[l_b_rex]

First I want to tell you all that I have no education in writing and my grammer may not be correct but I know that can all be fixed but I have an amazing imagination when it comes to horror, and suspense ideas. I strongly feel with my ideas I can succeed but I need help along the way.

One concern I have is that I am afraid to post my ideas in a public forum as others will be able to take those ideas and use them before I complete my stories. Should I be concerned about doing so?

As for my story questions:
1. Is it important to build a character before having something dramatic happen to them or is it okay to start a story with the main character in a physically bad situation?
- I want my stories to have a shock effect. Very much like the "Saw" movie.
Will this help increase interest as much as slowly telling a background story?

2. How long should a short story be?
- I want to create a series of short stories all similar to each other but not identical. Different situations.

3. How many short stories should be in each book I write?
-My idea for a series basically is unlimited but I want to sell books not a book and be forgotten.

4. Is it bad to kill the main character in the end?
- I believe in the right conditions killing the main character is a very good idea. It is the unexpected, however, I also know that the "hero" is suppose to survive".

5. I also heard that you can hire people to write for you. Is this true? How beneficial is it or isn't it?

I thank you all in advance for your help. I know you will all want to read my books or even just hear my ideas.

[kmtolan]

First I want to tell you all that I have no education in writing and my grammer may not be correct but I know that can all be fixed but I have an amazing imagination when it comes to horror, and suspense ideas. I strongly feel with my ideas I can succeed but I need help along the way.

One concern I have is that I am afraid to post my ideas in a public forum as others will be able to take those ideas and use them before I complete my stories. Should I be concerned about doing so?

Ideas are a dime a dozen. Give me a six-pack and a couple gamers and I can come up with fresh ideas all night. It is the execution of the story that matters. In your case, don't worry. First learn the mechanics of writing.


As for my story questions:
1. Is it important to build a character before having something dramatic happen to them or is it okay to start a story with the main character in a physically bad situation?
Yes. Again, don't worry about this yet.
- I want my stories to have a shock effect. Very much like the "Saw" movie.
Will this help increase interest as much as slowly telling a background story?
Only if your target audience likes this. Again, don't worry about this yet (see a pattern here?).
2. How long should a short story be?
- I want to create a series of short stories all similar to each other but not identical. Different situations.
As long as you feel comfortable with, and (wait for it) .... don't worry about this yet.
3. How many short stories should be in each book I write?
-My idea for a series basically is unlimited but I want to sell books not a book and be forgotten.
Sorry, no magic bullet here. It is not the quantity, it is the quality, and oh...don't worry about this yet.
4. Is it bad to kill the main character in the end?
- I believe in the right conditions killing the main character is a very good idea. It is the unexpected, however, I also know that the "hero" is suppose to survive".
If your audience likes a harsh ending, then fine. If not, then expect to be disappointed. DWATY.
5. I also heard that you can hire people to write for you. Is this true? How beneficial is it or isn't it?
Leave the writing to writers. If you don't want to write, then just read. If you do want to write, then this makes little sense to me.
I thank you all in advance for your help. I know you will all want to read my books or even just hear my ideas.

Sure about that, are you? Here's a wet towel for you. First, you need to learn how to write well - which means classes, books, and a lot of practice. Worrying about all this stuff is useless until you master the basics.

Second - guess what. Your ideas are not going to get you anywhere. Period. There is enough brainpower in this forum alone to generate hundreds of incredible stories - twice as many if you get us all drunk and in the same room. It is the execution of those ideas that matter. Strong characters. A thrilling story. A unique perspective. All of these assume that you have first learned how to write well (and High School doesn't qualify you at all).

Finally - and what probably set me off, is the very idea of getting another writer to.... Ugh. Either you are a writer or not. Too many (jumping on the soap box) folks are tossing stuff out that is junk - simply because they don't want to take the time to learn even the basics - these wannabe writers just want the glory without the work. I want you to be different - better. Find a creative writing course. A writing group. Books such as "Elements of Style" and "Elements of Writing Fiction". Make me seriously want to read your books for the great stories, well-crafted scenes, and wonderful characters. Make me envy the ground you stand on.

Kerry

[Lucanus]

Where is this place that we're all going to get drunk and think up ideas?

Here is the simple advice op, sit down and start typing. If you are a good reader you'll start to see where you need serious help in a hurry. Work on that. Repeat. You are going to type hundreds if not thousands of words for everyone good one you want to keep. Think of it from the athlete's perspective. How many pucks does a NHL player fire on net or how many free throws does a pro b-ball player take before they get anywhere approaching good. Start writing. Don't stop. You might just make it. Unless it's a compulsion that you do for you, it's gonna be tough sledding. (Wow. 3 Sports references. :D) Welcome to the forum and good luck. We are a pretty supportie group and are here for you.

[Pookiejmk]

ummm what Kerry and Lucas said and I too want to go to the bar and have some dang fun.

hint will have a tape recorder (ooo you know what they use to be dontcha) and record all the ideas play it back when I'm sober and go huh?

Actually there is a ton of talent on this board that I am in awe of sometimes.

Hint: I started writing some twenty years ago. Had two hard drive crashes (lost everything 5 completed rough drafts at the time). Started writing when dot matrix printers were the thing to have. Have about 8 books done in various forms of rough drafts (all over 500 pages long). have 4 WIPs and one book that is out on the market. So...guess what, I don't feel like a writer sometimes and I have never quite my day job.:D.

Writing is something you must love to do or just don't do it.

[Loerwyn]

I'm going to be a little strange, I think, but with the OP's interests at heart.

What you need to do is read. Find authors who have written things similar to what you want to write. Do you want to write epic fantasy across many tomes? Then go read Tolkien, Jordan, Sanderson and so forth. Do you want to write comedic fantasy? If so, go read Pratchett, Hines and a good number of other writers. You will see how authors write things they want to get across - I found Stephen King, for example, to be very good at using the reader's imagination to emphasise the scarier, or perhaps more "disgusting", parts of his book. He's also very good with euphemisms, something some writers (Such as myself; not that I write any more) prefer to use, especially when referring to sexual parts or acts.

Did the author make you squirm during a violent bit? How did they do it? Was it a word they used, was it how they wrote, what was it? Can you take that and apply it to your book? One thing Poe did in The Tell-Tale Heart was to construct his sentences so they flowed and it got faster and faster, drawing you into the mindset of the protagonist. If you need to get across the faster beating of a heart, what better way than to make it come across in the way it's read?

kmtolan has a lot of good points, and I think his/her tough love is just what you need. Writing is not easy, especially when you're starting out. Note your ideas down before you forget them, and perhaps put them to one side. I think, and no offence, that what would benefit you more is simply just writing. Write a story about yourself going on a walk, write a tale about a dog that runs away - You need to get into the practice and habit of writing before anything else, and if you try to get your ideas written beforehand then you're likely to fluff them up and get annoyed.

My advice is to get yourself some podcasts (Writing Excuses by Sanderson & Co. is brilliant) and maybe even search the web for online writing tips. Find a community (Such as this one) and join in the writing competitions - It's not about winning, it's about practice. That, in my opinion, is more important that trying to write what you want straight away.

[norm]

One concern I have is that I am afraid to post my ideas in a public forum as others will be able to take those ideas and use them before I complete my stories. Should I be concerned about doing so?

I suggest figuring out which of your ideas you think are fairly good, good enough to make a decent short story but not so good that they may be worth stealing(although it's unlikely they will get stolen, because the members here for the most part have their own talent and seem to respect the craft enough not to steal other's ideas, and as mentioned before, ideas are really a dime a dozen.) I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume your ideas are as valuable as you believe they are, and say that you should write something small around one of your lesser ideas, or enter into one of the monthly/ bi-monthly contests on this forum using a new idea. You will get all kinds of constructive critique, It's a great way to improve your writing.

Chances are, seeing as you are a new writer, the first thing you submit will probably not be well liked. It takes some outsider perspective to correct a lot things that you might overlook in your writing.

I haven't been writing on this forum for very long, but I have seen a pattern here with newcomers: They all submit their first story, they receive a lot of negative critisizm, and they never come back.

Persistence is key. Practice is key. Like kmtolan said, your ideas are worthless unless you can convey them with a well written story. You may have to write 100 crappy stories before you write a good one. Write one and submit it, and some of the experienced members on here will let you know what they think and how it can be improved. If you really truly want to become a good writer, you'll keep on writing even if everyone thinks your first story sucks.

Practice makes perfect, and if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Good grief, listen to me rant like I know something about writing. My first story was only six month's ago!

[Daddy Darth]

Most of us are a bunch of hacks - but hacks getting subtely better over time doing just what Norm said. The important thing is to be open to the feedback. You cant take crit personal. I have yet to receive a word of feedback that was not focused on the story and its merits. The gang here are generous and smart and creative. I am very thankful for this forum. I look back at what I wrote last year and am glad to see improvement. One of these days I will screw up enough courage to submit something. But even the contemplation of that never would have happened if I did not submit that first one here last year.

To worry that someone would steal your ideas here - well thats just crazy.

All the best and get writing.

Darth

[Tim_Seraphim]

One concern I have is that I am afraid to post my ideas in a public forum as others will be able to take those ideas and use them before I complete my stories.

Forgive my crudeness, but are you serious? I'd bet all 10 of my Greek god statues that every idea you have was taken from somewhere else. That's how things work. Ideas come from other ideas. There's no such thing as creativity, it's manipulation and execution.


1. Is it important to build a character before having something dramatic happen to them or is it okay to start a story with the main character in a physically bad situation?
- I want my stories to have a shock effect. Very much like the "Saw" movie.
Will this help increase interest as much as slowly telling a background story?

2. How long should a short story be?
- I want to create a series of short stories all similar to each other but not identical. Different situations.

3. How many short stories should be in each book I write?
-My idea for a series basically is unlimited but I want to sell books not a book and be forgotten.

4. Is it bad to kill the main character in the end?
- I believe in the right conditions killing the main character is a very good idea. It is the unexpected, however, I also know that the "hero" is suppose to survive".

Do what you want. It's your work. There is no golden rule. If there was everyone on this forum would be published, and from what I've gathered, the majority of us aren't.


5. I also heard that you can hire people to write for you. Is this true? How beneficial is it or isn't it?

If your wife wants a child, would you ask someone to impregnate her if you felt you were capable yourself? Asking such a question then stating that we're all going to want to read your stuff seems counter intuitive to me. The best advice I believe I'm able to give to anyone here is to get off the forum and start writing, which is what I'm off to do.

[l_b_rex]

I rather write myself. I was just asking for info on if it is a good idea.

I am pretty sure this one story idea that kicks butt has not been done yet...well, I haven't read every book though.

I have been reading online public domain books from the Gutenburg project. Mostly classic Authors.

Hopefully I will have time to enter the short story contest. I expect a lt of feedback. I am here for the help not to try to show everyone I am the best and know everything.

About me: I am 31 years old with a 6 year old daughter. I like poker, NFL and horror and comedy movies.

[Holbrook]

Where is this place that we're all going to get drunk and think up ideas?

.


SF and F Conventions;) Works for me...


As for writing and grammar. I had not written anything more than a business letter for nearly 30 years, then I had this strange idea I was going to write a book. I not only had to re-learn all my English skills I had to learn how to use a computer, find out about the publishing industry and heck, loads more. If I can do it, don't see why someone only in their 30's can't. It is just a matter of how much you want to do it.