To want to write?

[usern]

I've always wanted to be an author. I feel like I'm no good. I feel like I mind blank anytime it comes to actually trying. When I read my writing back, it's a bit clunky - especially the opening chapters and the ending. I feel like my ideas are good for books until I realise they're either a bit limited, a bit dull or a bit cliché.

Does anyone have tips? Writing platforms? Experience in this?

I think the biggest tip is to just write. Often and regularly. Also, theres a Creative Writing board on here somewhere with loads of useful people and advice. Check it out.

Writing is like anything - practice is everything. You will get better the more you do it.

The other thing to do is to read, and to make a note of passages you really love. That will help inform your writing.

Write a lot and read a lot! There at some really good short courses out there for beginners too... if you’re in the South East try New Writing South - they’re. Dry food. There’s also a New Writing North. Joint a group will give you confidence and experience and feedback

It’s not for everyone, but writing fanfiction is a shitload of fun and a great way to cut your writing teeth, get eyes on your work, and find your voice.

@DecumusScotti something I've just looked into over the past few days - downloaded Wattpad.

I'm seconding fan fiction writing to start.

I feel like you do but putting writing out there as fanfic got instant feedback and it was really confidence boosting.

I'm not exactly a household name as a writer now but I do make a living selling in a Kindle!

@citysmog what was your fanfic based on (if you don't mind me asking)? I'm not even sure where to start with that!

Personal opinion, but Archive of Our Own and Fanfiction.net are both FAR superior to Wattpad.

Also the Fanfiction sub on Reddit is a great community and a wealth of information:

www.reddit.com/r/FanFiction/

YANBU. I second fanfiction, and also flash fiction of which there are a few sites like Commaful that give regular prompts. Cutting back to basics can be helpful.

Also, on youtube, there is a growing 'authortube' or 'booktube' community that give a lot of tips on writing, quite a bit of discussion on outlining vs pantsing (writing from the seat of one's pants), how to write with busy schedules and illnesses. Personally, I find them very helpful and inspiring as they've gone through all of it.

It was Arthur and Merlin, Harry and Draco.

I like a bit of romance!

There's plenty of fanfic out there for everything imaginable and lots of it is not romance at all. That's just my preference.

What shows do you like? Have a google.

Archive of our Own is excellent

Come over to Wordpress, lots of very supportive aspiring writers!