Your Masterpiece., Why can't we all write or design one? Options

[GreatWhiteWhale]

Of course, I know everyone has a different measure of intelligence, but I know everyone has the one idea for something, whether it be a song, game idea, story, or drawing, but can never bring themselves to complete it, or even articulate their thoughts to start it, I have a feeling there are a lot of factors that influence it, like me, I have an awesome idea for a story for my game, or I have a string of lyrics, or even an idea for code, but I never finish it, and it's not that I'm lazy, it's just whenever I start out and get into it, it's not as good as it could, or I wanted it to be, people call me a perfectionist, but I used to half-ass everything I do.
But anyways, if we have all these sweet idea, if were capable of it, why can't we do it? I don't claim to know everything about the human mind, and I don't think I should, considering my age, so I don't really know...

Enlighten me?
Peace Home-dogs.

[Scriptless]

I know exactly where your coming from, I don't know how to explain it though. I guess for me it's the present is more factual then the future, since the future is unclear even if you try you never will know if you succeed. Whatever you do in the present you do know what will happen, so people choose an activity that fits them in the present instead of the future, that's what I'm like. I really hate myself for it too.

[Ratty524]

Most people here have lives, and because most of the community does not make games for profit, there is slightly less incentive to make or finish projects, since it's not a job where you could get fired for slacking off.

That, and probably over-ambition, is the reason why most people in the RM community don't finish their games in my opinion.

[GreatWhiteWhale]

Ratty, that's a good point, I mean after all, there's no "I have to do this!" motivation, but theres no excuse for me, I can't actually get a job yet, and it's the weekend

[Sparrowsmith]

This isn't just about games now is it

The problem is that we all get that small snippet of pure joy when we imagine something. The two best lines of the song that we base a verse around. The climactic finish to the story we base about ten minutes of plot around. That one fight for the game.
And so on.
And yet, with practice comes development.
I'm a budding song writer. For years I've been writing strands of lyrics, short segments, then pulling my hair out when I can't turn them into full songs. Practice made me able to write full songs. Lyrics anyway.
So I got bored of just that and picked up my bass.
Close my eyes at night and I can hear the full song playing, I bet I'm not the only one, but I don't know what chords I'm hearing or what rhythms I'm hearing, so I can't record it.


You want to finish your epic game? You have to learn how to map,write,sprite,etc perfectly. It'll always be sub par if you're just not skilled enough to pull it off. This is why a lot of people prefer to work in groups. There aren't many one man bands, aren't many TV shows written by one person alone. No Film made by one person alone.
The list goes on.

If you can't quite put those lyrics to paper, then practice it over and over.
To learn how to write, take a notebook with you EVERYWHERE and write in it at least once a day. Only write what you consider a masterpiece, or a mini masterpiece.
Artists do pretty much the same thing.

I imagine a skilled coder is never too far from a place to jot down his code.
What magician doesn't carry a pack of cards?

In fact, anyone who ever wants to make anything should ALWAYS have a notebook on them. After that the masterpiece builds itself.
Some masterpieces take years to come to fruition and start dirty, they get cleaner, cut, like diamonds.

The trick is not to give up on them, you could say.

For inspiration, my dad just finished a 160,000 word novel. The research and writing of which has taken him a decade.
But it's his masterpiece.

Anyway, that's the end of my ramble...

[TwilightStrikes2...]

So correctpmundo, dude. I have quite a few notebooks I jot a whole lot of stuff in, like a new all-time movie quote, or the next story arc that links to others in in the past for comics I do, or come up with a sweet original comic idea (my heart feels so sweet when I do).

But it's like Jack Sparrowsmith said (don't think I'm a fan of those Carribbean movies, just saw a pun once I realized it). I can't fathom the idea of completing a masterpiece with other people because they can never have the same 100% view of the I do, and it therefore can never reach the place I always dreamed it to be, to the last drop.

But then again. if it recieves wide acclaim, you will always wonder of what could have been with your idea, if it would be better or worse off. Sweet topic!