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Writing a new book

Discussion in 'Booktalk' started by Proteus_za, Sep 12, 2007.

  1. Proteus_za

    Proteus_za

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    Hey all,

    An idea for a book popped into my head the other day, and I've been fleshing it out a bit, so I want to think about starting to write it.

    It will be my first ever book, a fiction work set in a new fantasy universe.

    So I wanted to ask if we have any aspiring or current writers here on SP. I do have a dayjob, so I wont be able to write very often. Maybe 5-30 hours per week I should say.

    The longest thing I have written before was my 50 page mini thesis (Computer Science related).

    My plan is to write a plan detailing all of the characters, settings, events, backstory, themes, basic plot outline etc.

    Then create a chapter skeleton, and, uh, start writing.

    Anyone have any advice? Any good text editors?

    Will probably send a copy of the plan documents to my older brother, who is an avid fantasy book reader (more so than me) for this take on my idea.
     
    Proteus_za, Sep 12, 2007
    #1
  2. T2Bruno

    T2Bruno The only source of knowledge is experience Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Steven King has a great book on writing. Basically, he says to just do it and ignore everyone else's opinions (except your editor). It's an interesting read.
     
    T2Bruno, Sep 12, 2007
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  3. Proteus_za

    Proteus_za

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    Thanks, I'll have a look for it.
     
    Proteus_za, Sep 12, 2007
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  4. Taluntain

    Taluntain Resident Alpha and Omega Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Resourceful Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) BoM XenForo Migration Contributor [2015] (for helping support the migration to new forum software!)

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    MS Word should be all you need. Or OpenOffice, which is completely free.
     
    Taluntain, Sep 12, 2007
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  5. Proteus_za

    Proteus_za

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    Ordered the Stephen King book, have OpenOffice, have started writing the plan.
     
    Proteus_za, Sep 12, 2007
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  6. Aikanaro Gems: 31/31
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    Depending on how you go about your writing there's a program called yWriter which might be useful.
    Personally I don't think I could stand using the thing and having everything so structured, but it might be of use to you.

    It might also be worth noting that NaNoWriMo is coming up, which is an excellent time for pumping out a draft. The support from the forums and the boost in motivation due to the however-many-thousand people doing it with you might be worth putting off writing for a month and a half. Depends how much time you're thinking of spending on planning, I guess.
     
    Aikanaro, Sep 13, 2007
    #6
  7. Proteus_za

    Proteus_za

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    Thanks guys.

    A friend of mine, who works in the non-fiction book industry, says I should write at least two chapters then submit them to an agent, together with a plan for the rest of the novel.

    I will probably write 2-5 chapters (plus the prologue, and send them off).

    I might write some of the chapters out of order, but it might be best not to I guess.
     
    Proteus_za, Sep 13, 2007
    #7
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