I've written something, what next?

[charlietangoteakettlebarbeque]

Hello

New here, so excuse any ignorance!

I have written a short…not sure how to describe it – it’s not exactly a story, more an account of the relationship I have with my father. It’s just over 2000 words.

It’s been sitting there for months now and I don’t know what to do with it. Should I enter a competition? If so, which one? Should I try and publish it? How would I do that? It’s only a short piece of writing, would it even be considered for publishing? Is anyone even interested in reading about the relationship I have with my father?!

I don’t have a blog. Should I set one up?

Sorry for all the questions, I hope someone comes along with some advice.

TIA

Olives, amazing ideas. He was always in suits, and he had a beard. Fantastic! Will weave that in for sure. Funny how I speak of him in past tense isn't it. He's not dead! (Yet)

hello all,

just wanting a bit of advice really.

I am finishing off Baba - its really coming along.

Do you think I should put it on Wattpad, and if so should I replace the old for new? Or create a different book altogether?
Or should I try and self publish on Amazon??

flowers

I've sent you a PM about my book, charlie.

Personally, I feel like Wattpad is mainly for teens, so I'm not sure if it's the right audience for your work. Because what you write is good, I'd enter it for a competition or a 'proper' publication. But that's just me.

In fact, Mslexia currently has submissions for short stories on 'ancestors'. Wouldn't your piece fit that?
www.mslexia.co.uk/info/submit.php

Sable litmag also publishes memoir:
www.sablelitmag.org/submissions/

I've PM'd you! Thanks so much.

I get the same feeling about wattpad. I had a little search on there and you are right they do seem to be mostly teens. It has been good for me as a first platform, and to give me a bit of confidence (148 people have read Baba!) but its time for me to move on I think.

Well, once I get Baba finished that is

I am thinking about totally revamping it and creating a novel. I had a long hard think about it last night, and I really think I should take out the bit about my sister in prison. Fair enough, if its posted anonymously on some random webpage that she would NEVER see, but if I am really going to do this, I wouldn't want to air her private business. I would want her with me every step of the way, I would want her to know what I am doing, and she can help me with other stories, stuff she wouldn't mind being in there. She is a sensitive soul.

Would it really take away from the story as a whole, if I omitted it? Perhaps I can try and muster up something totally fictional, and maybe have it happen to me rather than my sister. I'll really have to try and get my creative juices flowing with this (gulp)

Anyway I am waffling now. Thanks for the links - I am going to have a look in a short while.

Hello again,

Sorry to keep banging on. But I have just sat down to continue writing, and I feel like crying. Its like now that I have decided on making it a novel, I suddenly can't do it.

I think my main stumbling block is - whose point of view is it going to come from? Should I write as a third person, or as myself, or should I write firstly as my mum, then as my sister, then as me (and not give my dad a voice)?

If its going to be a novel, shouldn't I take out my voice (for example the opening part with the poem and the end part about forgiving him)? It just seems so muddled I feel like giving up.

Oh, the peaks and troughs of writing

I would just keep writing and see what you end up with. Sometimes it's good to experiment with different points of view just to get a feel for what it is you're writing, if you see what I mean.

I once did a class with Louise Doughty and she said she just wrote a load of material and shaped it into a novel towards the end.

Writing something good always involves a lot of rewriting and editing. No one gets it perfect straight off the bat, even the masters! But having some raw material to work with is the first step...

schmalex, that's what I ended up doing today. Writing, even if it's rubbish, is still better than not writing, eh? I did start getting into it after a while. Writing is such a weird beast. I'm happy and flying one minute and tearing my hair out the next!

Hey charlie

I've PM'd you.

Twee

Hello to anyone who might see this!

Its been a quiet day at work and I have spewed some words onto my computer. Something completely different to Baba. I needed to take a break. Its called The Cutting, and its very short. The start of a story, a story which I have no idea where to go with. Not sure I will continue, but if anyone is suitably bored and fancies a read and to give me any feedback, the go for it. I'd be well pleased.

I reckon it would be aimed at teens.

Very unoriginal title, but I am off to lunch now and wanted to just get it up there.

here it is