Writing is fucking hard

When writing up reports or essays words are my friend. The language flows freely, is given freely, no pressure. I know that it's all space-filling bullshit.

But when I try to write something, really write something, it's forced, one half-sentence at a time, stinted, broken, because I don't want to write bullshit, I want to make something that will rival the works of my idols, something fantastic and great. And the words just don't come out.

i had the opposite problem throughout school

just practice and practice and practice

and read a shitload of books

I've had the same problem.  thank fuck i've left high school.  i remember doing an argumentative essay on the conditions in north korea.  I left it till the last day and had 12 hours  to research and write it.  I was thinking to myself the whole time, i'm 17, WHY THE FUCK AM I WRITING ABOUT THIS SHIT.  Needless to say my teacher noticed I had copy and pasted the entire wikipedia entry on north korea, with just a few of my own sentences and opinions thrown in.

its best to write a rough draft or some kind of notes for the book. i know its a pain in the ass but it does help in the end.

Writng is hard at first, but with every page you write it gets easier, and you get a little better. Also read a metric fuckload of books to improve your vocabulary.
Don't despair if you suck at first, everyone has to start somewhere.
Old thread but relevant to many here I feel

I cant write for shit. Even papers in school. I failed English because I can't write essays. I have it all in my head but I cant write it out.

Some people say you have to write 1,000,000+ words of prose before you start getting good

>>7
They probably suck. By the time you've finished your first book (average around 90,000 words) you'll be up to speed. Then you fix it in draft two

Wine.  Lot's of wine.

Wine.  Lots of wine.

Oh God I'm drunk

Hey, >>9, >>8 here.
You're right. Lot's of fucking booze helps too

write drunk, edit sober

>>13
Hey, >>8 here again.
Yes, this is very true

Just write, stop caring so much.  Every writer hates their work far more then any critic will. I've thrown out and deleted so many short stories in fits of rage, that most friends of mind would cite as brilliant. 

But as the rest said, I was also most likely drunk at the time.

>>15
Overcoming the idea that you are not worthy is hard.
Unfortunately, a lot of people who aren't think they are.

For one thing accept that the first draft is always shit, you're always going to need to go back and revise. If you expect yourself to write something publishable you will only be disappointed. Especially if you're comparing yourself to your idols.

Stop trying so hard to be amazing, if you're writing and ideas are good enough it'll get there if not you're wasting your energy. Don't try to force your writing. Let the words come to you.
If you've never felt the words come to you instead of you having to chase them you're likely not a writer

>>17
Or you may just want to read more books to expand your vocabulary. Dur.

>>18

If you need to read more books to "expand your vocabulary", then you are a retard and not fit to write. That, or you are too young. If your vocabulary is lacking, wait. If it is still lacking when you have reached your full potential, then you are not cut out to be a writer.

>>19
Dats true yo

>>19
>implying that ideas cannot be expressed without a faggot's vocabulary

>>21
Implying that a solid vocabulary is for faggots.

Vocabulary shouldn't be a problem. If you find your own vocabulary lacking, then something is very wrong. Just write what you want. You can't force vocabulary.

>>22
>disagreeing with me

>>24
Failing to quote, yet again.

OP, I have the same problem somewhat. At times my writing can flow freely, but whenever I actually start looking at what I write and analyzing it, I go crazy and start scratching out sentence after sentence after sentence.

I'd be interested if anyone had tips on becoming a better writer.

Oh, well, essays are convenient because there's a set topic. You always know that the next step will involve writing more about that topic.

With fiction, the next thing you write about is the next thing that the story requires. Often that means the next thing that happens, but not necessarily.

So what you should do when you get stuck is: determine what the story requires.

There are lots of ways to go about this. For instance, make a list of the things that could come next. Then go over the list and eliminate the items that don't work for some logical reason - they require a character to do something stupid, or they make it so a key plot point can't occur. Then go over it again and eliminate the items that are lackluster - stuff that wouldn't interesting to read about, best summarized in a sentence or two after a scene break. What you have left is material you should seriously consider.

As for determining the right words to use? It's way easier to rewrite something than to write it for the first time, so if you're doing a first draft, just use whatever words get the point across, even if they're ugly. Your readers aren't actually going to see those words, you'll fix them up before the story gets out. So don't worry.

When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand.
                -- Raymond Chandler

Is OP a girl?

Sounds like a bitch.

Writing takes a lot of practice and patience. The key is to be consistent and write daily. Find your time as well. You'll see a lot of writers find they write well at 2 am for what ever reason.

I personally write best on my notebook, lying down on the couch at midnight to four a.m. with the t.v. on mute. Usually the Weather Channel, too.

It's mostly psychological.

Writing takes a lot of practice and patience. The key is to be consistent and write daily. Find your time as well. You'll see a lot of writers find they write well at 2 am for what ever reason.

I personally write best on my notebook, lying down on the couch at midnight to four a.m. with the t.v. on mute. Usually the Weather Channel, too.

It's mostly psychological.

Writing takes a lot of practice and patience. The key is to be consistent and write daily. Find your time as well. You'll see a lot of writers find they write well at 2 am for what ever reason.

I personally write best on my notebook, lying down on the couch at midnight to four a.m. with the t.v. on mute. Usually the Weather Channel, too.

It's mostly psychological.

Writing takes a lot of practice and patience. The key is to be consistent and write daily. Find your time as well. You'll see a lot of writers find they write well at 2 am for what ever reason.

I personally write best on my notebook, lying down on the couch at midnight to four a.m. with the t.v. on mute. Usually the Weather Channel, too.

It's mostly psychological.