Hi! I'm Bea, an NB high-schooler from California, though Australia originally. I currently write mostly FanFics, but I also write a lot of poetry and a WIP fantasy novel!
My mom is obsessed with World War II. My childhood was filled with stories of people killed by the Nazis. In extruding details. For this reason, I also hate history.
I am a 29 year old female. Im working on my 1st official novel as i did publish a short story novella. I mostly write with a strong, independent FMC as i dont see those often. I write in the fantasy fiction. I want to try romantic fantasy fiction but i have SOOO many questions without answers that don't help me figure out scenes.
Indeed. My grandfather and my aunt were part of the Dutch Resistance during WWII. I have a piece written by my mother thath I'd like to expand that talks about what happened, what the family went through when they hid Jewish families in their home. The constant fear of getting caught, wondering if someone would turn you in...My aunt was arrested and spent some time in prison as an 18 year old (or so). my grandfather was interred in Dachau and very nearly didn't make it home, he was a walking skeleton when the camp was liberated. Her short piece will be the basis for a longer short story. I know people think history is boring or uninteresting, but it's important to know and remember..
That’s a wonderful gift from your mother, in many ways. Let us know when it comes together for you, I’d definitely be interested to read. People may or may not like history. Who cares? As Twain said, history may not repeat but it does rhyme. You have first hand account of a story that deserves to be told. Best of luck.
I have never found history boring- it is a complex collection of stories with endless variations and unexpected twists. The boredom comes when folks reduce events to a simple sound byte that supports a political agenda.
It's fascinating to me largely because there are the common surface-level stories we often learn in school or through television programs or whatever—the sound-bytes you mention—some of which are politically motivated, and then as you explore deeper you find many layers of depth and texture. It remains often hard or impossible to get a totally accurate reconstruction. I believe all interpretations are built on biases of various types, but then that's true of life itself, isn't it? Your version of how something happened might be different from mine, even if we were both there at the same time, and those will be different from those of other eyewitnesses. This isn't an argument for total subjectivity of course, that way lies madness, but it does point to the unreliability of individual eyewitnesses, and the fact that reality is deeply complex and impossible to really categorize accurately.
Especially in primary school, history is taught in symbols: Lincoln represents the end of slavery, Washington represents valor and dependability, the Declaration of Independence represents willingness to fight against tyranny, the western movement represents restless spirit and self-determination, etc. And please, don't bother to argue with me about those particular interpretations because they are just loose examples and don't represent my personal political and spiritual convictions. Children learn whatever historical symbols are a la mode. Some accept what they're told and that's that. Some are interested enough to read secondary and tertiary sources to explore the stories behind the symbols. Some are interested enough to take themselves into stacks of primary sources to see what else they can find, information which they enjoy privately and/or use as a basis to produce books and lectures. I'm in both the second and third categories: I'd hate to tell you how many hours I've spent in libraries and archives breathing in mold dust. I reckon that's who I am and at least part of what I write.
I am brand new, I mainly focused on art but the last 5 years I have picked up writing again. Never thought I'd take it seriously until now, but would like to start sending my work around to contests and publication. But have NO idea where to begin.
Hello! You can call me Raheem I am egyptian 25 years old, I love saga, thriller and romantic stories. Right now I'm writing a biography. I come here to enhance and improve my skills. I would like to find friends here. Best regards
Greetings. I am Stutley Constable. I am in my mid 50s. I started out writing Fan Fiction on FFnet, learned a lot about storytelling and branched out to original works. Mostly I focus on adventure stories, usually in Sci-Fi (Space Opera). I have also written many Sherlock Holmes fics and discovered I enjoy them a great deal. Currently I am working on a mystery/ghost story and finding the second chapter difficult. Decided to join this site mostly for brainstorming. I also need help with mechanics of punctuation.
Welcome, Stutley. Strunk and White Elements of Style is a good, basic, inexpensive, easy to grok place to begin.
I just wanted to say I LOVE your mingo image. Completely flamingotastic! As you might have gathered I am a self-confessed Flamingoholic!
Hi Ann I've used therepeutic writing to help me through the grieving process. It's been very cathartic for me. I'm currently writing a book which using my experiences to help guide other people through the process and to articulate what some people in my community struggle to express. What I have shared in private FB support groups has been very well received. I wish you EVERY success in your endeavours! Nicci
I've just celebrated my 54th birthday and I have been writing since I was very young. Although I did have a gap of about 12 years when my inner demons played havoc with my confidence. I've already self published a number of books: two anothologies of poetry, a mini-guide about writing/preserving family history, and another mini-guide for small buisness owners wanting to establish themselves as an expert in their particular field. I'm currently writing a book exploring the use of therepeutic writing as part of the grieving process. This is a part of griefwork that I have found personally to be particularly cathartic. The book may contain my poetry or these pieces may form an anthology in their own right.
Hi All, My name is Mike Decker. I just finished my first novel. It is Political Thriller taking place in the present. I haven't sent it to a publisher yet. I'm in the process of having it edited as I write. I look forward to learning from the group.
