McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Author In Progress
slrogers:
I'm so new to all of this that it all blows my mind. I actually finished a book (first in a series) that I decided to publish myself.
(My amazon profile: http://www.amazon.com/S-L-Rogers/e/B00BZSWRMU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 )
I decided to publish myself because I realized that I would learn so much more about everything involved with writing by doing so. I didn't start out with a love of literature like many of you have, but rather perhaps more of a fear of it. In trying to overcome that fear and learn more I decided to write, and in writing fell so completely in love with all of this that I feel so completely overwhelmed.
(My blog on that subject: http://wordmindjourney.blogspot.com/2013/04/falling-in-love-with-literature.html )
In finding this great love not only for writing, but also for reading, I realized that there were people out there who already understand this passion. I want to know them, because I know that it will ultimately help me to become better at what I love doing. And in meeting and making friends with people who share this passion will make my life more rich and enjoyable.
So thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to getting to know you all better.
Demos Mirak:
It seems that I need to tell something about myself here, well, here we go.
I have always liked stories, whether I told them to myself when I got bored, or if I read the books containing them. Although I started out as a slow reader, and people even thought that I might had to be transferred to a special school, I quickly picked up the pace during the Christmas vacation during third grade (the Dutch version of third grade anyway, which takes place at the age of 7-8, during which we learn to read, write and do basic sums). By the time I celebrated my 11th year of life, I had read almost all the books that interested me of the Childs section of the library, and I snuck into the adults section. The cause of that tour into the lower floors was mainly caused by the fact that the series of books I was reading at the moment started in the Childs section, but ended in the adults section (it was the Belgariad, if anyone wanted to know). Apparently they thought I was getting books for my parents, and kept thinking that for about a year, after which they told me and my parents that I wasn't allowed back there anymore. This caused me to go back to the Childs section and broaden my taste, previously confined to Sci-Fi and fantasy, with Detective, Thriller and Ghost stories. Four years later, when I turned 16, I was allowed back into the adults section, which was about the same time as when I switched from reading the translated versions of the books, to the native English versions of it, which I found more enjoyable, mainly because for unknown reasons, translators switch between different translations of the same group between books, which annoys me.
About the making of stories myself, the stories I started with, which were either Sci-Fi or Fantasy, always had the major flaw of the main characters becoming practically invincible and therefore, boring. This is because I always like the idea of absorbing power of your fallen enemies, surroundings, artifacts, etc., this by means of incorporating tech or modules in Sci-Fi stories, or just absorbing powers and energy through rituals or parasitic powers for Fantasy. I am now trying to limit that kind of power. I have tried writing stories, mainly your typical sword and magic fantasy, on and off for a couple of years now. I always got stuck on certain points, being able to envision events and conversations in the future, but not being able to figure out how to get there. This caused me to go do some other things for a time, and after a while I would come back and find the story to be too childish or just plain bad, and I started again with a different idea. And again. Again. And again again. Now I decided to write the background and the world first, before I try to power to the block that stops me.
As it is now, for my personal situation, I am waiting for the results of both my final exams for the high school (VWO+ (Technasium), for the Dutch readers of this forum) and the results of the admission test for Medical school at the Radboud University in Nijmegen. With a little bit of luck, I will get allowed and then I will move to Nijmegen, trying to make a living on my own.
Tami Seven:
Hi, I hope you don't mind but I thought I'd share my story (my personal story) with everyone. When I was a kid I never even considered attempting to write fiction, god only knows why. I was always an avid reader, but just never had any ideas of my own.
My first year in college everyone, regardless of major, was required to take a course in creative writing. Considering how large the college was, you can imagine the English Department scrambled for people to teach these courses. My instructor was a low-level junior instructor fresh out of school himself.
He gave us our assignments and told us to write, so I did and he hated it. I barely passed the course, but not because I was a bad writer, but because I wrote the way I wanted to write, not the way he wanted me to write. It wasn't until many years later that I figured that out. For years I thought I couldn't write fiction, or anything for that matter. Until I took other classes that required writing reports and so on, and was told by those instructors that I was actually a very good writer.
I still didn't get serious about even considering writing until about ten years ago when I started doing text-based Story driven RPGs online. I met a would-be writer there and we started encouraging each other. Over the years I
have dabbled and toyed with ideas, written summaries and chapters but never finished, but he has already self-published several short stories and books.
I finally have a Fan-Fiction idea that I am comfortable enough with to follow through on. Even managed to write an outline that has a beginning and an end, as well as started writing it out.
If I manage to pull this off, I may try my hand at completely one of my original story ideas. Very late bloomer, but better late than never.
The Deposed King:
The only way to become a writer is to write. Fanfiction your own unique creation, either or both. Just get out there and produce!
Best of luck with your endeavours and remember to not let anyone, even yourself, get you down.
The Deposed King
--- Quote from: Tami Seven on June 16, 2013, 05:52:43 PM ---Hi, I hope you don't mind but I thought I'd share my story (my personal story) with everyone. When I was a kid I never even considered attempting to write fiction, god only knows why. I was always an avid reader, but just never had any ideas of my own.
My first year in college everyone, regardless of major, was required to take a course in creative writing. Considering how large the college was, you can imagine the English Department scrambled for people to teach these courses. My instructor was a low-level junior instructor fresh out of school himself.
He gave us our assignments and told us to write, so I did and he hated it. I barely passed the course, but not because I was a bad writer, but because I wrote the way I wanted to write, not the way he wanted me to write. It wasn't until many years later that I figured that out. For years I thought I couldn't write fiction, or anything for that matter. Until I took other classes that required writing reports and so on, and was told by those instructors that I was actually a very good writer.
I still didn't get serious about even considering writing until about ten years ago when I started doing text-based Story driven RPGs online. I met a would-be writer there and we started encouraging each other. Over the years I
have dabbled and toyed with ideas, written summaries and chapters but never finished, but he has already self-published several short stories and books.
I finally have a Fan-Fiction idea that I am comfortable enough with to follow through on. Even managed to write an outline that has a beginning and an end, as well as started writing it out.
If I manage to pull this off, I may try my hand at completely one of my original story ideas. Very late bloomer, but better late than never.
--- End quote ---
Snowleopard:
I forget which writer said it but it's blunt and precisely on point.
"Get black on white!"
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