Does this happen to anyone else while writing?

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I don't like the way my characters have dialog. I know I've got to put something in there to fill up a chapter, but once I get my characters interacting with each other I don't really like it.
My stories live in my head and rarely make it on paper. When they do I have a hard time with writing the first chapter, because it comes out way different than it is in my head.

I also need to work on describing things.

And I find it hard to come up with things to write about, like I have a plot, but now I need to have fill in moments, that lead up to the dramatic scenes.
I'm no good at this...

I have this problem too.

My best advice would be to keep dialogue to a minimum, develop your characters through actions. Use setting to establish mood and emote through description.

Remember: Your characters don't have to say anything unnecessary, and they don't have to engage in small talk. Everything they say and do has only to serve in moving the plot forward.

In my opinion, less is more with writing. Keep it sparse, and don't be afraid to borrow ideas from your favorite writers.

If you have the story in your head, then the hardest part is over. Getting it on paper can be frustrating, but don't give up!

If you don't mind me asking, what sort of story are you writing?

It's not surprising that an aspie would have trouble writing about dialogue really. I have the same sort of problem. I find it easy to come up with the original idea for the story, a general outline of the story, and even characters (minus their names...i have trouble naming characters), but when it actually comes down to writing it and filling in all of the spaces of the general outline, i tend to get stuck. I also find it hard being descriptive sometimes as well. Depending on what you are having trouble being descriptive about, perhaps you could find an example of what you are trying to describe in real life so that you actually have something to look at. I find it easier to be descriptive when i can look at an example of what I'm trying to describe.

You can also just record your voice until you're satisfied, then transcribe it later.

It's a lot of extra work, but the difference in the process might be what you need.

Larry Niven wrote a good article giving advice for aspiring writers, and it was mostly to keep it simple. On the other hand, you have an author like Janet Fitch (White Oleander) and her writing is lush and descriptive, but not distractingly so.

Writing is different than speaking and thinking. You should read "The Alphabet Versus the Goddess" (Shlain) for a good explanation of how the 2 sides of the brain work differently.

How about posting some of your work (or a link) here?

-Mike

Very hard.

In fact it is like adapting a vernacular way of speaking that many NTs take for granted. Trouble is I could easily come up with a dialog but then there has to be this idiosycracy that this given character. That is, in the way he/she speaks.

I don't know about anyone else, but I find the first chapter I write of the story, always comes out the fastest. It's like I'm in the zone or something. I know a lot of people write an outline for the story in advance, but I can't work that way. Besides the fact I'm impulsive and want to get on with the story straight away, I find the outline makes the story come out flat and dull. I keep a rough plan of the story in my head, write the ending first, and then write the chapters out of order twisting here and there.

It can make for a messy first draft, but the story comes out much more dynamic and tense when I write it this way. I see a lot of people making rules for this or that, but I see writing as a kind of subjective thing to some extent. Some rules kind of make sense, and there are the obvious ones, but I find a lot of the rules come up with by people who are pretty much amateur writers feel like they hinder you. Especially if you stick to them too rigorously.

I don't feel that AS should necessarily hinder writing dialogue. At least from my experiences. I'm not really able to have a conversation with someone effectively, yet people seem to think my dialogue is pretty good. And that doesn't seem to be in a good 'I don't want to hurt your feelings,' kind of way. It's not exactly a great badge of honour, yet I find it encouraging never the less.

I think a good piece of advice, though, is if you're writing a story and the first chapter sucks. Then keep on writing. Write until you finish the story and forget about doing any editing until then. If you're half way through, and you want to change something, then write it as though that change is already there. You can always come back to it and edit when you finish the first draft.

If all you do is endlessly try and perfect the first chapter, then I don't think you'll ever get a finished story. And from my experience, there's tons more to learn once you even get past the first chapter. Stuff you won't learn if you endlessly rewrite that same little segment again and again. Somehow, I guess you have to let go and just try and push on.

Things come out different when I write them, compared to the idea in my head, but I think that is just part of the process. Seems like you just have to try and go with the flow, steering it where you can.

I've talked too much... I've been writing on and off for seven years and I've never been published or anything, so I suppose I'm still just an amateur. But I love writing and it's the biggest hobby in my life, and one of the only things I've stuck with for such a long time. I'm convinced that while it's not something any of us can master very quickly, I do think that it's something a person can learn if you stick with it. I mean, there's no telling how long it will take us to become great authors or whatever, but we'll get there one day.

Me too, heh. The only thing I'm good at, I think, is descriptions. You have to not state the obvious, only the unique things about the situation. Otherwise it's boring and there's no point. Keeping it sort of short is good too, I think.

Dialogue is SUCH a pain. But if I work on it, I'm sure I'll get better. Everything in art and writing can be figured out logically and still keep its flavor.

I also have trouble making up plots, but it's because I can't choose what I want to happen. I'm very indecisive.;;; And I end up with holes in the story that give me problems. But I think I just have to be less lazy and work out all the kinks the long and hard way. Luckily, a lot of transitions can just be really random stuff and people will buy it if there's just enough structure and believability. (Plus unexpected stuff makes it more interesting.)

Not that I'm any kind of pro. D:

You could work on some kind of stylised way of writing where your characters never speak. It'd be tricky outside of a 'short story' context, but it might work.

Hi pensieve.

It sounds like you know your characters, but it may help with dialog if you also know the time period and location they live in. For example if your story takes place in 17th century England it would be good to use the dialog from that period, or if your story takes place in modern society between scientists it would be good to use common verbiage between; that is, of course, if your character(s) use grandiose dialog.

Watch this 12 part video "Creative Writing Story Structure- advanced Part 1/12"
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NnYZW0dRgA[/youtube]

Playlist for all 12 parts
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... 46AB7D132F

It will show you how to create a theme that drives your entire story, and how to create scenes in-between the story to develop plot elements.

Hope this helps!