Getting Started In Writing??

[JonECat]

I am considering making a second (and eventually -- one can only hope -- a first) career in Writing. I have no degree, but I have always been told by several that I would make a good writer, or something communications related such as radio. (I've always been told I had a face for radio, but I digress!)

Any ideas where to look, websites, books??

[MaximumSam]

What kind of stuff do you want to write?

[JonECat]

Still deciding.

[MaximumSam]

http://www.quintcareers.com/writing/

That is a decent site.

[DesertFox]

A lot depends on what kind of writing you mean. Standard fiction? fantasy? sci-fi? Repertorial writing? Commentary? Technical writing? Writing for kids? Plays? Screenplays? Poetry?

The main thing about writing is -- writing. A writer writes where others talk. If you aren't drawn constantly to setting things down in words, you're barking up the wrong tree. Many folks are more taken with the idea of "being a writer" than they are with the hard work of sitting their ass down every day and writing. Even fiction requires a great deal of research, without which a story lacks verisimilitude. You may be surprised at how much you think you know is wrong, or beside the point of your story, or out of date, or just not interesting.

My experience is with short story fiction. Short stories are a good place to learn craft. Model on the best among the ones you like. After you've got the craft down you can spread your wings and set out on your own. If you have talent, it won't take long. If you don't have much talent but enough desire, hard work can cover a lotta ground.

Good luck.

P.S. Honore Balzac noted that there's no such thing as good writing -- only good rewriting. Also, what Wyatt says below (echoing Somerset Maugham) about less being more. Adjectives in general dull more than they illumine, so be a good editor of your own material.

[jag]

I can't help you out but I think its fabulous and want to wish you alotta luck. Keep us posted.

[Wyatt_Junker]

Actually, there's two schools of thought.

One is to hole up like a monk, forksaking all forms of pleasure, and disavowing family and friends as distractions so that you can enter the alpha state unimpeded and pure. But this is a working hell model, replete with insanity clauses coming forth to the brain's intrepid surface.

Another says to live like the Epicurians. Live hard. Work hard. Play hard. Have sex hard. Relax hard. I'm reminded of Chucky Bukowski. I don't have the intensity for it.

Me. I just try to separate the alpha state from the beta arousal level. Wifey wouldn't like it if I stayed entirely cloistered for too long, humming in the coccoon. So I try to mediate that by actively engaging in life through a series of disciplines aimed at engaging the social world, and forcing myself out. Church is like medicine for such afflicted ones.

But, most writers are organically nutty. Its not a prereq, but it helps. I'm reminded of Emily Dickinson thinking her head a Thanksgiving Day turkey and cramming breadcrumbs in her mouth just before turning it to 450.

Some say you have to travel and see the world. Whatever. You can also travel inward and see yourself.

My template is thinking that my experience(while not a Xerox) is essentially a mirror of others and for others.

A few tips. Own a book entitled Revising Prose. Excellent work. I think its been through numerous editions. Its been used by the military, schools and anyone who wants to know how to communicate well. The author talks about the lard factor, a code word for beauraucratic-speak. Most paragraphs sampled from the many thesises of college campi use tons of unnecessary lard as packing filler. These are disguised as meaningless big words.

Let me pare it down for you. Less is more. And try for fewer adjectives and more powerful and descriptive verbs. Make the action pop out. Invent verbs if you have to.

[JonECat]

Well, thanks for the ideas.

I am currently looking to get my writing kickstarted, and I am in the process of coming up with some idea what exactly it is I want to write before I put it to paper. I am leaning heavily toward humor (I've been told I am good at that sort of thing), both fictional and non-fictional. If I come up with anything that I feel won't bore anyone to tears I may share it, but that's a ways off.

So if I am around a lot less, it not that anyone has pissed me off (much!) I'll just be busy pounding my head into the keyboard to get something started up there. Of course, If I run into any kind of writers block, I'll be back around for ideas. Just that right now, my head feels 50 pounds heavier from all the ideas I've got. Gotta relieve some of that.

[rbisrb2]

I am currently writing a fiction that is simi factual, my problem is it is Christian and most Christian press do not accept first time authors and refer them to writing agents.

[JonECat]

Most publishing houses of any kind won't even read someone's works without agent representation, it helps to write query letters and presentations to several different agents at once and let them sell the book to the publishing houses, they'll take a 15% cut, but then 85% of 0 is still 0.