NEW USERS! INTRODUCE YOURSELVES!

Welcome aboard, Jao!

For many of us, Heinlein's Rule #3 (You must never rewrite except to direct editorial order) is the hard one to follow. But for some of us, it's Rule #2: You must finish what you write. It sounds like you're in that group. For me, it can be difficult to restart once I stop, but I'm learning to do better. Of course, the best is what you did this time: don't stop until you're done. But my schedule doesn't always permit that.

I'm a little surprised, though, that this problem would afflict you. I would think that being a ghostwriter has disciplined you to write on demand. I wonder if there are habits you can bring from your day job that would make this easier.

Maybe when you have to stop for a while, you can make notes for yourself describing where you plan to go next. I find that helps me to pick back up again.

my ghostwriting duties involve writing non-fiction content. they're mainly content for the web. product reviews, sales topic, FAQs, ezine articles, etc.

i can force myself to write because if i don't, there won't be food on the table. so even if there's nothing in my head, i sit, and write. even when i'm dead-ass tired, sleepy, and roaring to go to bed, i write. i can't afford not to.

as for writing fiction, my problem involves just finding the urge to write. i'm a serial procrastinator. the problem with fiction is it takes too long to write. i find it easier to write in one sitting. so if it takes longer than that, i find it hard to finish.

the longest i've written so far is 6k words. and i'm not even satisfied with what i have. my entry this quarter was 3k words. my regular output in my day job is 3k words, so more or less, i'm used to that load.

Welcome, Jao! Glad you decided to speak up!

thanks kyle. i've been lurking here for quiet some time.

Howdy, all. I've been lurking here the past couple of weeks since I finally decided to get my butt into gear and submit something to WotF this quarter, so figured I'd stop lurking and join the forums. 😀 Seems like an awesome community.

I submitted something like 8 years ago, got a form letter rejection, then promptly shoved the idea of getting published into a dark corner for years, but go figure-- I couldn't quite give up on the idea of being a writer. It's just who I am. So here I am again, ready to try my hand at this weird world of publishing... for realz this time!

More about me... I'm 29, female, live in California, and am attempting to earn a living off freelance writing (and eventually fiction, rawr!). Freelance wise, I write mostly MMORPG articles on various fansites. I'm an avid gamer, reader, and lover of almost all things sci-fi and fantasy.

Oh, and the smilies here are pretty awesome, I must say!

Welcome, Serrain!

I'm also a "took a looooooong break from the contest (and from writing)" contestant, so I hear you. Best of luck in the contest, and elsewhere!

Welcome, Serrain.

I'm another dropped-off-the-face-of-the-Earth writer/WotF submitter. Glad to hear you're jumping back into the game. It's a good places to be!

Welcome serrain, and welcome Rebecca as well.

Love to see all the new faces!

Hey Serrain!

I'm pretty new to the forum, too. Glad to see you aboard. When born a writer, always a writer, so by all means, SUBMIT! haha. Rejections suck, but like everything else, gets better (or less upsetting) with time.
I also freelance and will be moving to California near the end of December. What area are you from?

Welcome aboard, Blair and Serrain! This place just keeps on growing!

Thanks for the welcomes, all. 😀

Blair, I live in Hemet right now, which is in the Riverside county area. I was born and raised in Tujunga, which is closer to the Burbank/Glendale area.

And yep! I think I'm way better equipped now to deal with rejections, cause I know there's hopefully some success at the end of that rope. Welcome to you too!

Blair, I live in Hemet right now, which is in the Riverside county area. I was born and raised in Tujunga, which is closer to the Burbank/Glendale area.

I know all these towns you mention. I used to live in Pasadena, and once shot a video out in Hemet. I'm up in Fresno these days.

Welcome aboard, Blair and Serrain! This place just keeps on growing!

Hi to all of you indeed! It really is nice, our recent influx of new folks, new talent, new insights, new energy, new aspiration!

It's nice that we are a Forum here, and not a gladiatorial Colliseum .... 'funny things happen on the way to the forum' ... on the way to contests of blood and fury between combatants, not so much!

hey, it's Erica
i'm a high school student studying psychology, i'm planning on submitting this next quarter.
nice to meet you all
this is the first writing forum i've joined, i hope i can learn something from you guys

Welcome aboard, Erica! I wish I were as motivated as you when I was your age. It took me 30 years to decide to stop wishing and start writing!

I forget her name, but one of the Finalists in Q2 was a teenage girl, too. The sooner you start, the farther you can go.

UPDATE: Oops! She got an Honorable Mention, not a Finalist. Still impressive work by Caroline Barraco!

Welcome to you, Erica!

I got a nice body; it’s in my trunk.

I can see that on your card when you become a Psychiatrist!

Welcome, Erica!

I'm another one who wishes I'd gotten going at an earlier age. It's great to have you here.

Hi, Erica! Welcome aboard and good luck!

:p
Hey guys im totally new to this. I actually entered the contest before I made a forum account. I'm pretty young (a senior in highschool) and I actually heard about this contest thru fastweb, a scholarship website.
I HAVE had one piece (a short science fiction story) published in a REAL magazine. 😀
http://www.teenink.com/fiction/sci_fi_fantasy/article/210640/Those-Who-Call/
So far, that's the highlight of my 'career'. Keeping my fingers crossed with my Q4 entry!
-Joel

Hi, Joel! Glad you spoke up. Congratulations on the story, and good luck in the contest!

OK, Joel, I have a little unsolicited advice... If you're not there already, get to Duotrope immediately and start looking for markets. Nothing wrong with Teen Ink, but you're ready to aim higher. I really liked that story, and I think you need to start submitting to paying markets. I can't swear an editor would actually buy that one. If I had THAT magic secret, I would sell more of my own! But in my opinion after reading it, if you start submitting to them, you'll get in eventually.

I'll add: I'm a little envious, too. I can never make a story work when it's that short. Nice job!

:p
Hey guys im totally new to this. I actually entered the contest before I made a forum account. I'm pretty young (a senior in highschool) and I actually heard about this contest thru fastweb, a scholarship website.
I HAVE had one piece (a short science fiction story) published in a REAL magazine. 😀
http://www.teenink.com/fiction/sci_fi_fantasy/article/210640/Those-Who-Call/
So far, that's the highlight of my 'career'. Keeping my fingers crossed with my Q4 entry!
-Joel

Hi Joel. I'm jealous too, because you've started seriously applying yourself at such a young age. It took me 40 years to allocate a portion of my life to my passion of writing. Until then, life kept re-allocating it elsewhere.

I second the recommendation to check out Duotrope.

So exciting to see so much young talent!

And I'm excited to have Erica aboard too because I'm a psych grad (BA and MA). Good luck with your studies!!

And Joel, you rock! Add me to the voices encouraging you to start swimming in bigger waters.

wow! thanks for the warm welcome, guys!
I haven't heard of Duotrope but I will totally check it out.

My problem is making stories work when they're longer, I always feel like I stretch them out too much :p, I guess every writer has their 'kryptonite'.

Welcome, Joel.

I too got started when I was young.

Hopefully you'll have better discipline than I did. Took me 17 years to break in.

Welcome new folks!

Greetings! I thought I would de-lurk… as I was getting to feel a bit dirty and stalkerish!

I’ve always dabbled with writing but in general things like procrastination, fear of failure, laziness all impeded me and all it really amounted to was a secret hankering…

I think the biggest thing that changed was becoming a parent – it has recoded my DNA or something. Of course the increase in my drive and organisational oomph is almost directly negated by the lack of personal time that parenthood also brings with it. Almost, but not quite. I wrote a story, was looking around for what to do with it when I stumbled upon this contest. It was my submission for Q4. I am quite elated to be actually doing something writing-wise, and also terrified because I am completely in love with my little story (easiest thing I ever wrote) and I fear for its safety out there in the big wide world.

I know the mantra is submit and move on (there is some great advice on this forum that I think I should live by) but I think it is going to be hard not to be all emotionally-entangled in the fate of this very first story - so I've given myself permission to be a bit of a freak over it, just this one time!

Welcome aboard, Ember! Again my unsolicited advice: head to Duotrope as you write more stories. And you will write more stories, I'm confident.

I understand getting attached to your story. I would be a liar if I said otherwise. But it's something we have to learn to let go of. You have a child, and you have a story. One you conceive and birth and then love and nurture and care for and cry for and teach and finally watch walk out into the world on its own power, with you constantly agonizing whether you've done enough. The other you conceive and write and then kick out of the nest to fend for itself in the cold cruel world.

In my case, I allow myself a five minute rant after a rejection, because I'm honest and admit I'm disappointed. After that I move on. After an acceptance, well, I'm insufferable for at least a week.

Hi, Ember!

Yes, that first story is an emotional rollercoaster. Don't let the downs keep you down. Keep writing, and keep submitting, and you'll do fine!

And welcome to the forum!

Hi Friends.

New to the board--I have my second WotF entry in Q4 right now. Heard these boards are really helpful, so I'm excited to get started with them!

As for other writing... I work as a technical writer, and I'm in the midst of revising a novel right now. Super exciting, I know. 😉