The writers thread

*Charlie Parker* · 2nd November 2006, 9:42am

How do you write, what do you write, why?

I'm not very serious about writing, I tend to just churn out anything at the top of a hat. I've made a couple of 'sales' to online pulp mags but that market has kind of dried up.

One day I might put more effort in, probably should before I'm dead. I reckon it's two years since I really wrote anything.

I do tend ti imitate rasther too much but that's a problem for most folk innit.

2nd November 2006, 9:51am

I don't think I'm imaginative enough to write fiction. The limit to my writing is my LJ and the blog I write here now, although I used to do a lot more music and gig reviews when I had more time but I think my writing style is awkward and stilted so I don't have an urge to write in case it's shit.

*Charlie Parker* · 2nd November 2006, 9:52am

I write too many reviews, I'm enjoying writing in my blog

Foxglove · 2nd November 2006, 10:11am

I love writing and have done since I was young. I dabble in poetry which friends have said is good but I am not confident enough to show publically. I have had various columns in local papers writing mainly about sport and I have dabbled in article writing on here on film and music reviews on this site (I am hoping to get more CDs to review soon and really should submit more film articles).

As for fiction, I have been the author various fiction in the past and have written down a number of ideas for full novels rather than my usual short stories, but admit to being lazy over this as I have done little to progress my novel ideas other than create characters and scenarios.

I have also written spoof agony aunt and horoscopes in the past at other jobs which was a lot of fun and would like to do this again. I had a couple of friends who were good writers and we used to write stories where each person would write one sentence and then pass it to the next person to continue. I have thought about suggesting this on AN but I am not sure it would work with so many people who might get involved.

*Charlie Parker* · 2nd November 2006, 10:13am

it's a pity the fiction section doesn't get used more

Foxglove · 2nd November 2006, 10:19am

It is - there have been some really good submissions in the past.

endless psych · 2nd November 2006, 10:19am

I write in drips and drabs usually never finishing anything. Generally I'll get an idea and write it out in basic form and sometimes I'll go back to it and develop it - but in practice it just sits on my hard disc taunting me with its poor grammer and narrative simplicity...

Rowsbette · 2nd November 2006, 10:22am

I pretty much stopped writing short stories so I could focus on the novel I was working on, it's supposed to be submitted for a competition that ends in January but I'm not even 5000 words in. I had excellent "knock out 1000 words a day and it'll get written in no time" plans but they all went to shit. It just seems such a massive project.

endless psych · 2nd November 2006, 10:23am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rowsbette

I pretty much stopped writing short stories so I could focus on the novel I was working on, it's supposed to be submitted for a competition that ends in January but I'm not even 5000 words in. I had excellent "knock out 1000 words a day and it'll get written in no time" plans but they all went to shit. It just seems such a massive project.

I was attempting to write a novel, then it became the script for a graphic novel, then a film and now it just frustrates me because its got a couple of great wee scenes but nothing to link them altogether. Goddammit!

*Charlie Parker* · 2nd November 2006, 10:27am

I'm just staying clear of novels or grand plans, I like short things people can enjoy in ten minutes or less.

Punk rawk man

Rowsbette · 2nd November 2006, 10:30am

Haha, yeah I know what you mean... a couple of the novels I've started in the past got pretty far gone (40,000 words-ish) before I realised they didn't seem too coherent. I think it's cos I write bits and bobs all over the place before trying to gel it all together, I suppose you should only start fucking about and editing it *after* you've got the whole thing down on paper.

I was trying to write my current one straight through from beginning to end, which I think is why I'm finding it so difficult.

endless psych · 2nd November 2006, 10:30am

I've just posted something - I have no idea how the submissions process works

but should it appear hopefully it won't be considered utterly devoid of any value...

Foxglove · 2nd November 2006, 10:33am

Is it worth trying to start a writing group on here to encourage each other in our chosen forms of writing and to be positively critical to enhance what we are all writing?

poprock · 2nd November 2006, 10:34am

Quote:

Originally Posted by endless psych

I've just posted something - I have no idea how the submissions process works

but should it appear hopefully it won't be considered utterly devoid of any value...

You go the submissions process right first time. That piece is now sitting in a private queue for the editorial team to review. Once we’ve looked over it, it’ll either get approved and published or you’ll get a PM with some suggested alterations or something. We rarely do much actual editing to fiction pieces, just tidying up of spelling, punctuation, typographic styling, etc.

*Charlie Parker* · 2nd November 2006, 10:35am

It won't do any harm would it?

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