I have always wanted to write but never got any formal training for it

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 3:01 pm

Hi All, I am a newbie here and looking for some advice..

After 40years of living through "do a job to pay monthly bills", I am at a point where I need to do something about my writing.

I don't know where to start and my writing is at the same level as it was in my high school.

Here is the excerpt from my dream book:
She had thought she had checked all her checkboxes, even if late for some.

A carefree and loving childhood, with it's fair share of lessons learnt, limits tested, small winnings and big losses.

Kusum had got her engineering degree at 21, married at 23, got a job at 24, had her first baby, a son, at 26 - each one of those checkboxes checked, one by one. Then, what went wrong?

Why is she sitting here, in her own garage, tears streaming down her eyes and with a bloody lip and her back sore from being thrown against the wall?

Amy · Post by **Amy** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 3:02 pm

I just started going to writing conferences. A small investment each time-- compared to a college course into MFA program. DM -if you prefer to keep your location private- your general location and I'll see what conferences I know of to recommend.

I'm assuming you're writing a contemporary adult (age, not as in x- rated, lol) novel based on your excerpt?

I am also an avid how to write reader-- I'm a retired librarian, so helping people find information and getting them the book recommendations is still a strong driving force, even in retirement.

For reference, I'm a traditionally published author. I have a best friend that has made over a million on her self published novel--so I know a bit about both routes. I am also an obsessed story character structure expert that loves to teach (mostly for free at conferences), and I consult as much as my schedule allows.

Georgios · Post by **Georgios** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 3:02 pm

If you want to write something worthy of reading, I suggest you enroll yourself in a creative writing course. Before I completed my MA in creative writing, and though they had told me that I had a knack for writing, I couldn't finish a proper short story. You must learn how to use the literary tools to the best of your ability.

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Wed Nov 16, 2022 3:02 pm

You start at the beginning, somewhere, with something, sometime. Anything. It doesn't matter what. Write. Pour your heart out. Review. Rinse. Repeat. Make a habit of writing everyday, even when you're not 'feeling' it. You'll be equally surprised and often disappointed with what comes out. Tackle different forms. Poetry. Short story. Novel. Screenplay. Above all, have fun. Don't get bogged down with perfection. Don't get discouraged. Don't expect your friends or loved ones to understand (or care) what you write about. Just write.

Yvonne · Post by **Yvonne** » Tue Nov 29, 2022 12:44 pm

I am curious and would like to read more. Maybe inverting the beginning might make it more enticing and the writing tightened more. (Easy to give advice) Good luck

Why is Kusum sitting in her garage, tears streaming down her eyes and with a bloody lip and her back sore from being thrown against the wall?

She thought she had checked all her checkboxes. A carefree and loving childhood, with it's fair share of lessons learnt, limits tested, small winnings and big losses. Kusum got her engineering degree at 21, married at 23, got a job at 24, had her first baby, a son, at 26 - each one of those checkboxes checked, one by one. Then, what went wrong?, tears streaming down her eyes and with a bloody lip and her back sore from being thrown against the wall?

She thought she had checked all her checkboxes, even if late for some. A carefree and loving childhood, with it's fair share of lessons learnt, limits tested, small winnings and big losses. Kusum got her engineering degree at 21, married at 23, got a job at 24, had her first baby, a son, at 26 - each one of those checkboxes checked, one by one. Then, what went wrong?

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Thu Dec 22, 2022 1:57 pm