Just thought I'd ask because I'm an aspiring novelist myself - made some bad mistakes - but think I'm doing everything right with a manuscript I'll be offering to agents this year. Fingers crossed.

Anyway...I'm now in the process of building up an extensive list of internet writing resources, by category where I can. Hopefully it will be of help to any potential writers here.

Click on this link (http://chroniclesofempire.net/writing.htm) and check out the "For Writers" board.

There should be something useful there for any writer - but if you have any requests, make it there and I'll do some serious surfing to find some decent links.

It's still an ongoing project - I've only had a little time this afternoon to start - but hopefully it'll become very comprehensive.

Anyway, have fun,

Brian

what do you write aboot?

what do you write aboot?

Er...epic fantasy and speculative fiction. Sincere ly hoping I've done everything right this time to get an agent/publisher contract.

A lot of resources, because I've used them, are SF/F - though there are a lot of general resources on issues such as synopsis writing, locating an agent, etc.

Seriously, I'm not the only aspiring writer here, am I? :eek:

I gave up writing when reality set in and told me I'd never sell my screenplay.


At 18, I wrote a 50 minute comedy for stage. It took me 9 days to write, and it ended up winning "Best Original Production" in the Canadian One Act Play fesitival 1995. Beating out even semi-pro writers 2 and 3 times my age who'd had works published in the past.


Wrote a few more plays after that, had another one produced by city hall and was performed there for 10 days.


Then, I got to work on a screenplay (feature length) I kept writing and writing...but then with work, and life in general I just stopped writing :(

Oh, my... I write science fantasy. Not published yet, but I sent a short story to a competition. It didn't get on the top 20, so I will fix it a bit and then put it on my site under fiction. I have to make it longer because the had set a limit to 2000 words and I had a real problem getting rid of about 500 words to make it.

Hopefully I can have my novel published. I just have to finnish it.

RF -

Regarding your novel - I've started setting links up by topic, and sincerely hope you find something useful there as you're in my genre. (I've got some more SF resources to add today).

I highly recommend you take a look at the "learning from mistakes" thread, as I've put some lessons I failed at last year in it. It's not having a grasp of the technical aspects (POV, narrative voice, etc) that I've especially failed with before.

Brian

Thanks Brian. I bought a book on writing SF whith some very useful info.

When I first started I didn't put in that much dialogue, but after reading some, I started changing the story and I think I multiplied what I already had with 3 or something. That's why I had problems with my short story as well. Too many words, and not enough place for proper dialogue. I had to cut a lot and I think that's why I didn't do so well in the competition.

I am a professional writer even now, but I write non-fiction computer books for schools and education, and you don't get much dialog there...

RF -

Hope it's not too patronising, but you may also find these books useful:

Solutions for Novelists - Sol Stein
Characters and Viewpoint - Orson Scott Card
How to Write a Damn Fine Novel - James N Frey

Use of point of view (POV) has been a bad weakness of mine in the past. Frey's work makes an important point about premise and the one-line synopsis. Sol Stein takes up the issue of "show don't tell".

Was it the OSC books on writing SF/F you bought?

If you'd like, check out my signature and see if the SF resources I've just posted up in the "For Writers" section are useful. The military ranks page is especially recommended for using a space navy (assuming applicable).

Brian

I am the original author of the good book :D

:) I'll get the full title and author on the book I bought. Can't post it until monday though, cause I'm not online during the weekends.

I know some people think me stupid for this but... I usually don't want to read that much about writing. I have seen so many different versions on what is good and bad writing, and I want to write in a manner I like to read. I am more into following the leads of writers I like to read. The way they tell a story, make it flow, make it logical, and so on. I like to read Eddings, and Dick Francis, and so on.

I also try and make my stories unique. What I create is some kind of future (that's the SF part) with some logical magic (that's the fantasy part). The only problem I have is that I write in English, and that isn't my first language, even if it's close. I'm good att telling stories, and those few who have read what I have so far like it very much. I just hope a publisher likes my style and my story.

I will check out what you have, I promise :)

I usually don't want to read that much about writing

Ahh...I don't touch the "how to write" books - but it's really highly advisable to know a little about the technicalities of the market you're writing for - POV use, tense, active voice, etc. The books mentioned before cover those issues. FYI here's (http://www.sfwa.org/writing/mistakes_allen.htm) a good article about common mistakes aspiring authors make when trying to break into mainstream publishing.

I'm currently scouting for referrals for an independent SF editor. If I find anyone good I'll post some info.

Brian

Hmm. I've aspired to write a novel or two. I've some stories started but that's it -- writer's block probably.

I've been too busy lately building and maintaining my websites and channeling my energy on another creative path. So writing will have to wait again.

Nice resource you're offering. Hope it doesn't take away too much of your writing time. Good luck on getting published!