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Original poster

writing my first novel

34 replies

mummy2ashton · 08/08/2006 23:00

hiya, i have an idea for a novel and i've got the protagonist, antagonists, theme, the plot (mostly but im sure it could change a bit the more i write) and also got a few writing text books for tips and ideas. i even got the writers and artists year book for info on how the publishing world works etc! i suppose i would just like to hear from others who are also writing their first novel, or those who are on their second, or third etc! a bit of support would be very helpful for me. i am also a full time mum to an 18 month old who is wired to the moon, so my time for writing is limited to when he sleeps and when daddy comes home in the evenings to take over. i have a bit of a writing background - worked as a journalist for a daily newspaper in canada and also for a weekly local paper here in the uk. have also done a bit of freelance work for a baby magazine and a national paper once or twice. the only writing qualification i have are my english gcses (took science to a level - no idea why). should i take a creative writing course or is it not necessary? sorry i've rambled on enough now. thanks.

OP posts:
Pandorasjarboy · 09/08/2006 20:55

Offering support Ashton, but no advice, I'm afraid...have bundles of my own (unpublishable) work in a friends basement, but feeling the creative juices begining to flow again..am complimented often on my writing style, but never had the courage to do it 'for real'..do you think you need a course?? Skirted around this myself..ramble away with abandon if you feel like it....a close buddy of mine is a Vancouvarian -any proximity?

Original poster
mummy2ashton · 10/08/2006 00:50

no i was no where near vancouver! (although i'd love to visit there, it looks amazing) i was in ontario in a city called thunder bay. beautiful place, very hot in the summer and very very cold in the winter!

i don't know if i need a course, i just want to know if its a good idea to do one, if you know what i mean (no? me either sometimes!). i have bought a few text books on writing though so i suppose im giving myself a course.

nice to "meet" you by the way. thanks for the reply

xxx

OP posts:
adozenroses · 12/08/2006 13:38

Hello. I'm actually a publisher and hear this question about writing courses a lot. My advice would be to do a course if you feel nervous approaching your novel, otherwise just let your creative side flow and join a couple of online writers forums for any questions you may have.

Hope this helps. Good luck x

Original poster
mummy2ashton · 12/08/2006 15:19

cheers adozenroses. i don't feel nervous about writing, infact i've already started now and im going well i think! although im sure i have a long way to go with second drafts and tweaking it etc etc. i just thought i may need to do a course incase there is some big novel writing secret i need to know or something. im probably not making much sense!

OP posts:
RainbowBear · 13/08/2006 14:15

watching this thread with interest - what online writers forums can you recommend??

Book called Writing Down the Bones I find very useful, by the way.

TambaTheDragonSlayer · 13/08/2006 14:17

Hiya

I am in the middle of writing a journal type thing about being a teenager, sex, drugs etc etc aimed at schools.

I spend alot of time doing it in the evenings when the kids are asleep and have posted abit of it on another thread for comments and feedback (which I am very greatful for)

Whats yours about?

adozenroses · 13/08/2006 18:35

absolutewrite.com is one of my favourites. This site gives you access to a very supportive group of experienced authors and some publishers.

What's your story about mummy2ashton?

Tamba, I still write now and do most of it in the evening. Comes with the job of having kids

RainbowBear · 13/08/2006 21:00

It does look great - amused myself with the article on how to make time to write with small kids. Quite inventive actually.

WeeMarzi · 13/08/2006 21:13

Hello!!!

I am also starting my first novel thingy! I am writing a lighthearted book on how guilty we mothers feel about everything!

If any of you have any stories to share, let me know. I would love to hear them!

WM x

TooTicky · 13/08/2006 21:23

I'm not writing a novel, but I am part way through umpteen stories for children. Plenty of creative juice, but with 4 children, have to bottle most of it for later and hope it doesn't go off!

Original poster
mummy2ashton · 14/08/2006 23:35

my story (in a nutshell) is about a woman who is pregnant. but she is keeping it a secret from her other half (they arn't married, just living together). the story goes on to explain the obstacles she faces trying to tell her dp, the lies and stories she has to make up keeping it from him etc etc. i think i might keep it fairly light hearted iyswim. although already i have another idea for another novel, i have written my ideas down, but i think it would be too much to work on 2 at the same time. my other idea is about a woman who commits identity theft/fraud. although this novel would require a hell of alot more research

OP posts:
Original poster
mummy2ashton · 14/08/2006 23:39

sorry, that is the basic theme of the story, i didn't explain it very well. i am so tired!

OP posts:
twocatsonthebed · 15/08/2006 17:51

Hello,

I've certainly found it very useful going to writing courses, both to get me started, and then to move things along. (My situation: first book got an agent, didn't get a publisher; second book in suspended animation at the moment...)

But what I'd really recommend, if you can find one near you, is a writing group, where you all get together and criticise each other's work, helpfully of course! I've belonged to two - one a formal one with an author in charge, and one just a group of friends, but it's the single thing that a) improved my writing b) forced me to write if only to have something to bring to the group. Except now I have moved away from both of them, and so am not doing very much.

Also, the UEA Creative Writing Course has published a book, called "the Creative Writing Coursebook" by Julia Bell and Paul Magrs, which I've found v useful.

Now, how can I get my own writing back on track - I have a deadline, you see, first baby due on 1 Nov. But is this making me work...

saltire · 16/08/2006 18:09

I'm trying to work my way through writing a novel, but i cannot seem to get trated. I have the plot outline, characters etc, but am struggling to get it into some sort of readable and presentable order! I'm sure i'll get there, good luck with yours.

saltire · 16/08/2006 18:29

No bloody wonder i can't get "started" if i spell like that

elliepupp · 16/08/2006 19:23

Has anyone had any experience of writing with a partner (not the one with the dangly bits)? I too have great/fantastic/stunning outline for novel but am too tired/lazy/illiterate to complete....answers on a postcard..

TooTicky · 16/08/2006 20:50

twocats, we meet again!
elliepupp, I've often wondered how on earth people manage to write with somebody else - I suppose it has to be just the right combination of people. IMO, if you've had a good idea, it should be you that writes it - partly because someone else's interpretation is bound to be different from yours, and you may not want their creative input if it will change the story/style. Perhaps, in order to write together, people need to come up with the initial idea together and share the entire creative process.
Or perhaps I'm basing my opinions too much on my probably-unworkable-with-self!

elliepupp · 16/08/2006 21:10

No, Tooticky I think you've got a point! I think I'm just looking for a supportive mate!

TooTicky · 16/08/2006 22:03

Perhaps we have enough writers on MN to form a supportive group...

elliepupp · 16/08/2006 22:04

Perhaps..there used to be a friendly site on the BBC writersroom page, but I think they shut it down...

Barbie7 · 16/08/2006 22:10

I'm writing my first novel at the moment... there are lots of useful suggestions on this thread, thanks all.

I used to be in a writers group, for the writing it was great but socially is was a dead loss, and one time we had to meet but the room was locked so I was standing around with all these people with nothing to say, and had a bit of a panic attack and I never went again. Pathetic I know!

elliepupp · 16/08/2006 22:12

What's the novel about Barbie7?

twocatsonthebed · 16/08/2006 22:16

waves to twoticky

I'd be up for a writing group of supportive people.

elliepupp · 16/08/2006 22:18

Me too!!
Any ideas on how the site might work?

twocatsonthebed · 18/08/2006 14:43

Erm, no, not really - all the writing groups I've ever done have been in real life.

It would definitely be fun to have a thread where we all met up and chatted about where we were at and what we were up to.

The other alternative is to have some kind of email group where one or two people send stuff round each week, and then we meet up on a thread to chat about it a few days after. But that would take some organising.

People who've been part of online writing groups before - how else might we work it?!

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