NationStates Jolt Archive

I really would like to write something. A collection of short stories based in my nation states country, Sabirkana. Almost a modern day "Arabian Nights" given that I imagine Sabirkana to be an ancient Arabian styled land that has really become more westernized, etc.

The problem is I have so many different ideas and thoughts. I also have a lot of dreams with interesting situations and lots of mythological creatures in them. It's just difficult to catalog and organize them effectively. And then, once I get writing, I lose steam and just give up on my story. The worst part of it is I took a creative writing class for three years and it's not really helped me!

So, any writers out there- how do you make a story that will last?

I really would like to write something. A collection of short stories based in my nation states country, Sabirkana. Almost a modern day "Arabian Nights" given that I imagine Sabirkana to be an ancient Arabian styled land that has really become more westernized, etc.

The problem is I have so many different ideas and thoughts. I also have a lot of dreams with interesting situations and lots of mythological creatures in them. It's just difficult to catalog and organize them effectively. And then, once I get writing, I lose steam and just give up on my story. The worst part of it is I took a creative writing class for three years and it's not really helped me!

So, any writers out there- how do you make a story that will last?


As a fellow RPer and former writer (I no longer have the time) I will help in any way I can storywise. This thread belongs in II where all of the roleplayers are. You'll receive plenty of help there.

I really would like to write something. A collection of short stories based in my nation states country, Sabirkana. Almost a modern day "Arabian Nights" given that I imagine Sabirkana to be an ancient Arabian styled land that has really become more westernized, etc.

The problem is I have so many different ideas and thoughts. I also have a lot of dreams with interesting situations and lots of mythological creatures in them. It's just difficult to catalog and organize them effectively. And then, once I get writing, I lose steam and just give up on my story. The worst part of it is I took a creative writing class for three years and it's not really helped me!

So, any writers out there- how do you make a story that will last?

I know the feeling. Creative writing classes are only good when you're in them at the present moment. I suggest you get a notebook and start writing down all your thoughts and feelings when you get them. I have one it's where I put all sorts of things, it's almost like a diary and almost like a scribbling text where I put things down. Eventually the ideas take form and I do type them down. Another thing is just open a word doc and type whatever comes into your head and follow the stream, it's the best thing that I can think of. Find a writing group, they do exist either online or in RL. Share your stories and get a sounding board for your thoughts. At anyrate if you're having trouble organizing thoughts just start writing them all down while you're getting them, no sense in letting all those good ideas float away in the stream of your mind. That's all I can suggest. At this moment in time, you shouldn't worry about the formating. You can save that for a secound or third draft. Just write it down.


Good Luck.

I really would like to write something. A collection of short stories based in my nation states country, Sabirkana. Almost a modern day "Arabian Nights" given that I imagine Sabirkana to be an ancient Arabian styled land that has really become more westernized, etc.

The problem is I have so many different ideas and thoughts. I also have a lot of dreams with interesting situations and lots of mythological creatures in them. It's just difficult to catalog and organize them effectively. And then, once I get writing, I lose steam and just give up on my story. The worst part of it is I took a creative writing class for three years and it's not really helped me!

So, any writers out there- how do you make a story that will last?

I find that I write the best stories when I'm sad, when I feel broken. And of course, music always inspires me too.

I'm doing Nanowrimo at the moment (badly behind, 17500 words and half the month already gone). The secret to writing is just getting the words written. If there's something worth doing at the core of it then it's much easier to sculpt it into a coherent piece of work if you have a body of text to work with.

I'm doing Nanowrimo at the moment (badly behind, 17500 words and half the month already gone). The secret to writing is just getting the words written. If there's something worth doing at the core of it then it's much easier to sculpt it into a coherent piece of work if you have a body of text to work with.

On that, you should contact Smunkee. She has an awesome method to help with writing for the NanoWriMo. It's called the Snowflake method or something similar, and it sounds amazing.

Two pieces of very basic advice, which you may have already covered in your writing class:

1) Trying to organize your thoughts before you start writing doesn't work for many people. Many writers have to force themselves to write first, and the writing process makes clear to them what they're going to say. A classic text explaining this method more fully is the oldie-but-goodie Writing Without Teachers (http://www.amazon.com/Writing-without-Teachers-Peter-Elbow/dp/0195120167).

2) Unless you are Anais Nin, writing is hard. It takes effort and persistence. Sitting around and waiting for inspiration is a good way to not write anything. Make yourself sit down and write and you'll at least have something to viciously critique later.

On that, you should contact Smunkee. She has an awesome method to help with writing for the NanoWriMo. It's called the Snowflake method or something similar, and it sounds amazing.

Hey, I have a method! Write 500 words, watch an episode of Father Ted, write another 500 words. Repeat until you run out of Father Ted episodes, then move onto Curb Your Enthusiasm, then Family Guy, then South Park, then Red Dwarf, etc.
If only I didn't keep on getting called into work then it'd be paying real dividends. Damn these flexible hours!

Unless you are Anais Nin, writing is hard. It takes effort and persistence. Sitting around and waiting for inspiration is a good way to not write anything. Make yourself sit down and write and you'll at least have something to viciously critique later.


Agreed. I am starting a third draft of a story and it sucks. First draft is like wheeee I feel the story. Second draft is okay. Third draft. This is honest-to-God work. Being a writer is a lot harder than I've heard. How do people do it? :eek: It's easy to get discouraged, just don't give up.

I really would like to write something. A collection of short stories based in my nation states country, Sabirkana. Almost a modern day "Arabian Nights" given that I imagine Sabirkana to be an ancient Arabian styled land that has really become more westernized, etc.

The problem is I have so many different ideas and thoughts. I also have a lot of dreams with interesting situations and lots of mythological creatures in them. It's just difficult to catalog and organize them effectively. And then, once I get writing, I lose steam and just give up on my story. The worst part of it is I took a creative writing class for three years and it's not really helped me!

So, any writers out there- how do you make a story that will last?

I don't really write any more (overworked with uni stuff), and I fully acknowledge what I have written is for my own pleasure only (i.e. to everyone else its crap) but I will tell you what worked with my incredibly disorganised brain to organise myself and work out where I wanted to go. Make a list of the characters you wish to incorporate and do them a brief biography. Do a brief "travel-guide" style summary of the locations you're thinking of using in the story. Lastly, have an idea of where you eventually want the ending to be, so you have some structure and a final point to be aiming for.

Most importantly, once that vague structure is there, just start writing away. If stuff ends up being irrelevant, you can remove it. You can think so much trying to work out all the plot, character and location details to such a detailed level that you just feel totally lost. Things come to you as you write, and while its good to have a basic plan in place, you should let it go in the direction that your imagination urges you to go. Good luck :)

There are some excellent ideas on this thread. Thanks so much. I'll look into a writer's group definitely.

The creative writing class was part of my English degree...and it really didn't teach me that much. I don't think it's really possible to teach writing per se, given that the whole area is so subjective.

Some tricks that work for me:

1. Make an unavoidable deadline. I don't mean, "I promise myself to have that chapter finished by Monday"; you won't. Set up something that will cause you some pain or embarrassment if you fail to meet it. Often it's enough to ask someone to sub your work -- not "criticise" or "comment on", but just read for the sort of thing Spellchecks don't get. If you're reluctant to show your work to someone you know, hire a student. However you organise it, make sure there's a definite date by which you have to produce a manuscript.

2. Write a draft of your story as a straight news report. Not only will you have to answer who, what, when, where, why, how; you'll have to decide what's the most important aspect (ie, what goes in the first par) and develop some idea of a logical progression of events. This is like the "organise your thoughts" mantra, but, for some reason, it doesn't seem as obsessive or creatively limiting.*

3. "Interview" any character who's not as clear as you'd like them to be. It's like the "character biography" idea, but it stops you becoming excessively anal about details because, after all, you're just interviewing them, and you're not expected to get an entire lifetime into an interview. (Think of it as a local rag interview, not a Rolling Stone interview -- 750 words max.)

*Regrettably, "A man allowed himself to be guillotined in another man's place yesterday because the woman he loved preferred the proposed victim" doesn't have the impact of "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known."

I really would like to write something. A collection of short stories based in my nation states country, Sabirkana. Almost a modern day "Arabian Nights" given that I imagine Sabirkana to be an ancient Arabian styled land that has really become more westernized, etc.

The problem is I have so many different ideas and thoughts. I also have a lot of dreams with interesting situations and lots of mythological creatures in them. It's just difficult to catalog and organize them effectively. And then, once I get writing, I lose steam and just give up on my story. The worst part of it is I took a creative writing class for three years and it's not really helped me!

So, any writers out there- how do you make a story that will last?

I can't write stories, my dyslexia gets in the way but I have a suggestion in anycase.

Have you tried using inspiration mind mapping software?

You can create a mind map (spider diagram) in different colours with picture prompts and notes and you can select whether you refer to it as a mind map or it will set it out in note form for you. The mind maps them selves are unlimited unlike they would be if you wrote one out by hand on paper and in addition you can link parts together.

I find this software exceptionaly helpful if I have to plan a project of any kind and feel strongly that it would be of use to you

I am currently doing NanoWrimo as well. Use the firstfew steps of the Snowflake mehod, but stop at that excel part. Don't overthink it. P.S in at 27000 words

i don't have masses of experience here, but i have managed to write a sizable portion of the story i'm trying to write... though it has taken me since 2002 and i haven't done much recently lol. so, perhaps motivation isn't something i can offer any tips on, but i think i can advise on organising your ideas. what i've found good is to imagine where i want to end up with my story - ie. think of the end, work back to the middle, and think of the beginning. sometimes it'll be thinking of the middle of a story and working backwards. you need time to think about these things - just writing them down on paper (or sticky notes, or mindmaps, or whatever) is excellent for getting ideas safely out of your head, but the important bit is filling in the gaps with your imagination, and i'm not sure if there are really any techniques to do that other than investing time to explore your ideas in your head. i've found narrating (and making up) the story to myself, as if i were reading it to someone else, is useful. especially if you assume the other would-be person knows nothing about your story, so each time a recurring concept or character crops up, you have to explain them/it. this can really help crystalise things as you'll quickly come across errors or where you are missing detail.

I really would like to write something. A collection of short stories based in my nation states country, Sabirkana. Almost a modern day "Arabian Nights" given that I imagine Sabirkana to be an ancient Arabian styled land that has really become more westernized, etc.

The problem is I have so many different ideas and thoughts. I also have a lot of dreams with interesting situations and lots of mythological creatures in them. It's just difficult to catalog and organize them effectively. And then, once I get writing, I lose steam and just give up on my story. The worst part of it is I took a creative writing class for three years and it's not really helped me!

So, any writers out there- how do you make a story that will last?

Just keep writting. Make a routine of it, try to write for ten mins everyday at the same time, then up it, then keep upping it. It don't really matter what you write, the thing is to just get into the habit.

I hope that helps.

I have some published short stories and poems for those who want to look under the pen name G.W. Smith. However I haven't written anything inspired in years. I still write, but what I do write is all uninspired insipid shit for Role Playing here on NS and elsewhere.

The way you make it sound you should turn to fantasy and old legends for you inspiration on what to write in your stories.

I have some published short stories and poems for those who want to look under the pen name G.W. Smith. However I haven't written anything inspired in years. I still write, but what I do write is all uninspired insipid shit for Role Playing here on NS and elsewhere.

The way you make it sound you should turn to fantasy and old legends for you inspiration on what to write in your stories.
According to Wikipedia, which never lies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavus_Woodson_Smith), you died over 100 years ago. So what's that like?

I'm currently reading Arabian nights which is an excellent source of inspiration....I'm only into the first night, but it really seems to stimulate my imagination. As I'm reading, I think of how I can somehow adapt elements of each story into my own...which I find to be tough going. I work most of today (lunch hour at present) so writing's out of the question. I will start something when I get back and maybe post it on here, if there is a creative writing thread going.

According to Wikipedia, which never lies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavus_Woodson_Smith), you died over 100 years ago. So what's that like?

Heh, I doubt I'm the only one to use that pen name. I'm not Gustavus Woodsen lol.

I'm currently reading Arabian nights which is an excellent source of inspiration....I'm only into the first night, but it really seems to stimulate my imagination. As I'm reading, I think of how I can somehow adapt elements of each story into my own...which I find to be tough going. I work most of today (lunch hour at present) so writing's out of the question. I will start something when I get back and maybe post it on here, if there is a creative writing thread going.

Ohhhh then I suggest you go and read John Barnes' 'Bang On' (if you can find it anywhere.)

I've looked on the usual places (ebay. amazon et al) and found nothing. What's it about?

"The first draft of anything is shit." - Hemingway

Just write.

1) Set a time to start writin' and a minimum duration to write for
2) Start writing then. Keep writing for that time, don't edit as you go and keep going even if you're stinking the place out.
3) Look at the clock in amazement as you realise you've stormed past the time you were meant to stop by without realising it.
4) Prophet!

So, any writers out there- how do you make a story that will last?

I can't write, so I won't try to pretend like I can give you tips on the other matters.

As far as making a story last, I suggest checking out "Chip & Dan Heath - Made to Stick". It won't help you write a story, but it definitely help you understand why some things stick and others forgotten.

I've looked on the usual places (ebay. amazon et al) and found nothing. What's it about?

It's a funny little short story about writers who write reworkings of history using historical figures as their protagonists. It is full of little asides, (to the reader) with these figures lamenting the thoughts, deeds and words that the authour forces upon them. Very, very funny.

Just write, for a start.

Find a reviewer - someone whom you can bounce ideas off of.

The creative writing class was part of my English degree...and it really didn't teach me that much. I don't think it's really possible to teach writing per se, given that the whole area is so subjective.


English majors/Degrees unite. :p

I agree, I am taking an creative writing class now and a scriptwriting class for my final semester as I am graduating in two to three weeks. The only thing nice about a creative writing class is the ability to bounce back ideas and to have people tell you where you've gone wrong on something. But you can do that in a writer's circle/group. I think the only thing valuable I've gained from the creative writing group was an article my instructor gave me on writing dialogue. I felt it was very handy. But I really respect my instructor as our university under his tutolage has become the 5th best writing school in the US.

English majors/Degrees unite. :p

I agree, I am taking an creative writing class now and a scriptwriting class for my final semester as I am graduating in two to three weeks. The only thing nice about a creative writing class is the ability to bounce back ideas and to have people tell you where you've gone wrong on something. But you can do that in a writer's circle/group. I think the only thing valuable I've gained from the creative writing group was an article my instructor gave me on writing dialogue. I felt it was very handy. But I really respect my instructor as our university under his tutolage has become the 5th best writing school in the US.

Heh and I disagree. Anything can be taught. With every skill there are good and bad ways to do things. With written languages there are rules to take into account, of course these things can be taught.

When we are talking about writing fiction, are you really saying there are no rules, no forms, no tricks of the trade, that will make editors say yes or no to your stories? Of course there are!

Heh and I disagree. Anything can be taught. With every skill there are good and bad ways to do things. With written languages there are rules to take into account, of course these things can be taught.

When we are talking about writing fiction, are you really saying there are no rules, no forms, no tricks of the trade, that will make editors say yes or no to your stories? Of course there are!


I've been told that once you know all the rules and tricks of the trade, you can break them. Find any story out there and look it over, a lot of writers do break the rules and they do it well. But they also learned the rules on formating a story.

But when I first start writting a story, I tend to throw some rules out the window and worry more about getting the story down, I'll worry about rules later when I am rewriting another draft. Course this does take time. It's not an overnight process. But I rather not worry about rules when I am first writing something down. Otherwise I find that the rules just get in the way of ideas.

I've been told that once you know all the rules and tricks of the trade, you can break them. Find any story out there and look it over, a lot of writers do break the rules and they do it well. But they also learned the rules on formating a story.

But when I first start writting a story, I tend to throw some rules out the window and worry more about getting the story down, I'll worry about rules later when I am rewriting another draft. Course this does take time. It's not an overnight process. But I rather not worry about rules when I am first writing something down. Otherwise I find that the rules just get in the way of ideas.

Yeah course, I dare say that most people do it thatway. That's a lot differant than declareing that the skill of writing can not be taught though huh.

Yeah course, I dare say that most people do it thatway. That's a lot differant than declareing that the skill of writing can not be taught though huh.

Well I do get annoyed that people treat writing like a science or a mathmatical skill. I remember learning about English grammar in school in the history of English Langauge and people treated it as if it was like a math or skills. Such as the double negative. The whole factor that if you use two negatives you'll get a postive. It's kind of a silly thing to apply to languges. Then their is the whole split infinitives. Ex. Star Trek anyone. To boldly go....
When it's suppose to be To go boldly. Anyway English grammar is so much fun. :p

I've never said that their isn't any rules to writing. The factor is that when you're in a creative writing class it's a bit hard to retain a lot of things from the class.

Heh and I disagree. Anything can be taught. With every skill there are good and bad ways to do things. With written languages there are rules to take into account, of course these things can be taught.

When we are talking about writing fiction, are you really saying there are no rules, no forms, no tricks of the trade, that will make editors say yes or no to your stories? Of course there are!

It depends what you're trying to teach. You can teach somebody to write well in the same way you can teach someone to be good at maths but you can't teach somebody to write a great novel.

I've never said that their isn't any rules to writing.

No you didn't but you did agree with the person who said that writting cannot be taught.

I agree with all that you say, but of course it can and is taught. Imagine a world in which everybody tried to write using only their instinct!


Heh and talking of rules, look at your sentance above, notice anything?:D

It depends what you're trying to teach. You can teach somebody to write well in the same way you can teach someone to be good at maths but you can't teach somebody to write a great novel.

True but how many good novels are produced by people that have not learnt the grammatical rules of the language?

True but how many good novels are produced by people that have not learnt the grammatical rules of the language?

Well, that's the maths section. For the most part the cliche is true in that those who can do...

Drawing inspiration from stories can (by which I mean, "will") make your works derivative or stiff. If you want to write, go outside and look around. Inspiration is all around you, but you have to think about it.
For example, there's a guy who drops an envelope into a mailbox near my dorm building every Thursday at about 8 AM. Why does he do this? What is in the envelope? How long has he been doing it? Who is it addressed to? Does he resent the obligation on his time?
That's a pretty basic example, but you should get the idea. Find things, explain them, write down the explanation, repeat until you've got an idea that really, really works for you.

True but how many good novels are produced by people that have not learnt the grammatical rules of the language?
You can't really "learn" grammar in order to become a writer. It's something you either mastered when you were young, or you'll never get a natural hold of it.
It's like perfect pitch; an ear for language has to be developed early or it will never develop at all.

I posted this in the Nanowrimo thread too, but this can help immensely:

Write or Die! (http://lab.drwicked.com/writeordie.html)

Awesome writing site: critiquecircle.com

One thing I'd say is that writing can be incredibly tedious. Unless you really have to produce something, it can sometimes be best to just write when you're enjoying yourself. All that time spent beating yourself up over not writing x words might be better spent swimming or screwing or whatever.

screwing, eh? ;) :D

...nails into walls. DIY is a wonderful thing you creep

...nails into walls. DIY is a wonderful thing you creep
Do it yourself, eh?
sorry

No you didn't but you did agree with the person who said that writting cannot be taught.

I agree with all that you say, but of course it can and is taught. Imagine a world in which everybody tried to write using only their instinct!


Heh and talking of rules, look at your sentance above, notice anything?:D

It's sort of an inbetween skill, with writing. The factor of learning how to write and then the factor of creativity. It's trying to combine both and not go insane in the process. I would say part is learned and part is an inate skill of creativity.

On a side note, I know my grammar sucks at times. Which is an odd thing when you're an English major. I always have problems with verb agreement and the right type of there/their, which drives me crazy.

So, any writers out there- how do you make a story that will last?
Make some interesting characters and make them have interesting relationships with each other. Also add in some suspense or something. Works for trashy novels, after all.

Make some interesting characters and make them have interesting relationships with each other. Also add in some suspense or something. Works for trashy novels, after all.

If you're into fantasy and fantasy writing, which appears to be from your first post, try out this website. http://hollylisle.com/ ( I got into her website from a friend in writing class. She recommended that I check out her website.)

She's pretty helpful and gives good advice on writing fantasy. I even managed to scoop up some of her books on writing. They are big helps, one of them has to do on how to invent culture etc.

Also check out Joseph Cambells works on the monomyth or do some search on it, with the journey of the hero. Joseph Cambell is suppose to be 'the writer's god' for writting ideas and having stories that stick really well because supposedly he believes that most human beings are conditioned towards these archetype constructs.

If you're into fantasy and fantasy writing, which appears to be from your first post, try out this website.
I don't actually enjoy writing creative stuff all that much, mainly because I'm not all that creative. But I'm sure the links will help other people, so ta for them.

I don't actually enjoy writing creative stuff all that much, mainly because I'm not all that creative. But I'm sure the links will help other people, so ta for them.

Well....it's inate desire for me. The longing to get ideas down. Another factor to consider I've learned from my creative writing class, make sure you're also unique in you're writings. My last two stories were labeled as having a similar clicheness about them. *sighs* Course I like to have something that has a familar aspect to it but the point is just make sure things have your own unique touch.

Steal a story from the Greeks, then adapt it and publish it as your own.
Worked for Shakespeare, after all.

You can't really "learn" grammar in order to become a writer. It's something you either mastered when you were young, or you'll never get a natural hold of it.
It's like perfect pitch; an ear for language has to be developed early or it will never develop at all.

Naaa I disagree. Any thing can be taught. The differance between an expert in any field and a novice is merely practice.

The more you do of something the better at it you become; writting is not exempt from this.

Case in point, me.

I am dyslexic, and have been so all my life. They found this out just as I was leaving school, accordingly my schooling was pretty crap.

Just living life has taught me so much more about all kinds of things.

Being a net-head for the past 10 or so years has greatly increased all aspects of my writting. My grammer, spelling, and punctuation are all far superior now than it was when I left school.

I'm 40 years old now, I took up the guitar this time last year, my 'ear for pitch' is also getting better as each month passes and I fully expect to be a competant guitarist within the next 5-6 years. Mainly because I try to get in at least 10 mins per day practice.

Yes of course we all seem to have some natural apptitue for some things, and appear to be slower at picking up other skills, but this is no bar to learning, you can learn what ever it is you set your heart on learning.

Go on tell me that I'm wrong! :p

It's sort of an inbetween skill, with writing. The factor of learning how to write and then the factor of creativity. It's trying to combine both and not go insane in the process. I would say part is learned and part is an inate skill of creativity.

On a side note, I know my grammar sucks at times. Which is an odd thing when you're an English major. I always have problems with verb agreement and the right type of there/their, which drives me crazy.

The kind of creativity you are talking about also comes with practice. Which is why in my first post on this thread my advice is simply to write, just keep doing it.

Let my give you an example. I like football(Soccer for you yankies) I'm not a bad player, I like the tacktical aspect of it also. When I first got into this I know nowt about it really, but I find that the more I watch it on TV, the better at it I get.

I can spot a striker makeing a run into the box and find myself shouting 'cross it, cross it' at the TV.

Go on do the same thing. Pick a sport that you know hardly anything about, watch it for a year, and see how much your knowldege about not only the rules but the creativity involved increases.

With writting, there are so many little tricks to learn, charector development, making sure that your charectors do not act in a way that they shoudn't, reseach, makeing sure that everything you write advances the tale, lots of things that you can glean from any proffesional writer or editor.

Now I was not just born knowing this, all of this I have learnt.

I am dyslexic, and have been so all my life. They found this out just as I was leaving school, accordingly my schooling was pretty crap.

I was told by one teacher when I was trying to study to become a teacher that I was dyslexic, because of a few problems I was having in grading tests and some other small problems, which basically caused me to quit the idea of becoming a teacher.

I've always done well in school for the most part.

I shrugged it off and then one day I was talking to my father and he told me that as a young kid I was diagonsed with a form of dyslexia, and this stupid specialist was going to charge him a good deal of money to work with me on it. He refused to do it. This was of course a big shock to me. Not to mention I was throughly peeved off. But sorry about the slight hijack.

Anyway, my most fondest memory as a kid was drawing and trying to write picture books. (These books all sucked of course, as I have very little artistic ability in drawing) I didn't always want to be a writer, but when I changed my major in school, I was reflecting back on the meaning of life and my existance and realized that writing was in my blood. Not to mention my mom was telling me of other family members who loved to write.

I was told by one teacher when I was trying to study to become a teacher that I was dyslexic, because of a few problems I was having in grading tests and some other small problems, which basically caused me to quit the idea of becoming a teacher.

I've always done well in school for the most part.

I shrugged it off and then one day I was talking to my father and he told me that as a young kid I was diagonsed with a form of dyslexia, and this stupid specialist was going to charge him a good deal of money to work with me on it. He refused to do it. This was of course a big shock to me. Not to mention I was throughly peeved off. But sorry about the slight hijack.

Anyway, my most fondest memory as a kid was drawing and trying to write picture books. (These books all sucked of course, as I have very little artistic ability in drawing) I didn't always want to be a writer, but when I changed my major in school, I was reflecting back on the meaning of life and my existance and realized that writing was in my blood. Not to mention my mom was telling me of other family members who loved to write.

Heheh yeah there is a fair bit of it about.

Naaa I disagree. Any thing can be taught. The differance between an expert in any field and a novice is merely practice.

The more you do of something the better at it you become; writting is not exempt from this.


A wise man once told me that you can become an expert in anything if you give it ten years. And I think there is a lot of truth to that. The caveat is that expertise is different from talent. Ten years hard work does not mean that you will become a best selling author.

A wise man once told me that you can become an expert in anything if you give it ten years. And I think there is a lot of truth to that. The caveat is that expertise is different from talent. Ten years hard work does not mean that you will become a best selling author.

Thanks for reminding me of Dean Koontz. :mad:

A wise man once told me that you can become an expert in anything if you give it ten years. And I think there is a lot of truth to that. The caveat is that expertise is different from talent. Ten years hard work does not mean that you will become a best selling author.

Wise words. I just got out of my creative writing class to find out that my professor spent ten years writing a novel, he had all his manuscripts in a box. And some of his other novels were in seven boxes and they were all BM ( Before Microsoft)