Creative writing

Hello /book/

Are there any active writers among us? Published or otherwise?
Care to share your story?

Id like to write a novel one day, but Im not sure how to get started being a writer. I will be entering a short story competition soon though.

I can only speak for the short story market, but it's mostly a crap-shoot. You send your manuscript to a couple dozen publications in hopes of getting a single personalized rejection letter. If you don't pay careful attention to guidelines (simultaneous submission, length, dates), the editors' interns won't read past the envelope. And don't even bother sending out genre fiction to literary magazines. All in all, success seems to be determined more by patience and persistence than talent.

>>1
They say everyone has a novel in them :) I have a few novel ideas but the most I wrote was an opening paragraph; I got someone to read it and got some constructive critiscm. Though, I havent done anything about it since. I will some day though....

If you want to be a writer, you have to just start writing. It's that simple. Don't write a novel 'one day'. 'One day' never comes. Write it right now.

I have various chapters written up. I was co writing something with someone, but he went and got bored of it, so I have no one to bounce ideas off anymore. Still, I'm making a fair stab at it when I have the time.

I'd suggest writing lots of short stories and ask for feedback on relevant internet sites. It's practice that's well needed if you are ever to write something remotely good one day.

I'm working on a novel, my fiction is pretty much revolutionary and more awesome than anything I can think of. I don't even really respect the opinions other people have about literature which is why I never talk about my ambition. Sorry to come across as a pretentious faggot, I guess I'll see if I'm correct when the book hits the marketplace.

The main reason I haven't finished sooner and sent it off to an agent is because I'm an ugly faggot with no public speaking skills. I'm not ready for the promotion side of being an author, readings, signings, interviews, etc. I plan on practicing public speaking and working out until my huge muscles make up for my hideous face, because nobody wants to listen to a skinny, ugly white guy with a dopey voice.

I'll soon be homeless so that kind of puts a damper on working out, it may be a while before I'm able to fix myself up and send my fiction into the world.