I finished a good story in 988 words and submitted it on a site. My first submission. I hope it works!
This time around the critiques were fewer, which can mean that the story was better written and there were no easy comments to give. Also, the comments that were there were pretty basic. Nothing exceptional, just 2 sentences in passive and an adverb that I missed. I can live with that.
Thursday, December 17
Thursday, December 10
Status update
I have decided to send out at least one short story each month to the various online publications that are there. The whole point of writing is to get published. And If I want to be considered as a serious writer, then I think its better if my name can come up in a few online searches. Of course, all this considering about a quarter of my stories will be published. Hopefully!
On a less serious note, finished two chapters. Not getting the hang of writing for a younger audience. I mean, what I have written is fine, but it's in too much detail! I list every activity the protagonist carries out, which is not what I seem to remember from the books I read in younger days. The second problem that comes with this is a lots of sentences with he did this, he did that, then he did the other. Irritating, but I dunno a way around. In any case, I will keep writing it and not worry much about the style. Its always easier to skip extra details later, than adding more of them.
Also trying to figure out a thousand word story. Can we do it, I ask myself. Yes, we can, I answer!
On a less serious note, finished two chapters. Not getting the hang of writing for a younger audience. I mean, what I have written is fine, but it's in too much detail! I list every activity the protagonist carries out, which is not what I seem to remember from the books I read in younger days. The second problem that comes with this is a lots of sentences with he did this, he did that, then he did the other. Irritating, but I dunno a way around. In any case, I will keep writing it and not worry much about the style. Its always easier to skip extra details later, than adding more of them.
Also trying to figure out a thousand word story. Can we do it, I ask myself. Yes, we can, I answer!
Tuesday, December 8
Studying, reading and writing
Now that I want to write a simple story, I genre is shifting towards children's writing. So just did some basic research on what constitutes writing for children. A net search revealed that I knew very little about it. All my readings were made up of Enid Blyton's books, so her writing I know, but not much else. I was disgusted to find that not one of her books made it into the top twenty books for children. Not even Famous Five! It also may have to do with the fact that most of the lists were American in origin. But anyhoo, I looked up the list and came up with a few books which were common in all of them. I have read Narnia out of them, but I ordered the other eleven. This is so much fun. Not only will I learn how these authors wrote for children, their tones, their voices, their words, but I will have a heck of a good time doing it.
The best list I thought, was http://www.teachersfirst.com/100books.cfm
One more thing I realised, I have better talent at this type of writing, where I dont have to worry about sounding intelligent or ponderous, but just have fun writing. I am done with two chapters in just a couple of days. The chapters aren't that great, but then its a first draft and not supposed to be great.
Today's thought for the day: A completed manuscript in the hand, is worth twenty ideas in the bush. Not mine, I came across it on the internet, but I dont remember where. On the whole, though, a very apt thing to keep in mind.
The best list I thought, was http://www.teachersfirst.com/100books.cfm
One more thing I realised, I have better talent at this type of writing, where I dont have to worry about sounding intelligent or ponderous, but just have fun writing. I am done with two chapters in just a couple of days. The chapters aren't that great, but then its a first draft and not supposed to be great.
Today's thought for the day: A completed manuscript in the hand, is worth twenty ideas in the bush. Not mine, I came across it on the internet, but I dont remember where. On the whole, though, a very apt thing to keep in mind.
Wednesday, December 2
A simple story
What I cant understand is why cant I write a simple story? Why do all my stories end up with a convoluted plot about kings and princes and saving the world and what nots! I mean, if I tell you the plotline of my latest story, you will be impressed. But writing it would be like climbing Everest, especially for someone who gets tired climbing hills in the Western Ghats. The thought of writing it sinks my heart somewhere near my toes and gives me a severe case of the heebeejeebies.
What I want is a simple story, not quite the 'boy meets girl' type, but not much harder and more importantly not very long. Somewhere near 70k-75k words is enough! I wont feel overwhelmed while writing it, so it might actually get written.
Yesterday night, just telling a bed time story, I made up a good deal of a fairy tale. It had a good deal of fun in it, but only for young readers, probably preteens. Let's see, if I can keep it simple, I will have a decent plot to write about. I may not be able to publish it, but at least I would have climbed a decently sized hill, which would make Everest seem just that bit smaller.
What I want is a simple story, not quite the 'boy meets girl' type, but not much harder and more importantly not very long. Somewhere near 70k-75k words is enough! I wont feel overwhelmed while writing it, so it might actually get written.
Yesterday night, just telling a bed time story, I made up a good deal of a fairy tale. It had a good deal of fun in it, but only for young readers, probably preteens. Let's see, if I can keep it simple, I will have a decent plot to write about. I may not be able to publish it, but at least I would have climbed a decently sized hill, which would make Everest seem just that bit smaller.
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