Novel Writing

[Ninva]

I'm in the process of completing the outline for my first novel. The basic story has already been written up, and that's a huge leap into my future writing career. Though I haven't quite made it to this next step, I'm quite terrified by it since a lot of what I write terrifies me.

I need to figure out how to write the story and fill in gaps and foreshadow and shit. The problem is I really, really haven't done anything really complicated, ever. If you've been following my writing career up to this point, you would concur that nothing that I've written has been interesting from a rhetoric stand point. I'd really like to get my hands dirty in this next project, so if anyone has a link to a tutorial, guide, or just a general encouragement to share, then I welcome you to post in this thread.

The genre I'm dealing with is realism, post-modern philosophy. It deals with the subject of truth in a post-structural world. The main character grapples with theoretic truth and the practical while living in the mundane. Of course the story will hopefully be more fictitious and more interesting, but you may say this is a watered-down Joyce book topic.

Any advice or guide is welcomed though. Please feel free to ask questions. I can not reveal anything of the plot -- since I'm rather private, but if anything develops, I'll let you guys know in the future.

 

[Fatmankev]

Hey Ninva, wanted to congratulate you on your success so far. It's been cool to watch your development as a writer over the years (and increasingly less cool to watch you surpass me -.-), and I've always appreciated your support with my own works. To be honest, if it weren't for your first comment on my first story I was writing when I first graduated high school, 'Hellhounds,' then I never would've come back here. So I really feel obligated to thank you, man. I really do appreciate it.

That being said, I'm afraid I can't really provide much helpful insight to your situation. You've long since surpassed my skills from an academic standpoint, and the only thing I might be able to do any better is fantasy, but even there you really might have me beat. I'm sorry I can't offer what I may have been able to four years ago, ya know?

Let's see, here... my advice would be to literally steal an idea that you really like from a favorite story and work it into your own. As you're writing, you'll be able to take their idea and mold it better to fit your own story, characters and world. By the time you're getting ready to write that part, it will only resemble the other story's idea in its basest principle, and your own unique voice will make it original and interesting. I mean, face it - you can't write a new plot. Everything's been done before. The best you can hope for is to change the variables of said plot into new and exciting ideas to draw your reader in and keep them coming back.

I've got a lot of faith in you, man. I would be more than happy to proofread or offer criticism on parts of your story for you whenever I've got free time, should you like. You can contact me via PM, or:

Spoiler

E-mail - [email protected]

Good luck, friend. I wish you the best.

 

[Ninva]

Thanks, fatmankev. When I get to the actually writing and not the outlining, I might send you an email. I'm not going to be writing until this summer. The progress so far has been slow yet interesting. After I posted this topic, I got up and began reworking the entire plot into a different direction. I hope you can understand the attention to detail that I'm trying to make with this project.

I'm glad you came back. You truly have talent, and you're not fooling me with your denials. Though I've studied many, many other authors, I do fondly remember the lessons your stories taught me and sometimes go back to them when I'm feeling especially uninspired. I even have your basic plot-map for fantasy stories taped to my bedroom wall. It's a key resource.

Best regards,

 

[C-Death]

Hey there. Oddly enough, I've come across the photoshop materials required for maps, so if you need some maps, just let me know. Or, if you're interested, send me a PM and I'll link you to the stuff.

 

[Syndrome]

If possible, can you show us your progress? Like the road-map you've made and all. I'm very curious how a fellow writer plans his/her own story.

 

[Ninva]

A road map? I'm always up to help, but you must excuse my tendency to write in private.

 

[C-Death]

A road map? I'm always up to help, but you must excuse my tendency to write in private.

I thought I was the only one who did this.

 

[Fatmankev]

Ninva. Quit fucking around.

I'm telling you, if you don't focus on this project more than you're doing, then you're gonna lose your commitment to this work. It's happened before to all of us, and you know it as well as I do that if you keep pushing it off to the side then you're not gonna go anywhere with it.

Writers are generally procrastinators, man, ya know? If you put it off, it's just gonna be another forgotten project full of wasted potential.

Not trying to sound mean here, bro, I just want to get that damn fire going back under your feet before it smolders out completely. I got a lot of faith in your abilities man, so just make sure you don't give up on this.

And if you are making solid, steady progress with it so far, then my apologies - I can only wish you the best, then, and a premature congrats. Good luck, boss.

 

[C-Death]

Ninva. Quit fucking around.

I'm telling you, if you don't focus on this project more than you're doing, then you're gonna lose your commitment to this work. It's happened before to all of us, and you know it as well as I do that if you keep pushing it off to the side then you're not gonna go anywhere with it.

Writers are generally procrastinators, man, ya know? If you put it off, it's just gonna be another forgotten project full of wasted potential.

Not trying to sound mean here, bro, I just want to get that damn fire going back under your feet before it smolders out completely. I got a lot of faith in your abilities man, so just make sure you don't give up on this.

And if you are making solid, steady progress with it so far, then my apologies - I can only wish you the best, then, and a premature congrats. Good luck, boss.

There is great truth in these words.

I've literally re-written the story I'm currently working on at least 50 times. Why? Because I'll write, and in my opinion, it's great! Then I'll turn my attention to something else for probably a day to a week. When I come back to it, it's all gone out of my brain.

In your first sentence, the whole "Ninva. Quick fucking around," That sounded a bit rude, yes. But, I feel that as a community of writers, sometimes we need to give one another a jump start.

As horrible as this sounds, my mom is a big fan of my writing (I know... I know...) And when I get off track, she metaphorically kicks my ass back in to it, and that's what I need sometimes.

 

[Fatmankev]

There is great truth in these words.

I've literally re-written the story I'm currently working on at least 50 times. Why? Because I'll write, and in my opinion, it's great! Then I'll turn my attention to something else for probably a day to a week. When I come back to it, it's all gone out of my brain.

In your first sentence, the whole "Ninva. Quick fucking around," That sounded a bit rude, yes. But, I feel that as a community of writers, sometimes we need to give one another a jump start.

As horrible as this sounds, my mom is a big fan of my writing (I know... I know...) And when I get off track, she metaphorically kicks my ass back in to it, and that's what I need sometimes.

Exactly the point I was trying to make, and I know that saying it the way I did will get his attention and hopefully not offend him, because I really didn't mean it. I just have a creeping feeling like it's drifting further and further away from him. I could be completely wrong, but it's just a feeling.

Glad your mom helps you out, man - my mom used to write a lot before I was born, and I've always shared her enthusiasm for it, too. I always make her read my work if I think it's something worth reading, haha. So don't feel bad on that front, bro, it's good to have a dedicated reader.

 

[DM Cross]

My mother read the manuscript to Corruption and loved it. Sadly, she and no one else has ever pushed hard for me to finish re-writing it out of Draft mode or start the next novel of that series, Ressurection.

 

[C-Death]

Exactly the point I was trying to make, and I know that saying it the way I did will get his attention and hopefully not offend him, because I really didn't mean it. I just have a creeping feeling like it's drifting further and further away from him. I could be completely wrong, but it's just a feeling.

Glad your mom helps you out, man - my mom used to write a lot before I was born, and I've always shared her enthusiasm for it, too. I always make her read my work if I think it's something worth reading, haha. So don't feel bad on that front, bro, it's good to have a dedicated reader.

What's great is that she doesn't just, you know, tell me it's great because I'm her son. She will spend days (if needed) mercilessly picking at it, taking note of all errors (grammar, spelling, plot holes, inconsistencies ect. ect.)

Really, if you want to be a writer, you need a BRUTALLY honest critic.

Ninva-I hope you don't view this as we're picking on you or trying to flame you, just help
(Feels like an intervention going on)

 

[Ninva]

W-what happened? I'm studying for finals. I really don't have time to organize all my outlines and present them for you guys. I'm not even sure what you guys want in the first place. I told you that I'm writing in the summer, which will be in a few weeks. D:

 

[C-Death]

W-what happened? I'm studying for finals. I really don't have time to organize all my outlines and present them for you guys. I'm not even sure you what you guys want in the first place. I told you that I'm writing in the summer, which will be in a few weeks. D:

Faster! *cracks whip* Just kidding, a busy life is something we can all understand. I think we're just trying to help you, I don't know, not lose interest

 

[KaerfNomekop]

To break it down: Fatmankev's been trying to push you to write ASAP. Just in case you stop. And they've also agreed that you need a critic for your writing (aside from us).

You could at least put down some ideas as they come, in case you lose them in the few weeks to summer. Good luck with finals!

 

[Ninva]

Good luck with finals!

Thanks.

 

[Fatmankev]

Hey, I didn't mean to be an ass, and I wasn't asking to see your work; I'm just suggesting that if you continue to postpone your work on this piece, I fear that it will never come to fruition. I understand that you have finals and that's your reasoning behind the delay, and I was aware that you didn't intend to begin until summer, but that was my point - if you wait it just might not happen. Personally, if I say I'm going to do something as soon as this or that has passed, there's a pretty high chance it's never gonna happen.

I just fear that something that could be great might fall to the wayside as yet another forgotten project. I'm just asking you to tweak your outline daily, to make it a part of your daily routine and what not. If you force yourself to sit in front of it every day for 10 minutes and just think about your story and what you could do with it, where you could go and all that, you will actually be excited by the time you finally get to work on it without distractions. Otherwise, it might turn into something you almost dread having to do as the date comes closer and closer.

But seriously man, I was just trying to light that fire. Guess my writing ain't all it should be, huh? =D

Good luck bro.

 

[Ninva]

Thanks, man.

I've been tweaking my outline every so often. I actually just did some tweaking this morning. Everything is turning out well. But nothing can be truly done until my schooling is out of the way temporarily.

 

[Fatmankev]

Thanks, man.

I've been tweaking my outline every so often. I actually just did some tweaking this morning. Everything is turning out well. But nothing can be truly done until my schooling is out of the way temporarily.

Word. Again, I meant no disrespect, I just know that you'd like to be a successful writer and I feel like I've gotta help push you to it. The potential is there, it's realizing it that's the issue. But I have faith, my friend. I have faith.

 

[Ninva]

6,000 words written