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Home > Books > Writer's Corner > Member's Advice on Writing > Writing novels
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for Writing novels

Rating Summary based on 24 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		17
  • 4 Stars
    		4
  • 3 Stars
    		2
  • 2 Stars
    		0
  • 1 Star
    		1

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  • 85 of 85 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of docpov

    Level 7 docpov

    Member since 10/04/2004

    Reviews written: 127

    5 Stars Dreams can become reality. Review with images 15/06/2007
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages It's a dream come true.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Nervous times are ahead.

    Writing a novel It’s a big subject; it’s a lot of hard work. It’s a minefield but at the same time it is rewarding and sometimes great fun to do. I don’t know that I am in a position to hand out advice really but maybe if I recount our experience then maybe that will be advice of a sort, perhaps. It was at the start of last year, sometime in January I think. I had been chatting to Lisa, (elffriend to older members,) we had just finished NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month,) where we both successfully completed the 50000 words in a month competition. During our chats it was suggested that ... more
  • 86 of 86 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of molelover

    molelover

    5 Stars How to get published 17/04/2002
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages very rewarding

    Disadvantages Disadvantages expect a lot of knock backs

    Since there are so many budding writers on Ciao, I thought I would write a piece from a publishers point of view, to try to point budding authors in the right direction. I hope the following will be useful for anyone who is trying to get their work published without the help of a literary agent (although I do highly recommend getting one if you are trying to get your work published by large publishing companies. ) You can look for a literary agent via booktrust.org.uk (or booktrusted.com for childrens books.) There is also some very good advice for authors at http://www.booktrust.org.uk/getpub ... more
  • 123 of 123 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of MichelleScott

    Level 6 MichelleScott

    Member since 17/10/2000

    Reviews written: 95

    5 Stars Write a bestseller 11/01/2002
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Fulfilling, fun

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Possibly no return

    I’m not a published novelist (yet!), so it has taken me a while to pluck up the courage to write in this category. First my qualifications for doing so – I have written for a living (in PR), I have done creative writing courses, I was an only child with few friends and an over-active imagination, I have written a children’s book which has been favourably assessed by a publisher and I have been taken on as a prospective author by that publisher (they like to commission books rather than take them on spec., and they are going to commission me). So here are my – amateur ... more
  • 29 of 29 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of migitaldave

    migitaldave

    3 Stars "Free Samples" a work in progress. 24/02/2009
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Hopefully there are some

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Tell me

    This is the first chapter of my book. I am currently on chapter 6 and am looking for some invaluable tips/pointers. I know its hard to tell where its going from such a short caption but i though it would be a good template to use on this topic as well. Chapter I ? Lights in the Dark Everything was perfectly still and quiet. The beautiful silhouette of what can only be described as the perfect woman bathed in the brightness of her surrounding glow ? as if illuminated by some divine spotlight, yet still somehow in shadow so that her brilliantly sculpted curves seemed to flow at the edges of her ... more
  • 65 of 65 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of RichardW

    RichardW

    5 Stars On Writing 17/02/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages There are worlds inside you you that you can lose yourself in, and they're wonderful places to visit.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages There's a lot more work and effort involved than anybody who hasn't been through the process can appreciate.

    There's a popular saying that everyone has a novel in them. What's less popular is the notion that many of these masterpieces should stay there. Of course, that's overly harsh to those many people who are writing purely for their own pleasure. These folk should relax, get on with it, get the most out of it, and enjoy themselves. No problem there. For everyone who wishes to write professionally, producing novels to unleash upon the unsuspecting public, this op may or may not be useful. A lot of what I see written about novels, and how to write them, makes me squirm, so forgive me if I seem a ... more
  • 38 of 38 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Spacecat

    Spacecat

    5 Stars Let the animal loose... 15/08/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Similar to 'playing God', and so much fun.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Lonely, anti-social activity.

    I remember my grandfather once giving me an ancient portable typewriter. I must have been around twelve, and along with a gift of a barely working cassette recorder from a family friend, it was one of the most important, loved and appreciated gifts I have ever received. Perhaps Grandpa could see that I was a frustrated storyteller, I am not sure. But the countless Saturday afternoons spent up in my attic bedroom, thundering out my latest ‘bestseller’, much to the barely contained annoyance of anyone downstairs wanting a kip, opened up an exciting world for me. It was then that I ... more
  • 58 of 58 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of JOHNV

    Level 8 JOHNV

    Member since 13/07/2000

    Reviews written: 668

    5 Stars Just get that novel written 06/09/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Self-fulfilling and fun

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Hard work

    Shall I start off this op with the old story of the famous author who once addressed a class of wannabes, asked everyone to put their hand up who wanted to write, saw a sea of hands go up, told them to go away and ****** well write, and then collapsed in a drunken heap? No, because you've probably heard it before. Oh dear, too late. And that's less than 120 words, so fear not. I won't follow his example. However, let me share this with you, as Lynn Parsons of Radio 2 fame would say. Having spent several years writing non-fiction before tackling a novel which was recently published as an e-book ... more
  • 49 of 49 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Claw

    Claw

    4 Stars Writing by numbers. Getting rid of that bad novel. 27/03/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages It can be enjoyable, and ultimately rewarding.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages It tkaes perserverence and a lot of caffeine.

    They say everyone has a novel in them. Not true. Rather, everyone has a bad novel in them and every so often they need to be extracted, somewhat like wisdom teeth. (So far I have had three novel attempts pulled without anasthetic.) What I am endeavouring to do with this opinion is help people get this thing out of their system; to offer some possiblities on how to get the bookworm on a stick and start it turning so that the whole thing comes out. I can't tell you how to write a good novel. If so I would be getting slightly more for reads than 2p. (No offense, Ciao; I am grateful, honest!) What ... more
  • 56 of 57 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of williemeikle

    williemeikle

    5 Stars Ten Characters not to use 07/09/2002
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages By a published novelist and editor

    Disadvantages Disadvantages He writes horror fiction and is a wee bit strange

    Through television and film some people have become stock characters. That means that everybody knows them and will recognise them. Unfortunately that also makes them almost unusable in written fiction unless you're being post-modern and ironic. Here, with tongue occassionally in cheek, are some to avoid. . The square-jawed man of action with stone-chips for eyes Think Doc Savage, Superman or Tarzan. This one was very popular in times gone by, but modern readers look for a bit of depth and vulnerability in their heroes. If you're going to introduce a strong, silent type, try to give him a ... more
  • 44 of 44 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Evep

    Evep

    5 Stars MAKE YOURSELF HEARD 14/07/2002
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages It's fun, enjoyable and you might get published

    Disadvantages Disadvantages can sometimes be frustrating and lonely

    How do you write a book? Well, there are several rules if you want to call them that and you have to learn your craft (so write lots!) but the most important rule is in fact, to enjoy writing and write what you yourself would love to read. If you’re not enjoying what you’ve written, then who else will?! Don’t rush your writing, take pleasure in creating a story to appeal to yourself and what you think others may enjoy. Of course you can’t please everybody and it all depends on which genre you’re writing in. Sci-fi fans probably wont enjoy your romp filled blockbuster (though you never know!) ... more
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