General Chat

Hello Heather and Howard Daniel - Yes I posted this with you in mind actually! My book is COMPLETELY different to yours and would probably be of no interest to anyone but I did wonder what prompted to you to begin your creation. love becx P.S. Daniel - Shall we go for that Mixed Grill once you're officially published?

Hi Bec, I wrote a book of poems when I was 16 in relation to something I added to a thread last night, it won't be published though., it will be left with this family history I am researching and I also started a childrens book, one chapter and 12 months on, no more added yet :) Always wanted to write a book about my life, I will one day, I have kept everything, diaries, cards and note books, someday I will sit and start it properly. Good luck to everyone who is thinking of or started to write a book. Heather

Hi Bec I am the same as Ann writing my life story started over a year ago when I think of something i write it down I started From when I was a young boy as far back as I could remember now I add a page or so when I sit down thinking about it, wonderful things for that computers Howardxx

Most of you know about my book. I just wanted to make a little bit of cash by doing something I enjoy - history. Further to that, local history. So I set off and found that local crime from the past hasn't really been looked into. I started researching in Feb and now my book Criminal Wirral, is out in May/June next year :-) yay!

I opened a WORD page with a line for each year of my age (too many of them) and every now and again I sit in front of the screen and enter against the relevant year anything I can remember. Helps to keep your memories in order. Then when you want to write about a period of your life you have a framework. Keith

I tried that too Elaine....then I came to bits that I dared not add incase anyone recognised themselves! Stupid reason for not going on really, no one recognises themselves as a villain, they all think the are the hero / heroine!! I've done short stories and poems but never finished a longer plan, as I said. Plenty of time............I'm only 65. LOL Deanna X

I did the course that you see advertised in papers and mags-the Writer`s Bureau one. I enjoyed it but didn`t get anything published that paid -just lettters pages of mags .You get your money back if you prove you sent off articles and didn`t get them published. Rosalyn

I started writing short stories for children, it was something to do whilst i was pregnant with my last child, I just thought up all the characters to begin with and wrote down a little life story for them and what kind of character they would be etc and then just went on to make up little funny, interesting and educational storylines for them. They were quite good and I used to try them out on all the kids on the street, and even though they were mainly for the younger children the older ones thought they were good aswell. Unfortunatley my hubby took ill and I didnt continue with them, although I have kept them all. I wouldnt know how to start about getting them published as such, i will have to have a look on the internet for advice about getting started etc. Marie

I wrote a novel when I was 14. It is dire. I keep it as a warning to myself that I am not novelist material, however much I cherish the idea. Glad you haven't time to go on a Creative Writing Course. So many books at the moment are the products of these courses, and it shows. In five or ten years, they will seem really dated. I got my novel written by getting up at 5 every morning. Definitely wouldn't do that again!

My attempt is simply a lighthearted look at my present situation. It has been suggested to me in the past that I write a diary about my lovelife and this is kind of it... Love becx

I've been writing a fictional book for years. So far I've written six chapters. It's very hard to do as it is based on my life. I had extremley strange parents and I have to keep delving into the past and that is very painful to do sometimes. I don't know if I will ever finish it. Jo.

Paul - great synopsis!! Bec - don't email me a warning as I'm not receiving!!! lol Daisy

Yes, and belong to a Writing Group (U3A) and subscribe to Writing Magazine. Lily

Thanks for all your input. Wish I had time to enrol on a creative writing course but for now will have to rely on my ramblings for now... love becx

Hi I have just finished writing a 'book'. My dad was 70 last month and we just could not think what to get him. I decided that to tie in with the family tree (which he is very interested in, doesn't do research, but loves to have copies of any certificate I get, or facts I find out) I would start a story with the furthest back ancestor of his I could find. This was Edinburgh 1831. I fabricated a story around the facts that I knew, info from IGI, certificates etc, and fetched the story forward generation by generation, again with the help of certificates, information and photographs. I made a story of when my mum and dad met and married, and then when the children were born. To go with the story, I found out all the number 1 records at the relevant times, his wedding date, the date us children were born, the date the grandchildren were born etc, and made a CD to go with it. I was really proud of my 'book' and my dad loved it. If anybody would like to read a 'text only' verson, without the certificates and photos, I could email it to them. Good luck everybody else with theirs! Best wishes Carol. x

Bec you could think about enrolling on a Writing Course? There are several home correspondence ones if you haven't got time for anything else? I did start a Writing Course, but was too young really and never got into it or very far with it, but it did give some really good advice on Plotting your story and characters etc. I think you need to have some sort of basic structure to try and work around and be very organised, otherwise you could find yourself in a big confused mess! Perhaps try a chronological approach - try and get some basic memories in a chronological order and that should help you get the rest in the right time frame too. Try and have an idea of the structure of your book - where you want to start it and where you want to end it and get a basic idea of the chapters. I've written the odd short story and a couple of factual things, but never got anything published in a magazine or anything - did try once or twice though. I've always said I will write a book one day - In defence of Bloody Mary! I know it sounds utterly boring. lol One day I will get round to it! Good luck Kaye x

My Aunt suggested years and years ago that I write a book based on my own life ..... and then suggested it again a couple of years ago, when I started the family tree. I did make a start ... but then scrapped it - made another start and got the happy memories down but then it came to THAT part of my life that I don't want to think about, so I put the 'book' to one side and have never been back. The problem I found was actually getting the memories in the correct order .... being so young and having so many memories, deciding which one's to include and which one's NOT to include.... was and still would be a major headache. My cousin has said that if I ever get it finished, he will personally pay any and all expenses ... and that extends to if it was ever made into a film ! lol ! ...taking the P or what !!! Elaine :-)

Seriously (for a change), I've always fancied havign a go at writing, I discussed it on here a while back in fact and had a lot of encouragement, BUT I never got round to doing it, and I have far too much on the go at the moment to even contemplate it. Something for the future I think. Paul *that said I have an idea for a character for some childrens books, if anyone knows a good illustrator...

Ann - thanks for the tips *Add Dav to the waiting list*

Paul, joking apart, what a good theme for a novel though! was up your way last weekend looking after grandchildren - husband and grandson went to see the Dons - and they WON!!! Ann Glos