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Forward Motion for Writers

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Hi folks,
My name is Jack and I am a
I am a very new writer taking my first few tentative steps in the writing world. I have been reading, writing and learning at a furious pace in the past few months after re-discovering a love of creative writing after many years away from it. I decided to write a poem about one of my daughters for fun and once I had finished I wanted to write more and more. I have yet to start writing a story, which is what I would love to do, but I am learning all about how to plot out storylines, worlds and characters in the hope that I can make a really good first attempt of it. I like to throw myself in at the deep end so I am thinking about signing up for NaNoWriMo this year but I am not sure if it is a good or bad idea
Anyway enough of the waffling from me, I look forward to chatting to you all and learning heaps from you as I go

Welcome Jack,

Nano certainly is a big step, but still achievable no matter how long you have been writing. I started writing fiction in June one year and decided to give Nano ago the same year - Oct 30th actually. I had a one sentence idea and no world building or anything. I completed 53K in that month.

Crazy, enjoyable, stupid, mind blowing and definately lack of sleep. The story telling was bad, but I still like the actually story. One day I'll go back and rewrite.

Look around the forums, we're kind of big, although since our drastic spring clean recently, a few forums look empty. If you can't find what you want just ask.

Or join us in Chat.

Congratulations for reconnecting to your creative side. You'll find your entire life changed by it and may never look at things the same again. In a good way, of course.

Nano is a lot of fun and a bunch of us partake in the challenge. Sometimes it's best to jump in with both feet and just do it. Put the Internal Editor and fear away and make it all about you and the words. Considering how much research you've said you've done, it might help. The need for words will stop you thinking about all that you have learned, and it can then be internalized as you just write.

As a writer, that's the most important thing: to write.

Dean Wesley Smith tells his students at all his workshops to learn learn learn during the workshop. Then go home and forget what you learned, because trying to remember every point that you learned will keep you in critical voice when you want to be in creative voice. What you have learned will filter down through your fingers, never fear, but you need to allow it to do that.

So, join us in writing like crazy. Allow what you have learned to filer down into your fingers while you write creatively.

Welcome to FM!

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Welcome to Forward Motion. I'm glad to hear you found your way here. I do understand your need to read up and learn about writing, but the best way is to write. You'd be surprised what you learn from writing a full novel, revising it, getting it critiqued and yes, even critiquing others, learning the dreaded synopsis/query letter. They all sharpen your skills.

NaNo--I've done it once. I always cheer my friends on when they do decide to sign up for it. Some folks love it, others detest it. I would say try it sometime, but always remember just because you don't hit that 50K mark doesn't mean you failed. In the end, you'll have more words than you started.

Holly Lisle has some great How-To articles on her site that might interest you:

http://hollylisle.com/how-to-start-a-novel/

Anyway, have a look around Forward Motion and our chat rooms. If you have any questions, please ask.

Maripat

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Hi Jack! Welcome to FM!

If you don't take NaNo too seriously, it's a great way to let go and just WRITE. It's toooooo easy to get caught up in editing, but when 'competing' in NaNo, you're after free-form creativity.

So let go, have fun, and write -- and don't worry about completing all 50k. If you do, that's a great accomplishment, but even if you don't, you'll learn a lot about your inner writing landscape.

(I'm not sure I'm making sense, so I'll leave now. )

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