Never written before, where to start???

[Movingforward123]

I am interested in writing, just wondering how others have started?

I'm thinking about taking a creative writing course to make a start.

Also would be interested to hear at what stage in your life you started writing? I am 27 a single mum and I have a 5year old dd.

[Britchic]

Hi

Here's my story... I always wanted to write children's books, and had a couple of (rubbish!) attempts before I had children of my own, but without reading children's books regularly, and spending time with children, I found it really hard.

When my boys were 1 and 3 (I was 33), I just decided one day that I would try again. I went out the next day and bought a note book, and wrote down all my ideas, and just got going.

I've always been quite keen on doing a course, but I live overseas and there's nothing like that here.

After I'd written a couple of stories I started sending them off to agents and publishers, only to have them all rejected! I gave up for a few months, and then realised I missed it, so got out my notebook again, and kept going.

I managed to get an agent after a year, and finally signed a contract on my first book at the beginning of this year - yay! So it has taken about 4 years to get this far, and in that time I have written over 20 stories!

So I'd recommend you getting yourself a notebook, take it everywhere with you, and jot down anything and everything in it.... I find that going out to a cafe to write really helps because if I do it at home I'm constantly distracted by housework, plants that need watering, mumsnet etc!

Good luck!!

[JordannaNelson]

Hi there

I'm just getting started on a novel. I'm 31 in October, my son will be 3 in December.
I've used him and my day job far too much as an excuse.
I'd recommend also taking a notebook with you.. I've kept a diary for as long as I can remember, but if that's not to hand I'll use my trustee notepad, or failing that, a receipt or my phone!

It is most definitely a need to write and bot a want, you've hit the nail right on the head! :)

I've recently bought 'how to' books on creative writing, but I haven't yet read them, I'm currently relying on all my years of practice and my good old non stop flow.. When I find it, it does often go AWOL, it don't take long to find it again!

I posted here about a week ago asking for help and advice & in that time I've managed 6 character profiles and almost 2 chapters! - I just hope I'm not the only one who gets to enjoy it!

Good luck & much love

[happybirthdayHiggs]

Hi everyone,
I've written a book. It took me a year to get a first draft, and then another year or so to revise and polish it. I was fortunate enough to secure the interest of an agent (New York no less! ) who took it to the Frankfurt Book Fair last autumn. Lots of big publishers have expressed interest in it. The only hic-cup is that I wrote it as a YA (young adult) novel and the publishers think my writing style is too "sophisticated" for that market. They want me to revise it again for the adult historical fiction market, which basically means I need to add about 30,000 words and then let them see it again. (YA novels are much shorter than adult fiction.) All very exciting. I've almost finished, if only RL didn't keep getting in the way.
My advice for someone starting out is to GET IT DOWN ON PAPER! It's no good in your head, you have to tell that story to someone else. I know it's easier said than done but you have to write it down .
The other point I would make is that you don't have to write the story chronologically. Many people do plot and plan every scene in every chapter before even setting pen to paper (so to speak) but you don't have to do it that way. I write whatever is shouting at me loudest, and then piece it all together like a giant jigsaw, fitting in the links and bridges at the end.
Just give it a go and see what happens.

[Tschiffely]

Movingforward, have you started yet?

[GW297]

I started writing at 28. I would keep a notepad with you at all times and jot down everything! I would read a how to write a novel type book before you start as although a lot of the tips you'll probably do automatically, a few will be invaluable. I definitely spent too long editing what i'd done so far instead of cracking on with the story. The hardest thing is motivating yourself to sit down and write day after day but when you do you'll love it! You do improve in technique as you go along which is motivating. Good luck.

[Veryfrustratedandfedup]

Hi

I'm 35, nearly 36 and am just about to start writing my first novel. I think initially I'm just going to get writing, as my head feels like it's exploding with ideas, and then piece it all together, like happybirthday suggested