Hi, I’m Ian, and by day I work in a finance role at a university, but in my spare time I have found the love of writing creatively. I started writing a few years ago and had grand plans to write a novel, only finding many false starts. I started out with masses of ideas only to find myself getting nowhere. Then one day not long after we went into lockdown in 2020. I heard an interview with an author who said, "You are not a novelist until you finish something. It doesn’t matter how bad it is, you have to finish it. The exciting things come in the re-write."
The very next day a motivational speaker asked, “If you were guaranteed not to fail, what one thing in your life would you like to do?” My answer was out of my mouth before I could even think about it. I said ‘write a novel!’ Then what was stopping me? I did no more than to dust off the old paperwork, and re-read what I had done previously. By Christmas I had completed my first draft. (Well, it was my umpteenth draft, but I actually got it to the end.) Now I don’t know what to do with it, and I guess that’s where I need your help! I don’t know if it’s any good? I don’t even know if I’m wasting my time? This is why I’ve come to the Writers’ Lodge.
Why do I want to write? Because I love creating. I love making things out of nothing. watching as ideas blossom; characters appear out of nowhere and do things that you wouldn’t expect them to do.
You asked what would success look like? For me, success would be seeing a novel I wrote, being read and enjoyed by somebody else. If I could earn a living from writing, then that would be a bonus, but it isn’t my main motivation.
As for topics, - What do you do with a book when you get to the stage where you think it’s finished? - Also editing tips would be great topic. - I too would appreciate something on dealing with inner demons. I’m glad I’m not alone in these thoughts!
Who am I: I'm Jude, I have been a full time carer for just over two years - just me, a cranky mother and a psychopathic cat. I am compulsively flippant, especially when socially uncomfortable. I have been working on a novel for the past eight months. Its the first time I have stuck at one piece for that long, and its the first time I have had a main character that I really feel, rather than a list of attributes with a name.
Why I write: Honestly: at school the first thing I got praised for was my story writing. At work & in the pub I will tell a good yarn and people are engaged and laugh or gasp in horror (usually it happens the intended way round). Plus my brain will make things up and ask lost of what ifs, and needs an outlet. So mainly because I am a show off trying to avoid a break down.
Topics :
How do you know when your inner critic is being useful & when its being an insecure saboteur?
I agree with Joan Didion. Writing helps me figure out what I think. Also, I write because I hope to make money and have fun while doing it. If it's not fun, I won't do it - I know. So I try to make it fun. I started with a crime noir novel that was a bear to finish. When I did I was quite proud and exhausted. After having no luck finding an agent or publisher I wrote more - something shorter - a book of short stories which became a finalist in the High Plains Book Awards. Now I'm going shorter still - just finished first draft of a book of poems. What's next? Flash Fiction? Haiku? Something shorter? I'm trying to find what I like best and what I'm best at. I hope The Writers' Lodge can help!
Hi, I’m Ian, and by day I work in a finance role at a university, but in my spare time I have found the love of writing creatively. I started writing a few years ago and had grand plans to write a novel, only finding many false starts. I started out with masses of ideas only to find myself getting nowhere. Then one day not long after we went into lockdown in 2020. I heard an interview with an author who said, "You are not a novelist until you finish something. It doesn’t matter how bad it is, you have to finish it. The exciting things come in the re-write."
The very next day a motivational speaker asked, “If you were guaranteed not to fail, what one thing in your life would you like to do?” My answer was out of my mouth before I could even think about it. I said ‘write a novel!’ Then what was stopping me? I did no more than to dust off the old paperwork, and re-read what I had done previously. By Christmas I had completed my first draft. (Well, it was my umpteenth draft, but I actually got it to the end.) Now I don’t know what to do with it, and I guess that’s where I need your help! I don’t know if it’s any good? I don’t even know if I’m wasting my time? This is why I’ve come to the Writers’ Lodge.
Why do I want to write? Because I love creating. I love making things out of nothing. watching as ideas blossom; characters appear out of nowhere and do things that you wouldn’t expect them to do.
You asked what would success look like? For me, success would be seeing a novel I wrote, being read and enjoyed by somebody else. If I could earn a living from writing, then that would be a bonus, but it isn’t my main motivation.
As for topics, - What do you do with a book when you get to the stage where you think it’s finished? - Also editing tips would be great topic. - I too would appreciate something on dealing with inner demons. I’m glad I’m not alone in these thoughts!
Who am I: I'm Jude, I have been a full time carer for just over two years - just me, a cranky mother and a psychopathic cat. I am compulsively flippant, especially when socially uncomfortable. I have been working on a novel for the past eight months. Its the first time I have stuck at one piece for that long, and its the first time I have had a main character that I really feel, rather than a list of attributes with a name.
Why I write: Honestly: at school the first thing I got praised for was my story writing. At work & in the pub I will tell a good yarn and people are engaged and laugh or gasp in horror (usually it happens the intended way round). Plus my brain will make things up and ask lost of what ifs, and needs an outlet. So mainly because I am a show off trying to avoid a break down.
Topics :
How do you know when your inner critic is being useful & when its being an insecure saboteur?
Anything to improve my synopsis writing skills
I agree with Joan Didion. Writing helps me figure out what I think. Also, I write because I hope to make money and have fun while doing it. If it's not fun, I won't do it - I know. So I try to make it fun. I started with a crime noir novel that was a bear to finish. When I did I was quite proud and exhausted. After having no luck finding an agent or publisher I wrote more - something shorter - a book of short stories which became a finalist in the High Plains Book Awards. Now I'm going shorter still - just finished first draft of a book of poems. What's next? Flash Fiction? Haiku? Something shorter? I'm trying to find what I like best and what I'm best at. I hope The Writers' Lodge can help!