Writer's Thread

[Oola]

For all aspiring writers and novelists, share your tips and dilemmas on this thread.

My first discussion is about characters - how do you develop yours? I've read it's a good idea to write a whole back story to each character. I thought it seemed time consuming and superfluous at first, but I can understand the need for it now.

Also, where is the best place for you to write? I have a pad that I take out in my bag with me in case something pops into my head. I'd like to find a nice cafe to while away an afternoon or two in, I find people watching also gives me inspiration.

[sandybay]

Writing backstory is time consuming Oola, but you will find it so useful.
I've written reams that will never be in my final draft but I can now draw upon my character's histories. My OH told me that David Suchet who plays Poiret in the TV series was on location and needed to pick up a cup of tea and drink it in a scene.
He had to phone someone to get them to research Agatha Christie's books to find out how many sugars Poiret took in his tea ! He said he needed to know or he couldn't play Poiret truthfully. Although he was an actor, translate that to writing and you'll create believable characters You need to know what your character wears, who their first relationship was with, are they right or left handed, what their politics are, how do others see them. Most of it will never be overtly referred to in your text but it will make the person real to you.
What is exciting is when the character does becomes real. Then they live their own life and will tell you their story. It's not always the story you may want to write !

It's interesting that you feel drawn to writing in a cafe or public place, some very successful writers have done that. One [can't remember who] wrote on the train everyday ! Useful for listening to dialogue patterns as well. I prefer to be on my own, peace and quiet as I have to immerse myself into the world I am writing about.

Pen and paper is great for jotting quick ideas and phrases and plot lines. I find it harder to write long passages and edit on paper. What do you use for your writing 'work' ?
Using a computer it's very easy to continually edit and then lose the original piece.
Computer literates can use 'track edit changes' on Microsoft Word but I never get to grips with it !

[sandybay]

nb - I've copied this from another thread as I thought it might be relevant here.


Dragonfly, glad to hear about another writer on board !
Don't give up [you can write and spend time on RM too]

My novel is set in Italy before and during World War 2 and also later in the late 1960's. I only have rough drafts at present, still shaping the plot line.
Most of the work has been researching the politics and social life of the period, although some of the plot was prompted by my family's background in
Emilia Romagna in northern Italy.

My main character, a woman in her late 30's is very alive for me. Sometimes I almost lose the boundary between her and me ! It makes writing very time consuming as sometimes it's almost as if I'm 'channelling' another person.
I feel all her feelings which can be exhausting. Her story is about choices she has to make in order to survive the war, and dealing with the loss of her husband who is killed while fighting as a partisan.

The challenge has been in mixing time periods, 1st and 3rd person narration at different points, and introducing some unsual story telling devices to help drive the story along.

If I sell the film rights I'd like to see Rachel Weisz play my heroine.
Alright I can dream can't I ?

You say Dragonfly that your writing has been very personal, in what way ?
[Don't reveal what you don't want to here - just give a flavour]
If you are unhappy with what you've got maybe you can re work it.
I used feelings and experiences [mainly traumatic] that I've had and used them to generate situations that actually are very different from my own.
That way I don't feel personally exposed if that makes sense

[dragonfly]

As you have moved to this thread Sandybay I thought I would to...
Hi Sandybay, your novel sounds very interesting and intriguing and I will be the first to buy a copy when you have finished it.
My novel is personal because it is based on people I know and if they read it they will know who they are. It started because my teenage neice was staying with us and she liked writing so we decided to write a short story each as a bit of fun but I got very engrossed and it became a short novel. I based mine on the 800 year old manor house across the road from me and is about a woman of today going back in time and meeting a woman who lived in the eighteen hundreds but they have a lot incommon. I spent a year researching the period as I like to get everything right, like how they lived and what they ate etc. I got that engrossed that I was beginning to think I had really been in the past and when it was finished it was like losing a real friend, I actually cried. I wouldn't like anyone else to read it for I don't want it critising it is my baby and I am pleased with it and I don't care if anyone else doesn't like it except my mum who I had in mind when I wrote it. She is an avid reader and she loves it but I think she is biased.(she is the only one who has read it)
Good luck with your novel and let me know when it is finished.

[dragonfly]

Oola I don't write a back story until they appear in the story then I put it in the novel. The trouble is I have all their life story in my head and forget to write some of it as the people are so real you think every knows it. I can describe objects and things but find it difficul to discribe things like facial features and feelings.
Do you write in the third person or first. It sounds like you do both Sandybay.
I don't like nastiness or violence or swearing so will not write about those but that is what people today seem to want. I want my stories to be 'nice' so I don't think many people will like them.
I like writing about the past and particularly going back in time as that fascinates me but there again it probably doesn't interest many people. I have another story that I just need lots of time to write.
I should take a note book with me but never remember so write things on any bit of paper I can get at the time then I take them home and put them on the computer under the heading 'Notes' I can then categories them and swap them about as I wish. I am hopeless at writting by hand but can type very fast so the computer is invaluable. I would not consider writting novels without a computer, it must take years doing it by hand.