a novel

@moira20 (226)
Philippines
April 16, 2007 9:45am CST
i've always wanted to be a writer, you know, kinda feature writer of some sort. lolz. and write about my-so-called life, or my hometown, or just about anything. how about you? if you'd be a writer, what story would make it a topseller?
4 responses
@Swtrose (3385)
• Canada
17 Apr 07
I'm already a writer. My poetry has appeared in newspapers, magazines, and journals. I also published a poetry book. I've written several articles that can be read throughout the net. I'm currently working on a book of poetry inspired by society and culture. Someday I would like to write a book on grieve. You really should begin writing.
@Swtrose (3385)
• Canada
17 Apr 07
Sure, I would love to. I admin a writing community http://www.todays-woman.net Please feel free to check it out.
@moira20 (226)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
you really think so? maybe you could give me a pointer or something or maybe you could let me read some of your stuff like your poems. =) you know i admire poets. i actually have some of my own but i don't know if it is any better than i really think it is. hehe more power to you!
1 person likes this
@okn0tok (569)
• United States
18 Apr 07
cool I will also check that out.
@okn0tok (569)
• United States
17 Apr 07
Well I would tell but then I would be giving my unpublished ideas away, lol. I would however pick a subject that I knew a lot about or wanted to know a lot about. Writing a novel requires a lot of time and research. It is fun though and is a good way to test your devotion to your craft. For instance the novel I am working on took 3 years of research before I wrote a single line. Ok, not everyone works the way I do but, hey it helps me sleep knowing I know my subject well before I put a pen to paper (or finger to key if you will). Whatever you chose have fun, don't lose any sleep or hair over it!
@okn0tok (569)
• United States
18 Apr 07
The best way to figure out methods that work are to just start writing. You will discover what works for you once will not work the same the next time. Some things I do to get started are: 1. Know my plot 2. Know my subject 3. Establish a timeline 4. Develop my characters 5. Start writing If I get stuck I might tape my timeline to a wall. Then start writing random scenes. Or if I feel like I am not in touch with a character or subject write a What if scenario like: What if my character were lost on the subway? What if my character lost their job? Just simple everyday things that happen to people. Then I get more in touch with their personalities and it gives me a better idea how to develop scenes I get stuck on. Anyway, I rambled. :) Good luck and I hope you decide to write, it's never to late.
@moira20 (226)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
that's great thanks! i would want to expand more on what i know, methods or techniques that would work for me. i've done some scripts before as well but haven't tried it recently. i thought then that i wanted to be a scriptwriter. lolz. or maybe any kind of writer. haha thanks for dropping by!
@patgalca (18164)
• Orangeville, Ontario
18 Apr 07
My current novel came about from a writing prompt at writing group. I can't remember what the prompt was for the idea, but I do remember the prompt that brought me the start of the story. With a writing group, when you are given prompts on a weekly basis and you are in the process of writing a novel, you tend to keep that novel in mind when you are writing with the prompt. This way you can expand your story. I kept a lot of them and then tried to weave them into the story. Some of them I haven't used at all. If you want to explore where your story may go, just start writing about anything. Ideas will come to you. You can write a character description, their likes and dislikes and move from there when you find a conflict that can make a story. Like perhaps the person is strongly against abortion. Think about what kind of a story you can right with that conflict in mind. Good luck!
@moira20 (226)
• Philippines
18 Apr 07
Thanks a lot! I went also before with this writing group and it was actually fun. They made us act out some scenes too, make plots and the likes. And the best part was i gained some friends over there! I've thought of pursuing my writing 'career' but i opted then to study other course, although I was still writing some stuff then like poetry and short stories. And then just recently, i became a bum of some sort and i turned into my laptop for comfort and to ease senselessness out of me...and so I said to myself, why not try. But yeah, have to start somewhere and this is one good thing with myLot! hehe I can't help but log on everyday, not just for the money though but for writing enhancement! it's a start really. And so i wanna say thanks for all of those who, one way or another, commented on those 'whatever' questions i came up with. =) Good luck fellow wanna be's!
• Canada
16 Apr 07
I've always wanted to try my hand at novel writing, but when I start I almost immediately get stuck. How do authors start a new book? Do they work out a timeline with major events and then just start filling in the pieces? Or do they just start typing without knowing how its going to turn out? I've tried both methods and invariably get stuck after twenty pages or so. If I ever do get over the hurdle, my novel would be either fantasy or science fiction.
@moira20 (226)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
well i've seen a movie where authors do their stuff. there's these pieces of papers where each characters, places, stories coincide. so they make like a diagram of some sort for them to know each and every turn of their story. maybe that's just one method though. others probably write everything on their laptops. =)
@okn0tok (569)
• United States
18 Apr 07
I don't know if this helps or not but I used to have the same problem. Burn and then fizzle quickly. I found that establishing a timeline helps. If you know whats happening its easier to keep writing. I keep the timeline fairly loose. Then once I start writing my characters take over and all sorts of crazy twist and subplots develop on their own. If you are a visual person try writing different pieces of the story out of order. Then you can bridge them together. If I'm stuck in a spot I will just go write another scene, it may never end up in the book but I keep writing and it gets me going again.