Who Are The Writers?

[Stewart]

Out of the BAR members, who are the writers? I'm interested in seeing who are the ones working on short stories, their novel perhaps. What sort of material are you writing? Fiction? Non fiction?

How do you rate your ability too? It's always interesting to see how people think about their work.

I'm been working on a bunch of short stories on and off. I'm a very slow writer, and often fall into the trap of dwelling too long on a single sentence to ensure the right effect, which sometimes leads to boredom with the story. I just can't seem, no matter how hard I try, to be able to just get the story down on paper before thinking of revision.

I've got a few ideas for novels, a few of which I have bits and pieces penned for, although I don't spend as much time writing as I should. Or could.

I think I'm quite good, nowhere near the finished article. My descriptive ability is my strength, my creation of conflict is where I need to work more. Dialogue also needs a polish.


So, let's hear your side.

 

[Honeybee]

I write. I've got a bunch of short stories that I'm meant to be hawking round various magazines plus a few that I'm working on. I've also got ideas for a few novels. I've written various bits of notes and research and couple of paragraphs for these.

I'm a journalist so I've had work published. But that's obviously all non-fic journalistic stuff, mostly for tourists.

I'd say I'm pretty good. I'd have to be to have been published, and I've been complimented by other writers. But I still have my periods of self-doubt! The major thing I need to concentrate on is dialogue. So I challenged myself to write a play. It's taking forever and I have to keep reminding myself not to write huge descriptive stage directions. I also need to work on funny.

 

[Justin91]

I have been writing short stories since the age of seventeen. Writing, although one of my greatest passions, has been an off and on endeavor. I will write several stories in a few weeks time, put them away, forget about them, and a few months later start again with new shorts.

Over the course of years, I have actually written very little, so I am still experimenting and trying to find my own style. I have always had problems finding my own voice, it usually changed depending on what I was reading in my spare time. When I was younger my settings, dialogue and description resembled king. I went through a stage where I read a lot of Hemingway, I would distill what I was writing down, usually with a very dry result. And this continued with many authors.

Most of my problems could be remedied if I would work on my grammar and usage. My lack of knowledge in the basic tools of writing does show my lack of motivation and discipline. I blame this on my busy lifestyle. I take some time to study the basics and practice my writing, always trying to improve in some aspect of my writing.

Do I think my writing is good? A few months ago I finally pulled some of the short stories that I have hidden away in my den, polished them, and submitted a couple to Writers Digest writing competition, and three others recently to short fiction publishers. Hopefully this month I find out if I was successful or not. I have written a few articles published in an aircraft engine trade magazines through my work. I do not like technical writing though and will only do so if assigned. So I am capable of writing. I just do not know if I am a capable writer!

My ideas are my strong point. The only problem with this…we all say we have great ideas!

 

[ions]

I have a few outlines written out. A few novel concepts written out. Twice as many of both in my head. I think they're decent but I get hung up on what I'm trying to say. What would the novel be about? Not the plot but the message. What is its meaning? Would anyone care? I know I should just get the story out and hope the meaning becomes evident and pertinent. Or see a way to flush it out better in the revisions. I have written a couple short stories but I never get passed the first draft. When it comes to molding the story into something better I'm already bored of the idea.

I should write more. I think I have a decent idea of dialogue and description for someone without much experience. I also thing I have something to say and a good story or two to tell.

 

[Wintergreen]

My ideas are my strong point. The only problem with this…we all say we have great ideas!

Actually, no. I have very little confidence that my ideas are good. I've planned out about half a dozen novels in the last few years and thrown them all away because I don't think the ideas are "novel-worthy". I've written lots of short stories, though, many of which I'm proud of - maybe because I think that I can get away with smaller ideas.

Having said that, I've got a really good idea for a novel at the moment. I'd better start planning it out ...

 

[sirmyk]

This is a great idea to gather the writers on this forum together, Stewart. Maybe someday all of us could collaborate on a "book&reader" sponsored collection of sorts (or shorts)

I write many things. Technical nonfiction would be my vanity, horror and dark fiction my sanity. I feel sometimes that I have two personalities: one, that of a computer/technical-savvy geek; two, that of a creepy guy who likes to stand outside windows late at night holding sharp objects. The nonfiction writer in me I believe is strongest, but he'd never make it as a freelance writer. Nonfiction is fun to write, yet boring to read. I live for fiction. Dark fiction. Contemplative fiction. Better yet, I live for editing, re-editing, and rewriting my fiction until I think it's perfect. I then store it away until I almost forget about it before tackling it again, making it more perfect, and then I push it off for others to hack to pieces and to point out my obvious mistakes. Three words: writing critique group. I have a few mentors in the horror writing industry, which is also quite useful.

I mess around constantly with short stories, novelettes, novellas, poetry, black-and-white sketches, flash fiction, even novels--all of which are dark in nature. At any given time there are reams and reams of manuscript pages scattered around the house. Mostly horror, or sub-horror. I have even dabbled with a screenplay once, but lost interest midway through act two. My collection of nonfiction consists of technical essays, network policies, and instruction manuals. My better half is sooooooo boring.

Stewart has read some of my fiction work, and actually reviewed my first novel (self-published) somewhere on this forum, so he may wish to share his thoughts on my writing ability (feel free, by the way). Like all writers, my work needs some work. I know this. Anyone taking Stewart's criticism should take it seriously. He reads oodles. And knows oodles. Yeah, I think I'm a "good" writer. Not "great" yet, but slowly getting there. I'm still young, and I learn fast.

Novel number two is on the way, but I am proud to say it's not writers block keeping it in its unfinished state, but three or four short stories I am polishing.

For word count, I've probably written a few million (not counting the rewrites).

 

[Occlith]

I have not written fiction for some time. I have posted some doggerel in the writers' showcase.

I've got a few ideas for novels, a few of which I have bits and pieces penned for, although I don't spend as much time writing as I should. Or could.

Perhaps you're pointing in too many directions to focus on writing? You host forums, moderate, program (?) and, I assume, have a life offline. Are you willing to stay offline to devote more time to develop your writing?
Also, do you still write poetry?

Nonfiction is fun to write, yet boring to read.

Do you use different writing styles for fic and non-fic? Have you tried writing non-fiction in your fiction voice?

 

[beer good]

I've co-authored one non-fiction book which did get published - which was probably more fun to have done than to actually do. Also, I write articles and reviews 'n stuff - not very successfully, but I keep meaning to do more of that.

I write short stories occasionally and have the seeds for either one or two novels sitting - with the (I assume) age-old problem that I have what I think is a great beginning in dire need of a plot. Or at least some idea of what's supposed to happen. Problem is, when it comes to writing I have the attention span of a 4-year-old on caffeine coupled with an obsession with details - not a good combination.

 

[Stewart]

Perhaps you're pointing in too many directions to focus on writing? You host forums, moderate, program (?) and, I assume, have a life offline. Are you willing to stay offline to devote more time to develop your writing?

The ones I host I just check in on from day to day to ensure there's no spam so that's not a big time stealer. Aside from work I have muay thai on Monday, MMA on Wednesday, and I'm starting my second creative writing class next week, so that, at least, will give me the incentive to write regularly since workshopping is a regular requirement.

Also, do you still write poetry?

No. But the thought occasionally crosses my mind.

 

[sirmyk]

Do you use different writing styles for fic and non-fic? Have you tried writing non-fiction in your fiction voice?

Completely different voices for fiction vs. nonfiction. I have tried merging the two, only to disasterous results.

 

[mrkgnao]

I have recently finished my first novel – or I should say our first novel, since I and my cousin wrote it together. I can report that the feeling you get upon finishing a novel is a feeling of being The Best. At least when it’s always been your dream to be a writer… We’ve sent it in to a Swedish publisher’s novel competition and are trying to think of something else until we hear the results.

We actually think the book is very good and we’re very pleased with our work. Maybe a lot of it is the brilliant feeling of having done it, but we do think that what we have done is a good job. Being two people (who get along well) was a good idea for a first novel, because it made sure we did do the work (and it is a lot of work). And now we know we can do it, so we happily push on with our own books.

I’m currently beginning work on my second novel in Swedish, and I’m also in the middle of a hard-boiled detective story in English (it might appear in the Writers’ Showcase forum one day ). The detective story I’m making up as I go along, but I feel a little more pressure about the Swedish book – now that I know (imagine) I can write a novel, I might have to think it through from the start… It might need a plot, for instance… Oh well. It’s great fun, anyway.

I also write some short stories and some poems and songs. Basically, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I believe I am good, or I wouldn’t keep at it, but I also believe a writer’s craft/art is constantly changing – maybe not getting better (or worse), but evolving. And that’s a good thing, otherwise I’d bore myself…

*mrkgnao*

 

[Daniel_Infinity]

I don't know if I exactly fit in this category, but I have recently finished my first novel manuscript. Which right now is hidden away while I am working on my second one .
Unlike most of the people here I don't really like editing, and it doesn't take me that long to finish a story. Once I have an idea and have thought it over I can write at a pretty decent pace.
I personally don't think my writing is terrible, though I do agree it can be better with an editor .
I think my descriptive ability is my weakness--don't get me wrong, I can describe pretty good--it's just that I don't know how much is too much and how much is too little, and I'd prefer to be safely within the little amount as not to bore readers quickly.
Right now I am eight thousand words into my second novel manuscript (I needed something to keep my mind off of my first completed one) and am wondering if anyone would be interested in reading it and honestly giving some c&c? I would paste in the writer's showcase but am a little edgy about that .

 

[Jughead]

I'm about halfway through my first book of short stories and meandering thoughts, all with a comedy bent. I should finish in another 4-6 months.

I work as a writer for TV and film and have written around 200 produced scripts for television and one feature film. I work almost solely in the fine, fine arena of comedy. I keep meaning to tackle more serious work but I usually only get a handful of pages into something before I succomb to the compulsion to chase the joke.

There are two novels in the works but they keep shifting to the back burner to make room for paid work. One day, perhaps, maybe, sometime....

 

[WoodYouLike]

Mostly I write short articles (for two of our blogs: one on wooden flooring and one on business matters). Just published debut business novel (July this year), which was bringing a youth dream to reality. My first language is Dutch, but novels and articles are in English (when living and working in the UK: when in Rome.... ;-) and sometime I can't prevent the 'double Dutch' phrases sneaking in (sentence construction in Dutch is very different than in English).

Used to write fictional stories (SF mostly) but find that part-fictional/part-fact based stories are my niche. Editing I call polishing, it's more brushing up the wording than the real content.

 

[Lily]

I write. I don't write well, But I have a few notebooks full of things that will probably never be seen by any other by my own eyes. It's all fiction, all unpolished, 2nd draft stuff. Some of it is nothing other than the outlines, character backstory... there stories are all there, just waiting for my confidence and attention, I guess. They are mostly horror-type, probably more fantasy or whatever the 'magic-but-not-high-fantasy" subgenre is called these days.
every now and then, lately out of grief, a poem will knock around in my head and drive me insane until I put it to paper. In these cases, I post them on a website somewhere and forget about them. I used to make them perfect and then shred 'em. I have more sense about that sort of thing, now.. The latest was a grief poem, gritty and unpolished, but I've recently decided to start a new notebook and keep the poems, if for nothing else than my own enjoyment.

 

[Marquis Rex]

What does being a writer mean?
I've never been published, but have burning ideas for several years. I've written several outlines down.
One of them really excites me- so I filled it out and over the space of a year I came up with a whole time-line and plot. This story is very close to my heart, I have so much to say! For a long time I ended up carrying a little note book around and scribbling down my ideas and how they were to be said. When I felt I'd exhausted every idea pertaining to that story I "fleshed" the scrbbings down in a bigger scrap book which slowly evolved into the timeline/plot I was talking about. The story is set in a science fiction backdrop, but the settings, situations and characters will seem very familiar. It's close to my heart because there are many parallels and issues that I care about, no actually, am passionate about in my story transposed into the Science fiction context. There are even parallels of warm and comfortable/familiar places I'm fond of.
When I started writing the novel, I initially found I was too much of a pedant and perfectionist. My strengths in my opinon are authentic and totally believeble characters and situations with dialogue as you would expect, and I also think the plot and idea is fresh and intriguing. Because now I've decided to get the story down on paper any way I could- my weakness is my sentence structure and my grammar, and my descriptive skills, which I think are a bit cold and technical- where as I would prefer it tending toward wonderful imaginative imagry! I have decided that when I've finished I will go over the whole story again and ammend here and there and hoepfully improve the imagry.

The difficulty is I have a very successful career as an engineer which demands alot of my time, however it's always a wonderful escape to lose myself in the characters of my novel. They are familiar to me and I find it tremendous release and quite theraputic.[ I woke up at 4 am this morning and had to do some more writing- unfortunately even at this pace- if my projections are correct- my story may take many more years to finish ]

 

[Stewart]

In the context of this thread, Marquis Rex, I meant who writes? Just that.

 

[Wintergreen]

My strengths in my opinon are authentic and totally believeble characters and situations with dialogue as you would expect, and I also think the plot and idea is fresh and intriguing. Because now I've decided to get the story down on paper any way I could- my weakness is my sentence structure and my grammar, and my descriptive skills, which I think are a bit cold and technical- where as I would prefer it tending toward wonderful imaginative imagry! I have decided that when I've finished I will go over the whole story again and ammend here and there and hoepfully improve the imagry.

I wouldn't worry too much about the imagery. If you spend too much time thinking about things like that, you'll end up with purple prose. Concentrate on writing your story as plainly and clearly as you can (at least that's the advice all the novel writing self-help books give).

I think it's great that you're paying a lot of attention to character and dialogue though - that's exactly where most SF fails.

 

[WriterJohnB]

I'm new to this site, as of today. I've been writing for a dozen years or so, but I finally joined a writers' group six years ago and got serious about it. I finished my first novel 4 years ago and sent 3 chapters to Ace/Bantam. The editor said he enjoyed them, but I had to get an agent before he considered the book. Even with that endorsement, I could not land an agent - and, believe me, I queried dozens. I supposed I didn't have enough credits.

So I went the other route and began writing short stories and submitting them to small press magazines. Finally, my original novel, Friends in Dark Places, was accepted by a small publisher and came out last month. I have an agent now, and she's got two novels and two kids' books to shop around.

For all of those in this thread who want to get those words out of your head and actually published so other people can read them, I suggest you go to my site, take the link to Canadian writer, Rob Sawyer's site and read "Heinlein's rules." To be a writer, you must not only write, but finish what you write.

JohnB

 

[sirmyk]

I suggest you go to my site, take the link to Canadian writer, Rob Sawyer's site and read "Heinlein's rules." To be a writer, you must not only write, but finish what you write.

No offence to your writing (since I haven't read any), but your website looks terrible.