Are there any wannabee writers here?

V

VisualBrian

Member
I guess from the time I started reading Stephen King novels, and I can't remember when that was exactly (1980's?), I've wanted to be a writer. I still get ideas and try to flesh them out all the time. I've started writing a hundred different stories but only finished a few. I thought when I retired that writing would be one of the things I would spend more time on.

Over the years I've joined a few writing forums, but I've never connected with people in a way that was productive or actually helped me to improve my writing skills. Do you write stories or want to? Do you have any advise for a wannabee writer?
 

I have found that writing “flash fiction” is helpful for people like myself who find it difficult sustaining a longer narrative. Flash fiction stories are short and sometimes impressionistic…mine range from about 500 to 1,200 words…but they have found an audience, and can be powerful. Many writers produce lengthy works that are labors of love, but generate only slim readership, because frankly we live in the era of short attention spans where many don’t have the time or interest to become emotionally invested in long tales.

So I write flash fiction, and more rarely, short stories. I would also only say, write what you love…so I write science fiction and horror, and occasionally fan fiction, often geared for the furry community…
 
I was with the Trenton NJ Writers Guild long ago and I also won first prize in a short story contest at my college, in NJ-
I also won a Journalism award the same night-from former President Bill Clinton's press secretary , a former Trentonian, and since then ,some of my professor's at American Military University, where I finished my degree ,asked me if they could use the thesis work I did, as an example for writing a proper thesis ,after I graduated, from AMU.

And my daughter wants me to write a book about my deceased husband-I have started it but it is so painful to write- the Title will be "Death by VA" ( his death was caused by proven malpractice by the Veterans Administration.)

But my best writing involves a Bill that passed the Senate unanimously in 2022 and I await for the House of Representatives to pass it unanimously too. It grew out of the circumstances of his death, and I did years of research to prepare it. It can save LIVES! (S 221)

The VA saves lives everyday, but even private hospitals make errors that can cause more disability and even death to anyone.

In my husband's case the negligence was catastrophic and another VA hospital tried to cover it up but they failed.

He did not die in vain.

I also have prepared devotions for my church Encouragers club. I have already started writing my next devotional but will not need it until May. I enjoy doing that a LOT!

Gee I edited because I forgot to add , I wrote just about everyday at a large Disabled veterans web site for 22 years, except for when I travelled to Texas. I have expertise in Agent Orange, veteran's survivor benefits , proper ratings, CUE claims, SMC, TDIU, TBI, FTCA , 1151 etc etc and I understand the full gamit of Title 38, USC. It covers legal regulations on medical issues and the Evidence vets need. Very complex and very challenging volunteer work...I am still trying to retire from it-

I have carpal tunnel syndrome, but it was worth getting it, and it isn't too bad.
 

Last edited:
I've always been a bibliophile and dreamed of being a writer someday. Life happened instead and I never pursued that dream or the one of being an artist. A friend of mine that I worked with years ago became a writer of poetry and has been published. We had talked about opening a bookstore together, however, that never happened. Instead, she retired from her day job years ago and worked for her local library.

I'm still a reader but I find it difficult to find "good" books to read these days. Very seldom do I stay interested in a "recommended" read. I guess as I get older, my interests have changed and I get bored with many of today's authors. It seems like everyone is getting published whether their works are good or not.

I did belong to a Writer's Guild many years ago and subscribed to that magazine. I had no confidence in myself at that time and no encouragement from my parents in anything I wanted to do so I gave it up and just became a bibliophile. I've had an interesting life that I could have used as my muse but I lacked the courage to pursue it.
 
Yes, always wanted to try writing,,never had the time.
So I practice a bit on here with my replies.

One of my cousins who grew up in a large family .
Has published a few articles about growing up.

It gave me the idea of getting him & my British cousin & myself to write about growing up.
The British cousin & I would write about being only children.
Cousin with many siblings would write his story.

We'd put them together ,, hope fully telling the differences of our lives.

So far most of my life story is still in my head. 🙃 :D
 
I have been a freelance writer/journalist since the mid 80s... but I wouldn't be a bit of help when it comes to writing fiction or "stories." I have always done non-fiction articles for periodical publication and never paid much attention to trying to market fiction. There were a few juvenile picture book attempts, but I got tired of that.
 
VisualBrian said:
I guess from the time I started reading Stephen King novels, and I can't remember when that was exactly (1980's?), I've wanted to be a writer. I still get ideas and try to flesh them out all the time. I've started writing a hundred different stories but only finished a few. I thought when I retired that writing would be one of the things I would spend more time on.

Over the years I've joined a few writing forums, but I've never connected with people in a way that was productive or actually helped me to improve my writing skills. Do you write stories or want to? Do you have any advise for a wannabee writer?
Click to expand...
There are several writers and poets on this forum! I am one of them. I have written/published fiction and poetry. Over the years, I found out that there are several steps to writing fiction.
-First, you need the topic or plot. What will your story be about?
-Next, you need to sit down and start writing. Write until you cannot write anymore. Do not worry about editing at this stage. The important thing is to write. When you are done (around 70,000-100,000 words), then you start the editing process. --It could take just as much time as the writing process. Grammerly and ProWritingAid are good editing programs.
-Then you send your manuscript out to a few beta readers who will read it and give suggestions/comments. -Then you self-publish it or have a print-on-demand publisher publish it for you for a fee (forget about traditional publishers at this late stage in life; the process takes way too long).
-Once it is published, then you market and promote it. Do some book signings, and so on. At this stage in life, I give my books away instead of paying advertising costs. It is a cheaper way to promote my books.
-Writing is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. You really have to like it because you put in a lot of hours.

I haven't written a new book since 2017 because I got busy with going back to school and writing my dissertation. I have written a play that I have been converting into a book, but it is not finished.
 
I've written and published my accounts during my time in Vietnam. Just completed co authoring with my ex wife on an adventure we took sailing in the Andaman Sea, in Thailand and resulted in a tragedy off the coast of Cuba. It is being printed at this time and should be out within the next few months. I currently have been working on a crime novel.
 
mnray said:
I've written and published my accounts during my time in Vietnam. Just completed co authoring with my ex wife on an adventure we took sailing in the Andaman Sea, in Thailand and resulted in a tragedy off the coast of Cuba. It is being printed at this time and should be out within the next few months. I currently have been working on a crime novel.
Click to expand...
Where can I find your accounts during Vietnam?
 
mnray said:
I've written and published my accounts during my time in Vietnam. Just completed co authoring with my ex wife on an adventure we took sailing in the Andaman Sea, in Thailand and resulted in a tragedy off the coast of Cuba. It is being printed at this time and should be out within the next few months. I currently have been working on a crime novel.
Click to expand...
That’s very cool. I just watched Adrift last night and it was about sailing the ocean. Very exciting.
 
I published a novel in 2003. Didn't sell.
A few poems and many philosophy academic articles very hard work. One is newly pub.next week I won money for an article about life after covid online contest. I went back to my poems and rewrote ones from 55. years ago! A strange experience for me. reading myself when I was 20. Some were good and others awful. I remembered them. And learned a lot. I began in high school copying Wordsworth
 
Victor said:
I published a novel in 2003. Didn't sell.
A few poems and many philosophy academic articles very hard work. One is newly pub.next week I won money for an article about life after covid online contest. I went back to my poems and rewrote ones from 55. years ago! A strange experience for me. reading myself when I was 20. Some were good and others awful. I remembered them. And learned a lot. I began in high school copying Wordsworth
Click to expand...
I would like to read something you wrote and would like to share if possible.?
 
VisualBrian said:
I guess from the time I started reading Stephen King novels, and I can't remember when that was exactly (1980's?), I've wanted to be a writer. I still get ideas and try to flesh them out all the time. I've started writing a hundred different stories but only finished a few. I thought when I retired that writing would be one of the things I would spend more time on.

Over the years I've joined a few writing forums, but I've never connected with people in a way that was productive or actually helped me to improve my writing skills. Do you write stories or want to? Do you have any advise for a wannabee writer?
Click to expand...
I've had an idea in my head for years about writing a book so bad it's been nagging me lately. I just recently started from inspiration by a book: If You Want To Write, by Brenda Ueland, 1938. I've had this in my collection for years and it just seemed to call me. I've tried a few online forums and classes. I just didn't get anything out of them. This book really helped me get going.
 
Last edited:
Gary O' said:
Care to post an excerpt of your writing?
Click to expand...
Yes, I will. Let me put it together. I lost my files from One Drive when I changed accounts. I have to rewrite it and convert. It's a grizzly crime drama like 'By Reason of Insanity' by Shane Stevens with technology thrown in.
 
Last edited:
Yes, yes, yes.

As a child, my dream was to be a published author. I achieved this, but sadly in the wrong genre. I want to write fiction, a novel. I ended up writing technical books in the IT field (this was some time ago, I no longer do this). I found that being published in the technical field didn't scratch the itch of wanting to be a novelist at all.

I actually think about this a lot. I should just write something. It doesn't matter if it's "good" or "bad", but just because it's in me, and it costs nothing to do. But I'm soooooooooooooo lazy!!!
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top