Flyer 2
08-15-2004, 00:31
What a TERRIFIC idea!
I was scrolling down the Index Page when lo and behold... a WRITER'S Hideout!!!
Full-time novelist, here. I mostly write science fiction/adventure novels, and the occasional short story when my muse gets overactive. That's begining to happen more and more often as I get older... I hope that's a good sign!
I live in a Village full of artists... writers, poets, painters, etc., and almost all of my work is published under two psuedonyms. I do this so I don't end up in the "Local Author" section of our library that everyone's so eager to point out to tourists. My newest novel, however, is being published under my own name. I figure it's time to drop the costume and basically begin anew, hoping no one links me to my earlier works.
When I was heavily involved at Ktog as it's main poster, I thought up a character named "P-32 Paul", a combination of James Bond and Inspector Clouseau. I began posting a chapter at a time just for kicks and the amusement of my fellow shooters, and to my amazement interest in the character and his blundering adventures soared! It was pretty much the first time I'd ever written anything simply for the pleasure of others, and it surely felt good.
I never finished the adventure, alas: I was busily starting my own Kel-Tec forum with two friends, the KTRange. We immediately became a success, and my Paul stories took a back burner to the duties of trying to run an entire gun forum with a staff of only three!
Many Ktogers joined our forum, though, and again requests to complete the adventure came pouring in. I set aside a week and completely re-wrote the entire mess, collating it into normal chapters, and doubling it's length as I turned it into an actual short novel. It's actually for sale at our KTRange store - KTRange Shop (http://www.cafeshops.com/ktrange). Rarely have I had so much fun with one project!
http://www.flyerwires.com/ppaulgt.jpg
That's the cover... kinda fun making that, too!
I've read all the posts here so far... and it's true that the best way to protect your work is mail a copy to yourself and tuck it away unopened. The Elements of Style, of course, should be on any aspiring writer's shelf, along with as many reference works as possible that pertain to the subject matter you'll be tackling.
One key to writing successful fiction is to write about what you know. Most have probably heard this over and over, but it remains true - how many times have you groaned inwardly as a character "checked the safety" of a revolver in a crime novel? Little things like this go a long way towards polishing your technique and ultimately rendering your work attractive to a publisher.
Another thing to keep in mind - always FINISH what you write, if you've got substantial time already invested in it. Don't plow halfway through and decide it's manure destined for the circular file, finish it! The true definition of a writer isn't that he's been published, it's that he finishes what he begins. If you've got a full, finished manuscript, it doesn't matter whether or not you ultimately succeed in marketing it... it's mere existence proclaims your status as a genuine writer.
Writing - especially fiction - is one of the toughest jobs on the planet, requiring an extraordinary degree of willpower and glue on the seat of the pants. Regardless of your methodology, however, you'll reach a certain point in your work (50 pages, 200 pages) and realize what you've really accomplished... you've created a world! At this point enthusiasm tends to rocket sky-high and you begin cranking out the words at a fever pitch.
I see I'm on the verge of writing a book, right now... I'll shut myself up.
It's great to see others interested in this most personal of endeavors, and I look forwards to reading some of your work!
Flyer
I was scrolling down the Index Page when lo and behold... a WRITER'S Hideout!!!
Full-time novelist, here. I mostly write science fiction/adventure novels, and the occasional short story when my muse gets overactive. That's begining to happen more and more often as I get older... I hope that's a good sign!
I live in a Village full of artists... writers, poets, painters, etc., and almost all of my work is published under two psuedonyms. I do this so I don't end up in the "Local Author" section of our library that everyone's so eager to point out to tourists. My newest novel, however, is being published under my own name. I figure it's time to drop the costume and basically begin anew, hoping no one links me to my earlier works.
When I was heavily involved at Ktog as it's main poster, I thought up a character named "P-32 Paul", a combination of James Bond and Inspector Clouseau. I began posting a chapter at a time just for kicks and the amusement of my fellow shooters, and to my amazement interest in the character and his blundering adventures soared! It was pretty much the first time I'd ever written anything simply for the pleasure of others, and it surely felt good.
I never finished the adventure, alas: I was busily starting my own Kel-Tec forum with two friends, the KTRange. We immediately became a success, and my Paul stories took a back burner to the duties of trying to run an entire gun forum with a staff of only three!
Many Ktogers joined our forum, though, and again requests to complete the adventure came pouring in. I set aside a week and completely re-wrote the entire mess, collating it into normal chapters, and doubling it's length as I turned it into an actual short novel. It's actually for sale at our KTRange store - KTRange Shop (http://www.cafeshops.com/ktrange). Rarely have I had so much fun with one project!
http://www.flyerwires.com/ppaulgt.jpg
That's the cover... kinda fun making that, too!
I've read all the posts here so far... and it's true that the best way to protect your work is mail a copy to yourself and tuck it away unopened. The Elements of Style, of course, should be on any aspiring writer's shelf, along with as many reference works as possible that pertain to the subject matter you'll be tackling.
One key to writing successful fiction is to write about what you know. Most have probably heard this over and over, but it remains true - how many times have you groaned inwardly as a character "checked the safety" of a revolver in a crime novel? Little things like this go a long way towards polishing your technique and ultimately rendering your work attractive to a publisher.
Another thing to keep in mind - always FINISH what you write, if you've got substantial time already invested in it. Don't plow halfway through and decide it's manure destined for the circular file, finish it! The true definition of a writer isn't that he's been published, it's that he finishes what he begins. If you've got a full, finished manuscript, it doesn't matter whether or not you ultimately succeed in marketing it... it's mere existence proclaims your status as a genuine writer.
Writing - especially fiction - is one of the toughest jobs on the planet, requiring an extraordinary degree of willpower and glue on the seat of the pants. Regardless of your methodology, however, you'll reach a certain point in your work (50 pages, 200 pages) and realize what you've really accomplished... you've created a world! At this point enthusiasm tends to rocket sky-high and you begin cranking out the words at a fever pitch.
I see I'm on the verge of writing a book, right now... I'll shut myself up.
It's great to see others interested in this most personal of endeavors, and I look forwards to reading some of your work!
Flyer