Writing Advice

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Also for fiction writers - your best bet of getting published initially is to write for the magazine market. There are a number of fiction magazines (in a range of genres) that take submissions. Easier to get published and build up a portfolio that way than spend a year on a book and have a nightmare trying to find a publisher.

[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 am confused by what you mean here.

Turn your screen off so you can't see what you have written. It helps open your mind and not get distracted. It's the perfect way to get you to write and not be critical about what you've written. You always go back and edit eventually, but opening your mind and letting the words flow is far more important. He always gets some of the best lab work from students when they write (type) without monitors.

[Alex+R 0]

Stina, it sounds like your main goal is not as much to be a published writer but to publish--or even just create--a children's book. Either way, I wouldn't give a thought or worry to publishing your work until you have spent more time just writing. A book I liked was Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones."

I think you've got an admirable goal, and I hope you will keep everyone posted on how it's coming.

[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.

Turn your screen off so you can't see what you have written. It helps open your mind and not get distracted. It's the perfect way to get you to write and not be critical about what you've written. You always go back and edit eventually, but opening your mind and letting the words flow is far more important. He always gets some of the best lab work from students when they write (type) without monitors.

Interesting.

Stina, it sounds like your main goal is not as much to be a published writer but to publish--or even just create--a children's book. Either way, I wouldn't give a thought or worry to publishing your work until you have spent more time just writing. A book I liked was Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones."

I think you've got an admirable goal, and I hope you will keep everyone posted on how it's coming.

Thanks. You're right, my main goal right now is to just create something. Like I said, even if it's just for my future kids or relatives, I want to see if I can accomplish it. Making money off of it would be a nice thing too, but I am not trying to think too big right now. I see it almost like a test to see whether I can write a book.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Stina, it sounds like your main goal is not as much to be a published writer but to publish--or even just create--a children's book. Either way, I wouldn't give a thought or worry to publishing your work until you have spent more time just writing.

That's a good point - and also a major reason why many people who want to write never do. When you start out (unless you have a huge natural talent and enthusiasm) you have to expect that what you will write initially will be tedious, predictible trash. Its to be expected, at least initially. How you grow from is dependent on how much time you spend writing as opposed to merely thinking about it. That's part of the creative process - to not have unrealistic expectations. At least not to begin with.

Take a year or 2 and write some stories, read some books, join a writers circle etc (basically any way of getting constructive & unvarnished feedback from a 3rd party). There are also various literary online forums you might want to try...

[chri'stina 190]

Is there any particular forums you would suggest?

I have written many research papers, sociological critical thinking papers, but not stories. So I am at a disadvantage there I think. But I love reading. And I like creating. Actually writing down what I see/create in my mind is going to be the hard part. Yikes!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Is there any particular forums you would suggest?

I have written many research papers, sociological critical thinking papers, but not stories. So I am at a disadvantage there I think. But I love reading. And I like creating. Actually writing down what I see/create in my mind is going to be the hard part. Yikes!

Nothing specific - I suspect your writing/reading interests are rather different from mine. I would try googling your favourite author - say C.S. Lewis of Philip Pullman and see what you can find. These days almost anyone has a forum - and if that doesn't have what you need you'll find like-minded people who might know... The two literary forums I participate in are, shall we say, very genre specific.

Ideas are the first step - but you have to find a way of ordering them into a coherent story. Its definitely a challenge!

Edited May 8, 2007 by erekose

[Ban Hammer 14,569]

Is there any particular forums you would suggest?

there is always ot

[chri'stina 190]

Is there any particular forums you would suggest?

there is always ot

[Cassie 8]

Jerry has recently started going to a writer's group, whee people bring what they are working on and get help/critique from the group. There's about 10 or 12 in the group at the moment. He feels it has helped him immensely hearing what others have to say. I told him I'm not going to read it until it's complete so I can read the whole shot at once, 'cause I am weird that way.

Check out the reference section at the library for I think it's called Writer's Market, which Jerry swears by. It has lots of tips and info on publishers (books and mags, etc) and is published every year. I know that our library keeps a couple older editions where you can check them out and have the luxury of taking and going through it at home.

I look forward to hearing what you come up with.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Jerry has recently started going to a writer's group, whee people bring what they are working on and get help/critique from the group. There's about 10 or 12 in the group at the moment. He feels it has helped him immensely hearing what others have to say. I told him I'm not going to read it until it's complete so I can read the whole shot at once, 'cause I am weird that way.

Check out the reference section at the library for I think it's called Writer's Market, which Jerry swears by. It has lots of tips and info on publishers (books and mags, etc) and is published every year. I know that our library keeps a couple older editions where you can check them out and have the luxury of taking and going through it at home.

I look forward to hearing what you come up with.

This is the book. There are several different versions. This is the general one (not specifically for fiction): Writer's Market 2007

See also:

Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2007

Childrens Writers & Illustrators Market 2007

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2007

Edited May 8, 2007 by erekose

[chri'stina 190]

Jerry has recently started going to a writer's group, whee people bring what they are working on and get help/critique from the group. There's about 10 or 12 in the group at the moment. He feels it has helped him immensely hearing what others have to say. I told him I'm not going to read it until it's complete so I can read the whole shot at once, 'cause I am weird that way.

Check out the reference section at the library for I think it's called Writer's Market, which Jerry swears by. It has lots of tips and info on publishers (books and mags, etc) and is published every year. I know that our library keeps a couple older editions where you can check them out and have the luxury of taking and going through it at home.

I look forward to hearing what you come up with.

Thanks!

Do you mind if I ask what type of book Jerry is writing? Just curious!

My local libraries don't have that book about the Writers Market that erekose mentioned, darn. I'll have to look on ebay.

Edited May 8, 2007 by stina&suj

[Cassie 8]

Jerry has recently started going to a writer's group, whee people bring what they are working on and get help/critique from the group. There's about 10 or 12 in the group at the moment. He feels it has helped him immensely hearing what others have to say. I told him I'm not going to read it until it's complete so I can read the whole shot at once, 'cause I am weird that way.

Check out the reference section at the library for I think it's called Writer's Market, which Jerry swears by. It has lots of tips and info on publishers (books and mags, etc) and is published every year. I know that our library keeps a couple older editions where you can check them out and have the luxury of taking and going through it at home.

I look forward to hearing what you come up with.

Thanks!

Do you mind if I ask what type of book Jerry is writing? Just curious!

My local libraries don't have that book about the Writers Market that erekose mentioned, darn. I'll have to look on ebay.

fantasy/mystery right now, and a devotional on the side.

[Peikko 1,575]

Not a writer, but I would have thought, don't spend too long reading about writing, get in and start doing it. Once you have your first story written up, take it to a writers circle and get advice/input on it and work from there. Good luck though.

I really like the no monitor idea

[chri'stina 190]

Jerry has recently started going to a writer's group, whee people bring what they are working on and get help/critique from the group. There's about 10 or 12 in the group at the moment. He feels it has helped him immensely hearing what others have to say. I told him I'm not going to read it until it's complete so I can read the whole shot at once, 'cause I am weird that way.

Check out the reference section at the library for I think it's called Writer's Market, which Jerry swears by. It has lots of tips and info on publishers (books and mags, etc) and is published every year. I know that our library keeps a couple older editions where you can check them out and have the luxury of taking and going through it at home.

I look forward to hearing what you come up with.

Thanks!

Do you mind if I ask what type of book Jerry is writing? Just curious!

My local libraries don't have that book about the Writers Market that erekose mentioned, darn. I'll have to look on ebay.

fantasy/mystery right now, and a devotional on the side.

Nice. Let me know when he has them finished!