How do I tell whether I am a good writer or not

[Maharg]

For years I dreamed of writing books. Sometimes I start writing a story. Then, when I read it back to myself, I lose confidence that it's any good.

I was told I was good at English at school, and I used to like the creative writing side of it, but I was good at everything at school anyway because I am quite bright. I would love to write stories, but I don't seem to be able to come up with plot lines, etc. I'm better at creating a character and then watching what they do when I put them in certain situations and relationships.

Are there any good books out there that will help me or does anyone have any advice?

maharg

 

[Servant of the Kingdom]

visit www.writing.com

There is no way you can know if you are a good writer or not, you can get opinions, though.

If you intend to write in English a first read would be "Elements of Style" and everything the classics wrote.

 

[Maharg]

Thanks servant - I'll let you know how I get on

 

[TriptychR]

You seem to be going through what a lot of people interested in writing do. You go through school with great marks in English and everyone telling you that you're a great writer, but once you get out in the real world a little bit you begin to doubt your skill.

What you don't learn in school is that writing is a long and hard process. Don't fret that what you first write doesn't seem so good. Keep working at it. It might also help to join a writing community or forum or to post your work on a site such as DeviantArt (www.deviantart.com) so others can critique and comment on it. Ignore anyone who might trash your stuff (they're jerks) and look for people who will give you honest, constructive criticism. Consider it, then learn from it. All writers continually work on and rewrite their stuff; you just don't know it because all you see are their final drafts.

One book you might be interested in is On Writing Well by William Zinnser. It provides lots of good advice on style and finding your niche.

 

[luv2laughandgrin]

Maharg, you sound a lot like me.
Just the other day I was looking at all my writings and thought, "What good is it doing in my notebook?" So I decided to make a site and post my stuff there (geocities.com/grin_bin_89). I made and area just for comments, so I can get feedback on what people like and don't like.
I suggest you make a website (geocities, =and bravenet are good ones) and post your stories on there. You can use a guestbook as a comment area. This way, you get a lot of traffic from all different people. Also, give your website to your friends and have them write in your comment area. Most people are more likely to say what they feel to a computer screen than to your face, so the opinions will probably be more honest there.

Hope I helped!
God Bless <3

 

[Star_Splitter87]

I'll tell you what someone once told me. You cannot please everyone. Infact, there will always be a critic that says you are horrid and one that says you are the next Fitzgerald. The point is. If you wake up in the morning and after you stretch and get your breakfast or whatever, if all you think about is to write, then you are a writer. It doesn't matter if someone else likes your writing, what matters is that you wrote from you heart.

If you do not like your writing, more than likely it IS good. However, think of how to change it. Hemmingway always went back and took out details. Fittzgerald always went back and added some. It is your choice and I am sure you shall do great things.

Don't worry. Writing is not a science, however many scientists couldn't write. I could and still cannot spell, however I never let it get to me. Your good in your own way and must therefore keep your uniqueness. Do not change your writing style to much, in fact expand to different ways to write something. Do not think of what your writing or what your point is. Simply say what comes from your heart and it shall aways be a masterpiece.

You can do nothing in this world if you do not believe in yourself. If you do not believe in yourself you cannot write. Therefore, if you cannot believe in your writing you can nothing in this world. Just have faith and believe... All shall be alright in the end.

 

[Maharg]

You can do nothing in this world if you do not believe in yourself. If you do not believe in yourself you cannot write. Therefore, if you cannot believe in your writing you can nothing in this world. Just have faith and believe... All shall be alright in the end.

Hi Star_Splitter87,

You speak very wise words here. At the moment, I don't believe in myself very much at all. It's something I'm working on - getting my inner sense of confidence back after I went through a difficult experience.

I'm hoping to develop my confidence by doing the things I enjoy for a few months - writing and music. I guess I'll do what you said and write from my heart and see what emerges.

I'll keep you posted about the results of this process!



With many thanks to you and others who have advised me here,

Maharg

 

[Servant of the Kingdom]

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item.php?user_id=leugim

That's my writing.com portfolio, see you there you'll love it, it's the nicest place in the whole net. I don't know how it works, they must have a troll alarm + laser or something

 

[Maharg]

Hi Servant,

I just had a look at the site, haven't joined yet, but I had a look at some of your stuff. I liked your poem 'Warboy'.

Will probably meet you there at some point!

maharg

 

[TriptychR]

http://www.writing.com/main/view_item.php?user_id=leugim

That's my writing.com portfolio, see you there you'll love it, it's the nicest place in the whole net. I don't know how it works, they must have a troll alarm + laser or something

I used to be a member of that site and enjoyed it quite a bit, but do you still have to pay to have more than 15 items in your portfolio? That's what eventually drove me away from that site to DeviantART.

 

[Servant of the Kingdom]

yes, you still have to pay.

 

[pthalomarie]

Okay, first of all, DO NOT post your stuff online. That's just asking for trouble. People at these sites may seem nice - and most may be - but all it takes is just one underhanded person to copy your stuff and put their name to it, and you're ruined.

Second of all, any place that asks you to pay just to read your writing is merely taking advantage of your hunger for feedback. And there's no guarantee that you'll even get constructive feedback.

Publishers - even legitimate ones - have made a huge amount of money off of this scam, by the way. They'll advertise a charge of $300 to read your manuscript. Contractually, all they're obligated to do is read it; they're not obligated to give you a detailed analysis of your strengths and weaknesses. So what happens is that people get their manuscript back with cryptic statements like "too long" or "needs work."

Instead, you should seek out a local writer's group and read each other's work. Get immediate feedback, and get it from people willing to invest in your work for free.

 

[RobinB]

Good advice-- don't post your unpublished work, even on your own site. Why?

1) you own the copyright, but work can still be stolen
2) once it's published, even online, you can't sell the first printing rights to a publisher
3) paying to post your work at a website who advertise that publishers review that site looking for writers-- don't do it. Publishers are overwhelmed with the unsolicited manuscripts they get every day by mail--they don't have time to go to websites to look for more. (the typical author who sells their work this way ends up with a subsidy publisher and must pay all or part of the publishing costs.

Also good advice to join a local writing group or critique group and get feedback on your work. Read all you find in the genre you select to write in.

Visit online sites for writing tips--many are free. Try Spirit Led Writer's terrific site.

 

[Servant of the Kingdom]

Dear pthalomarie

That depends on what your objectives are, of course. Personally I'd rather be honoured if anybody would 'steal' my work because my mother tounge is not English. I am very probably unpublishable. I am well aware of the scams but writing.com is not one of them, reviews are simply done by other users.

To be honest I don't even publish them for the reviews, I just happen to love to write, that's all and prefer that someone reads them. I am amateur and happy about it The cost I pay is around $5 per month not $300.

However even for a professional wannabe (and indeed for a profesional) to go online can have its advantages. Just don't post your big ones, but let's be honest your first exercises, who's gonna steal them?

 

[TriptychR]

The problem with finding a local writing group instead of posting your work to the Net is that there may not always be a local writing group to find. I live in the middle of nowhere. Unless cows are an untapped literary critique source, do I really have any other choices?

 

[Servant of the Kingdom]

Dear TriptychR and others (not me cause I'd be of no value) why don't you form an online group? it could work with a restricted yahoo group or something like that. Just an idea.

 

[pthalomarie]

Personally I'd rather be honoured if anybody would 'steal' my work because my mother tounge is not English. I am very probably unpublishable. I am well aware of the scams but writing.com is not one of them, reviews are simply done by other users.

I'm not saying that writing.com is itself a "scam," since scams generally involve bigger promises and bigger costs. But it feeds on the same need as publishers' scams, and the risks are too great.

You may think you'd be flattered if someone stole your work (or part of it), but what if the person who steals it reaps fame and fortune from it? What if that person then sues you if you try to claim that you are the original writer?

However even for a professional wannabe (and indeed for a profesional) to go online can have its advantages. Just don't post your big ones, but let's be honest your first exercises, who's gonna steal them?

Small ideas can always end up being big ones later on. You never know when you have a diamond in the rough. Many great novels started as fragmented or unsatisfying short stories or essays. Many great poems started out mediocre and nearly forgotten by the writer. I've seen lots of writers who've taken their "lesser" work and revamped it years later into something special.

 

[pthalomarie]

The problem with finding a local writing group instead of posting your work to the Net is that there may not always be a local writing group to find. I live in the middle of nowhere. Unless cows are an untapped literary critique source, do I really have any other choices?

Try forming one, then. That's what I did. There may be a lot more people in your town in your position than you realize. I too live in a largely rural area, yet I've managed to keep my writing group going for six years now. You never know unless you try.

 

[Servant of the Kingdom]

Thanks phtalomarie, but it won't happen