Writing Advice

[chri'stina 190]

I have been doing a lot of searches online and have found some good info, but thought I'd ask if any writers on VJ have any advice or can point me to some resources.

I am planning a book. And I feel crazy when I say that, because I've known lots of people who have claimed they were writing books but never did it or did it horribly.

I never really wanted to be a writer, it's just recently that I suddenly feel it. I grew up reading Chronicles of Narnia type books, and I feel there is a lack of those kinds of books for Christian kids which can also be in the mainstream market. I grew up imagining things constantly too, and I already have thought up a lot of the story I want to write. I read a comment on a writing site that said something like "If you are looking for a certain kind of book, but can't find it, then you can be the one to write it."

Even if it's something only my family and future kids read, I still want to do it. I don't have a job, so I should really take advantage of my spare time to do this. I don't want it to be #######. I am thinking it could take me 2 years to write it(who knows!). But I am in it for the long haul.

So can any writers give me tips, or links to somewhere with good tips?

Thanks!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The basic advice is get yourself into a routine. Write everyday for at least an hour a day (if you can't manage that in the beginning even 10-15 minutes a day helps until you build it up). The toughest thing is actually shutting out all of the external distractions (TV, family members etc) so that when you sit down you're focused on your writing. Some people find it easier to work in a coffee shop, or some other neutral environment.

Don't even worry about trying to tell a story to begin with - just get into the habit of setting aside the time to work.

A lot of people are thrown by procrastination - usually what happens is you plan all day to sit down and work, but as it gets nearer to the time doing the dishes suddenly becomes very important, vacuuming the house etc. By the time you actually sit down (if you actually do it) you find you don't have any time.

The other thing if you're serious about writing commercially - is that there are huge (massive) hurdles to overcome. So you really have to be dedicated, not easily put off or demoralized. Its very very hard to get published these days (in fact self-publishing is now increasingly common via sites like www.lulu.com - one of my friends has done a series of kids books that way).

But best thing to begin with is not to think about the commercial/publishing aspects until you have something to sell (though its worth picking up a copy of the latest Novel & Short Story Writers handbook to get an idea of how the business works). Above all, have realistic expectations.

The hardest thing is actually telling a good story, rather than worrying about flowery language. Plenty of successful writers are bad writers but good storytellers. There are people who are naturally gifted with language, but far fewer who are natural storytellers

If you have trouble with story-telling there's a few books I can recommend if you’re interested. A few of them are rather texty and detailed - but for a beginner this is pretty good, relatively cheap and has some non-nonsense advice.

Edited May 8, 2007 by erekose

[Emancipation 2]

I don't have any advice (except for this event I heard of once called the National Novel Writing Month -

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Have a friend that participated, and really got the juices flowing.. It's coming up in November I think.

But I too have noticed a real lack of GREAT children's writing. I doubt what is selling these days for kids’ novels would have kept my interest as a child. So best of luck!

[SteveLaura 0]

I would recommend getting hold of this book 'Becoming a Writer' by Dorothea Brande. It's quite old, but has many useful hints and tips to get started and keep going. I would also try looking for local writing groups (maybe thru meetup.com) or an online writing course. I find the hardest thing for me is to keep up the motivation to write, and having deadlines from a course or a group helps. Set aside time to write - early morning, perhaps (as suggested in the book) and keep that appointment with yourself daily. Another tip - (from this book, I think) is to write until you know what's going to happen next. If you stop there, then it will be much easier to start again the next day.

Oh, and write what you know. Unless you really want to do a lot of research into a subject you know little about but think would make a good book, you'll be more inclined to keep going and enjoy the process if you already have the knowledge.

Anyway, good luck.

Edited May 8, 2007 by SteveLaura

[chri'stina 190]

Thanks for the replies so far. It's very helpful. And this is all kind of scary too!!

Erekose, I'd love to have the info on those books you mentioned.

I am going to the library today if I can, to check out a couple books about writing fiction.

[PaulineA 1]

It really depends on what genre you would like to write. I have written a book, and when I was back in the UK I tried to get it published. I sent it to some agents and to a publishing company. It is said that you are better to have an agent, and writing can be very hard to sell if you are not a published author, or well known writer. I did a creative writing course which gave me insight into what publishers and readers are looking for. I found this useful. They didn't publish my book as they said although it was an interesting story line it was too short. I had written over 65,000 words, but they wanted over 100,000 words. Anyway, that was my experience with my novel, and I'm continuing to write. The main thing is, never let rejection get you down. Keep trying it will be worth it one day. Good luck with your book!

Edited May 8, 2007 by Pauline123

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Some reference titles:

Immediate Fiction

Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2007 (Novel and Short Story Writer's Market)

[Otto 83]

The best advice I could give is for you to take some creative writing classes at your local community college. You'll learn some key components in writing and with practice you'll quickly be off and running.

There is a huge difference between reading a book(s) on writing and putting yourself in a creative environment (such as a class).

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Thanks for the replies so far. It's very helpful. And this is all kind of scary too!!

Erekose, I'd love to have the info on those books you mentioned.

I am going to the library today if I can, to check out a couple books about writing fiction.

See above post for links - I edited my post and it removed the hyperlinks.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Some other general advice is read a lot and more importantly to read widely. There's a tendency for people who want to write genre fiction to only read books like what they want to write. Hard to get any original ideas that way.

[chri'stina 190]

The best advice I could give is for you to take some creative writing classes at your local community college. You'll learn some key components in writing and with practice you'll quickly be off and running.

There is a huge difference between reading a book(s) on writing and putting yourself in a creative environment (such as a class).

Yeah...I just never was interested in creative writing classes in college.

I swear, me and one of my cousins have switched goals. She always was into literature and wanted to be a writer and professor of Lit, and I was into science and wanted to be a scientist, but then ended up with a Sociology degree.

Now I am more into Lit and she wants be a scientist. It's amazing how what you like can change as you get older.

I always loved reading, but to actually write a fiction book was not something I thought I would want to try. It seems so overwhelming. But I was finishing up a book a couple months ago, it wasn't fiction but a personal story, and near the end of the book I got surges of a desire to write a book. I was laying down in bed reading, finished the book and put it aside. I immediately started seeing an image in my head and imagining a story line out of nowhere. So I started taking notes of things that were popping into my head.

It all sounds strange, but that's how it got triggered. The book I was reading was just about a guy's struggle with not growing up with a father. But near the end he started talking about how he didn't read any real literature until he was 20, and was talking about all these books that brought imagination to him suddenly, and etc. And that's what triggered it for me. It's an "otherworldly" feeling I get, like what C.S. Lewis has talked about in his spiritual books. Sounds kind of "far out" drug trippy, but it's true!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Personally I wouldn't bother with creative writing classes - unless you feel you really lack the discipline. A lot cheaper to find a local writers circle in your area.

[chri'stina 190]

Personally I wouldn't bother with creative writing classes - unless you feel you really lack the discipline. A lot cheaper to find a local writers circle in your area.

Cool. Yeah I appreciate the advice about going to a class, but I don't see me actually doing it.

[Lou Lou 1]

My OH has taught writing for 25 years, and the first thing he gets students to do in the lab is to write (type) with the monitor switched off. It's one of the most basic things, but it helps a LOT. Don't knock it 'til you try it. I agree that classes or finding a writing group at the library or something will also be a benefit. Again, if you don't try it, how will you know?

I'm on the other end and used to work in publishing in London. If you saw how many manuscripts ended up in the recycling each day you'd never bother to send out to them. The majority of them do not even get read past the first page. Having an agent helps, but it can be done without one. Basically, you have very little chance of getting published, but never give up the hope. You could be the lucky one!

[chri'stina 190]

My OH has taught writing for 25 years, and the first thing he gets students to do in the lab is to write (type) with the monitor switched off. It's one of the most basic things, but it helps a LOT. Don't knock it 'til you try it.

....

I am confused by what you mean here.