General Chat

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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!

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 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 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 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

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!

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

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

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?