Zombies! discussion

Hello everyone,

I'm new here. I just wanted to say hi to everyone. I'm trying to get used to the forums and I've been lurking for a bit. I'd like to get more active and involved with conversations and hopefully make some new friends.

A little about myself. I used to be an avid reader in high school and my late teen years but that has been over 6 years ago. I think I've finished only a few books since then. It's always been my dream to write novels and other sorts of fiction but life got in the way. I've also spent entirely too much time playing video games and partying. I think I am finally at a point in my life where I want to "grow up" as painful as that is for me to admit. I want to do more with my life.

So here I am starting fresh. I feel like I have done myself a great disservice by depriving my mind of books and writing. I feel like my mind has actually went downhill slightly. My reading speed is slower but I've never been an incredibly fast reader. My spelling seems affected by auto-correct too. That bothers me.

I seem to go through phase after phase of wanting to do this or do that and nothing has really stuck. I guess I have commitment issues and a lack of patience but I seriously want to commit to writing and start reading again. I am trying to write everyday, even if it's just for a minute. I am working on a zombie novel to get into the swing of things. Sitting at 8000 words at the moment. I've been reading some other zombie authors on Kindle as well. Mark Tufo's Zombie Fallout series is fantastic and I can't help but feel like it puts my writing to shame. I am discouraged easily but I am trying to stay positive and motivated in order to hone my craft.

Thanks for reading. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone here.

- Aaron

Sorry, we are being rude. No-one has said hello yet.

So let me be the first. Hello, and welcome to the apocalypse. Find yourself a seat by the fire. We're having tinned peaches and dog food for supper - fancy some?

If you are starting out in writing, the best piece of advice I have ever seen is this:

https://vimeo.com/24715531

The only way to get better at writing - or anything else for that matter - is to practise, practise, practise. Don't be discouraged because your writing isn't as good as others. They have put in their practise. You'll get there if you stick at it.

One word of caution. The market for zombie books isn't great. There are a lot of books out there fighting for not many readers. Write it because you love it. Write it because you want to read it. Write it because the story is like a giant parasite living inside you that has to come out or it will eat you up from the inside out.

But please don't write it expecting it to be an instant success. For most people, this journey is a long one. The people who win are normally marathon runners with stamina rather than sprinters with a mighty initial burst of speed.

Best of luck! It's good to meet you.

Take any of Will's advice with a grain of sand, Aaron, or else you could end up putting too many U's in your words. (Just kidding, Will. Had to get my hackneyed anti-Britishisms out of the way. Actually a fabulous link, by the way.) Nevermind that one of the greatest playwrights in the English language used British spellings.

Besides what Ira Glass had to say in Will's link, I'm sticking with my favorite writing advice, (favorited because it's the only advice I follow religiously,): READ. Read, read, read, read, read. Have you read Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft yet? He gives some suspect advice that writers should write and stuff, but where he really hits the nail on the head is when he tells you how much you should read.

Welcome.

Hi Aaron. Welcome to the group.

Hello Aaron. Good to have you here. I'm going to have to go along with everyone else and say the best way to improve your writing is to increase your reading. Every writer has their own voice and nuances. Read them, as they will help you find your own voice. Good luck.