What would YOU write?

[Whaleboy]

Well I'm writing a novel and I can definately say the idiom "write what you know" is totally true. You're putting together a volume of 70-90K words, this is a completely different animal to 3000 word short stories... you're inventing the details of your characters lives, their events, dilemmas and what not. Put yourself into it, because in you there is a ready made person with a past and presumably some retrospect and imagination. It really is a very difficult thing to do, so plan. You really want to put the bulk of your effort into the planning stage so when writing you're not worried about the direction of the novel, you can concentrate on imaginative prose.

As for me, mines a romantic thriller/tragedy with four sex scenes, one war, two suicides, four/five beatings and lots of breasts.

[Dis]

if they were sexist, why did you try to read them?

[Japher]

As for me, mines a romantic thriller/tragedy with four sex scenes, one war, two suicides, four/five beatings and lots of breasts.

Writing about what you know I see...

[Whaleboy]

Oh yes, try and find a directory of agents and publishers. Don't submit your work directly to a publisher... if it's unsolicited they'll usually autoreject. Go through an agent or if you must a smaller publisher, but be wary of ones that ask you to pay... yes you'll get a crazily huge amount of commission but you won't get a good circulation and the odds of you making a return on your investment are tiny.

If you're in the UK, try "Writers and Artists Yearbook 2005", which also has a lot of tips on how to get published. If you're in the US or elsewhere, there should be an equivalent yearly.

But for the moment, don't think about getting published, write the damn thing. And don't rush yourself... if it's your first time or first major attempt, take your time. OTOH, always have your audience in mind. Agents and publishers now want to see a good understanding of the market for the book, almost in the manner of a business plan, but more importantly at the stage your at now, it will give you a clear direction of how to write.

[Whaleboy]

Originally posted by Japher


Writing about what you know I see...

It's a hard life...

Until, first, as his breathing increases and heard speeds she removes herself from the bed and standing in nothing but a skirt she invites him to sit before falling to her knees. Their eyes locked seductively she unzips and slides his trousers off, tight and with some resistance. At last, and for the most part, his erection is visible against the tight constraints of his briefs – removed with an equal hungry swift.

“What the hell is that?”

“What the hell is what?” he asks back, startled.

“That… that thing over your dick?”

(extract from chapter VI of my novel)

[Japher]

heard speeds?

equal hungry swift?

wha!?

[Whaleboy]

heard speeds?

****ing typos Another thing to be careful of... read and re-read, don't do what I do and leave 15'000 words to examine at the end of the month .

That was from an earlier draft... meant to be "deepens".

And "equally hungry". He was getting toothy earlier .

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by Dissident


are those books any good? I forgot rsr was co-written.

Though my versions would be more intersting . It would have more personal stories. But still cover major events in the war.

I forgot that cauldron is about war with the French, I'm sure you can figure out how that ends.........



ACK!

[Dr Strangelove]

I'd probably write something similar to "The Last Angry Man", but updated to today's conditions. It wouldn't sell, but I'd probably lose my license just on GP.

[Bosh]

If I wrote a novel I know it'd end up sounding like a bad Frank Herbert knock-off. He's not my favorite author (definately like him thought) but I know I'd overthink everything in the same way he does sometimes...

[Agathon]

Of all Apolytoners who aren't Vel, Pekka should be the only one permitted to write a novel.

I reckon he'll have beaten Remembrance of Things Past in about six months.

[Japher]

What I am acutally writing is a series along the lines of Hitchickers Guide (sure to be great ) about a mans search for god himself.... However, it is really a writing exercies for the greater novels... A book about Sessinger, the killer of killers, the black death, the darkness that shines, the evils that reminds us that we ourselves are not without sin. Him and Amazel, the exact opposite.