Hello. My name is Edward, and I've been writing for about the last 10 or 12 years. Mostly non-fiction, but in 2006 I wrote a novel, a ghost story. Unfortunately, after sending querries to about a dozen agents and getting form rejections, I quit submitting it. These days, I would like to start writing novels again, but I would like to rinse all the crap out of my head about getting "published" and just try to enjoy the process of writing a really good story. With the publishing industry in transition to e-books, the economy down the toilet, and a flood of writers chasing a trickle of readers, it doesn't make sense to expect to hit the Writer's Lottery. And that's what it seems like it is today. So, what I'd like to do is write a good novel and join a writer's group so others might read it--even if only to critique it. What I want is to enjoy the process. I mean, doesn't it seem like so many writers spend more time learning to write a query letter than trying to write a work of literature? Nevertheless, I'm gald to be here.
So your in it for the "art"? Why did you quit after 12 letters, it takes usually around 100 + rejections before someone gets accepted.
In it for the art? I don't know. I want to write a good novel, you know? I want to write it for the sake of the novel not for the sake of publication, but I do realize that if I completed such a novel, I'd certainly try to get it published. I guess what I'm saying is I don't want to analyze the market and then write for it. I should have tried harder with my first novel, but maybe in truth it's not good enough. Maybe I can find that out here if later on I submit parts of it to be critiqued. I suppose time will tell.
Welcome Edward. Good you just want to enjoy the process of writing. And being a successful writer takes a lot of determination.
Hello Edward, 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!
