I'm new to this section. What do you like to write, and how often?

[WaterBird]

I have always enjoyed writing (and I read much more than I write), but I think writing will always be a "side" thing for me and while it would be great to get published one day, I see it as more of a hobby.
I like writing short stories, with fast action and complex plots, which my peers seem to enjoy, but it's a bit to my detriment as well because even I confuse myself sometimes. I only know one other amateur short story writer IRL.
So what do you all write?

Hi Waterbird and welcome to the creative writing forum!

I am currently writing a historical novel which is about 7,000 words away from completion. Writing for me is a hobby and one I completely enjoy although I intend to publish my book even if it is just for me!

I fancy writing a younger childrens story next and I have a website project involving poetry and art planned too.

Your stories sound interesting - do they have any particular theme?

Oh, and I probably write every weekday for about an hour (I have 3 dcs including a baby) so I don't get much time to write unfortunately.

@LavenderDays
Thanks for replying. Sorry for missing this thread earlier.
I don't particularly know if my stories all have a common theme exactly, but I like to write stories where a lot goes on, and usually write about large families because mine is sadly very small.
I'm really impressed that you have time to write every day with 3 children. I don't have a DP or DC.
What period is your historical novel occurring in? It sounds like you really don't have that much left of it to write.

Actually, in thinking about it, I do enjoy writing stories that are "chic lit" style.
I wrote one recently about a young woman and her Dad's best friend trying to have a lelationship. Yeah, I know...

Currently I am working through some songs I wrote about 40 or 50 years ago, and then revisited over the years. They are supposed to " stand alone " as poetry.

I find this fascinating; the language has changed so much; what people say and do has changed so much. One of my "better" ones, which was published once in the 60s, is useless now as it is called, and is about, a " Little Wallflower" who goes to " a dance" , dances with no-one, and tells lies about it next day at work so no-one knows. Totally useless in today's world! One for the files, only.

But still, as we age, we have new insights and new things to say!

@KayM2
I wouldn't necessarily say that they are useless.
My favourite style of music is folk. Many of the songs I listen to are pretty much unheard of.
There will be people who will still really appreciate songs from that time period.

Hi OP. I haven't posted here yet either but am very new to writing. I'm dipping my toes into the world of fantasy (making it really easy for myself...)

I've written about 5.5k words at the moment because I'm finding it really hard to get any quality writing time and it's a relatively new project, but I do have a fairly big folder of history, backstory and general world building which was fun to compile!

Hi, that sounds like such an awesome project!

Comedic poetry, funny true life experience blogs, fantasy fiction. And some quite dark stuff too. Depends on my mood.

I write middle grade mostly, and occasional play scripts for youth theatre.

WaterBird, it is set in the Victorian era, I am fascinated by the Victorians and I have loved doing the necessary research! It's a struggle to fit writing in but it keeps me sane and is important to me so I will sacrifice other things (like housework). My house always looks a mess and that makes me feel unhappy but not as unhappy as not being able to write, if that makes sense! I guess I am obsessed with getting this book finished and I am getting there now (well in about six months). I don't think I will tackle another novel again in a hurry there are other things I would like to do!

Good luck. I find the Victorian era very interesting too. I just find it sad that most people died so young back then.

Yes, WaterBird and the Victorian death theme ties up perfectly with the concept of my book (not willing to reveal at this point). I won't let my eldest dd (age 12 read it yet) but she gets the impression from the stuff she has had a sneaky peek at that it is all about death and tells her friends that her mum is writing a book where loads of people die! I don't suppose it is going to be a light read but it was never intended to be.

@LavenderDays
I have always found the period from the late Victorian era up to the end of the Second World War fascinating. The world was trying to become more modernised, with cars, music etc., but a lot of the major medical advances had still not been made yet.
The Victorian novel Diary of a Nobody could easily take place now, with just a few slight changes... texting his qs instead of writing them letters and walking over to deliver them, etc.

Sorry, that should have said "texting his friends"

Also, I hope you can keep the book away from your DD for awhile!
I know if I were 12 and my DM had been writing something, if she said no, I'd try to find other means, such as asking another family member. And computers make it very easy these days...

I've got a password on my writing file WaterBird as well as my computer but to be honest there probably isn't anything too shocking - sometimes she gets hold of daily newspapers (not our own) and reads all sorts of stuff etc. A twelve year old today is very different to a twelve year old 30-40 years ago, I think