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Do you have a catalogue of potential stories?

(10 posts) (6 voices)

Started 1 year ago by Immunis
Latest reply from seymour totti

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Immunis

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I ask this because I have a bunch of ideas for stories that I should both polish properly before posting rather than praying for inspiration as my fingers mash keyboard within the site editor, and that some stories are potentially timeless but would get an extra boost from being released at an appropriate moment.

For example I have a headline in mind 'Stonehenge is just scaffolding say experts' that I have bits of story and that I think should wait until a midsummer release point or whenever Stonehenge next hits the main press.

So who does have a few stories that get polished in prep'd with care and who writes and hopes.

Posted 1 year ago #
bonjonelson

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If it's a good story (and yours sounds good) then don't wait. It gets a bit boring if every story is related to the current news, throw some variety in now and then.

Posted 1 year ago #
Vertically Challenged Giant

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I keep a list of ideas along with headlines, if I've thought of one, and sometimes a couple of notes on content, punchline etc. Then they sit on the list for months while I write anything that pops into my head instead.

If I have one which I think is a really good idea I put off writing it, because I want it to be good and worry that I won't do it justice.

The subs I consider to be my best are generally written in an average of about 15 minutes, plus a little bit of time for tidying up afterwards if I notice repetition or anything in there that I don't like.

Posted 1 year ago #
seymour totti

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Getting another pair of eyes on your story beforehand can be really useful. There are a few double acts on the site and, back in the day, a couple of writing teams. I was part of "The Hit Squad" and managed a far better rate of front pages bouncing ideas around the team that I have under my own steam.

The stories don't have to be topical, just funny. For example, this one which I suggested to the team and wrote the first draft of.

http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2011/10/14/unemployed-man-achieves-perfect-work-life-balance-by-doing-nothing-at-home-213/

Personally I find one-liners easier to come up with (done a bit of stand up in that style). Fleshing out a story can be harder as I want the extra stuff to be as funny as the original idea, not just filler because it has to be a certain number of paragraphs long.

You're not the only one with ideas half baked that have never seen the light of day. I've got a story on "Formula One opening up pit stops to competition" that has been rewritten more times that I care to count. Still not happy with it yet.

Posted 1 year ago #
fernandomando

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I suggest purchasing a notebook from whsmith or any other reputable stationer and keeping a note of all potential stories. Writing comedy is a hard, humourless business and everything must be recorded and accounted for so that it can be mercilessly peer reviewed once one is in a position to think about submitting it to the public at large. Preparation is key and it should be approached with diligence.

Alternatively, write something really quickly, so long as it makes you laugh while you are doing it. Post it immediately and then create a blog with everything you have written for your own amusement. I would suggest combining your name with a woodwind instrument: Rikkor's Flute sounds good to me

Posted 1 year ago #
Vertically Challenged Giant

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Seymour, that sounds like a top idea. If you'd like another pair of eyes to look at it I'd be more than happy to read what you've done, tell you it's great, and completely fail to contribute anything to it.

Posted 1 year ago #
Immunis

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That's exactly the sort of backup I need, thanks.
VCG, expect PMs in the e-mail at sometime as I try to complete 'Miss Marple guilty on 15 counts of murder'

Posted 1 year ago #
waylandsmithy

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I used to, but now I kind of decide pretty quickly if I want to pursue an idea, and drop other ones quite quickly.

It always seems to work better if you can start to develop an idea while it's fresh in your mind, I think. But that's not the same as rushing it, I normally spend a bit of time thinking of improvements once a sub is finished, before posting it.

Posted 1 year ago #
Vertically Challenged Giant

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That comment was actually aimed at seymour and his F1 idea, but I'm more than happy to collaborate with anybody, so fire away Immunis. It means I get to have my name on more stuff while only doing part of the work.

I'll warn you now though, don't expect me to add funny bits to anything, I don't do funny very well.

wayland, I agree, it's definitely easier to write stuff while it's fresh. I generally keep an idea if I like it but can't think of enough content (like the one you're helping me with at the moment) in the hope that I'll have some inspiration somewhere down the line. Doesn't generally happen though.

Posted 1 year ago #
seymour totti

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Cheers VCG. I'll try to dig it out (on draft email at work I think). I'll see where I got to.

Posted 1 year ago #

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