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Post by veryblessedmom on Mar 27, 2009 16:37:39 GMT -5
Hello everyone. I am so new to writing that I know less than nothing. After praying one night, a story complete with characters, back stories and a plot just showed up in my head. It is a hybrid romance/fantasy. Anyway, my first goal is to get the story on paper, then find out how it's really supposed to be done. I've joined a writer's group in my area, but they are all twice my age and non-fiction article writers. I am a mom of three boys, ages 5,3,and 19 months. I write when everyone is in bed, thus my user name. I have 50,000 words so far and I'm about 5 chapters away from a complete rough draft, so it's time to learn the craft.
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Post by Divides the Waters on Mar 27, 2009 16:47:26 GMT -5
Welcome! I highly recommend reading Jeff's "Tips" pages, as they are a beautiful crash course on writing, and could save you a great deal of work in the long run. However, there's nothing wrong with getting all your ideas down on paper, either! It's exciting when that kind of literary epiphany happens. I'm curious to hear more about your story.
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Post by Teskas on Mar 27, 2009 16:57:18 GMT -5
Welcome to The Anomaly, sleepdeprivedmom. Glad you found us. You are bound to find plenty of information about writing, especially on The Otherworld Workshop area. Be sure also to read Jeff's Tips for writers (Tip of the Week) section on his main site, wherethemapends.com. Go to the area marked Tools for Writers, wherethemapends.com/writerstools/writerstools.htm. It is chock full of stuff for someone who wants to learn to write well.
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Post by Christian Soldier on Mar 27, 2009 17:34:03 GMT -5
Welcome to the Anomaly! Thousands of Angels do the chicken dance whenever we get a new person. I know, that's weird, but all the good angelic responses were taken.
You can also check out "Self Editing for Fiction Writers" by Brown. That book improved my own writing almost immediately. The good news is that the hardest part is almost over for you: the writing. Once you get done with that, everything else is polishing it to a high shine and finding a publisher.
Again, great to have you with us and I hope you enjoy it here.
God bless -- CS
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Post by veryblessedmom on Mar 27, 2009 17:43:54 GMT -5
Thank you all for welcoming me. I have looked at Jeff's tips many times, I just can't think about that stuff yet. I tried, but it caused writer's block as I stressed about if I was doing it right. Once my characters finish telling me their tale, I'll really concentrate more on the craft. I joined ACFW and was looking at a tutorial that said, "First, write your story, then go to the next lesson." I have always struggled with anything technical. Math nearly killed me and I struggle with grammar rules. I just keep praying for my mind to grasp these and for God to put people in my path who can teach me and be patient with me. Where on the board should I post about my hybrid story?
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Post by torainfor on Mar 28, 2009 11:26:03 GMT -5
Welcome!
I think for excerpts, post on "Anomalous Readings." For discussions about fantasy, post under The Genre Homeworld: Fantasy.
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Post by tris on Mar 31, 2009 19:43:01 GMT -5
As another mom of three boys in the same age range (altho mine are grown now!), you've made a good beginning. Get that story written now, because as the boys grow, you'll have more interesting things to distract you from actually writing. I think the hardest thing for new writers is making the time to write. Too many set it on a shelf and wait for the time when the kiddos are quiet, the house clean and dishes done. Keep making it a priority and good luck! Work in lots of reading while you're at it. The more you read, the easier those pesky grammar and punctuation rules will fall into place.
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Post by stardreamer on Mar 31, 2009 20:17:34 GMT -5
I have always struggled with anything technical. Math nearly killed me and I struggle with grammar rules. I just keep praying for my mind to grasp these and for God to put people in my path who can teach me and be patient with me. quote] I so know what you mean about math! Hate it with a passion. I know it's supposed to be good for you, but you know what they say about kids and they're vegitables. Well, you're a mom, of course you do! These help sourses aren't on this site, but I've gotten my best critiques at ww.writersdigest.com. There's a forum section there that I use all the time. It's not really christian, but the users of that forum sure know what they are talking about! I've gotten some really good critiques there that have helped me polish my work; I like it so much better now that I've used some of the advice from that site. I also have a critique forum at www.rallystorm.com. this is the actual link: www.rallystorm.com/boards.php?forum=71And also, I've found that posting a few chapters on Authonomy.com can be helpful. You should check it out. If you go, you could check out my story called "Song of the Daystar" Under the User name Silver-Gypsie. I'm Nichole, by the way. Nice to meet you.
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Post by veryblessedmom on Mar 31, 2009 20:26:29 GMT -5
Thank you so much for the links. When I get brave enough, I will try them. I didn't know I was going to write until my story got deposited in my head. I really have not needed to think about the story at all. I just write it. I just need to learn the right way to show a-day-in-the-life of my characters. I just entered my first chapter in a contest suggested by the writer's group I attend. I don't have high expectations, but I am hoping the critiques will be worth the money. I'm Missy.
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Post by stardreamer on Apr 1, 2009 12:37:32 GMT -5
nice to meet you Missy. Yeah, that's how I started writing; I just wrote it as it popped into my head. After a while though (actually, after the rough draft of the first book was completed) I realized that I really needed to polish it up. I don't like to outline my ideas though, because, for me, it boxes up the idea... meaning, I have to try and stick to the guidlines, which I don't like doing anyway. Fantasy is supposed to be out of the box, you know; that's the whole point. So glad I'm not the only one who writes like that!
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Post by veryblessedmom on Apr 1, 2009 14:52:33 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm a total seat of the pants writer. I have an outline in my head. I know where things need to happen along my Protag's journey. I'm very character driven, so I just know how they would respond in a situation. My writing needs more than polishing.
I just didn't know I was called to write until this past Sept. Had I known, I might have set out to learn something before now. I've read very few spec novels and am only a mild fan of some SciFi. Then I got this call to write Fairy Tales. My current MS is very CBA but with a twist of different. My next story I'm planning is pure allegory Fairy Tale. My stuff is girlie and different than what most fans here are into, but different enough that it's not the norm. I'm just strange even among the strange...not that anyone here is strange.
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Post by tris on Apr 1, 2009 15:37:08 GMT -5
Who says we're not strange!!!
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Post by morganlbusse on Apr 5, 2009 22:59:06 GMT -5
You sound like me! I have a 6yr old, 4yr old, and 2 1/2 yr old twins ;P At least mine are all sleeping through the night, or at least I should say I'm sleeping through the night (I sleep so hard the house could burn down around me so my hubby gets up with the kiddies during the night). I have mandatory quiet time at my house in the afternoon where I get in my 1-2hours of writing in everyday. I love the kind of book you're writing so if you ever want a second pair of eyes to look over it, I would be happy to. I've been writing for 4 years now and am finally completing my first book after 3 rewrites and lots of learning along the way. Some sites and books that I have found helpful are Randy Ingermanson's www.advancefictionwriting.com and Stephen King's On Writing. Anyway, Welcome!
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Post by veryblessedmom on Apr 6, 2009 7:14:17 GMT -5
Wow...Morwena, four kids. TWINS! And you write. I salute you.
My husband works nights, so my mid-day is my time with the hubby. I used to be a hard sleeper, but since my husband is gone at night, and the kids are all on me, I've turned into a bit of an insomniac. Before the kids, my husband got locked out one night, banged on the window by the bed all night. I never heard a thing.
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Post by stardreamer on Apr 6, 2009 18:47:18 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm a total seat of the pants writer. I have an outline in my head. I know where things need to happen along my Protag's journey. I'm very character driven, so I just know how they would respond in a situation. My writing needs more than polishing.
I just didn't know I was called to write until this past Sept. Had I known, I might have set out to learn something before now. I've read very few spec novels and am only a mild fan of some SciFi. Then I got this call to write Fairy Tales. My current MS is very CBA but with a twist of different. My next story I'm planning is pure allegory Fairy Tale. My stuff is girlie and different than what most fans here are into, but different enough that it's not the norm. I'm just strange even among the strange...not that anyone here is strange.
Yeah, that's how I am... uh, was... Uh... can it be that I was one and even though I know better now I still am one? Well, basically that's how it is. I like to write things straight out of my head, but if I'm not careful my characters seem to end up similar. I've been working on character building lately though; it's tons of fun!
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