Hello everyone, I'm fairly new to writing and would love some tips on where to start. I am constantly having ideas for short stories and novels and I would LOVE to be able to complete one. It's just where to start? I've started writing down thoughts/first chapters a couple of times but find it hard to go much further as I don't seem to manage my time well (always have other 'more important' things that need to be done). Then when I do go back to what I had written, I loose confidence in it.
Hey! I have that time problem too...I just write when I can. Don't lose confidence! Just write. It's okay if it's not perfect when you first write it. The first draft can be revamped, chopped and edited when you come back to it. Just my 2 pennies.. Welcome to the forum though!
Amymel86, Welcome! The best thing you can do is to get your ideas in order and sit down and write. Then go back at it, and continue until you get that first draft of the short story finished. Set it aside for a bit and then revise. Don't let other ideas or stories distract you. If you must, just jot a few notes to remember ideas for other projects. Getting that first story finished for most is a real motivator to move forward with others. Glad you joined. Terry
Thanks for the tips and the welcomes! Just been reading some of the short stories - there is some real talent on this forum!
Hello Amy Mel, 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!
