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Fun Stuff => ENJOY => Topic started by: Narr on 21 Feb 2007, 19:52

Title: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Narr on 21 Feb 2007, 19:52
For some reason, I've been dwelling on Creative Writing a lot recently.  Probably because it's the class I enjoy most here at college!

And I got to thinking, I wonder if any other QC people write short stories.  I try, and I'm told by my professor that I'm a pretty good editor, so I like to read other people's works.

The story I'm working on right now has already been chopped in class and I haven't had time to polish it, but once it's done, I will definitely post it here.  Is there anyone else here that writes and has more than good intentions to share?  (Khar, I'm looking in your direction.)
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Eris on 22 Feb 2007, 01:11
I write short stories, which I started on a whim when I was bored, but seems to have become a habit. I put them up on my livejournal (which is its only use) for people to read if they wish. As far as I know, only a few people do though.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Thnikkaman on 22 Feb 2007, 02:55
I am one of those people who read Eris' awesome stories; and I think I speak on behalf of all her readers when I say:
WHAT'S IN THE BOX ALREADY? BOX BOX BOX
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Inlander on 22 Feb 2007, 04:52
Eris, I had no idea! I'm gonna go check that out.

As, by wild coincidence, I've just made clear in another thread, I've had a book of short (very short) stories published by a terrific independent publisher in Canberra called Ginninderra Press. They're due to publish a short novel of mine (about 140 pages long) some time this year - the text is finalised, and it's up to the cover design stage. For the last two years I've also been writing an open-ended serial entitled Instant Life Substitute, which I think a few people here read. It's currently up to episode 439. It's about . . . relationships between people, and how they change over time, and how people aren't always quite what you expected, and how people change, and all the tiny little things that add up to form life. Also, going to cafes and pubs a lot.

By the way, for those of you who read the website: the novel is actually about Sacha from I.L.S. and her family, before she moved to Melbourne. It was the first time I wrote about her, and I really enjoyed her as a character, so I shaped I.L.S. around her.

EDIT: here's one of my stories: http://www.inlisub.com/NewsSportandWeather.html (http://www.inlisub.com/NewsSportandWeather.html)
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: ThePQ4 on 22 Feb 2007, 05:51
I've written quite a bit since I was in Middle school --so as I am 18 now, you can imagine how many notebooks and computer files have accumulated... However, we won't discuss what I write as it's a bit on the embaressing and dirty side.  :wink: But if you look, it's not to hard to find.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Lines on 22 Feb 2007, 06:53
i think creative writing was one of my favorite classes outside of my major. if i find somewhere to put them online, i'll share one.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: guywithoutsocks on 22 Feb 2007, 07:55
I have written a few short stories, and I am currently working on a longer story that may end up being a novel.  I haven't done anything like this before, so it might end up being awful, but it's something I've always wanted to do.

I've always described my status as a writer like this: "I'm kind of a faux-writer.  If your kid had a birthday party, and you wanted to get a clown or an elephant, but couldn't afford it, you'd probably ply one of your relatives with alcohol and get them to wear a bear suit or something.  If you wanted a real writer for something, but couldn't afford it or find one, you'd probably get me.  Also, I'd probably do the bear suit thing too."
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Will on 22 Feb 2007, 09:42
I self-printed/self-published a small book of my poetry and writings a while back, and as soon as I've run out of copies of those I'm going to put together another. Don't know if that counts or not though.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: TheFuriousWombat on 22 Feb 2007, 14:22
I write, or begin to write, all sorts of poems and short stories on a fairly regular basis. I've had some of the former published in some local literary magazines and such but nothing big. I'm generally very unhappy with everything I write so i rarely even show it to other people. Even my gf, whom I trust with everything, has read almost nothing of what I write. It's not that it's overly personal or anything, I just don't think it's generally good enough for other people to read.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Thrillho on 22 Feb 2007, 16:01
I've been published in webzines as a poet. I write short stories mostly for my own amusement or that of others.

Creative writing is great. My English Language coursework.... I did a story about gangsters in Rio a few years into the future. It culminated in ridiculous amounts of violence, racism, swearing and a shitload of cocaine...I got an A*. I also wrote a few more stories with those characters because I liked them so much.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: im_a _hellion on 22 Feb 2007, 16:36
I tried but being an aurthor but being impatient and adhd i only got one page done. But i will not give up so keep your eyes peeled!
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Dimmukane on 22 Feb 2007, 18:13
I don't, but a friend of mine loves to write stuff about zombies.  I've proofread a few things, and I think it's really good.  Unfortunately, he's been busy as of late.  However, he's getting more graveyard shifts (pun not intended) where he works now, so he'll have more free time to write all that stuff.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Joseph on 22 Feb 2007, 19:23
I have written poetry and short stories and am currently working my way through the planning stages of a novel that I swear I will one day write.  Both my mother and my grandmother (mother's mother) are published authors (with my grandmother having been amazingly successful at it), so I feel almost as if I have to continue the tradition.  The fact that I absolutely love to read and write doesn't hurt at all either.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: ruyi on 23 Feb 2007, 00:03
i write! i write teenage poetry and stuff, it's fun i suppose. i've never really tried anything in the way of a short story though. but i wonder if i should try to write a book someday! i have like, four extra years in my life to do it, so it would be worth a try and lots of fun!
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: KharBevNor on 23 Feb 2007, 00:54
I've had my poetry published twice, once as a child in a book of poetry by children, once about a year and a half ago in a quarterly literary magazine. I've also had an essay I wrote on the historiography of the viking era for my history A Level published, but that was on the interwebs so it doesn't count.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: The extra letter on 23 Feb 2007, 05:49
I'd like to think of myself as a writer/poet/whatever, but I don't really have the ability to back up my enthusiasm or aspirations.

I *have* written some pretty atrocious angsty poetry, though.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: ampersandwitch on 23 Feb 2007, 16:33
However, we won't discuss what I write as it's a bit on the embaressing and dirty side.  :wink:

POTTERPORN!

Gosh, I love writing.
But, not as much as I enjoy other things.  It takes up too much time.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: ThePQ4 on 24 Feb 2007, 11:01
Oh god, you found it.
How mortifying!
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Narr on 03 Mar 2007, 05:57
I write, or begin to write, all sorts of poems and short stories on a fairly regular basis. I've had some of the former published in some local literary magazines and such but nothing big. I'm generally very unhappy with everything I write so i rarely even show it to other people. Even my gf, whom I trust with everything, has read almost nothing of what I write. It's not that it's overly personal or anything, I just don't think it's generally good enough for other people to read.
You never will unless you allow yourself to open up and accept criticism from people who know what they are talking about, either.  It's something I've had to learn the hard way.

Anyway,

Any body know a decent non-Blog place that will host stories?  My first revision is all done.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Morokrat on 03 Mar 2007, 09:12
I'm a...performance-author? Is that how you say it if you want to feel educated?
Well, anyway, I am a Poetry-Slammer. Started slamming in December 05. So far, I love every day of it, every single performance, every town. Went to the GIPS, the German Internatiol Poetry Slam, started in the Youth(U20)-Category.

Does that count as being a budding author?
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Pareve on 03 Mar 2007, 11:03
I got my first book of poetry published by a tiny Canadian publisher last year. I've also been in a few different anthologies, but nothing major. I'd really love to see my writing go somewhere, but I don't think I'd want to pursue writing as a career. I'm only 17 though, so who knows where my life will take me and whatnot.

Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Will on 03 Mar 2007, 11:15
For those of you who have been published in different journals and what not, how did you go about doing so?  I'm interested in maybe sending some of my work in to be published in some way, and I'm looking for a place to start
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: vegkitkat on 03 Mar 2007, 13:02
I used to write a lot of (angsty) poetry, but I focus on short stories now. I've found that I really enjoy travel writing. I've only really been published in school literary magazines. I sent two short stories off to a local publishing house to hopefully be included in an anthology, but they were rejected. I'd like to keep trying, but I'm not really sure where to start.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Pareve on 03 Mar 2007, 16:01
Getting involved with other local poets is usually a good idea. Most cities and towns post literary meetings in the local paper. My dad writes poetry so it was pretty easy for me to meet people who had connections. There are also poetry societies and groups that you can join.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Johnny C on 03 Mar 2007, 21:59
I write poetry and short stories but it's been forever since I properly tackled either.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Runs_With_Scissors on 04 Mar 2007, 01:50
I write long sotries. Long as in 700+ pages. Long as in I'll never ever ever get it typed up and put on the computer. lol. I don't have enough time to type it all. Though I am looking for a good typewriter.. I always have bad luck w/ computers crashing.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Will on 05 Mar 2007, 07:21
If you have a local antiques store, check there. I got my typewriter - a SWEET 1950's model Smith-Corona - at an antiques store near me for I think $25?  Also flea markets and thrift stores sometimes have them.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Cartilage Head on 05 Mar 2007, 12:31
 I like to think of myself as something of a writer. The only reason I want to write at all is to gain enough credibility to achieve  my dream of writing a comic book with Yoshitaka Amano as my illustrator.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Pegasus King on 05 Mar 2007, 15:50
I've written a bunch of short stories over the years, and essays, etc.

I've been focusing on comic scripts lately though.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Ravenbomb on 05 Mar 2007, 23:27
http://www.horror.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25430

There's a short-ish story I wrote. It's a bit...grim.


Also, scroll down a few posts after it's done, I wrote an alternate ending.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Narr on 06 Mar 2007, 06:20
I like to think of myself as something of a writer. The only reason I want to write at all is to gain enough credibility to achieve  my dream of writing a comic book with Yoshitaka Amano as my illustrator.
That's a worthy goal, if you ask me.

I personally would like to have the guy who used to do all the artwork for Wizards of the Coast books to draw stuff for my books.  It's been so long that I can't recall his name, though.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: sandysmilinstrange on 06 Mar 2007, 07:02
I write. I'm not published, but I write what I call long stories (not novel lenghth, but usually longer than the average short story and using the word "novella" makes me feel strange). Maybe I'll post some of it someday.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: TheFuriousWombat on 08 Mar 2007, 14:40
In a marathon poem writing session, I cranked out 8 poems in a week and submitted seven of them to some Rutgers University High School poetry competition for, I believe, the whole state of New Jersey. Entries had to consist of 5 to 7 poems and 20 entries are chosen for publication and some moneyies are awarded authors. With huge amounts of luck I will be one of those winners. I hope so, not so much because I want win for my poetry but because I could really use an extra $100.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Legendaryratboy on 20 Apr 2007, 21:01
I also write lots of long stories (not to be confused with professional novels) and am currently working on two separate works, this is unfortunately only my "first round" in which I write down all of the story, and then, once I finish, go back and do all the editing and proofreading, so it might be some time before I feel comftrable enough with it in order to post it, but I might post excerpts just to hear oppinions!
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Eris on 20 Apr 2007, 21:07
Rodrick and I are writing a story together! Actually, "story" makes it sound like a little one that was thought up and written on a whim. But "novel" sounds poncey. It is a long story, where Roddy planned the storyline, and I'm writing it, although there have been some frustrations on my side of the world which is causing delays in the actual writing part. But it will get finished sooner or later!
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: hoax on 21 Apr 2007, 18:46
Alright, QC collaboration!

I'm a creative writing major, and write a mix of short stories and poetry. I used to think poetry was pretentious and a waste of a fiction writer's time, but now I know that working in both genres can really help you in whatever your concentration is. Three of my poems have been published in my school's literary journal, and none of my short stories. So maybe I'm a better poet than a fiction writer?

I also love editing! QCers can PM me for my email and send me stuff if they would like!
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Johnny Evilguy on 21 Apr 2007, 19:34
I write research papers and business reports :-(

Its not that exciting I know, but it seems my major killed any chance of my creativity from returning...

Although my co-workers do say my subjects are somewhat creative like:

"Lose a War and Win!" - paper on economic development favored for countries in war than foreign aid

"WTB Tax Break" - works on virtual economies and policies regarding possible tax income.

I NEVER understood how to write poetry... Everytime I tried it just sounds crappy...
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: alongwaltz on 21 Apr 2007, 20:24
Not so much budding, but I've wanted to be a writer since age nine or so.  (Prior to that, I wanted to be a librarian.)

And I'm aiming to take some creative writing and English literature courses in university.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Narr on 22 Apr 2007, 00:11
Something I've found about poetry is that it takes a weird person to like it.

No offense to anyone that likes poetry.



I've been told some of my poetry is really good.  I look at it and go "What? Why? This is just words on a page to me, and I wrote the damn thing."  I think it's all about what you personally read into a poem that wasn't intended by the author, and that irritates me.  When I write something, it's because I want people to see it through my eyes.  I got angry at this one girl that always read something obscure about her own life in my poems because I felt it was demeaning to what I was trying to get across.

I have a hard time personally applying abstract ideas as most poetry tends to be (at least, good poetry) and making it "my own."  If a poem comes straight out and tries to say something, most the time it's either not a very good poem or would work better as a short story.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Legendaryratboy on 22 Apr 2007, 12:09
The main problem with writing, wether poetry or short stories(or long stories), is that when people read it they try to find a deeper meaning in it, even if there's no deeper meaning and you just wrote it because it seemed like a good idea.
I personally find this infurating at times, but most of the time I just laugh when someone is overcomplicating the story.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: JediBendu on 22 Apr 2007, 17:14
I write sometimes. But at the moment I just don't think I'm that good at actually writing. So at this point in my life I'm stockpiling a large amount of ideas in my head that I promise myself I will someday write. I think i have one novel which is my favorite idea I've ever had, two series, a large amount of short stories, and one huge novel that are sitting up there. (I've always been coming up with ideas that I plot out in my head since I was a kid, but it's only in the past couple of years that I've thought any of them were worthwhile.)

My Creative Writing/English teacher of the past 3 years has told me that the college I'm going to has a paying literary magazine that I need to write for. So I'll be writing for them, more than likely.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: imapiratearg on 23 Apr 2007, 14:29
I write, fairly decently.  A lot of my friends enjoy my poetry.  Some is angsty, some is not-so-angsty.  I have a short story i'm working on, and i wrote a little story thing today actually.  Both of which (including my more recent poetry), can be found on my Blogger, and my myspace.

Linkage: http://maycausethirddegreeburns.blogspot.com/ (http://maycausethirddegreeburns.blogspot.com/)

http://www.myspace.com/superpunkdout (http://www.myspace.com/superpunkdout)

My stuff probably isn't as good as most of yours, and i believe i've tried posting one of my poems on here before in the Arts & Crafts section.  Oh well, look if you dare, and i'm open to criticism.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: JingleBunny on 25 Apr 2007, 05:22
I do a Creative Writing course at Uni, so I write all the time - sometimes for work, sometimes because I feel like it.
My stories are generally a mix. Some are god awful, others are OK. I don't really put my writings on the internet, they remain either in my head or on my computer.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Narr on 25 Apr 2007, 06:32
I write sometimes. But at the moment I just don't think I'm that good at actually writing. So at this point in my life I'm stockpiling a large amount of ideas in my head that I promise myself I will someday write. I think i have one novel which is my favorite idea I've ever had, two series, a large amount of short stories, and one huge novel that are sitting up there. (I've always been coming up with ideas that I plot out in my head since I was a kid, but it's only in the past couple of years that I've thought any of them were worthwhile.)

My Creative Writing/English teacher of the past 3 years has told me that the college I'm going to has a paying literary magazine that I need to write for. So I'll be writing for them, more than likely.
STOP STEALING MY THOUGHTS!

(AKA: I'm pretty much in the *exact* same situation, which is eerie to an extent.)
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Blyss on 27 Apr 2007, 15:14
I actually co-published a story with a friend a few years ago.  Over here (http://www.cafepress.com/revelation.9448357).

You don't have to go buy or anything, but that's the only place I have a link to it.

I'm John Sockey, and collaborated with my friend Jay Ess on the story, 'The Call'.

It's about a girl that calls her father in our present from the future.  Only thing is, in our present, he doesn't have a daughter, or a wife...

I thought it was an interesting concept.

I guess that makes me budding. :-)
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: MechZilla on 27 Apr 2007, 20:31
I've written some stuff, but I don't have it hosted anywhere you might be able to access it.
I can post it here, if no one minds.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Barmymoo on 06 May 2007, 07:40
I'm over on Writing.com...
http://www.writing.com/authors/barmymoo (http://www.writing.com/authors/barmymoo) if anyone is interested. It's a great place to get and give critiques and also just to read, if you want. I love that place :-)
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: confusedcious on 13 May 2007, 20:30
I'm trying to write... I'm not so good at finishing things, but I seem to be improving on that front having finished a couple short stories lately.

I think I'm improving... ^.^;
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: imapiratearg on 16 May 2007, 16:27
I just wrote a short story last night, took me from eleven thirty, to three in the morning to write, and proof read half of it.  I finished proof reading the other half at work today.  I'm quite proud of it.

It's posted on my blog, if anyone would like to read it.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Pshha on 16 May 2007, 16:33
I love writing, creative and not, preferably creative. I am told I have some raw talent, but I get huge cases of writers block so I can never get very far into storys even short ones. If I finish a story I would love to have an editor.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: imapiratearg on 16 May 2007, 22:24
I know someone who does something like that.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: axerton on 16 May 2007, 23:53
I'm attempting to write a fantasy novel at the moment, my only problem is that it's way too long and way to involved and it's already 70 000+ words which is bad when you consider that I've done about 3 out of the 15 'sections' of the book.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: ThePQ4 on 17 May 2007, 08:24
...Why do you think the words "sequal", "trilogy" and "series" were created? Duh.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: axerton on 18 May 2007, 07:27
That would be fine if this wasn't already the first of a trillergy. I thought about breaking it up again into a trillergy of trillergies but that would just be lame and the story would have to be altured seriously for it to work, so it looks like it's going to be really long then edited seriously.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: the_shankmaster on 20 May 2007, 01:26
I write.  I used to write anime fan fiction and band fiction, and I went trhough a period whee I wrote slash exclusively.  I know write only original characters.  I have several sets of characters that I write random stuff about.  I had a space pilot in the military.  I have a family of half-demon children.  I have a singer-song writer with dead parents.  I have a dyslexic drummer and his band.  I have A Mexican college student and his roommates.  I write about some more than others.  I have a community on livejournal where I post stuff.  Traffic is... non-existent.  I kind of miss writing bandslash because I used to get a lot of feedback then, but I know it's jsut because of all the fan service I was doing.  I'm such a feedback whore.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Blyss on 21 May 2007, 12:45
You're not alone in that.  Almost all of us writers crave feedback in some form or another.

We're fiends for it.

 :lol:
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: quietfox on 21 May 2007, 13:54
I've been a budding author for about 13 years. I like to write short stories and do nanowrimo. (http://www.nanowrimo.org) It's amazing and dorky and I love it.

Most of my writing is trying to emerge from the angsty teenager stuff, and usually takes a tremendous tone of sarcasm. I decided never to let my imagination die, so sometimes people think I do drugs. It's fun times.

I've been in a rut lately, but writing is one of my favorite things to do ever.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: the_shankmaster on 21 May 2007, 17:37
Well, if anyone is bored or wants to do me a favor, I post most of my short stuff here (http://community.livejournal.com/4freshprompts/) and here (http://community.livejournal.com/64damn_prompts/tag/fandom:+original+fiction).  I'm trendy_rocker.  Many are cross-posted to both communities.  If you end up liking my style, I have a couple 18-pagers I could send you.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Narr on 22 May 2007, 02:08
I totally need to get around to reading everything mentioned in this thread while I wait around to get a call-back from places I app'd to.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: TimA on 22 May 2007, 08:48
I'm a writer! Yee!

I've appeared almost exclusively in Interzone, which is sort of a big deal in the UK and Europe, but not so much anywhere else in the world. That work has snagged the attention of a couple editors and an agent, so I'm being pressed to finish a novel. It's...going. Slowly. Day job and stress make creative output difficult.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Scytale on 02 Jun 2007, 06:29
I had these big plans to write this whole manifesto type thing, was going to be like a complete summary of all my political and philosophical beliefs. I was going to try and fill it up with a lot of short allegories and aphorisms and all those types of things kind of like "Beyond Good and Evil". I wrote about 6,000 words or so and then realized 2 things, firstly it it was very self indulgent and secondly it was a lot harder then I thought it would be. I still cull bits and pieces from it every so often when I'm writing song lyrics but for the most part it's pretty much dead in the water.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: TheFuriousWombat on 02 Jun 2007, 15:59
Oh man, I just got a poem published in my school lit mag. It's my big break. Or something.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: Bearer on 03 Jun 2007, 18:58
I do a lot of creative writing, actually.  It's what's allowing me to pass English this yeah (my teacher takes it all as extra credit).  Apparently it's good because I'm known by most of the English department and the school editors who do the lit magazine.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: wraithzero on 04 Jun 2007, 01:29
I'm a budding author who's terrified of trying to become a real one.

I wrote a story last year (originally intended as a short story to pass my lunch hours, the 5 chapter story ended at 22 chapters and 80,000 words, with plans for another three books to follow it), and gotten enough positive feedback from people who aren't related to me to wonder about trying to get it published.

I just need to work up the guts to send it of and deal with the inevitable rejection letters.
Title: Re: Any budding authors among us?
Post by: the-artful-dodger-rodger on 09 Jun 2007, 14:02
I'm poet, with no-illusions of my poerty making me famous or anything. its just nice enough to publish a poem in a book anthology or mag, and getting a few bucks for it.