Is anyone here involved in writing a novel? I'm interested in writing fantasy novels, but every time I start one, a novel just like it comes out in the book stores! It's so not fair! :twisted: I even wrote a novel about an orphan with black hair and green eyes who discovers he's a wizard, and then "Harry Potter" came out!

I finally gave up and wrote a full length Harry Potter fan fiction novel on the Internet, but I'd actually like to write something original where I'd get money for it! :lol:

Hi Eowyn!

I write short stories for myself and my friends. Mostly romantic fantasies about the middleages. One day I would like to get published but I need a good writing course under my belt first. I have posted fan fictions on the net at one point then I stopped as most these places do not take mature themed stories.

I'm about half-way through my first novel. I'm bound and determined to finish it (I didn't say "perfect it," just "finish it") this summer. I have my MFA in fiction, and started this novel as my thesis. This one is mostly just a plain old novel (not any particular genre) although there's a tiny bit of magical realism in it. I have another in mind that's "sci-fi" in that it has to be set in the future.

I wouldn't be too detered by what shows up on the shelves. Write it and ship it out, trusting that no matter how many coincidental similarities there are with another piece that your style and story are like no other. I encourage my creative writing students not to get too bogged down in "originality." Shakespeare lifted most of his plots but his insight into human nature was unique. Creativity isn't the same as originality.

I've written books when I was younger (ie I had a lot more time on my hands. :wink: ) I had about 3 books done, one was 98 pages, one was 103, and one I was only halfway through and abandoned it at about 50 pages (its funny that I remember the exact pages. :oops: ). I've since lost them along the way. :rolleyes: I do have a lot of ideas for them now, but I have more of an urge to do a more sort of "graphic novel" approach, or at least a novel with a lot of pictures (done by me).

My boyfriend however has a most awesome idea for a book (or series) that I think would do very well and would get published. He has no time to sit down and work on it, ever! Ah, well. Perhaps one day!

I really tried to get into writing novels, but all I end up with are short stories. I tend to write when the mood strikes me, and not at any other time, so you can more or less tell when a work is impassioned, or if I have pushed it for a deadline.
I'm a visual artist, too, and it would seem I end up with illustrations rather than realism more often than not, so I'm in the process of creating a comic from a collaboration writing. I'll probably be just as unhappy with it as I am my writing.
If anyone wants to see either art or some sparse writing, http://www.catrin.deviantart.com .

I've been 'cooking' stories in my imagination ever since I can remember. I rarely get round to writing them down though, which is a shame, and I'm trying to rememdy that. And I have the same problem as you Eowyn - someone else always seems to beat me to it!

With the one I'm working on right now I realised I had the entire plot in my head, and could run through it like a film, so it shouldn't take too long to write down. But what did I read in the blurb of a book I just picked up as it had a nice cover? Yup - similar plot and characters. I always get upset and accuse people of going into my brain and stealing things ;) But after a tearful chat with Mr Thurs, where he said much the same as CurlyCare (but not as nicely :flower: ), I realised that it wasn't *exactly* the same, and that there was nothing stopping me writing my own story.

CurlyCare has a good point. I have my BFA in creative writing, but somehow the classes I took never got around to writing novels. I'd probably just be better off writing what I wanted instead of worrying about what other people do. Some of my favorite writers (like Tolkien and JK Rowling, for example) have stated that they just focused on writing what they themselves would like to read.

I wouldn't be too detered by what shows up on the shelves. Write it and ship it out, trusting that no matter how many coincidental similarities there are with another piece that your style and story are like no other. I encourage my creative writing students not to get too bogged down in "originality." Shakespeare lifted most of his plots but his insight into human nature was unique. Creativity isn't the same as originality.

I absolutely agree!!!!! :rockerdud :flowers:

I am an aspiring novelist, working on a number of projects at the same time (I guess that is a personality thing, I get inspired all the time!). I have studied creative writing, but majored in history and systems analysis (with empasis on organization), and I think for me, that was the right thing to do.
My major projects right now are an sf-novel, and a novel about a priest in the 1600īs, one about a contemporary multi-cultural swedish man, and one about my neighbourhood. Iīm in no hurry, and I donīt worry about what anyone else is writing. One must have faith in oneīs own originality. Only Rowling could have done "Harry Potter" the way she did it, and only Eowyn can do what Eowyn does, that is what I believe. And how can you keep up with everything thatīs going on in literature anyway?
I think the main asset for a novelist to have is patience. And a long hair lover has lots of patience, donīt you agree?

Well... I guess I should answer here too. I wrote my first novel when I was 11, and I've continued since. I have one novel that's almost finished and around 300 pages, it's a novel that takes place in Stockholm in todays time.
I have another one that's almost finished (fully written but in the editing stage) fantasy novel that's also around 300 pages, ordinary fantasy with magic and dragons.

I've also published a book, but that's a non-fiction pet husbandry book, this year. It's been an amazing journey. So I've got a little more pressure from myself to finish my fictional novels now, but I'm my own worst critic, so they'll never be good enough.

I never have enough discipline to write an entire novel, but I do like to write, and so a bunch of my friends have started a "fan-writing-role-playing" board where we create a character in a shared universe and cooperatively tell a story.

We currently have 4 storylines running. A dark-horror, a super hero, a science-fiction and a low fantasy. Feel free to read and enjoy.

It keeps me writing. Lots of writing keeps your writing muscles warm. It is open to read and free to join if anyone is interested.

http://latenightgames.com/labynight/forum/index.php

I'm just in the process of writing up a serious outline to sell my first genre novel. I have quite a lot of abandoned projects and some good short stories (not short-shorts in the sense of Hemmingway...) to my name.
On the problem of originality: There are only five plots, when you boil it down: Love, Betrayal, Mystery, Criminal or Travel. You can reduce almost any plot to these keywords. So nothing is original - but the way *you* are working the plot should be unique. And for that, you have to believe in yourself.
I might add that reading a lot and writing a lot makes sensitive to the "done too often to fly" or "that's new" impressions readers have.
I never could please my mother with my writing, for her it's all Tripe and Kitsch. My friends and the editors of the magazines I sold to think otherwise.

HTH,

Thea

Shimotsuruma, Japan

How nice to find so many writers here. At the moment I am seriously trying to finish the first draft of my novel. A story about murder and jealousy. So I confess also this is not very new, but I hope my way of telling it will be interesting to some readers.

There are no new stories, only new ways of telling them. So many ways as there are different writers, so don't get discouraged just because you find a book that is a bit like what you came up with - it can't be exactly the same - let it inspire you and take advantage of it to transform it into something better.

I've been writing a novel for 5 years now - I know this because I plotted it while walking up and down the landing at 2am trying to settle small baby and he's five now - and one day I really will finish it. I enjoy writing but don't have the time to do it really.

Not that I claim it's ever going to be published of course - almost no first novels (nor indeed second, third, whatever novels, ever are.

I don't know anything about publishing :lol: but I am attempting some kids books about animals. My hubby always wanted to illustrate kids' books, so maybe some day he'll be able to draw for mine.

I want to, and I'll plot and plan and scheme and never actually get any writing done. :oops:

CurlyCare has a good point. I have my BFA in creative writing, but somehow the classes I took never got around to writing novels. I'd probably just be better off writing what I wanted instead of worrying about what other people do. Some of my favorite writers (like Tolkien and JK Rowling, for example) have stated that they just focused on writing what they themselves would like to read.

Well said, and I couldn't agree more! It seem we write in the same genre! I've got a novel almost completed. It seems, however, that I've painted my characters into a corner so I need to be patient and wait until they tell me what they're going to do next. ;)

Has anyone ever participated in NaNoWriMo (=National Novel Writing Month)? It is in November and is loads of fun and frustration! You have one month to complete a novel - which is usually trash. The idea is to get those ideas flowing, get yourself motivated and disciplined to write every day and reach your goals. It's also loads of fun meeting fellow writers at local coffee shops, restaurants and libraries to cheer each other on. I actually finished last year!

If you're interested in checking it out: http://www.nanowrimo.com/
I hope it was ok to post that link (if not I plead Newbie ignorance!).

I want to, and I'll plot and plan and scheme and never actually get any writing done. :oops:

:D just like me!

But yeah, you all motivate me. I definitely want to write a book someday in my lifetime! Just so busy with college and baby these days... but when I do find time, I love to get lost in a book.

I can hardly put a coherant post together, so I know better than to try and write a novel :lol: However, I love to read, so I need all you people to hurry up and publish so I can read your books!! I hope you'll all be letting us know where we can buy them?

Zequana - I love books about dragons... do I need to start learning Sweedish? :wink:

Has anyone ever participated in NaNoWriMo (=National Novel Writing Month)? It is in November and is loads of fun and frustration! You have one month to complete a novel - which is usually trash. The idea is to get those ideas flowing, get yourself motivated and disciplined to write every day and reach your goals. It's also loads of fun meeting fellow writers at local coffee shops, restaurants and libraries to cheer each other on. I actually finished last year!

If you're interested in checking it out: http://www.nanowrimo.com/
I hope it was ok to post that link (if not I plead Newbie ignorance!).

I have... but I didn't finish. School and the Nutcracker always get in the way. Now, if it was in July, that would be a different story...

I have... but I didn't finish. School and the Nutcracker always get in the way. Now, if it was in July, that would be a different story...

I agree...it would definitely be easier! I barely made it. Spent the last 2 days on a total writing binge just to finish. Why would they chose November right around the holidays?!

I'm writing a novel. I'm not yet halfway done - currently my count is at 42% using a wordmeter. I started it in 2002, wrote 80 pages, stalled, took two and a half years to muddle through 25 pages, stalled...

and then changed my goal. I'm not writing the novel that will get published and launch my writing career.

I'm writing the first novel I will finish, and it will stink horribly. but stinking horribly isn't the point - the point will be that I finished writing a novel. I made the goal to write 250 words (one manuscript page) on my novel every day. I gave myself until Tuesday, January 3rd to finish writing the first draft, or 85,000 words - whichever comes first. I haven't done my full statistical report yet, as I'm only doing that once a month and it's not the 18th yet. However, I think I'm a little bit ahead of schedule, even though I haven't written every day.

It's a fantasy novel, set in a city at the beginning of an industrial revolution.

Wow, lots of writers here. Very neat. I have a historical romance novel coming out in January of 2006, and a few others in the works. I also write articles on romance fiction for a couple of online magazines, and have sold some short fiction and poetry as well. Keeps the writing muscles limber.

Good advice in previous posts. Definitely write what you would like to read, and don't worry if someone comes out with something similiar. Dollars to hairsticks, their take on plot X will not be your take on plot X, so forge on ahead and write it. You'll never know if you don't try.

I used to be a prolific short-story writer until I discovered the Internet ;) I never thought I could write anything longer than 10-20 pages.

My biggest problem is that I constantly edit what I've already written, then get bored because the story isn't moving. If I can't sit down and crank it out in one sitting it tends to go nowhere. I took a few writing classes (critical and creative) and did well, but then again my longest piece was 12 pages.

I recently developed a storyline that, for the first time in a LONG time for me, has a basic plotline. I've got the first paragraph written to my liking, and I know my main characters. I know how the story unfolds, and I know how it ends. I just can't WRITE it! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I started a fantasy novel about five years ago which I still hope I 'll finish someday. In the moment I'm mainly writing fanfiction, but I rarely got time for that. I enjoy it, although I get frustrated when really badly written stories by someone who managed to get popular get more reviews than mine - they are not the best, but at least I put a lot of effort in them (but that's another rant).

As to originality: There is no such thing. We've all been influenced by everything we've read and watched, we just can't start from the beginning. There is only a limited number of plots anyway, the original thing is bringing in your own twists, characters and style. Terry Pratchett, my favourite author (now isn't that a sad thing to say as an Enlish Lit. student?) has not terribly original plots, but he has lots of surprising twists and great characters. And he is one of the best-selling and most popular authors on earth.

I started a fantasy novel about five years ago which I still hope I 'll finish someday. In the moment I'm mainly writing fanfiction, but I rarely got time for that. I enjoy it, although I get frustrated when really badly written stories by someone who managed to get popular get more reviews than mine - they are not the best, but at least I put a lot of effort in them (but that's another rant).

I understand completely! :lol: My Harry Potter novel got nominated for an online award, but the stories that won were pretty awful, in my humble opinion. I've noticed that sex scenes makes fan fiction stories pretty popular!

I'm an English lit. major, as well, and I LOVE :inlove: Terry Pratchett. I laughed my butt off when I read the one where Death works one Christmas as a substitute Santa Claus.

I'm a novelist! Those of you who are at work on your novels, take heart. It does take a lot of work, but it's also fun to be in the flow state when the Muse is singing and you're watching your characters live out your story in your mind's eye (or should I say "on your mind's screen"?) My friend Patricia C. Wrede (who writes fantasy novels and currently does a number of the "Star Wars" tie-in middle grade books) says that a person is usually a natural novelist or a natural short-story writer, and I agree. I think I am waaaay too long-winded to be anything but a novelist. The stories that come to me are also too long and convoluted to get across in 1,200-2,500 words.

My young adult fantasy novel, _Dulcinea_, was the first runner-up in the first Warner Aspect First Novel Contest. My Amazon ratings are pretty respectable, but I didn't get the boost from the Harry Potter craze that everyone expected. I'm now marketing a Chick Lit novel and a couple of contemporary fantasy novels. My mystery series is being shopped around by my agent, but I'm not holding out much hope, as the genre is slowing down a little. (sigh) I write funny cozies (like Donna Andrews, Jerrilyn Farmer, et al) rather than suspense/thrillers, so that may be the trouble.

If anyone is interested in becoming one of my beta readers or critique partners, let me know (I think you can send me private mail on this forum). One of my best friends just had a baby and doesn't read any more . . . no time! So she's not reading for me now. (sigh) She's probably happier, though!!

There are a number of places you can go on the 'net to be encouraged with your fiction writing, too. I used to participate on the "three pages a day" list and a "book in a month" list, where we'd chat and post our progress (usually nobody tries to write a book in a month, but Lani Diane Rich did, and she got hers on the best-seller list! The rest of us just plod along.)

My young adult fantasy novel, _Dulcinea_
Ooh ooh, Dulcinea is one of my favourite cat names :lol: I'll have to try and check out your book :bluebiggr

Well, this thread has inspired me. I'm going away for the weekend, and instead of packing my Latin homework or books from my reading list I've packed my notebook I started my latest fiction writing in (back in October). Let's see how much further I get on with it ;) Luckily as I can play the whole thing out in my head I tend to just write down whichever paragraph appeals to me at the time, and I'll sort out the order when it's written (in about 29 years).

I haven't figured yet if I'm a short story writer or a novelist, though I have a strong feeling it's the former. I'd love to see something of mine in print, but I first have to get back in the habit of writing! Truly, for me the worst thing that happened to my writing skills was discovering the Internet. On the 'net, brevity is key and I've learned to express what I want to convey in short terms. The story line I have is more a series of vignettes and a few snippets of dialog. I have the ending worked out in my mind, and I have the beginning line, but what happens in between is still very foggy. I like the idea of writing so much a day, but lack accountability.

What I need is a writing buddy, someone who needs encouragement and gentle prodding on a daily basis just like I do. Anyone interested?

Lots of writers here! I am working on a sci-fi book and a couple of non-fiction projects.

I'm a novelist - though still as yet unpublished. I cant get the hang of short stories. Posts in my journal will explain why - way too long winded!

I'm working on a dark fairie trilogy right now. 'Fairies' have been done probably a million times, but I'm happy with mine, and so are my beta readers. And that works for me.

I have my MA in Creative Writing, too, and hope to lecture in it at university some time soon.

Lovi

Do I count? :silly: Years ago, I used to write random rambling fiction that went on and on through umpty billion events and settings and never actually got done. I recently had an idea for a horror tale setup inspired by the Silent Hill video games, which all involve an ordinary person winding up in a strangely deserted real-world setting and having things go awry from there. They have no idea what's going on at first, and the story is revealed in bits and pieces throughout the game. I wrote the very beginning, but I could never make the story go anywhere, and I forgot about it for a while. And then I heard about NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org/), so I decided to participate and see if I could push the story along. It has gone somewhere, and I'm very happy with its progress thus far. There is some method to the madness of its bizarre setting. I would like to publish the novel somehow after I get it finished and revised to my liking.

If I were to write, it would be scarrrrrry stories; Steven King-ish. I have a very active imagination. However, I have never even attempted it. I get hung up in the plot planning. I mean, do I just start writing and let it flow, or do you have the plot idea already worked out and structured before you begin to write? :rolleyes:

I love to write and have a good idea for a novel that's just waiting in my laptop, I just don't have the motivation to get started and finish it. It's a fantasy novel in that the main idea of the book, as far as I know, has never actually existed at any time in history. I also love to read, my favorite genres are fantasy, ski-fi, drama, and romance. Would anyone be interested in doing a kind of 'novelist buddy' thing where we both write a novel (or chapters, a chapter a month or something), then read each other's novel and give feedback?

I do some writing. Attempted NaNoWriMo this year but was foiled by my husband's always changing vacation schedule.

Now that my youngest is a year old I'm attempting to write during naptime.

I write short stories, poems, and occasionally attempt novels (I never finish them). Nothing published yet.

:waving: Waving at the other writers.

My first novel, a historical romance, came out in June. Master of Pleasure has a heroine with my dream hair. :grin:

My second--Master of Desire, also a historical romance--will be released in May 2006.

:writer: jes

If I were to write, it would be scarrrrrry stories; Steven King-ish. I have a very active imagination. However, I have never even attempted it. I get hung up in the plot planning. I mean, do I just start writing and let it flow, or do you have the plot idea already worked out and structured before you begin to write? :rolleyes:It depends on what works best for you. Before I started the novel I'm working on, all I had was an opening scene and some idea of what kind of tragic backstory would be involved. I literally shoved the character running into the middle of nowhere and then essentially figured out what I would do if I were her and thought of places she could possibly go, and it just went on from there. I would brainstorm interesting buildings and symbolism for her to come across, ways for her to pick up snippets of the back story, and obstacles to overcome and sometimes write parts out of sequence as I thought of them. I am pleasantly surprised at how cohesive the story has turned out thus far.

Stephen King is one of my influences, too. I love his apt descriptions, his way of getting into characters' heads and making them seem realistic, and all of the random humor woven throughout his work. My character has more than a few smart-alecky thoughts of her own. :silly: King has said that he will often start a story without having any idea how it is going to end. It obviously works for him, and I think it is working well for me, too. Why not give it a shot? You can always fix continuity problems and whatnot when you revise the first draft, or you might decide to do a more thorough rewrite based on how well you like the way the story has spun out. For instance, if a particular story arc bothers you, it can be redone in a planned manner or axed entirely. At the very least, unplanned writing is a good exercise in creativity. :)

I've been writing for as long as I can remember. I hope maybe one day I can actually finish something. :D

I write quite often and it's one of the things I just love working on. As for novels, I tend to write things as I think of them, so I end up with dozens of pages of random paragraphs, thoughts, descriptions, that I eventually try to peice together.

I've never had anything published before, but that would make my year. I've been looking into a writing workshop around here, not a class, just a place for writers to get together, share, practice, and talk. I've had no luck with that as of yet, but I keep my eyes open. If we made one on here I'd be a big follower.

I have been writing since grade school but so far the only thing that I had published was some poetry, both in Jr. High and then later as an adult.
But my love is the novel. I am currently working on several projects, both fiction and non-fiction. The one that I am working steadily on is romantic fiction, with definite adult overtones. It is pretty much writing itself! I love being inspired! There is nothing like it! :inlove:
Well I have to go an work on it some more, and see what is going to happen next. While I do use an outline, these characters have minds of their own and we shall see what transpires! :wink:

I write fan fiction (sci fi) ::ducks a ripe tomato:: I like working within the boundaries of canon, with characters I already know and like. I have a few online friends that won NaNo, and I'm so proud of them. I'm going try next year, but a mystery instead of my usual sci fi.

I love to write. I want to write Steven King like stories as well. I always manage to write the first chapter, then it just........ turns into blah. I want to make a story where the beginning is like BAM! Scary and frightening and like WTF? Then as the story goes on, really creepy strange out of this world stuff starts occuring - like crazy little demons that only the main character is seeing (making them think they are crazy) but then at the end its like WOAH! I DIDNT EXPECT THAT! and the main character isnt crazy and dies. ....... Now just to make that work...

Hello fellow writers!

I have two books in progress - a fact-based fictional one and a fiction-based factual one.

I'll probably self-publish them and distribute to friends and family. I've done this twice before and it's very satisfying.

Hi epiphanee! :waving: I missed you!

Hi Smiles

I missed you too :inlove:

epi x x x x

I've written three novels and have so far received two rejections (the first one I haven't even bothered sending out, it's so bad - but was great practice). I'm working on my fourth now. The basic story is written, now I just need to flesh it out with descriptions and more dialog, plus fix the holes in the plot that are big enough to drive a semi through. It's slow going, but someday I hope you'll all see me on the bestseller lists! (Although I'd be ecstatic to just see my name on the cover of a book.)

On the nonfiction side, my FIL and I co-wrote a market guide to computers for dealerships that sold a decent amount of copies. I'm also an analyst for Sageza, Inc. and have a weekly blurb published by the company that deals with computer stuff, and also a semi-regular blog on the Sageza.com website, also dealing with computer stuff. I think my spot in geekdom is assured... :wink: If you want to see me and some of what I've written, go to www.sageza.com

Peace,
Susan

I'm a writer. Have a bunch of short work published, but have been focusing upon novels for the last years or so.

I have two or three started, but never got past about 50 pages. I wrote a lot of poetry when I was younger, trying to get back into it now (it's amazing how inspiring a boyfriend can be!) I've also written several short stories. I'm hoping to one day be published, I enter various competitions and send away for scholarships as much as possible to get what I do have out there, but no luck yet, still just writing for fun. Whenever I'm short of inspiration I call up my boyfriend and we send eachother "bedtime stories"

I have a GOAL of writing a book...often think of topics, then forget them later. I have put hours and hours and dollars and dollars into researching a historical fiction novel I'd like to write but am a bit stumped in one area...they spoke a bit differently back then and I don't want to sound either affected (trying too hard to sound like they "might" have sounded) or too much like we speak today. This issue has genuinely thrown me for a loop! I have all the facts (well...something new just came to light that I need to dig into when I have the money to check something out) and am dying to get going...

But then I watch the grandbabies (two), have three dogs (another on the way in about 3 weeks when he will be 8 weeks old) and two cats. I also love to read, love drawing/painting in watercolors/knitting/cross-stitching and of course, the always popular watching t.v. Sigh...I need a few more hours to my days! ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! Much to my chagrin, I excel at none of these things except reading and watching t.v.! LOL Oh, I forgot to mention I am also a graphic arts student.

Anyway, I wish all you would be novelists and writers and poets at least one muse to keep you going and motivated. Happy writing and many pages to come from all of you!

I am actually writing two novels currently. One is science fiction and the other is contemporary fantasy. Also, I have worked as a ghostwriter and my buisness partner and I recently completed an autobiography for a client of ours. Hopefully that book will be out in stores next summer. So, I know that I can complete a novel-length work, but I want to start doing my own stuff and not just writing things that I'm told to write by others.