Singer/songwriter, writer/storyteller?

[crawly]

Hello everyone!

I'm not really an aspiring writer although I love to write... *correction* love to tell stories. Recently I started a gameproject and am currently in the process of writing background material in the form of short stories that describes the enviroment and, more importantly, creates the atmosphere and 'feel' I aim for in the game.

English being my second language, I lack the vocalbulary to make my writing *stand out*. Too often I find that the stories and ideas are allright, but it just come out as plain and dull to read. I may be in the middle of a paragraph, trying to describe powerful emotions and suddenly stumble upon some grammars which is, to say the least, bad for the creative flow.
Writing in Swedish could of course had been an alternative had it not been for the fact that Sweden is a wee country.

So one day I was thinking about the music industry, where common practice is to have a person good at, say, singing, perform a song written by a person that perhaps is no good at singing but excel in writing a good song.
Seems to me, there's bound to be alot of writers who may not have what it takes to come up with a great story, but knows how to make it come alive...

So I guess my question is if anyone here know how common it is with this kind in this kind of cooperation?

*I hope this in the right forum. Please move it otherwise.*

[John Jarrold]

Doesn't happen often, in my experience. Writers want to write their own stories, not somebody else's. And publisehrs want a single writer, wherever possible.

[Leisha]

There is another forum (I hope it's okay to mention this) that has a particular section for writers who are looking for mentors or writing partners. Maybe that would help you most. That way you could still write your novel, but with someone's help/guidance.
The website I know of is Absolute Write Forums (google it).

I hope I haven't broken any rules by mentioning that...

[John Jarrold]

I think cross-fertilization is a Good Thing!

[crawly]

Thank's for the replies.

[Commonmind]

I write with a partner, and have been for several years. I wouldn't say he's my creative toybox, as we develop our stories together, but he couldn't write himself off of a post-it-note. Of course, he knows this and is quite alright with it, and so am I, because I find it much easier to discuss where we want to go with the story and then simply write it out on my own.

What you're talking about is almost like trying to hire a vanity stenographer, someone that can listen to your story and put it to the page while also spicing it up a bit. What I think you'll come to find is that it would be difficult to come across a writer who is talented at writing but doesn't have the creativity required to craft a decent story; usually talented writers come with sides of creativity free of charge. You're more likely to find someone that is a good storyteller, but has no chops when it comes to turning it into exposition.

[crawly]

What you're talking about is almost like trying to hire a vanity stenographer, someone that can listen to your story and put it to the page while also spicing it up a bit.

Well, yes and no. What I would like to find, primarily, is a writer that can come up with original ideas on his/her own, based on a loose frame. That is, I would in this case provide a setting or idea of enviroment, but leave the details and plots entirely up to that person. That would be the best, since I really don't have the time to write (I just can't stop myself once I begin).

But otherwise, sure, just like you said. I would imagine it hard to find someone devoted to the craft of forming sentences and not in weaving the story itself.

[Jordan Lapp]

Originally Posted by crawly

English being my second language, I lack the vocalbulary to make my writing *stand out*. Too often I find that the stories and ideas are allright, but it just come out as plain and dull to read. I may be in the middle of a paragraph, trying to describe powerful emotions and suddenly stumble upon some grammars which is, to say the least, bad for the creative flow.

I'm not sure how much fancy language has to do with good writing. I did one of those tests Word allows you to do on your writing and it turns out I write at a grade 5 level, and I've had a story picked up by a professional antho. I believe Neil Gaiman says much the same thing on his blog. You want to write short, easy sentences that people can "get" without having to re-read them three or four times.

Am I right?

Jordan

[theDamonfreak]

I've been musing a similar idea. Whilst I love writing my own stuff, I am also (*eventually*) going to write a two-part novel with a friend. She came up with one character, I write the rest.

I also have another friend who has all the ideas, but can't write the work. I wouldn't mind writing it. I just love writing. Y'know, as long as I get a wee bit of credit. *shrug* The only problem I stumbled across with co-authoring was that sometimes my friend and I had spats over the character's relationships, how they spoke etc. Needless to say, my computer, my plot, I won. But other than that, it worked fine. I think it can be daunting to write a book alone, and it can be, almost good exercise, I guess, to write someone else's ideas. Especially if one is perhaps stuck for their own ideas.

Just a thought...

P.S. I wouldn't mind having a quick go at your idea, crawly. I'm not saying it'd work, but it might be worth a shot.

[Justin Thorne]

This isn't vastly different to what a lot of franchises do... I.E. get authors to write novels/stories within an existing universe and with VERY strict brand/character guidelines... I'm thinking media-tie-ins like the Star Wars universe, Halo, Doctor Who, and recently the pretty decent Slaine novel by Steven Savile.

It's a reasonable request, crawly, although the authors who take part rarely if ever do it because they don't have their own ideas... they certainly do, but it is a good way to get your name out there and of course, pay the rent.

I think it was Savile who pointed out recently, that despite how authors writing these media-tie-ins seem to be looked down upon by the literati, they usually make more money than most original fantasy novels... Halo is in the NY Times Bestseller list!