Bonesaw checking in. After a solid decade of studying the craft in various forms, I'm about to attempt my first novel. I never duped myself into trying to write a novel when I knew I wasn't ready. Over the past six months or so, and a great deal of reading, something seems to have clicked. I feel as confident as I think I possibly could. All the components are there (at least, for what I intend to write). I mean, you know you are ready for an attempt when you are in the middle of a best-seller that's about to become a TV series and you are shooting holes in it while thinking to yourself, I know I could better. I've written a few short-stories, one of which is going out for publication. My genre is General Fiction, with Sword and Sorcery my definitive comfort zone. Robert E. Howard. Again, Robert E. Howard. Also, let it be known that the writing used in my posts, do not in anyway reflect my writing when I'm writing. Dig?
Research never does you any harm, although my experience writing is like having a baby each piece is so different its like starting over as a novice everytime. Good Luck with your endeavor.
I should clarify- not a decade of research and studying for this specific novel- just in general, writing. I'm mostly here to throw my opinions out there on writing and hear the feedback. I may post some actual material, but not for a while. Just to give myself a little identity... I'm a former pro-wrestler, ex-bartender, father of one, a full-time student in the medical field specializing in children's respiratory. The pro-wrestling thing seems to be the thing that interests people the most, but as far as writing goes, I actually learned a lot from it- how to tell a story, how to get heat on the heel, how to involve the audience and make them care, fight choreography, etc. Also, Gigi, creepily coincidental- I am from West Bend, WI and go to school in Fond Du Lac!
Hello Bonesaw, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Please read How to Use the Review Room before you post there. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here. It is worth taking the time to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Word Games, or the Review Room, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the forum rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Review Room, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize constructive critique as a vital writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. The Review Room forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Review Room forum). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out the RPG forum for improvisational fiction. Also try our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
