Starting to write with a purpose - anyone want an encouraging thread?

[ENoeuf]

I’m 50 this year and always wanted to be a writer. No contacts, no idea how to start so although I did a creative writing module at uni it never went anywhere beyond winning or placing in competitions (magazines like She etc). I wrote a Childrens book about a decade ago and had initial interest but a no to the full manuscript. Had it professionally read and suggestions made and life got in the way / it’s on a shelf and no longer a priority.
Anyone else thinking now or never? I feel in the past I’ve got bogged down with word counts to aim for, genres etc instead of just writing. Or should you plot it all out first like an architect?
Anyone else upf to a dreads start over 2022?

We had a 2021 thread for this, but I only managed halfway through.
Mid be happy for a writing support thread for this year.

We also have a Mumsnet writing group of Scribophile

Oh brilliant thank you. I’m happy to post updates - just need to avoid the procrastination stuff - need to get a new notebook/need to read up on word counts/ need to wait til after the kids birthday etc.

I am the Queen of procrastination. I managed 30,000 words by last year but I'm only about half way through.....it's going to need A LOT of editing 😂

At least you have the words! I forced my self to start my opening paragraph today. It’s hard because I feel like I’m telling a story I know rather than making it up as I go.

I've managed to get 500 words a day written this week so I'm feeling quite happy.

I have a vague structure for the book and I know what the end of this book will be, but I keep getting pulled off on tangents. I need to focus!

Well done! I keep getting side tracked as well it’s surprisingly hard to chisel out a few hours in a week.

Can I join? I know I need to write, I just don’t know what. Tbh even just a journal would be beneficial at this stage. Would love to be doing 500 words a day. How does one find the discipline or time?

Yes! We are very slow at catching up but it would be nice to keep going this year

@ENoeuf

At least you have the words! I forced my self to start my opening paragraph today. It’s hard because I feel like I’m telling a story I know rather than making it up as I go.

Firstly, the opening para is not exactly the most difficult and secondly, always wrote what you know. 👌

😂 ‘the opening paragraph is not the most difficult’ - there is no hope for me then

@ENoeuf

😂 ‘the opening paragraph is not the most difficult’ - there is no hope for me then

So sorry, that should have read

The opening para is the most difficult.

So yes, there is every hope for you!!!

I too find the opening paragraph the worst (mine has been rewritten at least 5 times). But, I also know that the important thing is getting the story down - I can go back and edit / cut later.

I work on the principle that 500 mediocre words are better than no words and within those 500 words there is likely to be 100 or so that will stay after the edit.

I write professionally ie journalism and corporate writing. In my fiction, I was always a pantser. Last year, from July, for various personal reasons, I adopted a different approach to my fiction writing. I did a rough chapter plan; wrote in order and by the end of the year I'd finished two books.
The best advice I can give is just write. Don't worry what it's like. Don't get caught up on the first para because it's hugely likely it will change in an edit anyway. Have fun!

Just posted on the NaNoWriMo thread too. I write a bit for work and want to start fiction writing. Feeling a bit intimidated by everyone here who seems to be writing hundreds of thousands of words and having success - I'm in my mid thirties and I'm starting more or less from scratch. But I have an idea, and am keen that this will be the year I do it.

I would love to get more focussed and finish a book I've had in my head for about 3 years now. Are people just writing for their own enjoyment, or hoping for publication?

@MsFrog A bit of both - it will be a phenomenal achievement for me to get the idea in my head actually written. But I'd be lying if I said a tiny bit of me wasn't hoping for publication one day.

@FledglingFountainPen

Just posted on the NaNoWriMo thread too. I write a bit for work and want to start fiction writing. Feeling a bit intimidated by everyone here who seems to be writing hundreds of thousands of words and having success - I'm in my mid thirties and I'm starting more or less from scratch. But I have an idea, and am keen that this will be the year I do it.

I'm still trying to fight my way to the end of my first book. I've written 50,000 words since last March but only about half way through - going to need lots of editing 😂😂

Would love to join this! I am working on a non fiction memoir and am about halfway through a draft. my problem is that I get distracted very very easily and also think of new ideas rather than pushing through one idea to the end, which is much harder.

Agree with disgruntledpelican that you don't need to get your first paragraph right. Often the second paragraph is stronger as the first one has too much pressure on it and starts to sound a bit strained.

I think I want to aim for publication - I had agent interest which went nowhere years ago and I think I just gave up then.

May I join, please? I'm about 60k through a story and I haven't a clue what I'm doing! I think my plan, like @Bakingdiva suggests, is to just vomit the words onto the page, get the damn thing written, and then edit, edit, edit!

@Fireblanket

May I join, please? I'm about 60k through a story and I haven't a clue what I'm doing! I think my plan, like *@Bakingdiva* suggests, is to just vomit the words onto the page, get the damn thing written, and then edit, edit, edit!

I like the ' vomit onto the page' description - for some of my chapters, it's extremely appropriate 😂😂

I love that. I need to pick mine up again. It’s all happened in my head I just need to write it down!