Anyone here a budding writer?

[Smitch]

The KATG community seem to be a pretty creative bunch, and following on from the art and photography threads, I was wondering if anyone on here liked to write?

Be it prose/fiction/journalism/comedy/whatever. I'm half-way through a 10-week comedy course which I'm loving. I'd always liked watching and reading comedy, and wrote down ideas I thought were funny, but never had the balls/could find a reason to write them down. Now I have, and it's great. Starting out with gags and sketches, with an eye to maybe trying a sitcom way down the line. Or even stand-up, even though I'm terrified of it.I've got a long way to go, but I'm really enjoying it, and it's making me appreciate having a creative outlet and generally something to work on and feel a sense of accomplishment about.

How about you guys? And if you feel up to sharing, go for it!

[Incognito]

I have had a few ideas rolling around for years for a novel but haven't found the motivation to spit out 3-5 pages/day; furthermore, I tend to elaborate excessively in anything I write, so going back to edit and trim would ultimately be exhausting. There is always that part in the back of my mind telling myself that I will someday actually put it to paper but as of yet, it hasn't become a reality.

[EastTexas]

Here and there.
I've written a couple screenplays. First one several years ago was pretty bad. Most recent one I just finished first draft 2 weeks ago, it's getting there. Started a new one this week.
When the mood strikes I write a little bit of flash fiction and short stories.

Since I'm out of work these last few months I've been approaching it like a job.

[Cretaceous Bob]

I've been writing for as long as I can remember.

Did a small number of reviews for a music review site awhile ago.

More interested in writing fiction, but nobody gets to see that stuff.

[BrownEyedBtch]

Originally Posted by Incognito

I have had a few ideas rolling around for years for a novel but haven't found the motivation to spit out 3-5 pages/day; furthermore, I tend to elaborate excessively in anything I write, so going back to edit and trim would ultimately be exhausting. There is always that part in the back of my mind telling myself that I will someday actually put it to paper but as of yet, it hasn't become a reality.

You don't need to write an exact number of pages a day. If you give yourself 20-30 minutes every single day to write, regardless of how many pages you come up with in that time, you can complete a novel in about a year.

I love to write, and I have found comedy to be one of the hardest things to write. It's easy to write drama and to kill people, but it's hard to make people laugh. Without the right tone, the joke either goes dead or comes off as too obnoxious. I hope the classes are helping. I have written a couple of screenplays, but this is the first time I am writing a novel. It's a bear, but I am enjoying it.

[EastTexas]

Originally Posted by BrownEyedBtch

You don't need to write an exact number of pages a day. If you give yourself 20-30 minutes every single day to write, regardless of how many pages you come up with in that time, you can complete a novel in about a year.

I think at that rate it would be hard. Recreationally it doesn't matter how long it takes you, but say a novel is roughly 300 pages, you are looking at 6 pages a week.

I know SP's are different, but I write 3 pages a day 4 days a week. Which I suppose would be like a page or so of a novel. Sometimes that comes up to 30 min, sometimes it's a 3 hour day.

[Incognito]

Originally Posted by BrownEyedBtch

You don't need to write an exact number of pages a day. If you give yourself 20-30 minutes every single day to write, regardless of how many pages you come up with in that time, you can complete a novel in about a year.

I love to write, and I have found comedy to be one of the hardest things to write. It's easy to write drama and to kill people, but it's hard to make people laugh. Without the right tone, the joke either goes dead or comes off as too obnoxious. I hope the classes are helping. I have written a couple of screenplays, but this is the first time I am writing a novel. It's a bear, but I am enjoying it.

No, but I've read that if one would want to keep a consistent pace, somewhere around this number has been ideal, but of course once you get deeply involved in your writing, it could never have breaks.

And yes, comedy is tough as hell. Not being a generally amusing person myself, I sometimes would go back to read something I wrote that I initially thought was amusing and ask myself, "WTF was I thinking?" I've found that some of my more amusing comments/thoughts happen unintentionally and it surprises myself when I hear others laugh.

[12side]

I had been doing a "100 words a day" exercise, if you really want to write and learn how to express yourself in few words without filler, I highly suggest this method. Here is an example from halloween. See if you can catch the subtle plot.

The crimson moon eclipsed the sky, bathing the field in scarlet. The air was hazy and moist. Two neglected children had run away from home and were lying on the grass, staring up at the red orb. A gust of wind caused a cascade of harvest leaves to fall over them, covering their faces, and their bodies. They didn’t seem to mind; their clothes were already dirty from running. As the temperature began to rise, crickets could be heard in the distance, playing, “Good night, good night” to the sleeping children. Elsewhere, a mother was crying into her husband’s shoulder.

In other forms, I have been writing a book leftover from a NaNoWriMo contest. I got a g/f right in the middle of it and never had time to finish it. Now I have time and can go back and write it proper.

[EastTexas]

Originally Posted by 12side

I had been doing a "100 words a day" exercise, if you really want to write and learn how to express yourself in few words without filler, I highly suggest this method.

That does seem like a fun challenge. I might try the 100 words. Usually when I need a break from regular writing I do some flash fiction (500 words or less). It's a fun challenge that kind of re-invigorates you. It's gotten me out of writers block a few times.

[Smitch]

Yeah, I'm in for attempting 100 words a day. My girlfriend's mum runs creative writing classes, and she often gets people to warm up by typing or writing whatever comes to mind to get your brain active. My most persistent problem is simply with getting started. Once I do, I wonder what I was worrying about.

I've found the more I do, the easier it becomes to get past the boring stuff and on to a good idea. Main problem is keeping this up.