[MrLuketastic]

(Original post by philistine)
Self publication eh? Did you use Lulu, or some other company? How many copies were printed (for the regular edition, and special)? Also, what genre were you writing in? How long did it take? Forgive all the questions, though I am immensely curious.

I agree with the second paragraph, though I also have some reservations about it too. It seems there are many people who write only for the business aspect; a way to make a quick book on a subject they are fairly acquainted with-- put their own spin on it, make it allegorical etc-- there's hundreds of them out there, in a myriad of enterprises. I disagree with this for a number of reason really; your established authorship being short-sold, the obvious cry for mass-attention etc...

Of course, a love of writing is absolutely crucial. I recall a thread a few days ago of a lady who wanted to write a best-selling novel, though not for the joy of writing-- oh no; for the visions of having 'written a best-selling novel!'. How absurd.

Yes Lulu is the way forward and it's print-on-demand, so I think there are only about 30 copies in total of my book in circulation (god knows where by now...). Basically, I was desperate to print, and decided to amalgamate my works over a two year period... half a novel, some short stories, articles etc. Nothing concrete. There's only one piece in it which I actually like... Compiling all of it took me... half a day maybe? Editing etc included. But if I really tried, then it might've gone further. Instead, I decided it wasn't worth pursuing a novel which I wouldn't read myself, and the flaws caused it to implode (literally...).

The book I'm ghost writing has already been approached for a film, so lets hope I get it right! :L

[ritzpreet]

(Original post by Suggs)
i know, mainly i'm focusing on exams so am trying to resist writing ANYTHING, but countless times every day i see something or think of something and i'm like oh god that would be perfect for so-and-so character or this would be great if this happened and this person came in there, so its annoying trying to not do it while my a levels are on haha

omg I know what you mean!! Like I'd be reading up for psych or bio or whatever and then I'd get all fidgety and think I should take a bath and cool down then while showering I get like majorly inspired (maybe its the bathroom o_o) and I'm out in my towel switching my laptop on, thinking how should i start this scene or how would I react if someone said that to me, would *insert fictional name here* react the same way and then I remember exams are on and I have to switch everything off and then for the next few hours I'm day dreaming O_O *sigh*

My friend who started writing around the same time I did (we've both just turned 20) published her book last year..and I'm happy for her and super proud but damn...I was right there with her- we would write our drafts and send it to each other to proofread and get criticism then.... A-levels got to me O_O *sighs again*

[diamonddust]

(Original post by ArcadiaHouse)
I suppose I began to write seriously when I was about 12. I write about the human condition and human relationships; I've never really liked science fiction or fantasy novels. I wrote a novel when I was 12 - it just flowed out of me. It was a very rough draft though.

I hope to make it a career one day. I can't really stop myself from writing - it sort of chose me. I always refer to the Sylvia Plath quote from when she was the same age as me, eighteen; "I write only because/There is a voice within me/That will not be still."

I love that quote.
I apologise in advance for any incoherency, my eyes are closing as I type!
I wrote silly little poems and short stories that got read out in assembly when I was about 7, started writing a novel when I was 10 or 11 and lost the notebook I wrote it in (), I've been writing bits and pieces ever since (including fanfiction ) but have never really had the concentration or I fear, the talent to write anything bigger than that. I got ill and needed to write and started writing for myself again and now I just write because I have to. I think I'd be perfectly happy with never being published as long as I could take part in workshops. I don't have enough faith in myself or the quality of my writing right now but I'm sure that as I develop as a person, my writing will too. I'm so self critical that I think the most frustrating thing about writing is knowing that it always seems better in my head and I'll never write something that is perfect. But I suppose that's also the beauty of it.

[Dionisio]

I'm pretty happy I've stumbled upon this topic, since writing is such a wonderful art, I truly lack adjectives to describe the beauty in it. I've committed myself on writing when I was 15 years old, and from then onwards, I've never step. Unfortunately, there's not much room for such a culture where I live, and as sad as it is to me, I'm disillusioned about making a book, for I realized that nobody will actually bother reading it. Besides, it's a matter of fact that most of those who try end up failing, or maybe it's my deprived mind that thinks so. My main characteristic is the pessimism after all. Anyway, I wish you all good luck, because if we do not believe in ourselves, how can we expect to succeed, right? Hope and effort are the main key, keep believing no matter what and the reward will come. And remember: avoid the negative feelings, unless you're writing them.

Forgive my bad English; it's not my native language, but if anyone feels like it, please point out some mistakes I've done so I won't make them again

[goggy]

You should try and write a book. Otherwise, when you're old, you'll regret not trying.

[maskofsanity]

I want to write a novel, but I feel like it would be an amateur's work. You know when you read someone's first novel and you can really tell it's their first novel? That's what I'm trying to avoid. For me, the most difficult aspect has been finding my own style. You can read as many classics as you wish, but it won't give you that unique watermark in your writing.

[ArcadiaHouse]

(Original post by maskofsanity)
I want to write a novel, but I feel like it would be an amateur's work. You know when you read someone's first novel and you can really tell it's their first novel? That's what I'm trying to avoid. For me, the most difficult aspect has been finding my own style. You can read as many classics as you wish, but it won't give you that unique watermark in your writing.

I have spoken to several successful writers (), and most of them say their first novel wasn't published. That manuscript is actually festering in a drawer somewhere, while their second, third or fourth attempt at a novel was finally published, and practice vastly improved their technique.

[philistine]

(Original post by maskofsanity)
I want to write a novel, but I feel like it would be an amateur's work. You know when you read someone's first novel and you can really tell it's their first novel? That's what I'm trying to avoid. For me, the most difficult aspect has been finding my own style. You can read as many classics as you wish, but it won't give you that unique watermark in your writing.

I find myself agreeing in some aspects, yet shouting 'bullwhacky!' in others. For myself, I had a very descriptive, oldie-worldy style to begin with. Bashing through hundreds of classics, modern titles and various other styles of literature, I've changed my 'natural style', if you will, ever so slightly, though it has remained fundamentally the same.

I honestly believe if you have no style to begin with, then you have no imagination. I mean surely, if you imagine in your head the idea, the plot, the way things are described; surely that is your style? You must have some idea? I think someone who doesn't would have an enormously difficult time producing even the most pedestrian of work, novel or otherwise.

[maskofsanity]

(Original post by ArcadiaHouse)
I have spoken to several successful writers (), and most of them say their first novel wasn't published. That manuscript is actually festering in a drawer somewhere, while their second, third or fourth attempt at a novel was finally published, and practice vastly improved their technique.

That's true; I guess I should just crack on and learn through experience. Are you currently writing a novel yourself?

[ArcadiaHouse]

(Original post by maskofsanity)
That's true; I guess I should just crack on and learn through experience. Are you currently writing a novel yourself?

Yeah, just do it, you have to start somewhere! I wrote one when I was 12; I actually think it was a good story, but the way it was written was ****, as you can imagine.

I completed a 50,000 word story earlier this year, but I don't know if I'll try to have it published. Maybe that's a 'practice' novel. It's the equivalent of a 200 page novel which is too short for most publishers anyway.

I find that I can't write a short story: it just spirals into a massive, rambling narrative.

[onthejubileeline]

I wrote a mini kind of 'novel' when I was about 10, it was a murder mystery set on a cruise ship. There were several rather glaring plot holes, and I couldn't quite make up my mind what to call my main characters, but apart from those minor hiccups, I thought it had great depth and a mysterious, nay, beautiful quality about it.

After that disastrous foray into fiction writing, I started writing ansty poetry when I was 15. Started off pretty awful and self-indulgent, but I think in the past few years I've actually started to get somewhere with it. Although I write strictly for pleasure, I secretly harbour hopes for the future, but not really sure whether or not my work is remotely worth glancing at.

[maskofsanity]

(Original post by ArcadiaHouse)
Yeah, just do it, you have to start somewhere! I wrote one when I was 12; I actually think it was a good story, but the way it was written was ****, as you can imagine.

I completed a 50,000 word story earlier this year, but I don't know if I'll try to have it published. Maybe that's a 'practice' novel. It's the equivalent of a 200 page novel which is too short for most publishers anyway.

I find that I can't write a short story: it just spirals into a massive, rambling narrative.

Wow, did you do that during term time then? How long did it take?

How come publishers do not like shorter novels? I was only thinking of writing a 100 page novel like The Great Gatsby, The Outsider, Notes From Underground etc, as these are usually my favourite.

[ArcadiaHouse]

(Original post by maskofsanity)
Wow, did you do that during term time then? How long did it take?

How come publishers do not like shorter novels? I was only thinking of writing a 100 page novel like The Great Gatsby, The Outsider, Notes From Underground etc, as these are usually my favourite.

I started it during the summer holidays. Hmm, it took about 18 months. I can't really remember. I remember I started it in 2005, but I don't think I was still working on it as late as 2007.

I think it's because they're not as profitable as longer novels. I'm not sure. You could definitely try, and send the manuscript to publishers which do publish shorter novels. Meg Rosoff is a successful writer and her books are pretty short - no more than a couple of hundred pages.

When I say 'successful', I mean award-winning - she isn't at the top of the best-seller lists, but then it's usually crap celebrity books which sell the most.

[ArcadiaHouse]

(Original post by onthejubileeline)
I wrote a mini kind of 'novel' when I was about 10, it was a murder mystery set on a cruise ship. There were several rather glaring plot holes, and I couldn't quite make up my mind what to call my main characters, but apart from those minor hiccups, I thought it had great depth and a mysterious, nay, beautiful quality about it.

After that disastrous foray into fiction writing, I started writing ansty poetry when I was 15. Started off pretty awful and self-indulgent, but I think in the past few years I've actually started to get somewhere with it. Although I write strictly for pleasure, I secretly harbour hopes for the future, but not really sure whether or not my work is remotely worth glancing at.

I had my main characters' names set, but the naming of minor characters was hard. It's hard to attach the right name to a made-up personality.

I wish I could write good poetry ... then I read Sylvia Plath and remember I'll never be as good as that.

Hey, you might be the next Poet Laureate

[Still_Water]

Mildly off-topic, but is anyone going/has anyone been to the Edinburgh Book Festival?

I've been toying with the idea of going, but I don't really know what to expect.

[~ Purple Rose ~]

I tried to write a novel when I was about 12 but it was terrible.
I write short stories and terrible attempts at poetry, and have recently started a novel. I don't have much of the plot planned yet though, just some rough ideas.

[John Mannion]

Hi,

I'm new to this site and new to writing. I've just had my debut novel 'Century of Jihad', a contemporary action thriller published. I served in the UK Armed Forces and Police for a total of 22 years and as a result lived overseas for a number of years - which was good as I like to travel. After my life in uniform I worked in several areas including a college in Oxford. I'm now in my 50's and deriving little satisfaction from employment opportunities I decided to try my hand at writing - something I had always wanted to do but couldn't find the time.

To be honest I've found my new career gets me out of the rat race but it still presents its own problems. You have to be disciplined - figure out the work routine that works best for you. I've used my own experiences to inform my writing. At my age I don't find things so black and white any more. Getting your book published the conventional way is almost impossible. Self publishing is the way forward. Promoting a book is hard work. I would be happy to answer any specific questions.

[Jez RR]

I'm a writer. I think it's more of a personality than a profession, although I am both. I've worked as a travel writer for the last 10 years, doing everything from guidebooks (Rough Guide, Bradt) to features in magazines and newspapers - Wanderlust, Adventure Travel, The Guardian, National Geographic Traveler and so on.

I'm a bit fed up with travel writing though, or at least fed up with the constraints of word limits and house style imposed by magazines. I've got 90,000 words of a book here which I did a few years ago. I've had an expression of interest from a publisher in New York, but I'm not happy with the piece yet - partly because it's yet more travel, mainly because it doesn't stand on its own very well. What I think I might do is cut it quite drastically and do two or three similar pieces around it, all on a similar theme: various expeditions in Africa I have undertaken.

I recently did the Life Writing MA autobiography module at UEA's School of Creative Writing, and it's given me all sorts of ideas. It seems rather precocious to think about doing an autobiography at the age of 38, but it would be a good way of pulling a lot of things together and giving it a framework. I'm interested in the idea of doing a novel, perhaps drawing upon existing notes for setting, but it's lacking a central theme at the moment. At least with travel writing the journey is the plot, and the characters invent themselves.

[Suggs]

(Original post by ritzpreet)
omg I know what you mean!! Like I'd be reading up for psych or bio or whatever and then I'd get all fidgety and think I should take a bath and cool down then while showering I get like majorly inspired (maybe its the bathroom o_o) and I'm out in my towel switching my laptop on, thinking how should i start this scene or how would I react if someone said that to me, would *insert fictional name here* react the same way and then I remember exams are on and I have to switch everything off and then for the next few hours I'm day dreaming O_O *sigh*

My friend who started writing around the same time I did (we've both just turned 20) published her book last year..and I'm happy for her and super proud but damn...I was right there with her- we would write our drafts and send it to each other to proofread and get criticism then.... A-levels got to me O_O *sighs again*

i'm the same! the ideas come to me when i'm just sat around, or in the bath, or just doing nothing...

[Hylean]

My problem is I never finish anything. I have loads of ideas and they mature and fester in my head. I really need to sit down and really work on them.