My writing skills.

Chagen

They never seem to have improved.

I've been writing on-and-off for about 3-4 years now. And I really don't think I've ever gotten better. My writing still sucks as much as those old Pokemon fanfics I used to write in class in 6th grade. I've just always been bad at describing things--those of you who've seen it have seen that first hand. My writing is just too clinical, and I'm always stuck on how to describe things. I can write dialogue very well, but describing the things characters do and the enviroment around them is extremely difficult for me.

And no matter how much I write, I never get better. I've never gotten better. It's horribly aggravating. I hate when people say "practice makes perfect". Well I've been fucking practicing for 3 goddamn years. And I've seen no improvement.

This is why I quit writing and now only barely do it.

/emo

RedEyedAbyss

Maybe get your mother to critique your work.

ClockworkUniverse

The thing about writing is that any first draft ever will be pathetically bad. Editing is the only way to create a good work.

MadassAlex

Is that supposed to be a burn? 'Cause that was awesome.

Watch Plinkett's Star Wars prequel reviews. They'll teach you a lot about effectiveness in storytelling.

Chagen

Except I don't how to improve. That's where I get stuck. Especially since I'm so impatient about things.

Chagen

Alex: Storytelling is not my problem--or, I'm good at coming up with plots. It's putting those plots on paper where it all falls apart.

Vorpy

^

Get help from editors. It's hard to notice your own flaws if you don't comprehend them as flaws. I used to think having a cross-dressing little kid in my stories was okay until an editor in my english class went "The censors will rape your ass over this. You should change it."

ClockworkUniverse

You improve by reading your draft, noting down every reason why it sucks, then fixing all of them.

Then you do it again. And again. And again.

Having others read it also helps.

And with regard to description: I know I've said this a million times, but read The Friends of Eddie Coyle. The author isn't particularly good at description. He solves this problem by making pretty much the whole book dialogue.

Chagen

Having others read it always demotivates me so much...

I'm still in the "can't take critisism without breaking down" phase. Having others look at my work always makes me so embarassed at my own writing that I just flat-out give up.

MadassAlex

Have you seen the reviews? Seriously, they're gold. They're all about implementation.

AHR

The problem is that you're writing on and off.

Write for thirty minutes a day for a year, making a goal to get some feedback, and then you'll see improvement.

You're going to suck at anything you only do once in a while.

┻━┻ ︵ ヽ(`Д´）╯︵ ┻━┻

You're going to suck at anything you only do once in a while.

-looks at pm I sent you about my drawings-

Waltzy

I would be willing to look over your writing sometime. If it's any help~. n////n

TheConductor

Some of his work is in the thread "Is this situation implausible". 

Waltzy

Ahh I saw, I'm just better giving development assistance one-on-one.

LouieW

AHR,
The problem is that you're writing on and off.

Write for thirty minutes a day for a year, making a goal to get some feedback, and then you'll see improvement.

I think this is some pretty good advice and I do not think it just applies to writing fictional stories, but to essays and the like as well.

I am not an expert on describing things or writing in general, but what I can say is that there are books out there with lists of vocabulary that might help make it easier for you. I hear that reading a lot is also a good strategy since you can see examples of how people write and describe their settings.

AHR

Edmania: Either you are implying you have not improved, or that you only do it once in a while

Counterclock

When you do something repetitively, your mind will get into the habit of doing that something, whether that be drawing or writing or doing math.

Bob

Alex: Storytelling is not my problem--or, I'm good at coming up with plots. It's putting those plots on paper where it all falls apart.

Ha, that's funny. I think I'm somewhat good at describing things, but I suck at coming up with plots. Also,

The problem is that you're writing on and off.

This. Additionally, you shouldn't be afraid of showing others your work. They're just trying to help. And even if they're not trying to help and they're just being an ass, you can just filter whatever they're saying, pick the constructive criticism from the douchey parts and apply that to your writing. I'm not saying that showing others your work is the only way to improve, but without an outside opinion, it's going to be very, very hard.

Hatter

You should read my fanfiction. The master has honed his craft.

Chagen

Hey, is it normal to just flat-out scrap a rough draft and start from scratch?

Because I'm going to do that with Caught by a Trap.

Waltzy

Yes, it's perfectly normal and sometimes the best option~. Lisztening has done that quite a few times with her current story too.

I sort of envy you, I don't have the resolve to ever start over. n/////n;; I'm too stubborn and just keep beating my story until it fits together instead of perhaps trying again like I should.

Bob

It's definitely normal. I can't think of anyone I know who writes who doesn't do that. But, try not to let it become too much of a habit. The only time I'd recommend it is when it literally seems like there's nothing more you can do with the story.

Chagen

Actually, I just meant "rewrite the same things as before, but better". Not "completely revamp the story"

Bob

Oh.

Again, yep, normal. Also, DO IT.

Waltzy

Yes, I agree 100%~.

The_Edge

Have you developed a writing process, Chagen? Having a process in place usually helps a lot, for me I need sometime to think on it, do a couple pre-writing exercising like a point list, character list, plot outline, and such, then the rough draft, a second draft, have my wife edit me, and then a third draft (in which is usually the last draft for my magazine articles). For my videogame scripts, I've had up to four drafts. Also, you should take a few writing classes if you aren't already. I pretty much sucked at writing until college and sometimes I still suck. If you really want to be a writer, you'll get better.

MillerCross

Alex: Storytelling is not my problem--or, I'm good at coming up with plots. It's putting those plots on paper where it all falls apart.

Storytelling is the execution, not the plot.

Chagen

Augh, writer's block again.

I know what I want to do but I can't figure out how to put it on the paper...

Nova

Just get it down.

You will be able to edit it later.

The_Edge

Pre-writing is a good solution. Make a list of ideas and you can come up with details later.