Hello, all! I've been "meaning to start writing" for, oh, maybe a quarter-century now. Finally used this past NaNoWriMo as an excuse to declare that "someday" had arrived. I made the 50,000 words. It was 50,000 words of crap, but that's exactly what I needed to help get me past the fear of just writing already, dammit. Yes, I produced a large mass of horrible writing, and the universe didn't implode! So, I've finally started working on my writing.
Hello, and welcome. You did better than me at NaNoWriMo, I didn't make 50,000 words for various reasons.
I only finished because I let it devolve into a very heavily tell-don's-show extended summary with copious amounts of exposition, (with lots of self-contradiction, because several key premises shifted.) But hey, that's a starting point-- now I'm making everything consistent and writing the scenes as scenes.
Gigi_GNR -- Thanks! It's still very much a work in progress. It started out as high fantasy, but got a lot grittier as I was working through the implications of things. One of the themes that seems to be emerging from the story is about nobility of spirit in a world where things aren't always black and white and there are no easy answers-- and sometimes no "right" answers.
Sounds like an interesting project. I also participated in but didn't complete NaNoWriMo this past year...got to about 20 000 words.
Welcome to the site! I feel so out of the loop. What's a "NaNoWriMo"? :/ *scampers off to google for the answer*
Ain't that the truth! What a world! Hope you manage to finish it off to your satisfaction. Maybe we'll see an exerpt when you're up for it. PM me if/when you do - I'd be interested.
@Silver_Dragon, @Darkjester79, @amateurvoice, @Tessie91, @ArtWander: Thanks! Thanks! It will probably be a while before I get to the point of "this is the best I can do for now, lets see what feedback I can get", though
Hello IAEDA, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Please read How to Use the Writing Workshop 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 Writing Workshop, 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 Writing Workshop, 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 Writing Workshop 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 Writing Workshop 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!