November is National Novel Writing Month

Skybird · 10-17-07, 04:59 PM

Hehe, 15 years ago I "published" an extensive ST novel in the european fandom, for the 25 years anniversary of ST, title translated into "Bloodshadow", it was a Romulan-based masterpiece of 600 pages, timeframe set between ST-V and ST-VI.

. It was no commecial enterprise, and copies were sold for the price of the copying alone, not more. On festivals, I was told, it popped up time and again for a couple of years, and found some hundred (hopefully happy) "customers".

Well, what you write when you are in your early twenties :p

At school I wrote a 200 pages novel for the movie Blade Runner - well, what a surprise! My first novel had 50 pages, and was a script of star Wars, typed while I still was visiting fourth class, I think, elementary school. during late school I wrote a 200 pages non-fictinal book about some social, political, environmental and cultural things. I received some special appreciation from teachers for it, and it was used for one semestre in a project class.

All this was fun at the time when I did it, but I would not take it serious, and do not hand it around anylonger, of course. there were many other short stories, and a colelction of poems and Haikus. Beside a small collection of poems, the only thing I am really proud of, and which really was coming from my heart, is a brief - well, in german we call it "Novelle", that is something like a brief, short novel, entitled "Picnic in Avalone". It was about a young women after WWI, leaving London and finding some rest after marriage troubles, in a Godforsaken place where the borders between reality and fantasy transcended and her finding a new solution to her life when spending one afternoon on a mysterious surreal island where he experiences some events offside the usual flow of time. It is also a hommage to Ray Bradbury, to several of his stories I make some clear references.

Hundreds of pages written - only to finally end with these 90 pages of Avalaone!!

I once started to write a sequel to it, well, kind of, but that was years later and I foudn that I had become rusty, and it did not went in the most elegant way. Three drafts existed, entitled "Return to Gramarye", but I finally gave it up. My imagination is unfortunatly lightyears ahead of my abilities as an author.

Ishmael · 10-17-07, 06:18 PM

Camaero, I sent you the form letter for UWG and admitted you since I know you already.

Chock, you are technically correct but Nanowrimo allows for biographies. Since I'm using first-person narrative, it'll actually read more like a memoir.

Skybird, don't edit yourself or put down your writing skills. I would venture to say you are charming, witty and intelligent in two languages. I, by contrast, can only get my face slapped in seventeen different languages. With the breadth of your knowledge and experience, I would think you have the makings of a damn fine writer. Further review of your many posts here only buttresses that opinion.

Skybird · 10-17-07, 06:28 PM

Thanks for the compliments, Ishmael, but like all humans, I changed over time. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. My writing skills are of the latter, like my chess and fighting as well. Too long periods of not practicing are poison for any skill, no matter what kind of skill is referred to, and that is not different with writing. changed interests, duties, views and timetables also play a role, I guess.

And my postings here in GT- I guess a majority here would rate them as controversial, at best. :p If it would be different and I would not hit some nerves at times, I would conclude that I did not get it right.

Might be different with the tank and flightsim forum, of course.

I'll keep an eye on your production.

Camaero · 10-17-07, 06:42 PM

Thanks Ishmael!

I bet your writings are damn good Skybird. It is always hard to judge your own work though, so don't let that skew your opinion.

Chock · 10-17-07, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Too long periods of not practicing are poison for any skill, no matter what kind of skill is referred to, and that is not different with writing.

I can certainly vouch for that, I spent a long time not doing any writing after having left working for a newspaper, and then when I went back to freelancing I was rusty as hell. These days I don't do that much freelance writing, but I guard against the skill getting rusty by writing product reviews for Avsim, just to keep the writing wheels turning when I'm not doing any other writing work. It's amazing how quick the skill drops off, but the good news is that it does come back upon re-acquaintance.

Chock

Hakahura · 10-19-07, 10:22 AM

Flame prevention bump

10-17-07, 04:59 PM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,718 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Hehe, 15 years ago I "published" an extensive ST novel in the european fandom, for the 25 years anniversary of ST, title translated into "Bloodshadow", it was a Romulan-based masterpiece of 600 pages, timeframe set between ST-V and ST-VI. . It was no commecial enterprise, and copies were sold for the price of the copying alone, not more. On festivals, I was told, it popped up time and again for a couple of years, and found some hundred (hopefully happy) "customers". Well, what you write when you are in your early twenties :p At school I wrote a 200 pages novel for the movie Blade Runner - well, what a surprise! My first novel had 50 pages, and was a script of star Wars, typed while I still was visiting fourth class, I think, elementary school. during late school I wrote a 200 pages non-fictinal book about some social, political, environmental and cultural things. I received some special appreciation from teachers for it, and it was used for one semestre in a project class. All this was fun at the time when I did it, but I would not take it serious, and do not hand it around anylonger, of course. there were many other short stories, and a colelction of poems and Haikus. Beside a small collection of poems, the only thing I am really proud of, and which really was coming from my heart, is a brief - well, in german we call it "Novelle", that is something like a brief, short novel, entitled "Picnic in Avalone". It was about a young women after WWI, leaving London and finding some rest after marriage troubles, in a Godforsaken place where the borders between reality and fantasy transcended and her finding a new solution to her life when spending one afternoon on a mysterious surreal island where he experiences some events offside the usual flow of time. It is also a hommage to Ray Bradbury, to several of his stories I make some clear references. Hundreds of pages written - only to finally end with these 90 pages of Avalaone!! I once started to write a sequel to it, well, kind of, but that was years later and I foudn that I had become rusty, and it did not went in the most elegant way. Three drafts existed, entitled "Return to Gramarye", but I finally gave it up. My imagination is unfortunatly lightyears ahead of my abilities as an author. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

10-17-07, 06:28 PM	#3
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,718 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the compliments, Ishmael, but like all humans, I changed over time. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. My writing skills are of the latter, like my chess and fighting as well. Too long periods of not practicing are poison for any skill, no matter what kind of skill is referred to, and that is not different with writing. changed interests, duties, views and timetables also play a role, I guess. And my postings here in GT- I guess a majority here would rate them as controversial, at best. :p If it would be different and I would not hit some nerves at times, I would conclude that I did not get it right. Might be different with the tank and flightsim forum, of course. I'll keep an eye on your production. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

10-17-07, 06:42 PM	#4
Camaero The Old Man Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA, Massachusetts Posts: 1,477 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	Thanks Ishmael! I bet your writings are damn good Skybird. It is always hard to judge your own work though, so don't let that skew your opinion. __________________

10-19-07, 10:22 AM	#6
Hakahura Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Posts: 785 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Flame prevention bump __________________ Sir Humphey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO and MA. Britain's Greatest Orator, well bar that Churchill fellow.

10-17-07, 06:18 PM	#2
Ishmael Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Morro Bay, Ca. Posts: 659 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	Camaero, I sent you the form letter for UWG and admitted you since I know you already. Chock, you are technically correct but Nanowrimo allows for biographies. Since I'm using first-person narrative, it'll actually read more like a memoir. Skybird, don't edit yourself or put down your writing skills. I would venture to say you are charming, witty and intelligent in two languages. I, by contrast, can only get my face slapped in seventeen different languages. With the breadth of your knowledge and experience, I would think you have the makings of a damn fine writer. Further review of your many posts here only buttresses that opinion.