Comment

Comment by Laura McHugh on October 12, 2011 at 1:03pm

Good luck, Celestine! My best advice is to write every day, don't be afraid to write a crummy first draft (you can revise it), and join a writing group to learn from each other and get feedback.

Comment by Mary on October 12, 2011 at 12:51pm

Celestine,

A final thought...When I started my novel I determined who the characters would be, determined their jobs (which in my novel was important) and how they were going to relate to each other.

The outcome and the theme of the book was somewhat what I had planned but it just evloved. Joseph Bates' book, The Nighttime Novelest states that once you get writing, to just let the characters and the plot take on its own life (Bates, 1972). This is really a good book and can help guide you in your path to "who" is telling your story, "why" they are telling the story etc.

The ISBN is 978-1-58297-846-8

Comment by Mary on October 12, 2011 at 12:38pm

Celestine,

The best advice that I can offer as a new and unpublished author myself is to write:

1) what you know

2) what you are interested in

3) what you have enjoyed reading from established authors

Are you planning a fiction or non-fiction book? What interests you about the genre you have chosen? What is your expertise in the area you have chosen? What can you offer the reader that other authors have not? How can you satisfy yourself in developing a story that you will be proud of?

These are all questions I asked myself before I began to write my novel - which by the way - I just finished
today. Amen.

You said you did research but didn't elaborate on what type of research. If your book is going to be historical then make sure you cite, cite, and cite again. Have your facts in place. If you're going for fiction then I suggest you just have fun with the process. Nothing can possibly go wrong with putting your desires and hopes and dreams on paper.

Regards and Best Wishes on your adventure in writing.

Mary

Comment by Celestine McMullen Allen on October 12, 2011 at 8:51am

Thanks for the insight, Mary.  Another issue that I am dealing with is which type of book that I want to write.  I have several ideas, and need to understand what readers want.

Comment by Mary on October 12, 2011 at 4:40am

Celestine,

I have been using "The Nightime Novelist" by Joseph Bates to help with the dynamics of writing my first novel. It's been a great help.

Mary

Comment by Celestine McMullen Allen on October 11, 2011 at 10:09pm

Hi.....I joined this group because I am on a journey.....to write my first novel.  I have concepts, I have done research, and now ready to take the steps necessary to make the first of my novel ideas a reality.  Look forward to hearing words of wisdom from this group.

Comment by MaryLynn Bast on October 10, 2011 at 7:17pm

I am shopping to get my first novel published and have updated my webpage with the first chapter of No Remorse to review for free.  Please take a look and let me know what you think.  www.marylynnbast.com.

Thanks

MaryLynn

Comment by Tracey Hill-Bensalem on October 10, 2011 at 7:11pm

Jeffrey Eugenides, Nicole Krauss & Jhumpa Lahiri discussed what they feel to be the definition of "a writer's writer" at the recent New Yorker Festival. You can watch it (for a price) here. Well worth it!

I wrote a bit on it on my blog today, "Sifting the Grain."

Comment by Komal Mansoor on October 6, 2011 at 12:31pm

Hello friends,

I have just published a great article on my blog for newbie writers on "How to develop an engaging main character for a novel". Read, share, comment here: http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/be-my-guest-how-to-develop-...

I am also having a giveaway which ends 9th Oct. Enter here: http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/

Follow my blog for more such useful articles, giveaways and reviews!:)
Thanks,
Komz@The Review Girl

Comment by Nelle Douville on September 23, 2011 at 3:13pm

@Jennifer Davies Write from the perspective that feels right to you.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• …
• 31
• Next ›
• Page