I feel like I can take criticism, but my biggest fear is being the "noob" amongst seasoned writers. Looks like many of you have already polished off your first book or two...whereas I am still working on my first and only. I hope to learn a lot from your experience and knowledge.
My writing career began at the age of eight, when I wrote a whopping 3 page novel (1/2 of each page was illustrations). I have no idea what is was about. At age nine I wrote the sequel, about 10 pages, in which the bad guy was Megaman. . . I had drawn a picture of him in the same notebook as I was writing, so when I got to that page I just decided to incorporate it into the story. Later that year, I wrote my third book. 30 written pages (each one 1/2 illustration (stick figure style)), Entitled "Crono and Scott". It was about me going on an adventure with my favorite video game character. . .
I didn't write anything until seventh grade when I wrote 100 page book.... notebook page... it came out to about 50 pages typed... it was pretty lame....
@M: You aren't a noob amongst seasoned writers, by a long shot. I've personally written only about 120 pages as my longest bit of work (don't know what that comes out to word-wise...), every other time I get to about half that and end up scrapping it in favor of a massive revision or a new idea altogether. You are amongst peers, some of whom will have done more than you, some who have done less, but peers just the same.
Welcome, WEKM, glad you could tune in! Oh, and welcome to this end of the age curve. But sadly, you don't get to be THE old man of the bunch, yung'en! I've still got you beat by a couple.
I am, of course, intensely jealous that you get to know the Honorable Trio since they seem to have an averson to the midwest. Howard made it to Indianapolis last July but it was on the same day as my dad's 80th birthday so I was with my family.
Well, I'm from Canada, so perhaps the second. :POr the third, seeing as I'm writing this from Hamburg, Germany. ;)
I've never had anyone accept before, so this is new territory for both of us.
You mean you've been asking other girls?!?! :o
And then me knowing when to burst through the doors. . . . yeah. . . hmm. . . good point there, Raethe. . .
Yeah, getting everyone in one place, what with work, school, uni, social lives, etc could be.... er.... madness?To say nothing of different time zones and/or continents. And I'm sure there's someone from a different hemisphere here somewhere. There always is.
For everyone who's never done this before, it's rather simple. You pretty much just write a story with (at least in this situation) yourself as a character. The only real rule is that you can't "god-mode" which means you can't control another person's character.
I'm also discovering a lot about people by the "powers" they're giving themselves.
wait, how's your Dutch?Add an e and an s and I'll say that my Deutsch is excellent.
Also its funny firstChristmaSnow, you said that you were almost scared to submit with a big name person here and then you said you were joking. I am scared to submit and I won't even lie to myself about it. Thats not to say that I wont its just showing the lack of confidence I have in my abilities.
When I say I have friends I trust to give me decent feedback, those are usually friends who are also writers. I trust them to do that because we all want the same thing.
Writer friends are the best.
Also its funny firstChristmaSnow, you said that you were almost scared to submit with a big name person here and then you said you were joking. I am scared to submit and I won't even lie to myself about it. Thats not to say that I wont its just showing the lack of confidence I have in my abilities.
It's even better when you're friends with a fellow writer...One of my roommates last semester was writing a book. Now she sends it to me, and I give her feedback--extensive--and I send her my chapters as I complete them, and she gives me feedback....It's a sweet little system we've got going.
There are all types that come here. Kids, house moms, non-graduates, highschoolers, multi-degree holders. All sorts, and although the majority may lean to the well educated or college student I for one as a person who hasn't attended college, have a really good time here. It doesn't matter how old you are or what you've done, only that you enjoy yourself here.
...
You know, it occurs to me occasionally that our esteemed Mr. Sanderson has rather unfortunate initials.
Oh, I get it now. Sorry–
I just like to talk a lot about writing!Hear, hear!
My favorite author is Roger Zelazny. I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from him allowing me to use one of his short stories for the film that got me out of college. Sadly he passed away before I could present him with a copy of the finished film.
My name is Renoard or Fred, I'll likely answer to either. Like I said on "email list", dunno if this constitutes crashing the party. If not, then let me say that I am a Student of Divinity, ironically, in real life. I have loved speculative fiction for more years than there has been an MTV and I dabble a bit at writing and criticism.
Mostly I'm a professional time-waster, though I haven't done the RPG thing since before D&D had Drow...
The Writing Excuses threads are fun and really helpful, so they lead me here.
My favorite author is Roger Zelazny. I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from him allowing me to use one of his short stories for the film that got me out of college. Sadly he passed away before I could present him with a copy of the finished film.
Wow, RZ is my favorite author as well. Which short story did you do a film on?
Gotta love that guy.
The Great Train Robbery=masterpiece of genius
I'm probably "the old guy" here at 35 but I am pretty immatur...young at heart. Again, look forward to meeting all and getting involved.
I have so many stories that are in my headIt's a wonderful feeling, no?
I am probably more influenced by Katherine Kurtz Deryni and Adept series.
Anyway, Over all, I'm just stating to lurk these boards again due to listening to the "Reading Excuses" podcasts, and they are really useful, if at the very least they are kicking me in some area's and confirming a few idea's i've had to be actually good idea's. <3
When I was little I would make thing up with my sister (she did all the actual writing, I hated stuff like that), and I would help draw the stick people.That sounds like me and my sister, except, you know, I would write and she would draw the stick figures. Good luck with art school!
I've managed to write one book, a MG fantasy adventure that as much as I want to love, has every cliche known to boy-kind,Yes, but did you do it well?
Now, when all the critiques sound the same... that's when you need to worry!Yeah, that is my philosophy too, along with making all the changes that are like, 'duh, why didn't I see that?' Unfortunately that happens far too often but that's why I keep you guys around. ;)
Just remember if I didn't like you or your work, I wouldn't waste my time destroying it.
I swear it works... somehow. :PJust remember if I didn't like you or your work, I wouldn't waste my time destroying it.
That is oddly counter-intuitive logic.
Yay! Another girl. Not that I have any problem with the boys, but I always get excited for the girls because I write somewhat girly stuff (quirky fairy tale junk).
"Oh, boy, boys... Girls!"
"Uhh, what about them?"
"Nothing really. I just like to say the word. Giiiiirls."
I dunno, I don't really see what's so great about girls :PThere's a reason you're called "the fairer sex", and it has nothing to do with your complextions (anymore) or various innuendo-based interpretations. It may be because of the justice thing.
and I look forward to eliminating my excuses for not writing enough.
Besides... we ARE weird.Speak for yourself. My therapist says I am showing a lot of improvement! :P
Apparently he promised not to bite. That made me sad
You cannot withdraw, or I will follow and bore you with my inane drivel FOR ETERNITY.Of the three, that's the only one that is truly frightening. But then you didn't even ask them a question....
But then you didn't even ask them a question....I do not see your point.
I lie a lot, too.
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Sweet, someone else who writes musicals! (Okay, that makes it sound as if I've actually written musicals. I haven't--I've written songs and I've written stage plays, but the one musical I actually set out to write petered out when I realized I didn't have a story. Still working on it. ::) )
Anyway, welcome to the group!