Creative Writing

[tridianprime]

Hello all. I am looking to write a novel based on the idea i have been pondering. However, i have very little knowledge of creative writing, specifically in the sci-fi and fantasy genre, so i was wondering if you had any advice or useful resources.

Thank you in advance,

TP

 

[Ste11aeres]

The most important thing with creative writing is....to do it!

That may sound simplistic.
The more you write, the better you will become at it. Experience will help you more than any tips we could give.
The big problem with amateur writers, is they never actually write the things they are 'in the process" of writing. Some of them tend to think abut writing, rather than to actually do it.

You might not be as good a writer at first, as you want to be. That can be discouraging. Well, just ignore that discouragement, and keep on writing.
Remember, even if it's a lousy piece of work at first, you'll always have the chance to improve it in later drafts.

 

[Ereth]

Try these:

Home | Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America

Writers Write -- Writer's Blog and Writing and Publishing Resource

I'll post more resources when I finish going through my writing bookmarks.

 

[tridianprime]

Thanks for the links. I will make good use of them, especially the first. I am going to start write now. Ill scratch out a prologue and see where it goes.

 

[tridianprime]

This is a quick idea i had. What do you think?

Prologue

The wind is blowing. It is a refreshing wind. Dry..., but refreshing nonetheless. As i stand here, with my core pushed outwards like a randy silverback, i listen to the the absolute silence of the world around me and gaze outwards at the cosmos beyond. The beating drum of my heart grows more intense as i fall further into this deep trance. I am in heaven. Let this be paradise and let me walk free- let me leave this place and start anew. Unfortunately, this harmony is short-lived as it hits me where i actually am, what i am actually doing, and what i actually am.

What am i, you may ask? Why am i even talking to you? Well, that is a question that will come to pass but for now all i will tell you is my name. The name is such a vital part of our identity- what makes us human. The trouble is i have had many names so what does that make me? Am i many times what a man could be or does it mean i am not a man at all? All i know, as i look out to the stars, is that the people of this world know me by one name...- Darkness.

 

[Geordie]

All i know, as i look out to the stars, is that the people of this world know me by one name...- Darkness

Somehow I find that this is original, and somehow I found it deep close to me.

Keep on writing.

 

[Ereth]

It's not bad, but I feel like the "randy silverback" imagery clashes with the rest of it. And "beating drum of my heart" is too overdone. But keep writing---for now it's most important that you get thoughts onto paper. You can worry about refinement later.

 

[tridianprime]

Thanks. I'll keep at it. I need to work on balance of imagery though, i agree.

 

[Sev]

I've read hundreds of books and because of that, I've learnt to write well. Simply reading good, interesting novels by talented authors will teach you how to write. So my suggestion is to go down to the local library and check out a dozen different books on a regular basis, not only do you get to enjoy fantastic pieces of English literature, but you also get free education in writing

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ~ Tony Morrison

Sev

 

[Vanilla]

There's a free online college in Germany that gives helpful tips for storytelling. I know they've got a channel on YouTube now; 'The Future of Storytelling':

Hope it's helpful

 

[Sylar]

This is a quick idea i had. What do you think?

Good start. Although I think you're taking a bigger risk with the present tense. While some books do use it, past tense is the norm and what people are used to reading. So you'd have to work extra hard to make readers continue.

I would also recommend starting up a blog on wordpress or something and posting your chapters there. If you can get an audience (and with you posting the prologue here I'm sure some of us will check it out) then you can get feedback as you go along to improve it. Then if you plan on self publishing or sending it off to a publisher you can delete the site, redraft to improve it a final time and maybe even use your traffic numbers to show that people are interested.

It's already been said but the best advice is to just write. Too many people say they want to be writers but never do more than a page of something before forgetting about it. It will take time and you should be serious about it without getting too serious. By that I mean set consistent hours dedicated to writing and write, treat it like a job instead of just a hobby, you need time to do it free from distractions and the internet. But don't stress over it, after all it is just a hobby for now. Don't worry too much and just have fun being creative.

On a related note using all of the above, just write. The most important part is getting a first draft done. If you sit there obsessed with trying to make a sentence perfect you will never get past it. Write, even if you hate what you've written, until you get to the end you won't be able to tell what's good or not anyway. What you hated at the start you may find has a lot of meaning and subtext at the end, and what you loved may become an unrelated passage that only hurts the flow of your story.

 

[Sparticus]

Join an online or offline writers group. Creative writing-short stories, for me is extremely easy. But other parts of writing like writing a novel is difficult for me.
Research writing groups and writing ideas based on your genres-Sci Fi and fantasy genre. Good luck! Let us know how it's going!!!!!!!!!!

Hello all. I am looking to write a novel based on the idea i have been pondering. However, i have very little knowledge of creative writing, specifically in the sci-fi and fantasy genre, so i was wondering if you had any advice or useful resources.

Thank you in advance,

TP

 

[tree]

OP was looking for some resources for genre writing.
These are not entirely useless.

Don't be fooled by the words "gotoquiz." It is not a quiz.
http://www.gotoquiz.com/your_short_story_generator
It is maybe amusing, but
I don't see that the intention is fulfilled.
It's meant to generate a very short story, but
I could not see that my choices had much, if anything
to do with the content offered as a result.

Many types of generators to assist a person looking for an
idea/name/plot/character/technology...etc

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/

http://www.rangen.co.uk/