For the Writers Among Us

[Roger A Ott II]

Metal Head, Chaos and I got started discussing writing in another thred: http://www.advancediron.org/forums/index.php/topic,3058.msg39055.html#msg39055.
But instead of derailing that one further, I started this one.

Anyone out there serious about writing, be it a novel, short story, screenplay, comic book, poem, etc.?

Anybody already a published author who might care to share their success stories and some insights into the business?

Or how about your routine?  How do you write?  I'll start on that one...

Luckily, right now I have a few free hours to devote to writing every day.  I sit down at the computer around 8:00am after the kids are off to school and do my e-mail, message board rounds, check my Facebook account, and hit a few websites that are of interest.  By 9:00, I shut down my browser and start writing, working on the new stuff.  I have a daily word goal of between 1500-2000 words (on really good days I've hit 2500).  That usually takes me up until around noon or one in the afternoon.  Then I eat lunch with my girlfriend and then it's on to things around the house that need tending to.  I try to work again in the evenings if time permits, usually editing and revisions of existing material for at least an hour or so.  Then I read for at least half an hour before bed.

The biggest things is this: I write every day.  I keep the above schedule Monday thru Friday, but I always fit some writing time in on most weekends, too.  Maybe only half an hour or so, but I write something, anything.  I also try to read every day, too.  If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write.  Reading keeps your mind fresh, lets you get a grasp on what works in writing and what doesn't.  Whenever I get stuck on something in my own work, I'll pick up a book for half an hour or so.  It usually gets me back on track.

More next time, but it's late, and I want to read a bit before I head to bed. 

[Chaos]

Like I and Roger mentioned in the other thread, the most important thing is to make time for writing, and any author will tell you that. If you're serious about writing and getting published it is a commitment, not just a past time. There are a lot of books out there that can help, the two my college professor had us read were "How to Write a Damn Good Novel" and "The 37 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes" both of which I find very useful (and are easy and quick reads).

Also like Roger said, reading others books helps you. Pay attention to the different styles and you'll pick up things as you go along. As you write you're style will come into it's own.

Also dont get discouraged from rejection. Rejection is a major part of the business and it happens to everyone. Oddly Stephen King's Dark Tower series, one of his most popular works, he mentioned in his introduction that he was barely able to get his publishing company to publish the work. Look how it turned out because he was persistent.

Oh, and one more thing- if you write a novel, get the story moving right away. Dont do one or more chapters to set up the story, dive right into it. Readers have short attention spans and if things arent happening they get bored and toss the book aside.

[Roger A Ott II]

Writers need to be observers.  Even though the type of fiction I write tends to lean towards the unnatural, the characters in my stories are (most of the time) normal human beings.  I like to take ordinary people and put them in extraordinary situations.  To do that, I need to write characters that are believable.  To do that, I need to look at everything in the world around me.

Case in point:  A couple months ago, we had to take the van in for a repair estimate.  Carla and I went across the street for breakfast while we waited.  Sitting in our booth, just chatting about casual things while we ate, I noticed a group of older gentlemen sitting at a large table on the opposite side of the room.  Now, I wasn't privy to the entirety of their conversations, but every once in awhile, I could get the gist of their topics.  One of them had the newspaper and they'd talk about sports and politics and  GM closings and whatnot.  The next day we took the van back to have the actual repairs done, and went for breakfast again.  That same group of men was there.  This was a daily gathering, something they did almost every morning to start their days.  I noted to Carla that I was storing that "scene" in my head for later use in a story, because the situation seemed so absolutely and undeniably normal.

A couple weeks ago, I woke up with a story fully formed in my head that included just such a scene as the major setting of the story.  Writing it was a lot of fun, and the entire 2300 word short story fell out of my head and onto the keyboard with minimal effort.  Had I needed to completely make up a situation, I doubt it would have been as good as it turned out.  Every story, from something as grand as a far-off epic space fantasy to a simple gathering of old men in a small town coffee house, needs to have some grounding in reality, something familiar for the reader to hook onto.

Drawing on your own life experiences will enhance your writing more than you ever thought possible.

[Roger A Ott II]

Most mornings, I peruse the Freelance Writing Jobs website looking for new opportunities.  Today, I discovered a link to an article that is both good advice and actually Iron Man related:

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/6-freelancing-lessons-from-tony-stark-aka-iron-man/

[Chaos]

Thanks for the link. Good read and seems like a good website.

Out of curiosity, for those of us here that write, what is it you write? Novels, short stories, movie scripts (Heath)?

Back in highschool and college I used to write mostly short stories, or short shortstories since I found most regular short stories to be drawn out. That and I couldnt keep a good plot for the entire length a novel would need to be.Recently I have been writing a novel, one I hope to get published when I finish it (which should be the near the future), and hopefully makea career of it.

[cold_war_myth]

Short stories and screenplays. Have three first draft screenplays done, am about 2/3rds into the fourth and am pondering many more.

I don't write every day but am moving toward that. Once I'm done with university (my Associates), I intend to pick up speed and taking several writing courses.

Nice post about observing, I've read that's excellent for dialog. But a tip I found very useful is watch, read and write what you love. That might mean I'm a little limited in my stories and scripts but I know what I enjoy and that's what I want to put out there.  I want characters and stories and fun, wild scenarios. Once I connect with the character and the world, success.

I'm trying to keep this fun and to make it my passion.  I used to stress myself out that I'd constantly change characters/stories or come up with tons of ideas. Lately, I'm milking some of those ideas and they are working out to my advantage.

I always admire how someone can create a character/world etc. and just suck me into it. I wish everyone here all the best of luck and hope to read your work soon.   

[Iron Mando]

I've been doing free lance sports writing since I was about 17/18 (am 26 now).  Been really cool for me, got to meet lots of very cool people (Ali, Gretzky just to name a few).  Got to cover events at Notre Dame and was the youngest member of the media at 18 at an Arena Football Championship game.

This isn't where I've done the most work but it is a website you guys can check out and it has a decent little bio about my experience

http://bleacherreport.com/users/44926-tom-ando

Also, done, but in the editing process of my first screenplay.  A rom-com in the Judd Apatow/Kevin Smith line of writing.

[Metal Head]

For the screenwriters here, I enjoy the books and videos from Syd Field:

www.sydfield.com

And major screenwriter John August's site:

http://johnaugust.com/

Great info all around! I use Final Draft software: www.finaldraft.com

heath

[Iron Mando]

Yeah I really enjoy August's site. I'll check out the other one.  I don't have final draft yet, I've been using a generic website called Script Buddy.  Should be getting final draft soon!

[Metal Head]

I like Adobe Story, too:

https://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/cslive/story/

I think the freebie is gone, now. You'll have to buy one of the new CS5 products to get CS Live.

heath

[Iron Mando]

Cool thanks, I'll check that out too.  I might need advice when it comes to the actual trying to sell the darn thing

[Metal Head]

That's the tricky part. Definitely check out this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Selling-Screenplay-Screenwriters-Guide-Hollywood/dp/0440502446

I haven't read it yet, but my friends say it's good.

Heath

[Iron Mando]

Nice. I'll check that out thanks

[Billium3]

I hope to write comic books for aliving someday (Hopefully sooner than later and ideally for Marvel and/or DC). Just gotta find a way to break into the industry. I sure wouldn't mind writing everyone's favorite Shellhead someday. 

[Chaos]

I hope to write comic books for aliving someday (Hopefully sooner than later and ideally for Marvel and/or DC). Just gotta find a way to break into the industry. I sure wouldn't mind writing everyone's favorite Shellhead someday. 

Any writer will tell you two things: be persistent and be ready to be rejected because you rarely get a bite on your first try.