[QUOTE]Originally posted by Malice

[B]
So, I started reading, and found some truly great stories that taught me alot about character development, and expressing the emotions that people go through in life.

Some day, I'd like to be able to write a story, or stories. To give back to the community, and maybe inspire someone else to push forward. Though, as of yet, I've never been able to convince myself to attempt to write it.

My dilemma is I don't know where to start, or if I should. Maybe part of me still views the whole thing as dirty and wrong and something to be embarrassed about. If that's it, then I'm not sure I have much hope of changing that mindset anytime soon..

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(I'm using 'him' below instead of him/her for ease of reading)

Every writer begins that way -- not knowing if or where or when to start, and not knowing where his thoughts and dreams may lead him.

My suggestion * would be to begin with an exciting scene, one that stimulates you, to get your feet wet, and then, assuming that you find that you have enjoyed writing that bit, take a step back and say, "Now, who are these people and how did they get here, and where are they going?" And then create characters that your readers will care about even when they're not jumping in and out of beds (or dungeons).

* I am constitutionally incapable of constructing a whole story, even a short story, in my head before sitting down at the keyboard. Others, probably the majority, have the entire story mapped out before they begin.

It's important to remember, too that nobody is entirely successful with his first story -- or his last. Every story can be made better -- that is both the enticement and the curse of every writer. But at some point the author has to let go and say, "Basta!" (Enough!) and send it off to the public and find out whether he has succeeded.

One last thought -- don't rush it. Some days the inspiration won't be there. When it's not there, don't force yourself to write, because the quality just won't be there. Those are good times to go back over what you have already written, making sure the sentences flow well, the descriptions are colorful, the dialogue crisp.

Good luck!

Boccaccio