***The Official OcUK Writers Thread***

InKursion said:
You tried to write a survival horror in dactylic hexameter? That sounds truly avant-garde.
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More in terms of the setting I mean :) I've been reading The Watchmen and it was similar to the Tales of the Black Freighter in that.

Anyone got anything to say about the excerpt I posted above in terms of how it comes across, too elementary/boring, and also how I should be approaching my improvements? I like the idea of writing scenes from familiar stories to get into the rhythm of writing and slowly improving rather than wasting time labouring over original plots to practice with.
 
I've been attempting to write on and off for years.

I'm always jumping between things as and when a new idea takes my fancy and do have rafts of half finished, part started and ideas and notes stuffed everywhere. I'm current working on something new and tempted to go down the short story route with the intention that, if successful, connecting the dots to form part of the large project I am ultimately aiming for.

Probably never happen though :p
 
Vidar said:
Edrof can you advise me on ways to improve my technique? My creativity doesn't appear to be a problem only my ability to put it down on paper and I'm getting a little frustrated by it....
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I have dabbled, but I'm not really a fiction writer so others might better advise you.

I think improvement only comes with practice (and reading). Boring advice, I know, but there is not really a magic solution. One useful exercise is to get something down on paper, hone it until you are happy and then leave it alone. Then, forget about it and write something else. After a while, go back and read the first piece - you'll see it with fresh eyes and spot the faults with much more ease.

But yep, practice, practice and practice some more.

If you've got the creativity that's most of the battle won already. :)
 
Edrof said:
But yep, practice, practice and practice some more.
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This.

There is one thing I have worked on over about 10 years on and off and I have kept every draft and it's amusing to read my first draft when starting out to what it is now. The polish and ability to get down what you want to say well cones with practice I found. Keep redrafting and things will improve each time and through the redrafts you challenge your own way of writing and improve upon it and your style/ability adapts.

At least that's what I found :p
 
Thank you everyone...

I'm also looking into doing a beginners writing course at Liverpool university if I can find the £80.00 fee in time, I really want to be successful at writing and be able to write stories that fly off of the shelves with people loving them like the classics etc

Thank you for your advice though guys and keep it coming, lol

Maybe we could petition for a writers forum on OcUK since there seem to be that many of us?
 
I've written a few short stories and pieces over the years, purely for my own enjoyment really. I have a wealth of quite detailed and fleshed out storylines and ideas in my head, though finding the time and the quiet to transfer them to the page is sometimes awkward. Currently I'm working on the first book in a series, set in Chicago and of the police/crime/serial killer genre.

My missus has read some of my stuff and tells me that I have a lot of "talent" and that I should really push my writing and try to get some published as she believes that I am decent enough to sell some. I'm not so sure and wish I had the confidence in my writing that she seems to. I look at my own writing and think its just average, which she informs me is a criminal waste of my ability lol :)
 
No1newts said:
it's amusing to read my first draft when starting out to what it is now.
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Same here! I cringe when I think about some of the stuff that first rolled off my virgin keyboard. It's all part of the learning process, though.

I doubt we'll get a sub-forum, but hopefully this thread will keep going. :)
 
Edrof said:
Same here! I cringe when I think about some of the stuff that first rolled off my virgin keyboard. It's all part of the learning process, though.
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Indeed. In fact, it's quite exhilirating being able to actually tangibly see yourself improving and evolving as a writer when you look back on some of the worst stuff you've thrown out there.

The biggest issue with my fiction writing is that I'm just too damned ruthless when it comes to self editing. I'll write and scrap something 10+ times, getting annoyed and binning the lot then starting again instead of tweaking. Probably why I never get anything finished!
 
I was planning on doing a short story this November when they have the book in a month thingy on the go.
 
Maybe get a mod to make this an official OcUK writers thread then? lol

Would you guys maybe suggest putting a hold on the story I want to tell now, at least I improve somewhat? As it is one I would like to get published someday
 
Vidar said:
Maybe get a mod to make this an official OcUK writers thread then? lol

Would you guys maybe suggest putting a hold on the story I want to tell now, at least I improve somewhat? As it is one I would like to get published someday
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It's all practice. Write the story, then refine it.
 
Vidar said:
Would you guys maybe suggest putting a hold on the story I want to tell now, at least I improve somewhat? As it is one I would like to get published someday
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No. Write it. If you wait until you think it's perfect you'll never get anything done.

Write. Write. Write. Even if you think it's crap you keep writing. Don't get hung up on what it could be, if you never write it then it will never be anything.

Pestilence said:
It's all practice. Write the story, then refine it.
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This ^
 
Edrof said:
Erm, of the top of my head, Northern Lights?
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That was the script I got feedback from BAFTA from recently, I met with the BBC about it in about April and the woman said that 9th draft was 'still early days'.

Tombstone said:
My missus has read some of my stuff and tells me that I have a lot of "talent" and that I should really push my writing and try to get some published as she believes that I am decent enough to sell some. I'm not so sure and wish I had the confidence in my writing that she seems to. I look at my own writing and think its just average, which she informs me is a criminal waste of my ability lol :)
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No point whatsoever in taking anyone you know's feedback as anything but flattery at all. One they probably don't know what they're on about and two, they'll say it's good because they know you.

It might genuinely be good, I don't know I haven't read it, but saying 'my girlfriend likes it' sounds incredibly amateur and will never fly with anyone.

Sorry to be blunt but that's the way it is.
 
anksta's harsh but right :D

Tombstone if you want to send me an excerpt via Trust, feel free and I'll give it a quick look if it'll help.
 
Thread has inspired me somewhat again and with me being away for a couple of days with work from tomorrow may take a new bash at things. :p

Will share bits and peices to get in the spirit of things in here if it actually goes anywhere :)

semi-pro waster said:
Perhaps but he's right, there's little point in diluting the forums still further. If you want I can add asterisks and put "The Official..." in the title of the thread but the best thing to do is to keep using the thread and it'll keep going.
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Official would be nice :)
 
Yeah, lets get this thread made official...

I think its great that there are so many writers here, I would honestly love to read some of your stuff and get some opinions on mine some time! :)
 
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