Writerly Advice.

Re: Writerly Advice.

Psyah! Very interesting! It's dark, I like that. Am I reading it right, one line is the tortured and the next the torturer? Good stuff.

Hiya senora Velvet,

I write simply because I can't not write, if that makes sense. I don't have any ambitions with regards to publishing. That may just be because I don't feel I'm at that level yet; the day I can look myself in the eye - um, in the mirror obviously, I don't have detachable eyes or anything; though how cool would that be? I digress, so where was I? Oh yes, the day I can look myself in the eye and say with all honesty that my stuff is good enough, then perhaps I'll get more ambitious. Also, I worked in publishing for a little bit and that probably killed the magic of it all.
At the moment, I'm just having a blast playing around with, and honing, my writing.
No particular genre, I have little say in anything; am a slave to my imagination and must follow wherever it leads - ha, that sounds so ****ing pretentious.

Books, I have a pretty eclectic palette. My current read is Kafka on the Shore, and for non-fiction Montaigne's Essays. Kids' books, from the oldies nothing beats Roald Dahl. Ursula Guin, and Diana Wynne Jones. From the recent lot, A Series of Unfortunate Events was all kinds of fun. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is rather beautiful too. Never read True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - hadn't even heard of it until now.:)

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ok, so i kinda disappeared from this whole idea cuz i got caught up in something:D

but, lets just dedicate this thread to posting random things we come up with or write and then we can discuss them...

This way we can pick up how different people write and what techniques they are using

Also, do you guys use actual "literary techniques" and actually put stuff in your writing that is up for interpretation? intentionally?

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Cool.
Um, I don't deliberately attempt to use any techniques, but sometimes they just come about naturally. Do you?

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nope, they come about naturally at times...and that is when they are best fitted too!

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Oh yes. I know I've sat for hours trying to shoehorn something in and it just refuses to work, but then at other times something will just weave itself into the writing without my having noticed and it'll just belong there. It's an odd thing this writing business!

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ET,

What did you do in the publishing field? Did you do any editing? If so, for what kind of literature? Any tips for query/cover letters?

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Yup, editing; YA mainly.
Are you writing direct to publishers or approaching agents?
Your letter should be simple, and focused - sum up up your book, mention its length and target audience. Be interesting though.
If you want a second opinion on yours then feel free to hit me up.

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^Thank you. I just might hit you up on it. I'm working on approaching literary agents.

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Sure thing. To literary agents, along with your query letter, send in a detailed synopsis (make sure its no longer than a page though) and the first three chapters.
Best of luck with it.

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Just to say, I haven't abandoned this. Been a bit busy frightening little old ladies and trying to make mathematics work in my favour. Will get on to this in the next few days, hopefully.

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I need some inspiration/motivation. Help me!