BookSpark discussion

Are you a writer? Well then, woot!! You da man! Tell us about your books, current projects, or just let out your frustrations. Right here ;)

Well, I'm not published, but I just finished 6 pages yesterday after only being able to write snippets here and there for three months. That was exciting. I write fantasy by the way.

As small an achievement as that may seem, that is really awesome! Congrats!

Working on the third book in my series. A long scene where 10 people are having a meeting. How do you feel about writing group scenes? Do you let everyone have a voice? What if it is an intense meeting?

I just have a few of short stories on my gr writing part. But.. only one finished. I have poems as well :D

I'm nowhere near published, but I've been working on the same story since the sixth grade. *headdesk*

I've only just really finished chapter one of my "official" rough draft. I had about a billion drafts prior to this one, but I kept starting over! I've finally settled into a draft and I'm promising to finish this one and not start over. XD

Woohoo Thalia! Don't beat yourself up too much, you're only 16!

I'm nowhere near published either. But I will be! :)
I usually start novel and give up on them after 100 pages. I've only finished two of them, and on was when I was 16 and it's kind of bad. The second one not so much, though not book material. But I made my homework, read books on how to create characters and I'm on page 85 of my baby! :D This one I WILL finish!

Haha, I once enetertained the idea that I could write but now I know I'm better suited to reading and reviewing - heck, still got the website up with the sad attempt on it (plus the copious notebooks strewn all over the place). Thank goodness work and studies stopped me!

Way to go Veronica!

Hayley wrote: "Haha, I once enetertained the idea that I could write but now I know I'm better suited to reading and reviewing - heck, still got the website up with the sad attempt on it (plus the copious noteboo..."

I wrote up until 5th grade, then I realized that despite my parents encouragements, my writing was completely foolish and that I can't write at all haha

Haha, my parent's didn't even half-heartedly encourage me - they don't read the sort of style I do and was trying to write - just went back to the website and I still wish I was good at writing so I could make something of it :(

Well, my encouragement was more of the kind when your kid starts using scissors but he doesn't do a straight line, yet you go "Way to go, kid! Good job!"

I'm writing book 2 of my merfolk/selkie series. The first book, , is being released in November, so I better hurry up. ;)

Veronica wrote: "I'm nowhere near published either. But I will be! :)
I usually start novel and give up on them after 100 pages. I've only finished two of them, and on was when I was 16 and it's kind of bad. The se..."

I love your confidence, Veronica!
Believe you will be and YOU WILL. :)

Woot Karen! That is so cool!!

Thanks for the support guys. My parents never told me anything about my writing. I start a lot of things and give up on them after a while, but writing is one of the few that I've been doing since I was 10 and never stopped!
I'm proud of myself so I'm sure they are too.

Dear heavens, I've been writing all my life and I STILL don't let my parents read anything. |D

I'm kind of a romantic though, so I always write really sappy-sweet relationships, which I think would just be awkward to be like, "HERE DAD I WROTE THIS," hahahah.

Thalia wrote: "Dear heavens, I've been writing all my life and I STILL don't let my parents read anything. |D

I'm kind of a romantic though, so I always write really sappy-sweet relationships, which I think woul..."

I don't care. I gave my father the first two books I've written and they were YA paranormal romance. It was weird but I wanted him to read them...

My parents just make fun of the sort of romance I write. XD

I'll be listening to Boyce Avenue's version of "Grenade", and think it's so romantic, and my mom will be like, "This is so deranged!"

Thalia wrote: "Dear heavens, I've been writing all my life and I STILL don't let my parents read anything. |D

I'm kind of a romantic though, so I always write really sappy-sweet relationships, which I think woul..."

Lol Thalia That WOULD be awkward!

Veronica wrote: "Thalia wrote: "Dear heavens, I've been writing all my life and I STILL don't let my parents read anything. |D

I'm kind of a romantic though, so I always write really sappy-sweet relationships, whi..."

What did he think?

Thalia wrote: "My parents just make fun of the sort of romance I write. XD

I'll be listening to Boyce Avenue's version of "Grenade", and think it's so romantic, and my mom will be like, "This is so deranged!""

My dad is in love with that song...yea I know

Anagha wrote: "Veronica wrote: "Thalia wrote: "Dear heavens, I've been writing all my life and I STILL don't let my parents read anything. |D

I'm kind of a romantic though, so I always write really sappy-sweet..."

He's my dad, he liked them no matter what. Although he said the liked the second better wich is natural. And when I'm done with this one I'm sure he'll like it even more, cause my writing is getting better.

That's really awesome! It's rare to find parents that have similar reading tastes!

Anagha wrote: "That's really awesome! It's rare to find parents that have similar reading tastes!"

He doesn't! LOL My parents don't really read. But he likes them just cause their mine.

Ah I see (that does make more sense)

It's nice that your dad was willing to read your work, Veronica! I find it hard to get my parents to read my work, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I'm just happy if I have readers who like it, and who review and let me know what they think.

I'm currently working on the second novel in my Foxfire Chronicles series (the first just came out; I'll put the cover below, if anyone's interested). I'm nearly done, and I'm to the frustrating point where I just want to end it and get on with my life...but, unfortunately, then it would end up sounding horrible. So, I'm having to be patient with it, and hope I get it done in time for NaNoWriMo in November...and the editing that comes after.

But, for any struggling writers -- don't let the harshness of writing get you down! I wrote for years (almost seven) before I published anything, and I'm proud I never gave up. Writing is NOT an easy profession, despite what people may want to tell you, but it IS worth it.

Veronica wrote: "I'm nowhere near published either. But I will be! :)
I usually start novel and give up on them after 100 pages. I've only finished two of them, and on was when I was 16 and it's kind of bad. The se..."

I like your attitude and spirit! You can do it! You go girl!

Alexandra wrote: "It's nice that your dad was willing to read your work, Veronica! I find it hard to get my parents to read my work, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I'm just happy if I have readers w..."

Love that cover Alexandra! its beautiful, and you are right writing isn't an easy profession, but sticking with it and accomplishing a finished book (even if it isn't published) is so gratifying. :)

Karen wrote: "I'm writing book 2 of my merfolk/selkie series. The first book, , is being released in November, so I better hurry up. ;)"

Congrats Karen! I love the concept of your book and also the cover. Congrats on your upcoming publish and I wish you many sales!
Are you self publishing or do you have a publisher?

Alexandra wrote: "It's nice that your dad was willing to read your work, Veronica! I find it hard to get my parents to read my work, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I'm just happy if I have readers w..."

He doesn't have any other option. I just shove it in his face and say "Read"! hehe.
I want to finish my book until NaNoWriMo too, but there's no way I'll be done by then I'm not even half-way through :P

Cambria wrote: "Veronica wrote: "I'm nowhere near published either. But I will be! :)
I usually start novel and give up on them after 100 pages. I've only finished two of them, and on was when I was 16 and it's k..."

Thank you! It's the only think I refuse to give up. So I'm really excited about it all the time. :)

That's good. Passion is a great motivator. :)

Cambria wrote: "That's good. Passion is a great motivator. :)"

Passion is indeed a great motivator! And thank you, I love my cover. I worked really hard on it.

Veronica wrote: He doesn't have any other option. I just shove it in his face and say "Read"! hehe.
I want to finish my book until NaNoWriMo too, but there's no way I'll be done by then I'm not even half-way through :P

Ha ha. There is a good way to get someone to read your work!

Getting things done before NaNo is hard, but even if you don't finish, taking off for NaNo is always a good break. Then, when you go back to what you're working on now, you'll be even more passionate about it. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

Alexandra wrote: "Cambria wrote: "That's good. Passion is a great motivator. :)"

Passion is indeed a great motivator! And thank you, I love my cover. I worked really hard on it.

Veronica wrote: He doesn't have an..."

I want to actually start translating it for NaNo, I can't start another one now, I'm so focused on this one that I think about it all day. Things that might happen and stuff.

Yup, i know what you mean. You know you are onto something when it won't leave you alone. I would stick with this book until you get it all out. :)
Good luck!

I agree! If it's stuck in your mind, then tack it onto your NaNo count, or if you want to re-write it, then write it for NaNo. A good story sticks like glue.

Cambria wrote: "Yup, i know what you mean. You know you are onto something when it won't leave you alone. I would stick with this book until you get it all out. :)
Good luck!"

thanks. :)

Alexandra wrote: "I agree! If it's stuck in your mind, then tack it onto your NaNo count, or if you want to re-write it, then write it for NaNo. A good story sticks like glue."

That's what I'll do

Best of luck to you!

You guys are welcome to ask for reviews here! ;)

All this talk of parents reading or not reading your writing reminds me of the first time my Mum read one of my love scenes. I was in high school at the time and it didn't go over well--even though I got the idea for it from the romances she handed down to me!

It took me another ten years before I shared any of my writing with her, but now she proudly talks about my novel to everyone--including the naughty parts. It's an SF Romance called AMBASADORA. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZR9WOY

If you'd like a review copy, please let me know!

Cheers,
Heidi

Lol Heidi! I can see why your mother would be uncomfortable about you writing about such things! ;)

Ahh, I never write anything naughty! I write those really sweet sort of relationships. Like, it's so sappy you can hardly stand it, hahaa. But that's my favorite thing to read, so that's what I write!

My dad, especially, is not like that at ALL. He's not as emotional as I am (I am SO sentimental and everything, it's not even funny!), so he doesn't quite get it. I mean, if I ever get published, my parents are welcome to read my stuff, but until then, I think I'll keep it to myself. XD

Thalia, your Dad might surprise you. One of my classmates in grad school said her Dad didn't want her to be a writer (not implying your Dad in any way thinks this!) but after she defended her thesis novel in front of a crowd of about 60 people, he stood up and made this very heartfelt speech about her writing that had a lot of us crying.

Dad's are funny like that. ;)

ES, that makes me feel better! Glad that I'm not too far behind!

@ES Your last sentence...LOL!

@E.S. A fellow Wrimo! Best of luck to you, releasing a book in November. I did that last year, and it was...stressful. I hope you have a better time of it! Plan early is my best advice. :)

Thanks ES, working on it!