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"Writing a book..."

Right, I'm sick of writing all these little pointless 'things' that add towards nothing, and knowing that some of you are writing books (FFF, Black Glove, yes?) just wondering if anyone has any tips.

I've tried before, but failed miserably, and that is now lost in history. I just want to do something, really. I love writing mini-story things, but they all just seem pointless. I mean, I've written loads of stuff, and don't really have anything to show for it.

Thing is... I have no idea where to start. Not good with planning and things so... tell me oh talented keyboard-mens.

Danke.

Ant wrote:
> Thanks. I'm thinking it's just those adjectives and similes I really
> struggle with, and I suppose that the only way to really improve my
> work knowledge is through reading more.

Heh. I was gonna say, "use some quirky adjectives, that provide as part of a metaphor".

Black Glove wrote:
> Ant wrote:
> Any advice that can be offered to help me here would be much
> appreciated.
>
> I'd say, indulge in the moment: visualize the person, the place, and
> just tell it like you see it - then throw in some quirky/luscious
> adjectives and similies. Sketching the scene/person also helps.

Thanks. I'm thinking it's just those adjectives and similes I really struggle with, and I suppose that the only way to really improve my work knowledge is through reading more.

Im just planning bits as I go along and thinking up Ideas.

Ant wrote:
> Any advice that can be offered to help me here would be much
> appreciated.

I'd say, indulge in the moment: visualize the person, the place, and just tell it like you see it - then throw in some quirky/luscious adjectives and similies. Sketching the scene/person also helps.

I'd like to write a book, and feel I have the ability to do so when it comes to plot, characterisation and narrative.

Unfortunately, I am utterly useless at description. Not of people and how they're feeling, but of places, things...my skills are very limited in that area which is why my pieces are often very similar. Any advice that can be offered to help me here would be much appreciated. {:)

I believed I could do without a plan, but having such a whimsical imagination I ended up going all over the place until what I was left with was the literary equivalent of a food fight.

FinalFantasyFanatic wrote:
> Might just be me ... I've just always found writing quite an easy and
> fluid thing to do.

I find that's a guide of the quality for me.

Most of my best pieces have been written in a very fluid manner. I can always tell it's going to be good if it's coming out easily, because like I said before. If it's fluid to me (who's making it up on the spot), then it's going to be fluid to any reader.

I don't think I can help much - my book was not planned or anything at all, just a random event really which seems to have panned out perfectly. I started writing for no real reason in this old notebook when I was about 13, and from there it's all spiralled into a trilogy of books very naturally.

See, not very helpful. I was very lucky I suppose.

Though I musy say that after a while, I really needed all those things - an event plan in general and details form, time scale, character bios, glossary etc just to keep track of everything. When you're working with tens of thousands of words its pretty easy to get confused.

But there's also been a few of my short stories I could easily (and probably will) expand into proper books. Anything like that you've got?
An idea at least ... and just think about nothing else for days upon end, and I find that things start to fall into place, into something solid.

Might just be me ... I've just always found writing quite an easy and fluid thing to do.

Yes it is a very hard thing to do,thinking up all the chapters. And things that are going to happen.

I'd also say don't bite off more than you can chew. No point trying to write an epic of Biblical proportions on the first go.
Try to write a shortish story with quite a simple plot. You can make it interesting and unique by indulging in detailed descriptions of place and making the characters as complex and colourful as you can.

But as RoJ said, it's a hard thing to do. It'll always go places you weren't expecting, you've just not got to let it get out of control. From what I've read, most novelists write two-to-three failed novels before they strike it good, but that happens (I suspect) because of an initial lack of clear direction, or, on re-reading they realize their writing ability stinks.

Clazon wrote:
> I usually follow a plot to the end, but have other things going on
> as well.