In need of advice from the writers

deaconjim · #1 08/25/12, 06:03 AM

I know there are a number of writers on here, and I am in need of advice.

I have a job that keeps me on the road quite a bit, which means I have plenty of time to myself to think. On good days, I am able to come up with material to write, but by the time the day is done the thoughts have largely disappeared. I've probably written a dozen full length books on the interstate, but none of them have made it to print

:

Obviously note taking and driving is a dangersous combination, and a tape recorder hasn't been much help either. I tend to think much faster than I speak, so the act of verbalizing for the recorder breaks my train of thought and I can't seem to get more than a sentence or two done before the idea is dead.

Any suggestions?

Darren · #2 08/25/12, 06:36 AM

I think individuals' minds may be far more different than known. How anyone else thinks can be so different than you, what works for them might not work for you.

A voice activated recorder would be the first and simplest choice possibly using a shortened form of speaking using brief phrases or single words that makes sense to you when played back.

If that won't work for you, some sort of mind-physical device connection is the next step. Something like that isn't state of the art. You're looking at trying to find something in development.

The other possibility is the memory palace technique. I'm not sure how that would work for you. Maybe you can find a varient that will work for your thought process using a visualization technique.

beccachow · #3 08/25/12, 07:02 AM

Dragon software.

Speak your thoughts into it, it translates the thoughts to words and you can download them and tweak them later. It includes hands free headsets.

OkieDavid · #4 08/25/12, 07:07 AM

I agree....voice activated recorder and develop your own version of "short speak". We've all seen the amazing capability of the human brain to read sentences where the letters between the first and last letter are scrambled. Your brain can do the same thing with sentences. Dog-chase-cat-tree could easily be translated into "the large brown dog then chased the poor little cat up the tree while barking and growling menacingly". Another option would be a laptop equipped with voice recognition software although personally I would find that more distracting than texting and driving. Just a few ideas off the top of my head.

ETA- Becca beat me to the punch and hit submit ahead of me. LOL

MO_cows · #5 08/25/12, 07:37 AM

If you find you can't get comfortable with a recording device, when you realize you have had a "good thought", try to repeat it and run thru it again in your mind. And again if you retained it. Memorize the key parts as much as you can, then scribble them down or record them at first opportunity.

deaconjim · #6 08/25/12, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

I think individuals' minds may be far more different than known. How anyone else thinks can be so different than you, what works for them might not work for you.

A voice activated recorder would be the first and simplest choice possibly using a shortened form of speaking using brief phrases or single words that makes sense to you when played back.

If that won't work for you, some sort of mind-physical device connection is the next step. Something like that isn't state of the art. You're looking at trying to find something in development.

The other possibility is the memory palace technique. I'm not sure how that would work for you. Maybe you can find a varient that will work for your thought process using a visualization technique.

A voice activated recorder would be the simplest method if I could just stop choking when I try to use it. Unfortunately, as soon as I start talking my thoughts disappear. The memory palace technique would probably help my memory a great deal, but I don't think I could organize concepts in the same way as specific details. I do think some sort of mental conditioning would be the answer though, even if it's just something that would help me use the recorder.

deaconjim · #7 08/25/12, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccachow

Dragon software.

Speak your thoughts into it, it translates the thoughts to words and you can download them and tweak them later. It includes hands free headsets.

Isn't that something you would use on a computer? Using my laptop while driving might not work so well. I like the idea of using that at home though; I may have to invest in a copy soon.

mnn2501 · #8 08/25/12, 09:56 AM

Rather than writing (speaking) the entire book into a recorder, just do the outline, then when you have time write the story.

Or get a chauffeur.

deaconjim · #9 08/25/12, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnn2501

Rather than writing (speaking) the entire book into a recorder, just do the outline, then when you have time write the story.

Or get a chauffeur.

I'm not trying to do a whole book on the recorder fortunately. This is just blog posts and magazine articles. I am working on a book though, and the chauffeur will have to wait until it hits the best seller list.

Forerunner · #10 08/25/12, 10:02 AM

I don't know about writing on the road, but, I've had a few occasions where I've fasted for several days, from food, company, household comforts....pretty much everything but water, out in the woods, alone.

About day three, the really deep stuff sets in.
Take your notebook with you then.

deaconjim · #11 08/25/12, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

I don't know about writing on the road, but, I've had a few occasions where I've fasted for several days, from food, company, household comforts....pretty much everything but water, out in the woods, alone.

About day three, the really deep stuff sets in.
Take your notebook with you then.

As enjoyable as that sounds, the only time I get that much time to myself is behind the wheel. It's not much, but I try to make it count.

Ozarks Tom · #12 08/25/12, 10:54 AM

Recorder, just using key words minimally. When you hear the key words, you'll wonder what you were thinking, and possibly come up with an entirely different scenario.

By the way, I'm glad to see you're in Appalachia, so I most likely won't be on the same roads while you're deep in thought!

TheMartianChick · #13 08/25/12, 04:55 PM

I think you've been given some good ideas, so far. I've used the Dragon software, but I felt kind of silly talking to myself! I also have a really good digital recorder, but that's still talking to myself! Everyone has a different style. I don't have a job that requires me to be on the road, but I do keep a pad next to the bed to capture story or article ideas that arrive after bedtime. I might just jot down a title to a future article in order to jog my memory later.

When a full fledged story idea occurs, I tend to work some of the plot through in my head for about a day. (The stories are more likely to remain fresh in my mind, that way.) My next step is to create a story outline. This isn't the formal outline that school teachers forced us to write, but just a series of paragraphs that get the gist of the story down and any "point of view" information that might be critical to the story. Once I have that information down (usually 2 typed pages or less), I can set the story aside until I am ready to actually flesh it out and write it. I am currently working on a story idea from 2 years ago. My original notes were just 3/4's of a page.

Since you are behind the wheel so much, is it possible for you to pull over and take a 10 minute break to jot your thoughts down? It might not take more than that to capture the essense of the ideas, if not the ideas themselves. Could your breaks and lunches be used for that purpose?

deaconjim · #14 08/25/12, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

I think you've been given some good ideas, so far. I've used the Dragon software, but I felt kind of silly talking to myself! I also have a really good digital recorder, but that's still talking to myself! Everyone has a different style. I don't have a job that requires me to be on the road, but I do keep a pad next to the bed to capture story or article ideas that arrive after bedtime. I might just jot down a title to a future article in order to jog my memory later.

When a full fledged story idea occurs, I tend to work some of the plot through in my head for about a day. (The stories are more likely to remain fresh in my mind, that way.) My next step is to create a story outline. This isn't the formal outline that school teachers forced us to write, but just a series of paragraphs that get the gist of the story down and any "point of view" information that might be critical to the story. Once I have that information down (usually 2 typed pages or less), I can set the story aside until I am ready to actually flesh it out and write it. I am currently working on a story idea from 2 years ago. My original notes were just 3/4's of a page.

Since you are behind the wheel so much, is it possible for you to pull over and take a 10 minute break to jot your thoughts down? It might not take more than that to capture the essense of the ideas, if not the ideas themselves. Could your breaks and lunches be used for that purpose?

I do try make notes when I can, but it's just not practical to stop that often.

I think I may give the recorder another try, and just hope I can learn to avoid my problems with it.

The other option of course, is to just retire from my job and stay home and write. Of course, I would starve to death in pretty short order.

**Tiempo** · #15 08/25/12, 11:09 PM

My mother always used to tell me that if I couldn't remember what I was going to say then It couldn't have been very important in the first place.

Yes, it was very annoying then too

beccachow · #16 08/26/12, 05:43 AM

The Dragon software newer versions and updates feature the ability to record, then plug into a computer when you can and draw your info off. Silly boy.

I haven't even taken mine out of the box yet, though. I've seen docs using it and they get down to the nitty gritty..."Mrs beccachow comma a 21 year old 135 pound female (((hey its my fantasy))) comma showed up to the office today complaining of being too rich period.

deaconjim · #17 08/26/12, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccachow

The Dragon software newer versions and updates feature the ability to record, then plug into a computer when you can and draw your info off. Silly boy.

I haven't even taken mine out of the box yet, though. I've seen docs using it and they get down to the nitty gritty..."Mrs beccachow comma a 21 year old 135 pound female (((hey its my fantasy))) comma showed up to the office today complaining of being too rich period.

So the software comes with hardware to do the recording?

Bret · #18 08/27/12, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaconjim

I know there are a number of writers on here, and I am in need of advice.

I have a job that keeps me on the road quite a bit, which means I have plenty of time to myself to think. On good days, I am able to come up with material to write, but by the time the day is done the thoughts have largely disappeared. I've probably written a dozen full length books on the interstate, but none of them have made it to print

:

Obviously note taking and driving is a dangersous combination, and a tape recorder hasn't been much help either. I tend to think much faster than I speak, so the act of verbalizing for the recorder breaks my train of thought and I can't seem to get more than a sentence or two done before the idea is dead.

Any suggestions?

A dozen full length books on the interstate--If you can write that much about the interstate you are a super writer. Ba dum bump...Chssss.

When you think of a subject that would make a good chapter, and the words, pictures and feelings come into you, give it a title or a single word that you will return to.

When you have the time, retun to that title and start writing some of the thoughts that you had. Some of the toughts will be lost for a little while. Some new thoughts will happen.

You will just be hand writing or typing or reciting but getting into print. Don't worry about it's shape. Open the valve and let it pour out. Sometimes it trickles. It's all good.

When the words stop coming, drive some more. Or, build a rock wall with the rocks you've been collecting.

Like a stone wall, build a book on your collection of chapters. You don't have to be a Mason to make a wall and you don't have to be a writer to make a book. You don't have to successful at anything in order to become successful at something.

You have to start something and you have to finish it. If you don't like a few of the rocks or chapters, morter or words...chip'm out and tuck point something in that fits better.

Lot's of people already like your writing and jubjects here.

Good work.