Off my duff - WritingForums.com - Writing Forums, Writing Challenges, Critiques and Help for Writers

Trixie · 10-03-2004, 11:46 AM

Hi, Gang,

Stumbled on this forum the other day, and have been enjoying poking around in the threads.

I am late-40s, work as a prosecutor (the Trixie is short for "Prosecutrix").

I've done lots of professional writing (legal and technical) in my career, love to play with words, and would like to try my hand at fiction. As you can imagine, there are a zillion stories out there in the mean streets (we are fond of saying about our real-life cases, "You couldn't MAKE this stuff up!").

So there is plenty of material to draw upon, but the nuts and bolts of creating a story, and characters who bring it to life, are what I need to learn. I enjoyed reading Stephen King's "On Writing", and realized I just have to get off my proverbial butt and do it.

I'm hoping this forum will get me past the "gee I've always wanted to" stage and into action.

Pawn · 10-03-2004, 12:02 PM

Cool. I'm sure you couldn't go far wrong just writing anecdotes.

Welcome to the forum!

spirituous · 10-03-2004, 12:38 PM

Steven King's On Writing, also helped me stop procrastinating and actually writing again haha. Being a Prosecutor sounds like a REALLY interesting job, not to mention all the ideas for stories that come out of having a job like that. Anyway, welcome and enjoy!

Bannerup · 10-03-2004, 01:01 PM

Hi Trizie, just joined myself. As much as I want, even need to write, "talking" with other writers is a real shot in the arm. Lacking that, I often turn to my collection of quotes of famous writers who also "talk" to me. Here's a couple that your post brings to mind...

"Writing is easy: just sit at the typewriter and bleed…" - Ernest Hemingway

"How long has it been since you wrote a story where your real love, hate, prejudice and passion slammed the page like a lightning bolt? What are the worst and best things in your life? When are you going to get around to whispering or shouting them?" -- Ray Bradbury

**Penelope** · 10-03-2004, 01:57 PM

Welcome Trixie, as someone who writes vignettes based on personal experiences, I encourage you to do the same. You can change the locales and names but still keep the story line. I never do but it's because I'm not compromising anyone's privacy. I would imagine that your situation would be far different. If memory serves me correctly, most of the scripts of LA Law were based on facts.

Trixie · 10-03-2004, 07:53 PM

Thanks for the welcomes!

Any suggestions as to how to get started?

I have a few pages from a novel I started a few years ago, and was thinking maybe reworking and posting it might get me rolling again.

I humbly bow before those with experience....

(but will be watching over my shoulder for those tempted to thwack me across the butt while I have "assumed the position")

NoWorries · 10-03-2004, 08:06 PM

Hi!

I suggest starting out small, check out some of the writing challenges, such as, "Can you write a 50 word story" and "Opening Line Challenge"

Looking forward to your contributions!

Pawn · 10-03-2004, 08:44 PM

Take in a bit of light relaxation in 'Word Games', and 'The Lounge' if you're interested in random discussion. Maybe read through a couple of offerings from other individuals, and a couple of pages of your favourite novel, then go to work editing your own work. Then post it here and let me at it!

Chrispian · 10-04-2004, 12:10 AM

Welcome to Writing Forums Trixie!

Aeryn · 10-04-2004, 12:08 PM

Welcome to the forums Trixie! =]