I want to write a book.....

[LoveMyGirls]

Does anyone have any words of advice, support, also want to write a book and want to chivvy each other along?

My DH has just started working a couple of nights a week (as well as us both working full time) I thought I could use the time to write a book, last time I tried to write my book it gave me nightmares but that was a few years ago.

(please ignore my other thread)

[comewhinewithme]

Oh I was going to post something like this today.

No advice but am feeling the same as you so will offer you my support .

[SethStarkaddersMum]

what sort of book?

[LoveMyGirls]

CWWM - It's going to be good to have someone else doing it too, maybe we can break it into so many words per session or something? I've never done this before, I've tried a few times but I've never felt this determined before, it's something I want to do and have always wanted to do.

Seth - it will be based on mine and my friends lives.

[SethStarkaddersMum]

I really meant fiction or non-fiction.
If you don't already write there is a great book called 'Becoming a writer' by Dorothea Brande.

[LoveMyGirls]

Ohhh I see, I'm new to all this, fiction

I will have a look for the book, thanks

[SethStarkaddersMum]

Good luck
You just have to get on with it really. It sounds like you already have a slot of time in which to do it and that's half the battle.

[LoveMyGirls]

Have you written a book/s?

[SethStarkaddersMum]

I have a few unpublished novels hanging around in a big box in the attic.
I am supposed to be writing an academic book (based on my PhD thesis, which was also like writing a book as it's 80000 words) by the end of the year - ie I have a contract & a deadline. That's not so exciting though as it is a book no-one will read and they will only print about 50 copies

[LoveMyGirls]

Getting on with it is hard with MN as a distraction lol, I am going to set goals though like I did when I lost weight, I'd aim for each half stone with this I think I'll go for 500 words at a time so far I've got 1,639 but I haven't touched it since 2003, I'm going to do some once dd2 is in bed about 7pm

[LoveMyGirls]

I think that's very exciting, at least it will be published which is more than I can say for anything I will write.

I've just read "the other side of the story" by marian keyes which has inspired me to actually do it this time, well have a good try anyway.

[SethStarkaddersMum]

I think you need to ban yourself from MN during your dedicated writing time.
Don't try and write on your computer with your internet access on
Setting a target sounds v sensible.
I am not doing anything at the moment but in a month or two my ds2 will be in nursery for 2 days a week and that will be my writing time. I'm not sure if I'm excited or dreading it.

[SethStarkaddersMum]

I've read that one as well - I love Marian Keyes.

[LoveMyGirls]

How do you know if you actually have the skill to become a writer?

I think the problem I had last time I tried to write was that I was too focused on getting it published so when I was writing it I was changing it because I didn't want to include anything that would upset my mum but now I think I need to just write it without considering if anyone else would ever read it, plus I'm nearly 30 now with 2 kids of my own I doubt my mum will be mad at me Also it was almost like I was trying to write my autobiography but now I know I need to let my creativity/ imagination free! Do you think?

[SethStarkaddersMum]

I don't think anyone knows until they have actually done it
But it's not a question of having a fixed amount of skill which you are stuck with - if you haven't got it you can work at improving it.

I agree about not worrying about what people you know would think if you read it - you can deal with that further down the line if it ever becomes an issue. There might be something very simple you can do so your mum doesn't realise it's about you.
You might find it evolves away from the starting point as you write and rewrite so that it wouldn't be a problem if they did see it.

[LoveMyGirls]

How many words roughly do you think you need as a minimum do you think, is 80,000 a minimum roughly?

Do you do a rough plan first or just write and let it come to you as you go along?

[PlumBumMum]

oh can I butt in, I've just read Other side of the story and have started writing a fictional story,
my problem is I worry aboutthe descriptions of places in the book , should it be completely made up or based on real places etc,
then I worry is the storyline too predictable etc, so if I ever finish it will probably end up in the attic with yours Seth

I used to write wee mini stories in school and my friends used to read them during GCSE Geography(shh don't tell anyone) they loved them, don't know where they are now though

[mojomama]

sorry to interupt!

just been reading the above with interest - i've also made a start and would love to have someone/others to seek support from/egg each other on/be told to step away from MN etc!

mine is fiction for teenagers/young adults.

count me in, LMG/CWWM, we could defo try and keep each others' momentum going.

(apologies for text-tastic abbreviations..bet you're thinking "that's why you're writing for teens..." - just in a rush - aren't we all?!)

will be watching this with great interest (when i'm not writing of course!)

[LoveMyGirls]

Right I'm turning MN off I will be back! I think I will do a rough plan first because otherwise I will waffle on forever and 100,000 words later there will still be no beginning, middle or end!

[LoveMyGirls]

Welcome PBM & Mojo !!

[2old4thislark]

I started writing a diary as I have a fairly unusual job - I kept it up for a month or so but then gave up.

I think I need to write it for me and not do it with the thought of getting it published. If I did, it would be a bonus.

I just need to spend less time on MN and get on with it I think!

[LoveMyGirls]

So I've re-read what I've already written, changed a few things on the way, got a sheet of paper for each character and made bullet points, have done this for 2 characters got another couple to do.

I like the way marian's book was from a few different perspectives so I think I will follow that kind of frame for mine as it will fit in well I think because there are so many things going on it would be too hard to make it make sense otherwise.
It will contain subjects such as:
teenage pregnancy
husband in prison
Pg to long term partner who doesn't want to know whilst she struggles to finish university
domestic violence
career woman who meets posh bloke and gives up everything to be with him
intelligent woman who has a secret urge to be like her friends and have children/ stay at home
row between friends
best friends sleeping with the same guy and 1 ends up marrying him while the other leads a celibate life
wedding
starting her own business

What do you think? I think it seems like a lot going on but I'm ready for it to be a huge book, I know it will take me a long time, especially if I keep getting distracted on mn lol

[SpeccieSeccie]

A lot going on sounds good!

Can I join in too? Not sure how much of a book I will ever manage to write but I got started on Monday on something that I want to continue with. So far I have, er, 347 words. Not quite the damn fat manuscript I'm dreaming of, but maybe it will germinate.

[LoveMyGirls]

Wel come speccie, I just asked one friend if she minds me putting in a lesbian fling and a fling with her boss while im at it, shes fine with it I'm getting excited the thing about this is that it has all happened, I'm just combining it together and the core part if the friendship holding them together.

[LoveMyGirls]

So excited I can't type! That's not good!

[SpeccieSeccie]

Is the boss in your story going to be a lesbian?

Am very excited about this thread too. Tapping away at this will kind of make me feel like I am actually being a writer (even if I'm not really contributing to anything any publisher is ever going to read.)