Writing a book

I'm going to try my hand at it. It's going to be a fantasy type book. Does anyone have tips or suggestions for me?

Just be sure to make the right enviroment that you can feel soo inspirate for that my friend!...

Woaw!,..I´m so sure you have a great Idea and argument for that my friend! come on! you can do it!

I've done two fantasy manuscripts... a lot of it depends on the type of writer you are. Have you done short stories (of any kind) before this? If not, I'd recommend it highly. Because you'll learn, in a shorter structure, plot and story arcs and character development. Then aim for something bigger.

Of course, you can also try NaNoWriMo (someone else posted a thread here a few days back about it and I posted in it). One thing I've learned from doing NaNoWriMo is that 'it doesn't have to be good, it just has to be done' and there's typically no aim to be published. People writing stories aiming for 50K words just for the fun of it. Now, some of us *ahem* DO want to be published, but you don't publish your NaNo ms. right out of the gate... you'd get laughed at... I know I would, and I went to school for this stuff. But it gets a story out of your head and onto 'paper.' I've done three in a row.

Now here's the other question: Are you a planner or a 'on the fly' type? Do you feel you have to plan the bejeezus out of a story? I have a friend who has a sci-fi story all planned out... has a MASSIVE binder with all his notes. He's never written a word of it all these years. I, OTOH, write like Ray Bradbury admits to writing. He comes up with an idea, say a scene. Comes up with a name and general characteristics of said person... and then starts writing that scene... within a few pages the character 'takes over' and he simply becomes the scribe for them. I'll admit it's nuttier, but it's a blast because I usually have no clue what's coming next when writing like that. I'm just along for the ride. I've tried planning... and it never got anywhere.

I'd try NaNoWriMo. You don't HAVE to finish... but it's nice bragging rights if you do... I know folks who come back every year and never finish... It starts November 1st, so go sign up now. http://www.nanowrimo.org I'm Amandawolfe on there. If you want to add a writing buddy...

There's more to writing but that's just a start...

Amanda

I think the good thing about NaNoWriMo is that it's gonna give me impetus to FINISH something... instead of starting 8000 projects and aborting them before they're five pages in.

I can edit later!


Having a full plot in mind helps... and a firm grasp on your characters.

Hmm that NaNoWriMo sounds interesting. I don't know if I could write anything decent in a month though. Plus I've already started to write and for NaNoWriMo you can't start until November 1st. This will probably end up being a short story because I'll most likely run out of ideas.

Originally Posted by luvmycat1

Hmm that NaNoWriMo sounds interesting. I don't know if I could write anything decent in a month though.

Plus I've already started to write and for NaNoWriMo you can't start until November 1st. This will probably end up being a short story because I'll most likely run out of ideas.

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Okay... I had to snort a laugh there... one thing about WriMo... decency and 'good writing' are out the window. It's all about getting it down... the 'making it good' part comes in editing, if you take it there.

It's all the challenge of writing something big... not your best work... in 30 days... you might get some brilliant moments in there... I have in each of my three... but those are few and far between. Even the great novelists usually trashed their 1st drafts...

WriMo is all about getting something written... usually cr*p, but if you finish... you still have bragging rights.

Amanda

Originally Posted by RubSluts'Mommy

Okay... I had to snort a laugh there... one thing about WriMo... decency and 'good writing' are out the window. It's all about getting it down... the 'making it good' part comes in editing, if you take it there.

It's all the challenge of writing something big... not your best work... in 30 days... you might get some brilliant moments in there... I have in each of my three... but those are few and far between. Even the great novelists usually trashed their 1st drafts...

WriMo is all about getting something written... usually cr*p, but if you finish... you still have bragging rights.

Amanda

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That's cool but I've already started it so if I entered it would be like cheating because I've gotten a head start.

You could still join for the 'push' to finish, I suppose?

of course, I never said you had to use the story you're currently working on... I start fresh each year... and work on other things the rest of the year.

Amanda

It does sound fun.