Hey! I'm new! :)

Nina_20 · Feb 17, 2012

Hey everyone,

My name is Christina but everyone calls me Nina. I am brand new to AWWC and I am excited to be here. I am 25 years old, and have no experience writing. Obviously, I would love to say that I am a writer, but I am not sure that I qualify yet. I haven't even finished a book. That brings me to the reason for joining. I have started around 11 books, and can not find the steam to finish them. It's not that I am not in love with my idea's, I just can't seem to round the books to an end. Is it because I have a set goal for wordcount and still haven't reached it? Could it be I am afraid to finish one because then it would be done? I dont know. Mostly, it's because I have nobody to read it. I am not in contact with my old friends because I left my home state, and my husband doesn't like reading so what little feedback I get from him just isnt helpful. Honestly, I feel like I shouldn't on if I don't know if I am even good at writing. So here I am, to hopefully get some helpful advice on how to get the excitement back into my work! I live in Colorado at the moment, but we move a lot due to military life. Writing is a great way for me to spend my time, esspecially because it's so hard to find new friends every three years. I mostly write YA but have one book that is more of a Memoir, which I will probably never get published. My favorite thing in the world to do, is sit down in a quiet place and open a book. So that's a little about me and I hope to get some good feedback, please give me any advice you can, it will come to an eager reader! Thanks so much!!

xoxo

Nina

kenthepen · Feb 17, 2012

Welcome, Nina.

You're a writer if you find you keep writing when there's no reason to write.

My standard line is that I wrote drunken poetry in the seventies, songs in the eighties and into the nineties, then a bunch of screenplays. I finally decided if I wasn't ever going to sell anything I might as well write whatever the h*** I want to write.

A year later I finished my first novel. Now I'm halfway through the sequel. I'm epublished, because I've been through such similar processes in song/scriptwriting(agent queries, etc) that I only did that for a few months before deciding to epublish.

When I ponder, I think that even if I write it all for only one person to read, it's worth it. I still have to write. . . . . . . . Best of Luck to you, and carry on.

Nina_20 · Feb 17, 2012

Thanks so much! I am definately trying to carry on! It proves difficult. Congrats on your success and I hope your sequel goes as well as your first! Thanks for the reply and I hope to be seeing you around!

xoxo

Nina

triceretops · Feb 17, 2012

Welcome, Nina, you've come to the right place to learn. You will get un-stuck at some point and take off. I see a finished book in your very near future.

tri

alleycat · Feb 17, 2012

Welcome.

Nina_20 · Feb 17, 2012

Thanks so much! I really hope so!

Nina_20 · Feb 17, 2012

Thank you!

regdog · Feb 18, 2012

Take some time and read the Newbie Guide and the Stickies found
at the top of Forum pages. They are your best guide to learning about
Absolute Write.

Don’t forget to read the FAQ regarding posting pictures at AW.

Members who want to start a thread in Share Your Work to have work critiqued need
50 posts. Don’t make a mad dash to reach your 50 posts. Take some time to greet fellow newbies,
critique other members’ works, or join a discussion.

Silver-Midnight · Feb 18, 2012

Welcome.

CACTUSWENDY · Feb 18, 2012

Welcome to AW. Hope you enjoy your stay with us.
How do you like your popcorn?

If you go to the bottom of the page to the 'forum jump' you can scroll down and find all the areas of this place. After you post 50 posts you can use the SYW areas to get help there. The password for some of the areas is…..vista. A word to the wise, it would be a good idea to participate first in helping others before you think about posting your own work. After you have been around here for awhile, then post something of your own for help. Good luck.

Deizelcore · Feb 18, 2012

Welcome!

Tepelus · Feb 18, 2012

Hello, and welcome!

ArtsyAmy · Feb 18, 2012

Welcome, Tina! I think you may be onto something about a reason for not finishing a story: "Could it be I am afraid to finish one because then it would be done?" We spend so much time getting to know our characters and being with them through their challenges, only to eventually get to that last sentence, and then it's adios. Kinda sad, I suppose--but it is nice to pull old stories off the shelf (or back onto the computer screen) and visit old friends for a while.

W.Wallace · Feb 18, 2012

Hello Nina, and welcome to AW!

Brigid Barry · Feb 18, 2012

Nina_20 said:
Hey everyone,
I have started around 11 books, and can not find the steam to finish them. It's not that I am not in love with my idea's, I just can't seem to round the books to an end. Is it because I have a set goal for wordcount and still haven't reached it? Could it be I am afraid to finish one because then it would be done? I dont know. Mostly, it's because I have nobody to read it. I am not in contact with my old friends because I left my home state, and my husband doesn't like reading so what little feedback I get from him just isnt helpful. Honestly, I feel like I shouldn't on if I don't know if I am even good at writing. So here I am, to hopefully get some helpful advice on how to get the excitement back into my work!

Welcome Nina! Do you not have the plot worked out (at least in your head) from beginning to end, or do you just lose interest in what you are writing?

I started a novel 10 years ago. I'd lose interest and set it aside, then I'd get motivated and work a little, then lose interest and set it aside.

Recently I decided to finish it and publish. I stuck all the pieces together and filling in the blanks added 24k words...now I have a completed novel.

Just because you haven't finished anything doesn't mean you aren't a writer.

Welcome!

BlueFox · Feb 18, 2012

Hi Nina, welcome to AW

Uno87 · Feb 18, 2012

Hey, I'm new too! If I welcome you will you welcome me?
Welcome!

jamiegrl100 · Feb 18, 2012

welcome, and have a look around, you will learn everything you need to know here, check out learning to write with uncle Jim, it is a great thread

thehairymob · Feb 18, 2012

Nina_20 · Feb 19, 2012

WOW! alot of replies. Well I like my popcorn fresh with a pinch of salt and a good bit of butter.

I do very much have a plot worked out and usually write the start, middle and end, and use the rest of my time connecting them but not being afraid of changing any of the elements if that is where the story takes me. Also, I am mostly writing YA and have a word count of 100,000 set in mind which is proving difficult to reach. I read this is the norm. But now i am reading here that the word count goal for other writers is much lower... is mine to high?

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I look forward to getting to know you all!

Brigid Barry · Feb 19, 2012

Nina_20 said:
WOW! alot of replies. Well I like my popcorn fresh with a pinch of salt and a good bit of butter.

I do very much have a plot worked out and usually write the start, middle and end, and use the rest of my time connecting them but not being afraid of changing any of the elements if that is where the story takes me. Also, I am mostly writing YA and have a word count of 100,000 set in mind which is proving difficult to reach. I read this is the norm. But now i am reading here that the word count goal for other writers is much lower... is mine to high?

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I look forward to getting to know you all!

A good word count to shoot for is between 85,000 to 100,000. I've seen as low as 75,000 as well for a novel.

Lisa von Lempke · Feb 19, 2012

Hello, Nina.

If you write, you're a writer. "I haven't even finished a book" - that shouldn't be a problem. Except, of course, if you mean you've never finished a book you read...

Nina_20 · Feb 19, 2012

Nope, def. finished reading plenty of books.

SuzanneSeese · Feb 19, 2012

scarecrow · Feb 19, 2012

Hi Nina,
I am a newbie too. I know the feeling of moving every three years and having to start over, and my DH doesn't like to read either. I am just writing my first MG/YA book too, but it has taken me a bit more time to get started I'm over 40. I've read a good word count for YA is 65-85K but there are other people on these boards much more knowledgeable than me.

Good luck to you and I hope to see you around the boards.

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