Medieval Crime discussion

After request, here's a place for aspiring writers to talk about their work in progress, ideas, plans and disasters!

Michael wrote: "After request, here's a place for aspiring writers to talk about their work in progress, ideas, plans and disasters!"

Thanks, Michael!

Thankyou Michael :)
I wonder if someone can clarify something for me. I have heard that you need an agent in order to get an editor. but in order to get an agent you need to have had something published.
Is this correct? If so, any ideas on how to get around the problem.

No, you need an agent to have a chance of getting published, and to get an agent you have to have a good, professional manuscript. Some will pay an editor to knock it into shape. it can be a good investment for some, but there are rules. you do what you need to. apologies as usual for typos - working on a phone!

Thank you, Michael!

Michael wrote: "No, you need an agent to have a chance of getting published, and to get an agent you have to have a good, professional manuscript. Some will pay an editor to knock it into shape. it can be a go..."

Many thanks Michael.

The other thing I find seriously useful is Scrivener, which is a specific piece of software for authors. Anyone trying to type would be very well advised to get a trial copy. The cost, if you take it, is only about thirty dollars, so it's not expensive, but from my experience it saves days of effort.

I managed to get published without an agent, albeit via an epublishers (a very respectable one, though) - trying to find an agent is the next step. I would recommend compiling a list of a dozen or so agents who publish in your gentre.

Whenever I have tried to write some historical fiction (not just medieval, any kind), even if I have a story and characters in my head there seems a mighty step to take with the amount of research you need to do on the period.

I would love nothing more than to take a lot of books out and absorb all sorts of knowledge about the era; but being a student I have to spend my time studying things I have to do as part of my course, so I never get round to it and ultimately I never write much of it.

Is it harder to write historical fiction for a first time writer/author?
And if so how would you advise getting past this?
Cheers. :D

Hi Joseph. I'm a total history geek and always have been, which has helped with the background information: I am also lucky enough to have access to resources like JSTOR, the DNB, and have been able to view original source documents at the National Archives and other record offices. For a first-time writer (which I was until very recently) I would recommend doing the bulk of the necessary research before starting work on the story.

But that was sort of my point, I don't have the time to do lots of research, I have to study and research other things for my course.

So do you think its easier to write something non-historical? As you don't have to do any source stuff for that.

I would say so - I've co-written a fantasy novel, and that was a much simpler process. Just make it up! :)

Joseph: Keep a notebook of ideas for your historicals while you're in school so they don't escape you and keep writing when you can. There always has to be a little research involved, historical or not.

Michael, question for you: in regards to getting feedback on snippets of writing, is it a good idea to post a bit (such as a sample paragraph, nothing long) on a forum such as this to get feedback from other writers, or should it be on a closed forum? I know of many authors who have their own closed forums for just such a thing, and my mother also had her own while writing her novel. Is there any concern with "swiping ideas" on an open forum? Is it better to post on a closed one? Or at all? I ask because with previous writing, I received feedback on a forum that was so helpful, and now with this new work I'd like to get some criticism. (Plus I'd love seeing and reading what you all are up to!) Thoughts?

Hel wrote: "Joseph: Keep a notebook of ideas for your historicals while you're in school so they don't escape you and keep writing when you can. There always has to be a little research involved, historical ..."

Joseph, I know of several writers who regularly muck up their history, even in non-fiction books, so I'd not worry too much. I was lucky, I had thirteen years of reading about history for pleasure, so when I started I had a good grounding. But if you're keen, get Ian Mortimer's Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England, and you'll be well on the way. The main thing is, just to write. And write and write!

Stacey wrote: "Michael, question for you: in regards to getting feedback on snippets of writing, is it a good idea to post a bit (such as a sample paragraph, nothing long) on a forum such as this to get feedback ..."

Stacey, no problem with the idea, and I'd be happy to host it, so long as the basic rule of no plagiarism was agreed. Swiping other people's ideas can happen anywhere, but on the internet it's more common.

I'm always happy to try to help other writers - I've spent a lot of time doing so - but I'm really stuck now. A new book to write, ever decreasing income, and other projects all mean that the amount of time I can give to constructive criticism is minimal. Still, if others will look and review your work, that'll be as good, I'm sure. What you want is unbiased 'reader' opinions, and that should be feasible. Want me to set up a new forum?

Yes, thank you, Michael - that would be wonderful! :)

Hi Michael, I've read and own Ian Mortimer's Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England, and have just bought his new one on Elizabethan England. :D

Can't wait to start reading it.

And I shall, thank you. :)

How do you all defeat writer's block? Do you bang your head against the wall 'til your eyes cross? Step away from your writing for a bit? Write short side stories? I find reading another non-fiction history (one not from my research) about the time period helps to get my butt moving again. Anyone have a good method they employ?

I have a few other works in progress that get my attention when the writing on the main one lags. I doubt I have been blocked for writing as much as not knowing what comes next in the current work. Sometimes it just needs to sit on the back burner. Of course, on twitter I recently saw this quote: "The road to hell is paved with works in progress." That's what I'm feeling right now ;)

"The road to hell is paved with works in progress."

That. Is. Awesome. ;)

Neil Gaiman gives great advice about writing and writers block (her gives amazing advice about everything to do with the process tbh); he says if you're struggling. Just...keep...writing.

Anything, even if its a pile of crap, keep putting one word after the other. At least you'll have something rather than nothing.
It's all a learning experience. :)

I agree with Neil. If you're a writer, that's what you do - write. In fact I've never known any, for example, crime writers who suffer from writer's block. But then, almost all crime writers tend to be professionals who don't have private income. We all have to write to pay the mortgage. So, my answer would be, DO NOT pick up another research book! Sit down, and begin typing. If it's crap, you can throw it out tomorrow, but you have to type it today.
The best approach is, as always, routine. Make sure you know exactly when you will be sitting down to type, and make sure you do so every day.

Sound advice, Michael! Thank you! I just wish I had more time to write so I wouldn't suffer writer's block every so often - being away from the writing tends to make me itch to get back, and then come to a screeching halt. Doesn't happen very often, luckily, but when it does.... :( I will definitely take your advice!

Michael wrote: "The other thing I find seriously useful is Scrivener, which is a specific piece of software for authors. Anyone trying to type would be very well advised to get a trial copy. The cost, if you take ..."

I'll second the recommendation for Scrivener. I bought the package after using the free trail version for about ten minutes. It looks complex, but is very easy to get to grips with, and the ideal way of organising your text alongside the mounds of research you can accumulate.