Anybody here wrote / writing a novel?

titchard

titchard

titchard

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Hey,

As title really, it is something I have wanted to do for years - just been collecting thoughts and ideas on the subject and have started to actually put the work in now I have finished university.

Anyone here done it or attempted it? Would like people opinions and possibly some advice.

Rich
 
Right, heres my idea, never thought of putting it in writing as im a failing GCSE student, but here it goes

Title: Lord of da rings
Plot: A "g" from the hood finds a ring, and he must take it to the pawn shop to sell it, but theres a force, the original owner (Some rich and powerful man) who doesn't want him to do so. On his quest his picks up fellow "g's" along the way, who are all black, as the encounter numerous enemies such as "Saruman the white guy< Who is one of them uncle tom type of guys, who don't want to be black." and they are guided by the "White boy" who is a street-wise grandad with much experience of the street, and he once found this ring himself but lost it to the owner.

Well, thats my plot basically its a Lord of the rings spoof i was thinking of, any comments?
 
yantorsen said:
It's not finished yet so no.

My dads mate has wrote a book that is published though, well he has two out now, he's called (not his real name) Mark Paradise. Can't remember the names of his books.
Click to expand...

blatantly a jack kerouac fan. I like to write under a similar name.
 
titchard said:
It's fiction, but at the moment in my mind it doesn't fit into a certain genre.

Rich
Click to expand...

I guess my question would be - what's the starting point of the development of your story? By that I mean, where did it spawn from?

For instance, some stories start out with character concepts, some with an idea of a situation, some from the construction of a world / civilisation, some from a narrative, etc. The list goes on.

I think knowing where the story comes from helps see where it needs to be developed to become a proper story.

I'm very into my storytelling, but I certainly haven't had the commitment to establish any completed work. Although being a visual person I've always been more into the perspect of films, animations and graphics novels (all three mediums).

My suggestion would be to work out the journey of the story at some point. All stories are about journeys: Your protagonist goes through a journey, trying to overcome an obstacle in order to obtain the holy grail. Although the three elements: Protagonist, Obstacle (antagonist) and Holy Grail can be anything.

Romance story for instance, protagonist being the couple, obstacle being their differences, their family against their union, an illness striking one down, holy grail being their happy-ever-after ending.

Thriller: Detective vs Killer = case solved.
Action: Hero vs Villian = world saved / getting the girl

Of course one mustn't forget that your protagonist doesn't always have to win either. Often the most memorable stories comes from those who failed.


With your journey worked out, you should look at your story structure. Anyone in the business will tell you your story should follow the principle of:

Exposition > Rising Action > Climax > Falling Action > Resolution. Usually broken down into 3 Acts, each act ends with a turning point that propells your protagonist into the next act.

Act 1 - Day in life of until turning point that launches protagonist into journey
Act 2 - Protagonist goes through journey only to be struck down at the end of act 2, and having to make changes in order to attempt to overcome the obstacle in act 3
Act 3 - Climax, falling action and resolution


There're lots of useful readings online, I can't name any since they're simply all over the place. I'm sure wikipedia had some useful stuff if you search for storytelling. I think you can find a whole category of Plot Devices with individual articles.


As a so far non-writer, I can only base my experience from all the notes, timelines and structures I've build for my stories that are never told. I hope you'll have better luck, and I hope I'll get there some day too.

Pop me a message if you want to discuss or hear me rant on and on about storytelling any time :)
 
I prefer to write screenplays, however the ability to "make it" in that arena is pretty much a 0.000000004% chance. I've been toying with the idea of making my most recent stories novels instead, giving myself much more description to work with, and look forward to the challenge when I finally get time. Once they're done I can shop 'em around to agents and publishers.

So many great ideas, yet I just need the time to get them onto paper!

If you're starting off in writing, I'd recommend starting with short stories. Once you've written 20 or so you should be well into crafting your own voice/technique. At this stage, try submitting them to fanzines/magazines which meet your chosen genre. Getting published there, even for pittence, gets your foot in the door.
 
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