Welcome to the Author's Corner

[Beauregard]

Sometimes I get like that. I start on one thing, then leave it for another, then start another, but resently I limited it to Two and a Half that I was alowed to do at the same time. (Half being stuff that is just about finished and just needs editing.) That way I have written faster and much better.

Now to a questian of styale? Does anyone else find that what they read influences how they write? I was reading a John Grisham and then I started back on one of my own thrillers and it has run like wildfire. So do you find that?

 

[Don'tLiveonMoon]

I am a bookworm, and I find that the more I read the more restricted I feel in my writing, if that makes sense. In my college literature classes we had to read a lot of Harold Bloom, and as annoying as I found the guy I think he had a point with his "anxiety of influence" idea. It seems like every time I come up with an idea nowadays, I end up deciding I have read something already that is too similar to it. I'm immobilized by the fear of plagiarism, I guess...
Erin

 

[Beauregard]

Actually, I have no problem with writing stuff that has already been written, I mean Agatha Christie repeated each of her plots about twice anyway!!!

So long as you have something new to add, a new character, new dreams, new ideas, it isn't a problem. So long as it can't be told taht it is someone elses work copied, it should be all right.

Now here is something I need to know. Am I weird if I feel that my characters control my writing, or is that something that all writers get?

 

[Don'tLiveonMoon]

Now here is something I need to know. Am I weird if I feel that my characters control my writing, or is that something that all writers get?

I don't think that's weird at all. A lot of times I start writing something with only a very general idea of where it's going, and often the characters will move the story in a totally different direction than I had anticipated.
Erin

 

[Beauregard]

Yes, but non-writers (Mum for instance) don't understand that and they think it is weird, so now I keep it to myself!!! I am joining a writers corse after the Summer Holidays so I hope to meet and make friends with some other Writers!!!

Also I can sharer what I learn at the course here (maybe).

 

[Don'tLiveonMoon]

I thought I'd resurrect this thread, since I'm currently stuck in what seems to be an interminable case of writer's block, punctuated only by the writing of a few reviews, most of them in August, and a song in September. I spent a couple hours today just staring at a sheet of paper. I seem to have run completely dry. I've got to get over this writer's block somehow...
Erin

 

[Beauregard]

I know a great way to get out of it.

Choose a fairy tale, write it on the top of a piece of paper, then fold it over and get someone you know to choose a style, (children's story, newspaper, radio report, screenplay, etc), Then you have to write it.

Make it funny. I know someone who ended up writing Cinderella as a Delia Smith recipe, but even that was great.

So, that is one way to get out of it.

What I do with W.B. is to switch over to a different book I am writting and work on that instead.

 

[Don'tLiveonMoon]

Cool, I'll hafta try that. Thanks!
Erin

 

[Don'tLiveonMoon]

I just got two rejections in the past two days. One actually wasn't technically a rejection; apparently the publisher closed down recently! At the moment, I have, I believe, 49 different manuscripts floating around out there somewhere. I sure hope SOMEBODY says yes!
Erin

 

[Beauregard]

Have you tried agents yet?

I wrote to two about a week ago, and recieved a reply saying, Could I send some writing samples.

It dsn't mean I will have those agent's representing me, but maybe, just maybe.

And I have heard a lot more stories about being accepted by agents, than Publishers.

Keep your chin up, and battle ahead.