Struggling Writers discussion

Hello! Introduce yourself and your novel, do you have half a novel or just some thoughts scratched down? Do you have only ten words or nearly 100k? Wherever you are please introduce yourself below and join the arduous climb to finishing a complete draft of your novel!

Hi! I'm Rachel and I've usually got my head in the clouds. I decided a while back I should try to be somewhat productive with these daydreams and write them down. My favorite genre to read for enjoyment is Paranormal Romance where the impossible has been there all along--just under our noses--and that's what I've been writing.

Title: (still deciding on this)

Story Concept: Features wolf-like shifters coming together to defeat a common enemy and finding their loves along the way. Each book will focus on a different couple, and I plan to include a good amount of fairy tale, mythology, and folk tale symbolism throughout. Maybe a couple urban legends thrown in there as well. ; )

Current Word Count: 47,450 as of 12/23/13

Welcome Rachel! It looks like you have a great start, about where are you in the story? (a quarter, halfway, two thirds, ect)

I'm shooting for something between 90,000-100,000 words, so halfwayish.

Hello all! I am Irene, and I am hoping to finish a novel that I started during this past NaNoWriMo. I love reading pretty much anything, but writing fantasy seems to be my thing.

My novel has no tittle so far, I still don't have a synopsis (I write successfully more by the seat of my pants than with an actual plan), and my word count is at a nice 53k. I can say that I am nearing the half way point in the plot line I have imagined though!

Congrats, Irene!

Thank-you Rachel! I participated in NaNo this past November and knocked that much out in a month, I hope to continue at nearly the same pace to get the rough draft finished.

Hello! I'm Tianna and I officially started writing about a year and a half ago. This is my first time writing anything and I'm discovering it's a lot of fun. There's so much to learn and I now find myself reading books in a whole new light!

My story has about 75 000 words so far and I'm thinking it'll finish off around the 120 000 mark. :/ It has two storylines and I've recently just finished writing the first.

I'm Tara.

I've got several drafts rolling around in drawers, notebooks, and the notepad of my phone. The longest ones rest somewhere around 35,000 words, the shortest... Well, they're really short.

I want to finish off my NaNo piece this year AND finish off the book following it in the series. They're the drafts I've made the most progress on. I may not be able to get both done (depending on how much time I have to write) but one at least! I also have the beginnings of each book in my seven-book series EXCEPT for the last book. I'm saving that for next year's NaNo. :)

Welcome Tianna! That's fantastic, I'm glad you could join us.

Hey, words are words so as long as you have a story you have a book (novella or epic, it's still a tale!). We are here to form a little group for each other to cheer each other on towards the end of our novels!

Hi Im Brittany! I like the name Brit or Candy.

I started a story for a friend, and it was after NaNo so i'm kinda upset about that >:|
Anyway I have a story called A love like war.

Its about a girl who graduates from 8th grade, and goes into high school. Over the summer, Candy and her best friend so to a camp, and meet some interesting people. Romance and drama starts there and leads into high school, which isn't good, and other stuff.

I plan to do NaNo when it comes around, and finish this story!

The word count is..I don't yet

Britt wrote: "Hi Im Brittany! I like the name Brit or Candy.

I started a story for a friend, and it was after NaNo so i'm kinda upset about that >:|
Anyway I have a story called A love like war.

Its about a ..."

Welcome Brit! That is perfectly fine and you don't have to wait till NaNo, you can start here with us! The daily word goal for NaNo is 1667, so you can set that as your personal word goal if you would like :)

Sounds like you know where you are going, glad you have you!

Hello! I'm Bridget and I have an idea in my head which I think should be a book.

It's about a girl who lives in an alternate universe where kids are only born to be slaves. The girl doesn't have a name and gets beaten everyday by her parents. But, she has a dangerous ability; she can travel between her world and earth, a place she has longed to live. She meets a another girl named Emma who gives her her name, Diedre. One day, after visiting Emma, Diedre finds government officials in her room. They take her away only to find out the truth about her world and her powers.

It sounds horrible, but it's my first time actually trying to write my ideas down. This thought has been lingering in my mind for three months now. I have about 100 words, but I'm trying...

Bridget wrote: "Hello! I'm Bridget and I have an idea in my head which I think should be a book.

It's about a girl who lives in an alternate universe where kids are only born to be slaves. The girl doesn't have a..."

Welcome Bridget! The key is to get that rough draft down, no matter how many errors it has, just get it down! Try to write some everyday, 750 words is a good starting place :)

Okay, thanks!

Bridget wrote: "Okay, thanks!"

Also, if you are in a writing mood (aka, on a role) then write as much as you can!

Hello Elizabeth! This area is for people starting a novel or who posses a novel in progress, so if that's where you're at feel free to join us! However, I feel if fanfiction or short stores are your thing you should probably check out the other areas of the group that aren't so specific, such as the Writer's Corner, the Workshop, or the discussions (as you will find more help there). Good luck with your writing and if you don't find what you need ask one of us MODs and we will see about getting you some assistance :)

Hi my name is Danielle and I love writing murder mystery's and I am very pleased to have found this site.
I have a condition called 18 p minus syndrome and writing is the only way I can escape the real world
and feel that i can do this rather fast unlike other
task. Nice to meet you all.

Novel Working title: Law1

Welcome. :) I'm glad you've found your way over here. :)

Hello Danielle and welcome! How far are you along on Law1?

Hi,
I'm Ingrid and I've been brainstorming my crazy novel, "The Time Domes" for almost 5 months now. During NaNoWriMo I wrote out about 1,500 words...but i can hardly remember what i wrote (it's documented however) and now as i reread, it doesn't seem to lead up to my central plot as desired.

Although because i never fully brainstormed, i'm wavering between finishing the draft of this story or finishing plot structures for two other stories i just recently thought of, that i want to conjoin. one i called, "Mama" and the other called, "Love Burns" (i create titles a lot for my stories, even if they don't last)

Welcome Ingrid! I would finish the draft of "this" story and then work on the other two that you would like to conjoin. How far along are you on them?

I have only created titles and plots for the 'conjoined glob'. I've actually started on my NaNoWriMo entry. Thanks, by the way, Irene.

Ingrid wrote: "I have only created titles and plots for the 'conjoined glob'. I've actually started on my NaNoWriMo entry. Thanks, by the way, Irene."

I would go with the NaNo entry then, since you have started it :)

I am slowly writing the sequel to my previous novel. The original was published in December 2012, when I was 12. I'm 13 now. The sequel is coming very slowly because I have to deal with school and I have all these other silly ideas that pop into my head (for a club I'm in, I have to write fan fiction)

My plot is boring in the middle like the third act of a four-act opera buffa. It just keeps repeating itself and is sooooo boring. WHAT SHOULD I DO???? And how do I get back on track when writing a boring section (that's boring to me?)... ughhh I have so many problems.

Emma wrote: "I am slowly writing the sequel to my previous novel. The original was published in December 2012, when I was 12. I'm 13 now. The sequel is coming very slowly because I have to deal with school a..."

Welcome Emma! I would lay out where I want the story to go (say in six bullet points) and then fill in the spots between those points with ideas. As for writing a boring section either push though it or skip ahead to something more interesting and then come back to it later :)

Irene wrote: "Emma wrote: "I am slowly writing the sequel to my previous novel. The original was published in December 2012, when I was 12. I'm 13 now. The sequel is coming very slowly because I have to deal ..."

Thank you :D I'll try that
I'm not much of a planner. When I wrote my first novel, I just wrote it all without a plan. And I had this really un-realistic ending (not that the ending was realistic in the first place) but - more like not believable. But there wasn't a plan at all and I changed the whole plot for the second half like five times.

Welcome, both of you. :)

Hi I'm Quinn.Im 10 years old and love to write.Reading also stands out to me

Emma wrote: "Irene wrote: "Emma wrote: "I am slowly writing the sequel to my previous novel. The original was published in December 2012, when I was 12. I'm 13 now. The sequel is coming very slowly because I..."

Let me know how it works out for you, and I can try to help if you get stuck.

My writing tends to shrivel up into a very dry and tasteless novel if I plan things out ahead of time, but having a plan seems to work for most people!

Kathleen wrote: "Hi everyone, I'm Kathleen.
I graduated from University of Nevada, Las Vegas this past year and I finally feel ready to pursue my dream of becoming a writer. It's definitely not an easy task, so I'm..."

Welcome Kathleen! That is fantastic, it sounds like you have a pretty decent start on you last one.

Personally, I would suggest getting a FULL rough draft down before you start editing (I am told it is more productive) and work on one novel at a time. However, we all have our styles, thanks for joining us!

Quinn wrote: "Hi I'm Quinn.Im 10 years old and love to write.Reading also stands out to me"

Hello Quinn! This area is specifically for novelists, so do you have one going or are you trying to start one?

Frenchie wrote: "Welcome to everyone."

Hello Frenchie! Do you have a novel?

My name is Matthew and I am a new indie author. I have two pieces I have self published, one a short story, the other a novella.

I have 68000 words of my 2011 NaNoWriMo novel written, with just one chapter to go though it's been over a year since I last touched it. I'm hoping this will be the year I really get stuck into it again. I've learn a lot from fellow indies but I haven't put those tips into my novel yet.

Matthew wrote: "My name is Matthew and I am a new indie author. I have two pieces I have self published, one a short story, the other a novella.

I have 68000 words of my 2011 NaNoWriMo novel written, with just on..."

Welcome Matthew! Check out the topics here and see if any suit your fancy :)

It's seems we all have to suffer this thread at one point or another, so might as well take the plunge.
Hello, my name is Ginette but please call me GG (I hate Ginette).
I have 2 novels (SciFi/Paranormal). One published the other I'm still editing. I say still because if I would just do it, it would be done. Heck, it should have been done months ago, but I procrastinate and I don't know why. (GRrrrr) First novel is 107.5k the sequel is 108k at the moment. And I have 0 word done in my next project.
I'm glad to be here. Not only it gives me a reason not to edit but I found a bunch of nice people so I'm happy. :)

Plamen wrote: "Hi. I am Plamen and I am from Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Sometimes I am so happy – like an innocent kid watching a snowstorm from a frosted window. Unfortunately Plovdiv is a southern town. The snowstorms..."

Plamen, your post has been removed as this is the wrong place for it, making it spam. Please go post in the advertising thread. This area is for NOVELS IN PROGRESS ONLY that you would like to have a writing group support you on as you write.

Marc wrote: "I have 7 books, 4 novels (2 genre, 2 litfic) and 3 collections of flash fiction

Marc Nash"

Marc, as I told Plamen, this area is NOT a place to advertise your novel(s) so your post as been removed. This is an area for writers to come who need help on a current novel so they can have a support group who is facing the same challenges.

Trisha wrote: "I am Trisha jones, my novel Nirvash, a Vampire's Tale is about 45,000 word self published"

Trisha, this is not an area to advertise your novel, please go post on the advertising threads. It is an area for writers who need help on their current novel.

G.G. wrote: "It's seems we all have to suffer this thread at one point or another, so might as well take the plunge.
Hello, my name is Ginette but please call me GG (I hate Ginette).
I have 2 novels (SciFi/Para..."

Hello G.G! This is not the general introduction thread, it is the introduction area for those who are working on a novel and would like help. If you would like to join us you are more than welcome! However, if you want to general introduction thread go here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Hi, I'm Chelsea and I have never finished writing a novel, but I really want to finish this one.

"This one" is a historical romance set in an odd period of 19th century England. It's too late to be Regency, and too early to be Victorian. I am telling the story of the eldest daughters of a family of good blood, little funds, and many daughters. The story opens by telling what happened to make Beatrice Alden's first Season end after one day. It's a bit of a weird choice. I tend to make weird choices.

I would really like some help. I know writers but they're all disdainful of romance, and talking to them about my work winds up discouraging instead of encouraging. I don't dare actually show them what i'm writing.

I'm looking for someone who would rather give their impression of a story and its characters. That's where I am at right now. "This feels a bit rushed, I feel like i'm expected to understand more than I do, thihs feels over explainy, I'm curious about this leaving cards business, I think this character's a bit of a prat," that sort of thing. Anyone fit that description?

Chelsea wrote: "Hi, I'm Chelsea and I have never finished writing a novel, but I really want to finish this one.

"This one" is a historical romance set in an odd period of 19th century England. It's too late to b..."

Welcome Chelsea! I know I would be willing to take a look, and I am sure if you head on over to the "We Need to Read Your Stories" thread or the Critique Workshop you will find some more eyes for your piece.

Hello, I am Jasmine. I am currently writing a Paranormal Romance book. I have been writing this book for 1 and 1/2 of a year and at this moment I only have 10,000 words. :( I try really hard to get it done, but it is hard focusing on the main topic that you are writing.

Hey, Jasmine!

Quinn wrote: "Hi I'm Quinn.Im 10 years old and love to write.Reading also stands out to me"

Welcome Quinn!

Hello Tara. Are you writing a book too?

Yes. :) Actually, I'm working on several.

Tara wrote "Yes. :) Actually, I'm working on several."

That's awesome! I can't wait to read them. Have you published any, yet? If so, what did you name them?

Hello Jasmine!
I'm an author too - slowly writing. I published something in December 2012. Good luck to you and DONT GIVE UP!!

Hello to you, too! What did you name your written books? I love to get new and exciting books. It's even cooler when I get to talk to the author! I'm actually wrting a book, also. It's not that good. Does it cost money to get your book published and edited?