Well I was away for a while and in that time I've nearly finished my first draft of a fantasy novel I have been writing (needless to say my skills at writing have greatly improved). So I was just wondering what other people on the site have thought about writing one or are in the middle of one

I started writing mine about 2 weeks ago.

I can say that starting is the hardest part but once you do it's a whole new experience. What genre are you writing around?

I would write a novel, but I'd probably die of writers block, lol.

Still writing a saga . . ./sigh.

I have to first write the origins for my two characters, then write a mini story after their origin tale, and of course, finalize it with a trilogy with those two characters being the main protagonists.

Did I mention these are two of my four main characters?

Ultimately I want to be a fantasy writer, but for right now I'm hellbent on writing a version of my story working in Retail.

Yeah I sometimes had problems with that haha. There is nothing worse than a writer that is grumpy with writers block

That's me

Well that's what I love about writing. It can be whatever you want and that is why books are so limitless. However it's good to write about what you are really focused about at the time because I think it makes the writing better when it is focused

That seems like a lot of work you have cut out for you. Well at least you've got a good plan.

I heard of something called a nanowrimo and it just seems ludicrous to write a book in that time check it out if you want maybe you could try it for these books but it might require not leaving the house for a month.

I've been throwing around ideas for a post-apocalyptic story for a while now, but so far not much has come of it. I've had several promising but ultimately false starts for it, and it's beginning to get rather annoying how I can't build up momentum for it. Pah.

I think (I could be wrong) that the idea with writing a novel in a month is to produce a first draft in that period, not a finished product. The short time frame might encourage locking away the internal editor and just letting the story fly? I haven’t tried it. It would also encourage the habit of writing every day. I don’t have that habit. I write when I have time rather than insisting on time to write. Something I need to change!

Good to hear OP. I'm currently writing one too.

Indeed!

Something that gets me in the mood for writing is music that goes along with the theme I'll be writing about. It's best to pick a soundtrack and you can really get into a good state of mind (well that's my process. It's different for everyone). My advice for getting a true start is to find something you are in awe with and use that to start writing your book. Although I know just how hard it can be, my current book took me around 7 months to actually start

Oh I though it meant a finished book but a first draft seems more plausible. It's pretty hard to not want to pick apart the story as you write it and the only way I got around that was by setting myself time limits on chapters. I mean writing every day is good but because I would always procrastinate I wrote myself up a timetable to write. Maybe a timetable could work for you

It's good to know that other people on the site share an interest in writing books, it has been a fun experience writing a book. I think finding enjoyment in writing certainly helps a lot.

What kind of book is it?

Yeah it's a lot of fun. Its really an extension of the vignettes and short stories I have been writing, expect it now puts Niamh in a world and story of her own and is completely original, rather than being a fanfic.
Its a fantasy story, called "Fiachoir's Daughter" and if you're interested, you can read a little on my blog.
I've drafted 3 chapters thus far as well as a lot of background and concepts. I'm very excited about it and its proving to be a real learning experience quite apart from also very satisfying.

Eh, part of the problem is that the rest of the concept isn't as well fleshed-out as it should be. I'm probably going to put it in the back of my mind to gestate for about 6 months or so before I start writing; usually that's the best way in which I get good stories.

I did have a go at starting a sci-fi thing not so long ago, when I was finding my way back to writing again...Once my brain had slowed down enough to be able to concentrate on one thing... ...

Um...What was I saying...

Oh yes, I did do the initial prep...Had the prologue worked out...Principal characters...All of it...

Then I decided against it...I really haven't got the patience for a project that length that's never going to see the light of day...

So I turned my attention back to TES and am partway through a "Short" story (Hey, this is me. ...) which I'm going to finish entirely before posting any of it...

Trouble is...Some people...*points at Mustard and Eva*...got me all into Fallout again, so I'm having to get my Fallout story-ette out of the way as well...Ayyy...So gawd know how long it'll be before I can get back to it... ...

ADHD much? ...

Sadly, the novel (Cool as an idea that it was) is a no-no...

But good luck to all you attempting it...*Applauds heartily*...

Sorry...

Well, Eva got me started again so really, it was her fault. Goddamn it, Eva!

...

Yeah!!...Blame Eva!!!... ...

Ps...I'm just joshing...I don't mind actually...I'm really enjoying it... ...

There will be no "attempt" for me. Even if I have to pull a Dr. Seuss and look for hundreds of publishers, this gon' happen. Hell, if it starts looking like it WON'T happen, I'll look into self-publishing. Again.

The sad thing is, when I was 14, I had a publisher interested in my work, and they asked me to write 3 sequels before they would publish my book. I couldn't do it, being 14 and burnt out on the first book XD

But now I'm 22 and know how to pace myself better and am going to try again.

At least you could write the first book. I'd die if writers block on the first chapter

I don't have a problem with writer's block as such...

Having always planned everything to death, I always know exactly what is to be written next...

Sadly, I either get hideously distracted or completely fail to get up in the mornings to write anything...Like this very morning actually...

*Sigh*...We wait and we wonder...

As a very wise man once said... ...