don't know about this one, search me O.o
Spark- something that needs igniting in you with the right push.

I really hope that's been of some help, and if not then feel free to prod me on Skype or PM me to ask what the hell is wrong with my head for coming up with such random word associations. There's so much else I could write but I don't know how to put it into words either... <3

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your post. You did as I asked and posted words and traits that came to mind, and they're all wonderful. Thank you so much, I will reflect on these and see if it helps me come up with something. :]

Last Temptation wrote:: Honestly we haven't done much actual roleplaying in the four years we've known each other, but the little that we have roleplayed, I always found your characters/posts to be interesting and well-worded. Probably even more so than my own. I think your ability particularly shined with One Sky and Endless. The amount of creativity you were able to come up with for those makes it extremely surprising that you'd have any trouble being inspired to make a character. I suppose it can happen to anyone though, even the best of us. I don't have the best track record with making characters so me giving you advice about this is a little silly, but often I like to borrow elements from plots/characters in series that I enjoy and fit them together in a way that's logical. You can even base your entire character off one person from a different series if that makes it easier. I know that you like Arya from Game of Thrones, so for example you could have a character who was born into a royal/rich family but instead of living the lady life, she decides to become a shinobi. You could even add a little Rock Lee in there by saying she can't use any Ninjutsu and that's a large reason why her family won't support her efforts, they don't think she's physically capable nor do they think she has the stomach to live that life. And of course, she ends up proving them wrong by becoming a kickass Taijutsu expert. So yeah, that's just one example of mixing themes together.

I thank you for the compliments on my writing, especially with my sites - it means a lot, considering most the time I was unsure of myself in making them. And even though we haven't RPed as much as we probably should have with the years we've known each other, I've always loved RPing with you, as well as the way you write and your graphics. And I'll definitely keep that idea in mind - I may actually be able to do something with it.

And to both of you, thank you so much for posting in this topic. I was honestly afraid no one would know how to respond. But this is definitely helping - I can already tell, as my brain is already stirring up some ideas. I'm just hoping they actually stick, and I can finally complete a character. <3

Age : 31 Posts : 2547

Phantom Heart wrote:

Last Temptation wrote:: Honestly we haven't done much actual roleplaying in the four years we've known each other, but the little that we have roleplayed, I always found your characters/posts to be interesting and well-worded. Probably even more so than my own. I think your ability particularly shined with One Sky and Endless. The amount of creativity you were able to come up with for those makes it extremely surprising that you'd have any trouble being inspired to make a character. I suppose it can happen to anyone though, even the best of us. I don't have the best track record with making characters so me giving you advice about this is a little silly, but often I like to borrow elements from plots/characters in series that I enjoy and fit them together in a way that's logical. You can even base your entire character off one person from a different series if that makes it easier. I know that you like Arya from Game of Thrones, so for example you could have a character who was born into a royal/rich family but instead of living the lady life, she decides to become a shinobi. You could even add a little Rock Lee in there by saying she can't use any Ninjutsu and that's a large reason why her family won't support her efforts, they don't think she's physically capable nor do they think she has the stomach to live that life. And of course, she ends up proving them wrong by becoming a kickass Taijutsu expert. So yeah, that's just one example of mixing themes together.

I thank you for the compliments on my writing, especially with my sites - it means a lot, considering most the time I was unsure of myself in making them. And even though we haven't RPed as much as we probably should have with the years we've known each other, I've always loved RPing with you, as well as the way you write and your graphics. And I'll definitely keep that idea in mind - I may actually be able to do something with it.

And to both of you, thank you so much for posting in this topic. I was honestly afraid no one would know how to respond. But this is definitely helping - I can already tell, as my brain is already stirring up some ideas. I'm just hoping they actually stick, and I can finally complete a character. <3

I'm glad that I can help my Banana<3. If you've solved your internet problems and you're able to get on Skype again you should throw me a message on there and we'll talk more about ideas, I've got a thousand of them. Razz

Subject: Re: Inspire Me Wed 07 Nov 2012, 10:54 pm

Inspiration comes from Within.~

Megaaaaaan. <3

Well love, we all hit this wall every once in a while. I remember us chatting about it and how you felt like you've been there forever, but it's okay. I find that when it comes to gaining inspiration to write, the more you pressure yourself and stress over it - the less likely it is to appear. Personally for me, when it comes to the creation part of the character, I base many of them off of certain aspects of myself that I wish to explore more. For example, Persephone is based entirely on my self-judgment. Many times, I let physical appearances outweigh feelings when it comes to men especially, and through Persy, I am able to stray away from that typical stereotype and explore a world where that never existed. It's a place where I can work to better my character through an alteration of perspective.

For you, all I can suggest is to not base a character off of another person's. It is so easy to get stuck in that sort of mode if they seemingly disappear. Try and look at aspects of yourself that interest you and pull from there. It allows you to be creative, but honest in your depiction of an imperfect person.

Love, love, love you girly. <3

Age : 31 Posts : 716

Last Temptation wrote:: I'm glad that I can help my Banana<3. If you've solved your internet problems and you're able to get on Skype again you should throw me a message on there and we'll talk more about ideas, I've got a thousand of them.

Yes, it's definitely helping - thank you. And my internet is still buggy, not sure why, but I'll try to get on Skype more often. :3

Sacrifice Me Alice wrote:

Inspiration comes from Within.~

Megaaaaaan. <3

Well love, we all hit this wall every once in a while. I remember us chatting about it and how you felt like you've been there forever, but it's okay. I find that when it comes to gaining inspiration to write, the more you pressure yourself and stress over it - the less likely it is to appear. Personally for me, when it comes to the creation part of the character, I base many of them off of certain aspects of myself that I wish to explore more. For example, Persephone is based entirely on my self-judgment. Many times, I let physical appearances outweigh feelings when it comes to men especially, and through Persy, I am able to stray away from that typical stereotype and explore a world where that never existed. It's a place where I can work to better my character through an alteration of perspective.

For you, all I can suggest is to not base a character off of another person's. It is so easy to get stuck in that sort of mode if they seemingly disappear. Try and look at aspects of yourself that interest you and pull from there. It allows you to be creative, but honest in your depiction of an imperfect person.

Love, love, love you girly. <3

Thanks Becky! It means a lot. You and I are a lot alike in that aspect of writing - I too like to delve into one of the many pieces of my personality and see how things play out. The last character I made and was really happy with was Viera, whom I focused on innocence, positivism, curiosity, and yet frailty. Out of all the characters I have available to recycle, I would bring her back over any other because of how much I enjoyed her perspective. And maybe right now, that's what I need. Again, thank you. <3

Age : 34 Posts : 1209

I don't know if this is really been "solved". I didn't bother to read all the other posts as they are large and I'm feeling particularly lazy but what usually helps me when I hit a wall is to just power through it. I am not just talking about writer's block, but with anything. Whether it's the infamous "wall" that runners hit during especially long runs, or it's a mental block when it comes to tackling a huge course load, I find that the worse thing to do is to try and think your way through it. The more time I personally spend trying to figure out why I got to this point or how to over come it, I tend to psyche myself out and waste a lot of time in the process. The best thing in my opinion is to just go forward and break through!

There's an old saying that my father used to tell me when I was young.

"The body goes and the mind follows."

Basically if you just force yourself to do something, even if your mind and heart aren't in it, eventually you'll find yourself more and more compelled to just run with it and eventually the walls will come down. That's my two cents. Sorry it's not a long post like everyone else and I'm willing to bet it's not as inspiring for you to hear me basically say "just start writing", but in all honesty it's the best I got. I truly hope you manage to work your way past this so that you can once again express yourself in a way that is so very important to you. All the best, Miss Meg.

-Kite

Age : 31 Posts : 716

TOPKite wrote:: I don't know if this is really been "solved". I didn't bother to read all the other posts as they are large and I'm feeling particularly lazy but what usually helps me when I hit a wall is to just power through it. I am not just talking about writer's block, but with anything. Whether it's the infamous "wall" that runners hit during especially long runs, or it's a mental block when it comes to tackling a huge course load, I find that the worse thing to do is to try and think your way through it. The more time I personally spend trying to figure out why I got to this point or how to over come it, I tend to psyche myself out and waste a lot of time in the process. The best thing in my opinion is to just go forward and break through!

There's an old saying that my father used to tell me when I was young.

"The body goes and the mind follows."

Basically if you just force yourself to do something, even if your mind and heart aren't in it, eventually you'll find yourself more and more compelled to just run with it and eventually the walls will come down. That's my two cents. Sorry it's not a long post like everyone else and I'm willing to bet it's not as inspiring for you to hear me basically say "just start writing", but in all honesty it's the best I got. I truly hope you manage to work your way past this so that you can once again express yourself in a way that is so very important to you. All the best, Miss Meg.

-Kite

Don't apologize, it's fine. It is good advice, sometimes powering through things works well. In this case however, I've already tried forcing myself to write and I couldn't come up with anything satisfactory. When I do come up with a good idea, I will try my best not to think into it too much and just finish what I started. It really is good advice, especially considering I also have a tendency of psyching myself out at times. So thank you. :]

Age : 29 Posts : 4301

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