Are there any writers in this group

I'm trying to start a novel--and am wondering if others here are writers or similarly inclined

at least a wannabe. I'm actually working on a non-fiction book for advocates who work with domestic violence survivors.

but my secret dream is to write a fantasy novel. I'm great with words, not so good with coming up with plots. B-)

If you start with fanfic, it will get you into the swing of plotting fantasy. Don't scorn it; it is a great set of training wheels. :-)

George RR Martin is a big Democrat, but I doubt he's on DU.

I've talked about it around here before.

And I know Rev Acts4 has written a book that she's editing. So yep there are few of us lurking around here.

I did do some yesterday though! YAY! :bounce:

I am starting to sit down and write

it's so scary to actually put pen to paper (don't have a computer at home yet) and try to write something that others will want to read

Yourself! It sharpens a point of view and makes you passionate about the story. If writing focused on others the perspective will be blurry and the reader won't understand your characters to the fullest extent possible...

I have written a great deal of fanfic and two complete original novels. I have no interest at all in publishing, thinking trees to be more useful than self-promotion. I write because it gives me great pleasure and has offered connections to a number of communities of value.

To start a novel - sit down at the keyboard, call up your word processor of choice and enter the words: Chapter One. :P

You will have more fun than you ever believed possible. Trust me.

several novels finished, in various editorial stages. One has been sent to the publisher, the others are waiting for me to get them reworked. A new one in process even now.

I've also got a lot of fragments that I need to get organized.

To pay my postage bill, I write articles, technical documentation, co-author academic papers (i.e. Ghost-write) and that kind of thing. I also work part time in the career I trained for.

Don't try to "start a novel" - just write anything. To (mis)quote Spider Robinson: "Give us a rough draft; then we'll have something to edit." Don't worry about writing out of order that the book will eventually live in, that's how most of us do it. Alternately, don't worry if you're like me and have to write from beginning to end and can't skip around on the first draft. Trying to start a novel is like trying to force childbirth - without strong drugs and very specialized assistance, it's never going to work. Novels come in their own time, just like babies. (I've also heard from many people that most first novels take about 10 months to really gestate...)

You can't rework (and you do have to) until you have a first draft. So get words on paper/into electrons/carved into tablets.

Forward Motion writers forum is not a bad place for the beginner, but it is a writers' enclave. Don't expect DU and do expect a diverse population that includes some R types.

Set a work goal (I will write a scene a day; I will write a description of a place or event or person a day; I will write 100 years of my fictional world's history a week; I will write 2000 words every day) and STICK TO IT. When you've met the goal for X number of days, reward yourself. Even if you're just writing journal entries, building the habit of writing is really essential to the process.

Finally, Reality Break: Don't expect to get rich, or even published on the first go. That almost never happens, and the *average* writer makes $7K a year from writing. There's a lot of zeros bringing the Grishams' and Kings' averages down. When you DO get published, do expect a catty, difficult business where you'll be lucky to get a royalty check, overjoyed to get a second contract, and you'll make an accountant happy. Do expect to send half to 3/4ths of every check you get directly to Unka Sam for taxes, SS, and etc. Realize that books are becoming less a necessary commodity and that the readers' market is shrinking every year. Realize that most publishers are scheduled 2-3 years in advance, and will plead poverty at every opportunity, while making record profits. And those are the good ones.

Really, I'm not trying to run you off - that last is just the reality of the life. Most of us have day jobs; I know that if I worked an hour at McDs for minimum wage instead of every hour that I work on writing, I would actually make almost $30K a year. Instead, from my writing, I make less than $12,000 a year from my writing, and I'm well paid for the industry. Most paid writers make less than $1 an hour off of their labor.

Good luck - a novel is like a marathon. If you finish, you're ahead of the game.

My first novel comes out next month...already got rave reviews.

Not trying to brag. Just establishing my credentials.

A year ago, I never expected to be sitting where I am today.

PM me if you want/need help with anything. Happy to lend a hand.

I can never seem to carry on with a story long enough to make a novel.

Tried with my roommate while in the military to write a fantasy novel but we sputtered out at like 10 chapters, that was about as far as I've ever gotten.

But I am also working on two novels. . .have outlines written and part of the backstory...

even published one. And always working on more.