Does anyone write?

[Soen Eber]

Does anyone write fiction as a hobby? I think it might be good if we posted and reviewed stuff we've written as a way to branch out from the politics-focused discussions that have been driving people away.

I'd like to learn how to properly critique fiction so I can help out as an alpha reader, and have been following Writing Excuses (and reading fan fiction) for a few years now. Maybe it's time I tried writing something and seeing how people react to it, but mostly I just want to contribute to the forum in some constructive way.

 

[Mona Eberhardt]

Does anyone write fiction as a hobby? I think it might be good if we posted and reviewed stuff we've written as a way to branch out from the politics-focused discussions that have been driving people away.

I'd like to learn how to properly critique fiction so I can help out as an alpha reader, and have been following Writing Excuses (and reading fan fiction) for a few years now. Maybe it's time I tried writing something and seeing how people react to it, but mostly I just want to contribute to the forum in some constructive way.

Raises hand and points to this post.

 

[Beebo Brink]

It's a hobby now, but I've professionally published in the past. Not great literature, mind you, but three fiction novels as part of a syndicated series. And also lots of fanfic for various genres over the decades (started in high school).

 

[Sid]

Decades ago they asked me to edit the lyrics of the song Fly Robin Fly.
I refused.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

I write tons of shit! ...none of it is great art... I'd compare my style to Oglaf in that it's smutty, not serious, and mostly fantasy based. None of it is really share worthy... it's most just to amuse myself and a few lovers.

 

[Noodles]

I used to write a lot. I have not in a few years for a variety of reasons but I keep trying to encourage myself to, even if it's just fan fiction or something to start off.

A lot of what I used to write was blog post stuff but I have done some fiction. I even self published a short story to smash words to learn the process maybe ten years ago

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

I wanted to share this:

Planning To Outline Your Novel? Don't | NY Book Editors

Why less planning could mean more for your next story.

nybookeditors.com

I strongly agree with their observations about what makes a story interesting, but vehemently disagree with their key assertion that just not planning is the key way to achieve all those great things... NO.. FUCK YOU. You need to do at least some advance planning!

Game of Thrones is basically the poster child for why you need to so some planning before you just start writing a long story. It is often very clear when the author knew how to end the story and when they were just like "fuck this, I'm done!" Advance planning can also help you avoid some key inconsistences... A common example of this in fantasy novels is when the author realizes their characters already got too powerful so they kind of "nerf" magic or the scifi tech with little to no explanation and just hope the audience doesn't notice.

The article does make some good points about what can happen with bad planning or over planning, but they don't prove their key point that planning is somehow bad.

 

[Essence Lumin]

I wanted to share this:

Planning To Outline Your Novel? Don't | NY Book Editors

Why less planning could mean more for your next story.

nybookeditors.com

I strongly agree with their observations about what makes a story interesting, but vehemently disagree with their key assertion that just not planning is the key way to achieve all those great things... NO.. FUCK YOU. You need to do at least some advance planning!

Since the article mentions Hemingway, I looked to see if he had something to say on the subject. The closest I came was

INTERVIEWER

How complete in your own mind is the conception of a short story? Does the theme, or the plot, or a character change as you go along?

HEMINGWAY

Sometimes you know the story. Sometimes you make it up as you go along and have no idea how it will come out. Everything changes as it moves. That is what makes the movement which makes the story. Sometimes the movement is so slow it does not seem to be moving. But there is always change and always movement.

INTERVIEWER

Is it the same with the novel, or do you work out the whole plan before you start and adhere to it rigorously?

HEMINGWAY

For Whom the Bell Tolls was a problem which I carried on each day. I knew what was going to happen in principle. But I invented what happened each day I wrote.

From here but subscription required - Paris Review - spring 1958

 

[Caliandris]

I'm a writer of non fiction, but I have been not-writing several books of fiction, for years...literally decades. I'd love to join in. I need focus, at present my activities are expanding to fill the time available in a most unhelpful way!

 

[Noodles]

It is often very clear when the author knew how to end the story and when they were just like "fuck this, I'm done!"

Neal Stephenson says hello.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

Since the article mentions Hemingway, I looked to see if he had something to say on the subject. The closest I came was

"For Whom the Bell Tolls was a problem which I carried on each day. I knew what was going to happen in principle. But I invented what happened each day I wrote."

From here but subscription required - Paris Review - spring 1958

I do think it's a good thing for your plan to be vague enough to leave a lot of room for spur of the moment creativity, but in this particular example, I bet Hemingway at least knew what ending he was building to... you can often tell when an author doesn't know that.

 

[Beebo Brink]

I strongly agree with their observations about what makes a story interesting, but vehemently disagree with their key assertion that just not planning is the key way to achieve all those great things... NO.. FUCK YOU. You need to do at least some advance planning!

You seem to have missed the point of the article and the nuances of what they are talking about. You've taken it as yet another prescription for "how to write", rather than the larger message about "how to art."

This advice is more about how to undo writing habits that constrict and define too soon. Your statement that "they don't prove their key point that planning is somehow bad." doesn't match what I read at all. You're taking their advice to a literal degree, rather than as an advisory warning of the pitfalls of outlining. There is no hard and fast rule for any author or for any one story or book, but their perspective has a lot of merit for first-time writers who are grappling with the basics.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

You seem to have missed the point of the article and the nuances of what they are talking about. You've taken it as yet another prescription for "how to write", rather than the larger message about "how to art."

This advice is more about how to undo writing habits that constrict and define too soon. Your statement that "they don't prove their key point that planning is somehow bad." doesn't match what I read at all. You're taking their advice to a literal degree, rather than as an advisory warning of the pitfalls of outlining. There is no hard and fast rule for any author or for any one story or book, but their perspective has a lot of merit for first-time writers who are grappling with the basics.

My post was meant to be more tongue and cheek than you are reading it as... I do agree there can be pitfalls with a very stick headed approach to planning. Plans should be vague and flexible.


...I was partly just venting about some frustrating fiction that obviously didn't plan at all.

 

[Aribeth Zelin]

I live with writers, and I've done a bit of writing on my own, but I rarely get very far before I get distracted [yay ADD]
If I can find it though, I've a comedy short-short story that I wrote based on experiences at a Con.... I'll share it if I can find it.