Story Writing

[jflash8]

Didn't know where else to put this. But for you fellow flash artists how you do guys write a story like what gives you inspiration and such. For some reason I gaven't even started my Flash's story and I already have writers block. So any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated.

[souled]

I generally choose a theme and character first. Depends on type of animation/game.

[Gi-go]

I usually have a general idea, then I watch movies that are close to my idea and add things together.

[BlackmarketKraig]

Listen to music, take a walk, just do something that allows your mind to wander. An idea will come eventually. Then write or storyboard it out.

[Negron-Films]

Create a Character maybe just a name... And give it life.. A family, a way of living, give your character a world.

[Hoeloe]

i sleep

seriously, last night i managed to come up with a solid storyline and an entire scene while sleeping

[Evilcactus]

Yeah same as Gi-go over there. I come up with a main idea (A start, middle and a end) watch alot of flashes and movies similar to my plan, from there i would be able to decide what i could have in the flash. I also find that brainstorming with a friend really helps. Thats it really

[Doki]

Think to yourself "this is for me. I can control everything that happens in my movie".
What would really like to see in a flash cartoon? Just keep reminding yourself that absolutely anything you want can happen, and you don't need to tone it down or censor it, because it's for you.

[FriedBabySeal]

I don't normally write it out, I get the idea in my head and make it up along as I go. Then again, I'm a more spontaneous person than some of you sticklers out there.

[Ran2Chaos]

Do not sleep, my best story ideas come out when I am extremly tired, this can backfire though, maybe close your eyes and think of a world, stories come out of worlds either a strange comedic world or a horrific reality, and more, can't think of anything haven't slept in 2 days.

[sirtom93]

At 7/20/07 09:59 PM, Ran2Chaos wrote: Do not sleep, my best story ideas come out when I am extremly tired, this can backfire though, maybe close your eyes and think of a world, stories come out of worlds either a strange comedic world or a horrific reality, and more, can't think of anything haven't slept in 2 days.

im not closing my eyes anything could happen to me.

[Renu]

I guess, The best thing to do, would be, make a main charachter, and just give him a really basic life. And just watch a few things around the place, and write down little dot points as smaller ideas come, and eventually your mind will just create the whole story from all the little stuff.

[Schmut]

Think of a word. Then another word will naturally follow it and a story develops from there. That's generally how all my stories happen.

BOOM! Rubble flew everywhere. Jimmy stood up and observed the damage. The dust stung his eyes but he saw the faint sillouhette of Lyla through the fog.
"LYLA!" he called out to her. "Lyla, I'm coming!"
He came, she sighed and then they both began to wonder what had exploded before the climax to their intercourse.

Haha, I had no idea that would turn into a sex story until I wrote "I'm coming." But seriously, think of any word. ANY WORD AT ALL. A story will come from there. It can even work with 'The'.

The cat sat pondering what it would have for dinner today. 'Fish,' it thought, 'or rabbit but definately jelly for desert.' The cat licked it's lips, purring at the thought. 'Actually I think I'll have the rabbit and the jelly served together. It'll make my meal twice as fast.'
The cat loved to finish dinner early so that he could spend even longer thinking about how they got the bell inside the ball. There was no obvious entry point but there was clearly a bell stuck in a ball. He would bat it around all night trying to set the bell free.

Okay, I have a little bit of a cat obsession which is why when I think 'The', 'cat' will always follow in a spontaneously created narrative unless I force myself to do otherwise. The others are right about planning your story and getting an idea before writing anything but if it's writing and ideas you have difficulty just do what I've said. Think of a word and then another to follow it, then don't think and let the story create itself. You probably won't write anything very good with this method but it will be a valuable exercise for your creativity.

[Smartdog]

each night I go to bed thinking about what I could do.. I love sleeping :)... it takes my mind off how things aren't going so well for me right now.. :(

[jflash8]

Thanks for all the great tips. I shall take a nap and see what ideas come.

[NeoSkywalker]

you can take any plot and make it be a fucking work of art if you put effort into the writing.

[MeNoob]

play any games and soon you will find one (like I did)

[MLL]

i see a movie... play a game... sleep... think a lot and start to write using something like this

[NG-Unit]

Anything that'll let you think...For example, I had an idea today while I was taking a shit. :D

[CrazyChihuahua]

As made evident by this thread, there are tons of ways to find your inspiration and get ideas, and the same thing probably won't work for everyone. Figure out what it is that gives you ideas, and remember that. Next time you're driving yourself crazy trying to think of something, remember what worked for you before. Perhaps it will work again.

[jds74]

google a general idea in google images, go to page 20 or so, and look at the pictures untill u come up with an idea, like earlier i googled pie and some how found iron man pictures, so im gonna do somthing with that, it works trust me...

[TehBoss]

if you want serious help, ask Arcansi. He won awards for his story writing. He'll help you with whatever you want.

[Xcen27]

Epic Flash Movie Guide

1.) Go drink something with caffine.
2.)Think of some sort of animal thats small/peacefull
3.)Draw that animal on flash and have it do evil things.
4.)Give me 5 dollars.

(comon 5 dollars!)

[TehBoss]

At 7/20/07 03:24 PM, Hoeloe wrote: i sleep

same here, I came up with the whole idea by dreaming I was in vietnam in 1967 for AFFA, you can actually do more things when you sleep than when you're awake!

[Bassz]

Listening to music gives me ideas. I try and imagine where a particular type of music can fit into an animation, and there a storyline blossoms.

[physicpebble]

Pre-Step: This usually springs from boredom, or inspiration. Don't ask people where to get it from, that should be your own, that's what will make you unique.

Step One: Once you have acquired the Pre-Step, this step comes into play. Doodle. Just begin to use the Pre-Step to let your imagination flow freely.

Step Two: Now that you have doodled good and plenty, find a character you like. Repeat to continually draw this character over and over, he/she/it will change. Draw it the character 10-25 times. After a while, you'll stick to a certain design, and eventually they will begin to develop a personality, who that character is.

Step Three: You've got steps one and two down, that's great. Now for background info. Family,friends,history, etc.

Finalization: Story time. Is this a flash where there is no "real" story, and shit happens, your character a super hero or something? Once you have Step 1-3(including pre-step) the finalization will be a breeze.

As long as you follow this, you're good to go!