Writing a Novel

[BarryAndBryan]

I love to write; writing is a passion that burns in my soul. When I'm writing I can't just put down an idea and go with the flow. It's a web tangled with ideas, plots, synopsis of the character's life story. I get consumed in my characters I write about. And I love to write about characters I can relate with. Is that a bad writing flaw? To only write about characters I can relate with. Perhaps that's the reason I'm unable to enjoy reading my own work because my characters are so relatable to my ideas, interests, and motives that I become my very own worst critic?

I've never published any of my works. In school I always won first place with short story contests, and was chosen in scholastic spotlight rewards for my stories. I'm afraid, though. Afraid of rejection- which is normal, but maybe I'm not strong enough to become a published author. Not to mention, I've done my research on published authors and their stories of failing miserably trying to have their stories published. J.K. Rowling and her struggle with Harry Potter, to Stephen King throwing Carrie in the trash- the possibility that he would have never became what he's known as today.

I don't write for reasons of fame and fortune. If that was the case I wouldn't have written several stories. Writing is like art. A blank page is like a canvas yearning to have paint thrown all about. The story I'm craving to write is of course a story about my life. I'm not saying my life has been traumatic, but I feel that it would be motivational and inspiring to several young LGBTQ individuals. And that's my target audience- young LGBTQ adults. My coming out story, my accomplishments, my set-backs, struggles, depression, and my strength of overcoming what I once thought was impossible. The name of my story is "Chasing Colors".

If there's anybody on here who write as well, or can at least relate to what I'm talking about what would you advise for me to overcome this huge fear of having my work rejected? Do you think it's a wise choice I write my life story? I really feel that's my setback on this project. The thought that someone would read my life story and tell me it's complete shit which I would interpret it as "my life is shit to others". Plus, I've always wrote fantasy stories. This will be the first time I go outside of my comfort zone and write a non-fiction. Maybe I'm just all in my head?

My husband keeps me going strong. He's my biggest supporter in my passion to write and have my work published. But sometimes it's best to get a total stranger's perspective. Should this be something I pursue and use it as a life lesson experience and say "fuck it" if I get rejected. Or perhaps should I scrap it and continue writing for a more broad audience with characters that all people can relate with? ---Bryan.

[MikeW]

...The story I'm craving to write is of course a story about my life … I feel that it would be motivational and inspiring to several young LGBTQ individuals. And that's my target audience- young LGBTQ adults. ...

If there's anybody on here who write as well, or can at least relate to what I'm talking about what would you advise for me to overcome this huge fear of having my work rejected? Do you think it's a wise choice I write my life story? I really feel that's my setback on this project. The thought that someone would read my life story and tell me it's complete shit which I would interpret it as "my life is shit to others".

Hi Bryan,

First off, I'm a bit confused about your fear of rejection. Sometimes it seems you're meaning fear of being rejected by your readers and other times it seems you mean fear of being rejected by a publisher. Those are two very different things. Publishers base their acceptance or rejection of a manuscript based on whether or not they feel they can market the book successfully. After all, they're in the business of publishing and selling books.

But these days, it isn't necessary to have a "publisher" at all… or, rather, there are tens of thousands of authors who are "self-publishing," being read and creating followings through the internet and social media. TBH, I don't know a whole lot about it but I know enough to know there are many different "levels" to this on-going "self-publishing" business. For example, some people write blogs to which they add stories on a somewhat regular basis. Some budding authors write stories that get published on reader-writer sites.

One example is The Nifty Archive -- an archive of reader-written EROTIC fiction that dates back to 1992. I mention it because, although MOST of the stories are just amateur written porn, there are SOME series that are much more character and plot focused, and often deal directly with "coming of age" or "coming out" issues. Most of these can be found in the nifty/gay/highschool sub-section. Here's one, entitled "Discovering Gregory" that is novel length -- and, although not without its problems, is a worthwhile read.

Another, similar but less "XXX" based is Gay Authors.

Yet another is a site that was created by an amateur (but in my opinion, very good) author known as "Ray": Ray's Stories. I really enjoyed his first novel, The Circle, and have read several of his short stories.

The point is, if you want to write for a youngish LGBTQ audience, that is certainly "doable". That's not even to mention the "coming of age" stories/novels that are being Kindle published on Amazon and similar sites.

How many young LGBTQ people will relate to your story, that's a whole other question… and certainly has nothing to do with the validity of your own life experience! It will always depend on what THEIR interests are AND the way you present your story -- whether it is written in an interesting or provocative way.

I'm not sure I understand your uncertainty about either writing characters that you relate to or writing characters that others can relate to… You'd have to give me some examples of what you mean by that. But (not being a writer myself but so far as I understand it) I think the best writers have the ability to draw *believable* characters -- characters who, through their words and actions and the descriptive narrative surrounding them, become "real" in the minds of the readers -- whether they LIKE them or can "relate" to them or not is a whole other question. I suppose some of the most fascinating characters ever written about were people that were NOT "normal" or "ordinary" --- that, or they *were* ordinary but written about in such an extraordinary way that one saw more deeply into the character than one would think possible.

Yes, I think beginning writing about one's life is a good place to start. Our lives are "our stores"… the narratives we live and re-tell to ourselves and our friends. To the extent that I've tried to write "fiction" -- it has been mostly based upon my own life experiences but fictionalized.

Now, writing memoir (not fiction), is a whole other art form. I actually bought a book on this subject that is quite good… the author leads the reader through a whole host of "exercises" that really help "bring it all back"… one sec… I haven't looked at it for a few years and I've moved twice since so I have to see if I can find it….

Ah, yes, here it is: "Writing Life Stories, How to make memories into Memoirs, ideas into Essays, and life into Literature," by Bill Roorbach

Other books I'd recommend any budding author to look at are:

"Inventing the Truth, The Art and Craft of Memoir," edited by William Zinsser
"The Creative Writer's Handbook," Isabelle Ziegler
"The Writer's Mind, Making Writing Make Sense," by Michael Adams
"Rip the Page, Adventures in Creative Writing," by Karen Benke
and one of my favorites… if for nothing more than the title alone…
"Sin and Syntax, How to Craft Wicked Good Prose," by Constance Hale

Plus, I've always wrote fantasy stories. This will be the first time I go outside of my comfort zone and write a non-fiction. Maybe I'm just all in my head?

My husband keeps me going strong. He's my biggest supporter in my passion to write and have my work published. But sometimes it's best to get a total stranger's perspective. Should this be something I pursue and use it as a life lesson experience and say "fuck it" if I get rejected. Or perhaps should I scrap it and continue writing for a more broad audience with characters that all people can relate with? ---Bryan.

Ok well as someone who has spent his entire life in the arts (mostly visual) one of the things I can tell you straight off is you MUST stop being overly critical or overly analytical regarding YOUR ART (whatever it may be) Just STOP IT! For god's sake WRITE WHAT YOU WANT TO WRITE. The only way to learn ANY art or to get good at it is to DO IT… it doesn't MATTER what it is, it doesn't MATTER whether other people "like" it or "understand" it or *anything at all*. What matters is that YOU become so absorbed in the DOING of it that it takes on a life of its own.

NOW… that said… obviously any good work of art also gets "edited" in some sense of the word. So… a good poem, story, novel will get written and then the author (and sometimes a close friend or partner) will read it over and make suggestions. Perhaps once it is all out there on "paper" (actual or digital) one sees that it "needs *something*" or that it maybe needs to be re-organized or re-considered in various ways. IOW, the FIRST way it is put forward may NOT be the BEST way for it to be revealed. So… it isn't unusual at all for these works to be REWRITTEN, sometimes numerous times. (Same for music compositions, same for paintings -- for which many sketches or preparatory works may have been executed, or the painting painted over and over and over again, one on top the other.) Artists DO that… they re-work the work.

Now, if it is going to be published in the traditional sense, it will, yet again, be edited by a professional editor… and for many authors this can be an extremely painful experience! One has to seriously TRUST one's editor with what feels like one's LIFE.

So, anyway, its time to grow up -- get beyond all that self-centered, self-absorbed adolescent self-questioning…. None of that matters. In fact, it is a total distraction! It's a diversion of attention away from the work! Pay attention to the work. Concentrate on THAT, not on YOU.

Now, of course, if you're writing a memoir… then the subject of the writing is your own memories (rather than, say, pure fiction) BUT… it doesn't matter. You're going to treat HIS story AS A WORK OF ART. Right? It's not who said what or who did what… that's not the point exactly…. right? What you're trying to do is recreate a world in which the reader finds him/herself living and experiencing what went on in this "character" that just happens to have been "your" experience. Right?

So… I leave you with all this to think about. Just write. Then write some more. Try writing pure NONsense! Try writing BADLY. Then try writing really, really well. See what happens All of it is valid as *learning* about writing and expressing the inner life.

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ETA: One thing I will say is that MOST of the self-published work I've read online (or on Kindle) has been in BAD need of editing. Often for the most basic things like typos, punctuation and spelling. So, if you ever do want to self-publish something, I do advise having at least one (preferably two or more) other people read it for the purpose of finding those little mistakes. Personally I'm a terrible speller and the auto-correct feature can often turn my gibberish letters into something completely unintended -- all without my awareness!

In any case, good luck and keep writing!

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ETA #2 Another site full of stories (teen-male gay romances) is IOMFATS.

[Albie]

I enjoy writing, whether stories or poetry, and I am currently trying to write a book.

The fear of being rejected from a publisher is natural. It is also inevitable. I never heard of a book being published that went through easily. The truth is you don't really have a name in the literary world yet, so the people in charge of reading your entry will not read the whole thing. They will skim through and if they feel there is a market for it, they will send it to someone else for a more thorough read.

So what I am saying (badly) is that don't not fear rejection from the publisher, because that is not actually a critic on your writing style.

I do not know about your life enough to comment on if that is a good subject for a book. If you are aiming at a younger audience to be inspired, I can tell you that when I was young I never cared to read other people's true stories. Other people have much different opinions from me and I do not know of any other books for motivating gay youth.

Also make sure you find honest people in your life. A lot of times if you write something and your friends and family read it, they will tell you it is great to make you feel good. This gives you a false sense to not try to revise that. I'd rather have someone hate what I wrote and be able to tell me why rather than someone saying they loved it, but cannot give any examples of why they loved it so much.

I say you should take the chance, or you'll wind up wondering what could have been. You have a loving husband, so you should feel lucky that you don't have to share your anxiety alone.

[BlueStar]

That's what I'm feeling about my current book I've started editing. Don't worry, keep your self-confidence growing and your passion in writing growing even more!!

You could always send me a message and we can share our thoughts

[Elijoan]

I'm somewhat new to writing, but I've had some short stories published. A few thoughts:

I get consumed in my characters I write about. And I love to write about characters I can relate with. Is that a bad writing flaw? To only write about characters I can relate with.

It's not an obstacle to writing something excellent. If you wanted to write a lot of books and offer more variety, it could be limiting.

... I become my very own worst critic?

Writers tend to do that regardless of what or how they write.

... Afraid of rejection...done my research on published authors and their stories of failing miserably trying to have their stories published. J.K. Rowling and her struggle with Harry Potter, to Stephen King throwing Carrie in the trash...

Don't compare yourself to them (or any other standard). You can publish a popular book if you write well and find the right publisher. Some people opt for self-publishing, which has advantages and disadvantages.

...The story I'm craving to write is of course a story about my life. I'm not saying my life has been traumatic, but I feel that it would be motivational and inspiring to several young LGBTQ individuals.

There's definitely a market for that.

... The thought that someone would read my life story and tell me it's complete shit which I would interpret it as "my life is shit to others". Plus, I've always wrote fantasy stories. This will be the first time I go outside of my comfort zone and write a non-fiction. Maybe I'm just all in my head?

You are worrying too much. Also, you probably have the option of writing it as fiction to avoid the direct connection to yourself.

...Or perhaps should I scrap it and continue writing for a more broad audience with characters that all people can relate with?

I wouldn't try to do that, especially since you are not after "fame and fortune". A focused audience is fine, and if it's well-written, your audience might be broader than you thought.

[ShiftyNJ]

I have also been working on a novel for years, have only let a few people look at it, haven't really been satisfied with the level of feedback which makes me suspect either a.) it's mind-numbingly boring or b.) they weren't serious when they said they wanted to read it.

I have read a few of the self-published novels on Amazon and -- in my head -- my story is at least as interesting, but maybe only to me.

[MikeW]

I have also been working on a novel for years, have only let a few people look at it, haven't really been satisfied with the level of feedback which makes me suspect either a.) it's mind-numbingly boring or b.) they weren't serious when they said they wanted to read it.

I have read a few of the self-published novels on Amazon and -- in my head -- my story is at least as interesting, but maybe only to me.

I would LOVE to write a novel… but I don't think it is easy to do. I've tried writing just one short story based on one evening of my life … and it is DAMN difficult. I just don't see how good writers do it.

I get the impression from a lot of amateur work I've read (and some of it is pretty good, but still amateur) that people think it is easier to write than it actually is. For sure, we can all "tell a story" (more or less)… we do it all the time in our everyday lives. We tell our friends the stories of things that happened to us during the day or in our past or w/e. Maybe we even write them out in a forum like this.

But things like that are NOT "literature". Literature, real writing of fiction (or even some forms of non-fiction, like memoir) is truly an ART. There are SO many levels to it the mind boggles -- well, my mind does, anyway.

So… I duno if what you've written is "boring" or not, [MENTION=21783]ShiftyNJ[/MENTION] … but I do know that good writing isn't easy and anyone who portends to critique writing … well THAT isn't any easier than good writing, IMO. Its like, we take words for granted. We read something and sort of accept (whether we find it interesting or not) it as it is. We don't look at it and say, "Oh, that could have been written so much better or 'more interestingly' IF ONLY you (the author) had put it 'this way' and not 'that way'." Or, w/e. We might get into grammar but to really think like an EDITOR or CRITIC… that's a whole other skill and art form. Most people just don't have it.

[ShiftyNJ]

I agree with that... there needs to be a balance of description to set a scene or flesh out a character, and letting the reader use hir imagination to connect some of the dots. Plus, can they relate to the story and the characters, and -- if not -- are they intriguing enough that the person wants to take a leap of faith and learn more?

[JohnSomebody]

I got into writing down my thoughts during a time when I was not able to speak for almost two years. Therefore, I started keeping journals and I got into writing thoughts out into poetry. When I decided to go back to college and pursue my degree...I took a writing course and an English course as well. Both professors had contacted me directly and were very impressed with the essays that I wrote in regard to certain topics that were bought into focus during the course and the fact I wrote from a personal perspective because I've endured situations in my personal life that either relatable to what was being spoken of. Both professors have suggested to me numerous times that I should write a book about my life and how I've overcame a lot of the obstacles that I was faced with. I am still considering doing so especially since these professors keep in contact with me and are persistent on me giving this a lot of consideration. Nonetheless...I admire you for taking the initial steps upon encountering that career path. However, I do agree with MikeW's post. There's a lot of good insight in what he says and a lot of sensibility. In my opinion.

[Rareboy]

The way to get over it is to get rejected. Multiple times. And to expect it.

and then if you are really determined...self publish and see if you find a readership.....