Starting out…

[Whoopdedoop]

Just started I’m my first draft, so a long way to go. Anyone out there in a similar position? I thought we could encourage each other!

Me too. I've got the whole thing planned out in my head and I am writing random chunks of it, in no particular order. 1st draft is there, but only about half of it is actually on paper.

I’m doing random chunks too. Are you using any software to help pull it together?

I’m just starting too! I’ve got it all mapped out and am only just starting on the actual writing. It’s quite daunting trying to write the story that I’ve been working on theoretically for so long!

Im in the same boat! I’m just finishing a uni degree (science, not anything to do with writing) so I’m hoping once that’s out the way I can focus on writing the idea that has been in my head a while. I’ve written the draft of a few chapters but nothing solid yet.

No software other than Google Docs. I tear the handwritten pages out of note books, slide them into clear poly pockets and put them in order inside a lever arch file. The file is about two thirds full and so far I have only typed out two pages of it. 😂

I have a big A4 notebook with a family tree drawn out in it, together with random info like town and village names, relationships between people, how much a classic car is likely to be worth etc. I have checked whether there is likely to be a bank holiday in Menorca on the weekend the CP is there; and made some notes about whether you can get direct flights from place A to place B or if connecting flights are needed. I've also had to look into the topography of a particular Caribbean island. There are many post-it notes and a kind of storyboard. I did try using a bullet journal but it was more trouble than it was worth.

Once I've written all the different bits I can think of, I'm going to type it all out and read from start to finish to see just how awful it is and how much else I have to do. There's some themes running through the story and I need to make sure the hints are in the right place. I also need to lay the foundations for the sequel that appeared out of nowhere in my head a couple of months ago.

I retire in two months' time (hooray!) and really hope to get somewhere with it over the summer.

Following. I’ve got two ideas and I’m trying to find the motivation to start.

Buy a notebook and write something - it doesn't matter what it is. Maybe a short conversation between two people, or a description of a place, anything really. Keep the notebook in your bag, and jot things down as you think of them. Trying to think of the exact wording is off-putting so just write what comes.

My approach (and I don't know whether it is a help or a hindrance!) is imagining that I'm watching a scene in a film.

Yes , I have read a few writers just say write something every day.
I’ve been looking at short courses just to give me a push.

Does anyone show their work to friends or family? I’m 15k into my first draft and, whilst I think it’s amazing, I could do with an unbiased opinion.

I’d think carefully about who you let read it and what you want from it— friends or family will probably just say ‘Oh, I enjoyed it!’ If you want an actual critique (‘I didn’t understand why Carla had the affair with Nigel when she hates him, or how exactly Professor Boyd got shot in his lab, and you keep switching between past and present tense’) I think you’re better off with someone less biased, preferably someone who reads a lot in the genre you’re working in. I’ve never used them, but there are online critique sites where you swap MS with other writers. Better still would be finding a writing group locally.

@Whoopdedoop I haven't yet, although I will probably show it to DD when it is a bit more cobbled together.

DH is writing a memoir and he's asked me to read some of that.

There are a lot of beta readers out there who will give you initial feedback - it sounds as if this might be helpful to you?

I’ve shown DP my first chapter (and the prologue) but I very much doubt he’ll want to read the full book as it’s not really his genre (cosy fantasy).