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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:
saltire · 18/08/2006 15:00

Sounds like a great idea!

mrsmoux · 19/08/2006 10:27

This is my first message so hope I don't break any netiquette rules.
I'm writing a novel at the moment and some of the best advice I've had is from a book by Marge Piercy called "So you want to write". It gives great writing advice and also made me think twice about spending a fortune on doing a creative writing MA - at the start is a poem which says writers only want that kind of thing because unless we win the Booker prize or something everyone thinks we're just faffing around wasting time. The poem says to have some pride in your writing even if it isn't published or really popular and to stick to your own vision. Having said that, I went on a short course which was fun but I don't think they help at all in getting published.

elliepupp · 19/08/2006 18:40

I don't mind trying to have a go with twocats idea. If we could take it in turns to write, say 500 - 1000 words then have a review the following week??

janeite · 19/08/2006 18:54

I'm half way through a teenage novel, which to my shame I haven't looked at in the last 10 months. Usually write poetry, although again, nowhere near as much as I used to.

Real life writers' groups are great if you can find a good one, as are writers' courses, mainly because knowing that somebody will be reading it MAKES you write something!

mummy2ashton · 19/08/2006 23:55

i'd definately be up for that elliepup!

OP posts:
Panboy · 20/08/2006 00:50

Am Def. up for a sharing thing on writing. Have reams of stuff!!

saltire · 28/08/2006 22:22

See, loads of us willing to join. My problem is getting my writing to make sense, i know what i want to write, just struggling to do it!

Jaffacake1 · 10/09/2006 22:03

Hi people, this is my first time here...but I was happy to see a fair few mums who write, I was planning to write a novel during my maternity leave, but I never have time. I have poems and short stories (mostly horror) on my system, but the major thing is the diary of my miscarriage and preg. am trying to think how to market it...

thebecster · 14/12/2006 11:57

Good to hear so many people in the same boat! I also intended to finish my novel in my maternity leave - HA! I was lucky if I had time to drink a cup of tea, never mind write a novel... The things we imagine motherhood will be .

The last time I actually finished a novel (completely unpublishable, but at least I finished) I was 16. And I finished a screenplay about 6 years ago - had to hand it in to graduate from my MFA, otherwise I don't think I would have finished that either. Since then I just keep starting novels & screenplays... And then not finishing. I'm about 2/3 of the way through writing a fantasy adventure novel but I'm thoroughly bored of it now, hate it, never want to see the damn thing again. Every now and then I fish it out and start writing a bit more out of sheer bloodymindedness.

I always have an excuse why I can't write 'today but will tomorrow'. It would be good to have a supportive group online so we can check in & say what we've done each week maybe?

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