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Creative writing

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Original poster

Anyone up for a novel writing support thread?

281 replies

Cel982 · 13/07/2016 01:00

Just thought it might be nice to have a place we could give each other a kick up the bum cheer each other along as we try to get our novels written.

I'm currently on the eleventy-hundredth draft of my first novel - hoping to have it ready for submission in the next month or two. Have been stuck on a niggly plot point for the last few weeks but had a bit of a breakthrough the other night so now the words are flowing again. Am a SAHM with a toddler at the moment so all my writing is done in the evenings when I can tear myself away from the TV. I know, I'm inspiring Wink

So... you?

OP posts:
Madhairday · 11/06/2017 10:55

hello! I'll be really interested to see where you go with the next novel, exciting times. Have you thought about self publishing the first at all? There was great stuff in there.
I'm nowhere nearer really, just doing another edit to send out to another round of agents then I'll decide where to go with it from there. I need to write book 3 of the trilogy - it's been on my mind a lot, but I've had several other projects on the go and work has been busy.

I use Scrivener and love it. It's revolutionised the way I write - I love that I can skip back and forth to different sections and chapters and make notes for each which are all easily accessible. I've used it for a non fiction project and it's amazing for that. Highly recommend it.

How is everyone getting on with the novel writing?

Flashinthepan · 28/06/2017 11:43

I posted a thread about doing an MA in creative writing-first novel but I think it might just be another (very well organized and expensive) form of procrastination from actually sitting down and writing the bloody thing!

I gave the first few thousand words to DH to read and when he'd finished he looked so forlorn and said how sad it was (which is great!)

I'm one of those people who procrastinates by trying to make everything perfect enough to do the actual task. So 'the house has to be completely clean and tidy before I can possibly think of being relaxed enough to write' etc etc.

Anyone else a super-procrastinator?

PlayingSardines · 28/06/2017 12:09

I'm the opposite, flash. On days when I'm not on campus, I drop my son to his childminder at 8, and when I come back in the door, I just kick off my shoes in the hall and walk straight to my desk, such is my horror of wasting time. I do think that having a child, and childcare being limited and billable, has made me a much more efficient worker. When DH is away, which he is a lot at the moment, I also go back to my desk after I've done bedtime with DS, so I get another couple of hours at night.

Flashinthepan · 28/06/2017 14:07

Can we swap for a week Playing so I can get some writing done!

Maybe that's my problem, I never think my writing is a priority. I always think it's the thing I should only do when I've done all the other things I think need doing.

I don't have children so no chance of that kicking me into gear!

PlayingSardines · 28/06/2017 14:20

There's a really challenging (though adorable) five year old available for longterm loan here, if you're interested. Grin

Without sounding holier than thou, if I didn't make writing a priority, I would never get any done, as my life is pretty busy demanding, though flexible, job, small child, husband away more often than not at the moment, no other support. I schedule writing hours in my diary, refuse social events etc. Though my interest in housework is minimal, so that's never a distraction.-- What would it take for you to start to think of your writing as a priority?

Did I see on another thread you're thinking of applying for a CW MA?

Flashinthepan · 28/06/2017 14:57

Yes that was me! Most people seemed to think it was a sort of waste of time but I'm still a bit keen.

This is going to sound really wanky, so apologies for that, but I think I've stopped viewing my writing as valuable. Doing something just for the sake of it doesn't feel like something I can justify. I don't really believe that, but I can't get out of that mindset, even though I know until I do it, it can't be valuable (valuable meaning just because I enjoy or it, or because I have some kind of success from it, etc). Catch 22! When I sit down to write, I love it, the time flies, and I can't think about anything else so I don't know what my excuse is really.

PlayingSardines · 28/06/2017 18:27

I don't think it sounds wanky at all -- in fact, I think that's one of the boons of an MA, because it puts a set of expectations, deadlines, wordcounts, assignments on it all, and gives spending time on it the 'respectability' of studying for people who struggle with seeing their writing as valuable.

On the other hand, with a shift of mindset/joining a good writing group/deciding you will enter a competition, that's something you can do for yourself for free.

I toyed with the idea of doing one a few years back when I was on an extended maternity leave, but a successful novelist friend who teaches on one of the top CW MAs in the country said it would be a complete waste of time for me, apart from the possibility of finding an agent from programme contacts. But doing one, if you can afford it, might make you see your work as valuable -- or at least compulsory!

PenguinDi · 28/06/2017 18:48

Hi can I join you all. Ive had a few ideas over the years for books, but it's getting them to paper.

1 is a young adult book telling WW2 through diary entries from the POV of a 8 year old in 1938 going through the war. It's being read by her granddaughter.

The other is a children's book about a penguin who travels round the world finding a place to live as Antarctica is too cold. Each book is a different country.

I can't find any evidence that they have been done before thankfully.

margesimpson40 · 30/06/2017 18:55

im in ... been writing first novel since DS was 4 ... he's 22 this year ... willing to read for anyone ... no strings :)

PlayingSardines · 30/06/2017 19:07

Dear Lord, marge -- I thought I was being a bit mad in terms of the numbers of total rewrites I've done, and I started on maternity leave, and DS in now in Foundation. Grin

Is it some kind of epic?

flownthecoopkiwi · 30/06/2017 19:57

Hello can i join? Been wanting to write novel my whole life and had a plot ticking over in the back of my head for years. Starting small and finished a fanfic story I started years ago. It's trash but fun to write and using it for plot and writing practice. 12k words so far.

margesimpson40 · 30/06/2017 23:57

lmfao sardine ... I am the queen of procrastination ... dumped the first, started 2nd this year half way thru :)

Flashinthepan · 03/07/2017 11:17

I actually sat down last week and wrote some more of my novel. Plus went back and read through and made a few changes! Not sure I should be quite so proud of what probably amounted to an extra 500 words, but got to start somewhere!

flownthecoopkiwi · 03/07/2017 13:14

feeling sad. So, about 15 years ago I started a story on fanfiction.net and today I finally finished it.

I've decided that I've always wanted to be a writer and so I'm going to be one. Published or not. But now these characters had been sitting with me for years and now it feels like I've said goodbye.

I have the plans for novel on the go, but I don't know the characters properly yet...

and, couldn't remember my old fanfic login so having to put it on again as someone else!

Diamonddealeroncemore · 03/07/2017 19:29

I'm editing a mills and boon I've written. I'm not remotely in love with it anymore but I need to have finished it before I can move onto something else. I like closure with my projects. I'm thinking of a historical romance next or a saga.

stripyeyes · 05/07/2017 11:15

Argh! Having a crisis of confidence.

Have planned out this book, written about 5000 words and now wondering whether I'm wasting my time?

My first book was written because I wanted to write a book and I really enjoyed the process... this one is because I want to write a good book (and I'd love to get published) but now I know how hard it is, I'm just not sure it's worth the hours and hours it'll take.

Anyone else get this?

Kritikme · 09/07/2017 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 09/08/2017 14:42

Any writers still about? This thread has been quiet for a month Shock

I've just finished the first draft of a YA book. It's had good feedback so far on Wattpad in its very raw, unedited, unfinished state, so now the editing begins. It's soul draining Grin

southeastdweller · 10/08/2017 07:50

I'm still here. I'm still writing my first chapter of my book (contemporary fiction). I'm 'pantsing' so far but I need to do a plan. I've heard of the three act structure and may use that.

Dontwaketheneighbours · 11/08/2017 20:52

I've just finished the final draft of my first book and am finally sending it out to agents. I verge between heart pounding excitement that someone might actually like it and wait with baited breath for that first full MS request - to convincing myself it's not half as good as anything that's already out there and I won't get any nibbles at all. It's a rollercoaster!

NellieUnkles · 14/08/2017 23:09

Dont, I think I'm also finished with my novel, and ready to send it to a novelist friend whose first reader I am. Though I can't quite get rid of a sneaky feeling that it could be leaner at 79 k...

Dontwaketheneighbours · 15/08/2017 06:16

Well done Nellie. What genre do you write in? Mine's a thriller at 102k. It's such a nerve wracking time. I'm trying to distract myself with other things my actual job instead of checking my inbox every 5 minutes Smile

NellieUnkles · 15/08/2017 08:02

Literary fiction, dont. Is this your first time sending something out? How many agents did you send to?

Dontwaketheneighbours · 15/08/2017 08:17

I've sent to 5, with another 5 to send to as the rejections start to come in. This is my first proper go at submitting, I did send my first draft to a couple of agents a while ago in my naivety and eagerness Blush but the ms was nowhere near ready in hindsight. This time the ms feels finished and has been edited, changed and polished so much its barely recognisable from the first draft. I think that's why it's so nerve wracking this time as I dont know where I'll go next if no-one is interested in it. Would be back the drawing board I suppose Hmm

NellieUnkles · 15/08/2017 15:25

Fingers crossed, dont. I know what you mean, I also sent out a version I thought was finished years ago, but, twelve revisions on, it bears not the slightest resemblance to that novel -- but I wasted a few decent agents sending too early to them. Grr.

Move on to a new novel while you're waiting, I suppose? Let this one go and get on with a new story. That's my plan, anyway.