Writing Passionates discussion
Advice
>
How do you write a book?
message 151:
by
T.O.L.I.
(new)
Jan 08, 2009 04:51PM
heehee i figured out big nose
reply
|
flag
I saw it! AWESOME!:?
wat does IMAO stand for...sry i just had to ask and i was confused
Mod
Mod
so, (my fav because it's the longest IM abbriviation ever) roflmao!
Mod
I suppose there are as many writers as ways to write a book. But the times have changed, and most readers expect cinematic books; tales that offer frequent rewards—be it tension, surprising developments, hooks, cliff hangers and the like—to keep the reader interested. Scriptwriters separate plots into scenes, and then flesh each one—not necessarily in chronological order. To translate this into fiction writing entails creating the synopsis first; a dry piece, perhaps twenty pages long, and devoid of description, characterization or embellishment. Plots are often shelved for years until the writer feels the market, fashion or simply the moment feels right. Then it’s a matter of breaking the plot into scenes, researching data, and preparing character files. The writer sets to work on those scenes he or she feels in the mood to write. Naturally, plots change, and characters will sometimes steal the story and run with it in unsuspected directions. But, in my experience, I find it easier to deal with single scenes than attempting to retain a full manuscript in my head.
Like everything else in this industry, there are no hard and fast rules. Everything is subjective: some writers use a structure and others don’t.
veRONIca wrote: "no, wait!!! It's roflmfao! the f stands for the f-bomb!"LOL I LUV that one.
I just found this thread, and agree with so much of what everyone says, esp. about inspiration coming from the oddest places. The day I started writing The Wednesday Sisters, I was literally wallowing in writing self-pity but I took my journal to a outdoor eatery, and a woman walked across the patio, and just seeing her - not even her face but the back of her head with a blond braid under a Stanford cap - inspired the character of Linda. So I just sit down and write. Every day. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Mod
wow... if i had that much time... I totally would.
I don't have trouble writing, but when I go back through my stories they sound kind adolescent, like they were being told by like a 10 year old. and my big problem is ending the stories. sometimes a plot is developed and it turnes out to be stupid so the story doesn't get any farther than page 2 or 3 before I stop.
Mod
only sometimes it's like 150 pages and then i'm like ... "uh. this sucks." O_o
I have been published twice. The first one - Under a Starless Sky - had a wide release in Australia & NZ ( i believe also currently available in UK). My second one is a short story to be released later this year. From experience writing without a plan is like driving a car without knowing where you are going. I start with a skeleton frame of what will be in the story: Who are the characters, the plot line etc. Something must happen in the first few pages to 'hook' the reader. After that the story builds till it reaches its climax. After that you need to wrap pretty quickly with the conclusion. There are plenty of books and courses on 'How to write' topics. Of course sites such as these and reading plenty of books helps as well. Good luck.
message 184:
by
Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><
(new)
Mod
I wish I could write for that long every day!! That would be amazing!!
Aaaack novel writing! I can't get my head to come up with a plot that is long enough for a novel! To all of you that actually have novels (and parts of them)written: You are amazing!
message 188:
by
Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><
(new)
Mod
me too!!!
Mod
message 190:
by
Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><
(new)
Mod
Mod
edge is more than 50K words now!! lol
Today I was reading my writing prompt that the whole grade has to do, because we had to examine it, and find the weaknesses/strengths. It was unbelievable cheesy... and the ending was so stupid. :)
I failed NaNo. By about 23k. It was really bad.
I won NaNo, I can't wait for it in November.
Mod
NaNoWriMo sounds really cool. Last year, one of our school lit teachers made all her classes drop what they were doing and do Nanowrimo as part of her curriculum! I personally didn't have her, so I've never done it. My friends said it was pretty intense, and this year I'm gearing up to try it out myself. Wish me luck on my first attempt at a novel!
Most "how to" books advise trying to write at least 4 hours each day. That is if you hope to write as a career.It's not so difficult if you can break it up into smaller chunks. A little in the morning, waiting for an appointment, before bed instead of watching TV. I have to do that because of kids and work. I'd never have four hours all at once. Those rare occasions when I do, I get so much more accomplished and the work is better because I don't have to pause.
I read a few posts about confidence and I think I need to stress that you need to get a thick skin if you want to publish. You will be rejected more often than you will get that acceptance. Even brilliant, successful writers experience tons of rejection. You have to believe in yourself and your work. If you don't, why should anyone else? Not everyone is going to like what you've done. But you've done it and that is an accomplishment on it's own.
Even being sure of yourself, it is nerve wracking to have someone read it for the first time. That's normal.
For those of you who have given up after two or three pages because it just doesn't seem right, don't throw away those pages. Keep them, you might be struck later with the right idea. They might also inspire you in a different direction. I keep everything I've written. Some of it is crap, but some of it is also a great idea that needs a little time to ferment in my brain.
message 199:
by
Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><
(new)
Mod
edge is more than 50K words now!! lol"
whoa!!!! XD
message 200:
by
Sella, ov vey! i haven't checked this group in months. ><
(new)
Mod
OMG I KNOW!! I WANT IT NOW!!!!!!!!!
