[Umesha Chalanie]

Hey Kats...

I'm Umesha (duh) and I'm pretty new here as well. I love to write, but it's hard to get it done when you have school (homework, exams, essays) and a part-time job as well. I would love to get something published - I just need to finish a damn novel first - I've started on about four, but I get sick of writing it and start on another idea. I would love to write a lot more - but hey, that's life, right? I want more than anything to be an author/illustrator (except maybe touring Europe in a yellow van/taxi) but my parents are all 'do business, do law'. So I'm sure I've got a long road ahead. But I WILL do it! I will, I will, I will, I will... (And yes, I am trying to convince myself).

[This message has been edited by Umesha Chalanie (edited January 19, 2001).]

[Rob B]

If you truly feel that you want be a writer, somehow you will find time or time will be made for the writing.

It is not always easy to stay focused on the same story/idea.

[wolfgang]

FitzFlagg couldn't be more right. I'm constantly struggling to find time to write, and when I do have time, most of the time I'm too tired to.

I'll admit I have a problem with returning reviews with people because I don't have a lot of extra time on my hands. But this summer I plan to finish my novel, and work on short stories until then. The novel I'm working on is my first one, and my first try. ( Actually I'm rewriting it rightnow ) I've had to beat myself off with a stick to keep from starting a new one.

If it helps any, I find it useful just to write down any good ideas I have, then come back to them as short stories, or later, novels. In my opinion, ideas are a dime a dozen. Fleshing out that idea into a story is the hard part.

I'm not trying to be arrogant. Just keeping conversation alive.

Aaron

[Bardos]

Hello people!
Some advice at writing, from my experience. (First of all, English is not my native language, so forgive any mistakes I might make.)
Try to write each day. And not 1-2 paragraphs; try to write one chapter each day. For me a chapter is about 10 pages, maybe more, maybe less (sometimes, thought, it reaches even 20). Now, if you can't write one day -it happens of course- write the next; don't get disapointed that you don't have time. Make time.
Another thing is that your first stories aren't going to be decent writen. I'm not refering to the plot, or characters; I'm refering to the writing itself. As you practice, your writing will get better and better. But you must write -every day, or as often as you can.
Don't be embarased to write about something. Don't think "What would the others say, if they read it?" Just write what you want to write. Writing is first for yourself, then for the others. And try to enjoy what you write. Or no... not try -just write what you enjoy most.

Yours,
Bardos

[KATS]

Bardos, I’m going to have to disagree with you. Ten pages a day may be a bit much for some people. And setting an unrealistic goal can lead to frustration, which can ultimately lead to writing less and less. Also writing 10 pages a day is not very practical either. If all you had to do to write a story was actually write sentences, and paragraphs and pages then writing 10 pages a day would be fine. But there is a LOT more to writing a book or story then just writing. There is a time when writing 10 pages a day may be appropriate, but there are also times when working on the story doesn’t involving writing any pages at all. To be honest, I think writing from scratch encompasses 10% of my stories. The bulk of work I do on my stories is the revisions. Not to mention the research and work involved in creating the story (i.e. plot, worlds, characters, etc.). But then, that’s just me and may not apply to anyone else. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Bardos]

It works for me, a chapter a day, but someone may write more or less. I didn't say you must at all costs write 10 pages a day. But I think you must write every day, if you take writing seriously, because, if you don't, you forget the story. Thought, that might not work for all people; I'm not being absolute.
Also, the more you write, the less revisions you need, IMHO.

[This message has been edited by Bardos (edited January 21, 2001).]

[Rob B]

Keep at it regularly. Set REALISTIC, ACHEIVABLE goals for yourself. For Bardos maybe 10 pages is realistic, for others, a few pages is realistic.

Point is this, keep at it, if writing is important enough, time will be found.

Sometimes I have a tough time and I don't even know what I am going to write until I get in front of my computer and start typing.

If the idea comes in your head, jot it down somewhere.

[KATS]

Bardos, I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree. But they say that diversity makes the world go round. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

And I really don’t think that the more you write the less revisions you have to make. Actually, I believe the opposite is true. But then that’s my opinion based on my method of writing, which involved a bare first draft followed by revisions. This works for me because I do not have consistent access to a computer (or at least a computer that I can work on my stories with). My stories can be printed and then later revised by hand. The revisions can then be edited into the manuscript in a very short time. Then this process can be repeated as many times as necessary. I don’t expect this to work for everyone, but for me it is great. I started getting more accomplished once I found this method. But I don’t expect it to work for everyone, or anyone else for that matter. Of course I admit I do tend to take the revisions a bit far. What can I say, I’m a perfectionist at heart.

[Pluvious]

I have no advice to give on writing since I have never actually written anything myself. However, I can say this: Just think if you ever do actually publish a novel you may make a whole $1,000-2,000 dollars! That's pathetic isn't it? Not that those numbers are acurate, but I know writers don't make much unless they are famous or extremely prolific. Writing is hard work and authors should be paid much more than they are.

[Bardos]

FitzFlagg said: Sometimes I have a tough >time and I don't even know what I am going >to write until I get in front of my computer >and start typing.
>If the idea comes in your head, jot it down >somewhere.

I agree with you. I can remember a couple of scenes I didn't know how I would write, but, when I got in front of the screen, it all came natural.

KATS said: Bardos, I think we’ll just have >to agree to disagree. But they say that >diversity makes the world go round.

I agree with that. All people can't have the same methods of work, nor can they be the same. That's what makes the world interesting, after all: variety. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

And, Pluvious, I also think that writers should be payed more. But, in the end, you don't write for the money, but for the enjoyment of it. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif