I have started to write about four weeks ago, having been inspired by some books I recently read.
My grammar and tenses let me down a lot though and everywhere I've looked for advise people seem to write in / and advise to write in the third person as its meant to be easier for beginners.
For me it is totally the opposite, I am writing in the first person and no matter how often I attempt, I can't seem to put my story into the third person it just doesn't flow for me.
What suggestions do you guys have for me and does anyone know how I can get somebody to critic some of it and perhaps make suggestions?
Hi there, welcome to ww, I hope you find it enjoyable and useful.
I think someone else said something similar about worrying about their grammar and it struck me - wouldn't it be worth focusing on basic grammar as a starting point? I know it's not the most exciting part of creative writing, but if you are worried about the basics, it might hamper you when it comes to trying to get your story out. Writing is difficult enough, there is always a little voice in your head whispering 'this is rubbish, you can't write', and if you are fretting about basic grammar, the voice could well drown out all the pleasure of the process, as well as creating an obstacle when it comes to other people's reactions.
I don't know anything about the types of course that are out there, but someone on here is bound to know all about it (there's an expert for everything on here), and maybe there are some short night-school courses near where you live, that could help fill in the gaps and boost your confidence?
If you feel most comfortable writing in the first person then stick with that, plenty of authors do. There are no rules that say you have to write in 3rd.
As a Part Member you can join one group and upload one piece of work.
New members tend to congragate in the Beginners Group which you'll find here: http://www.writewords.org.uk/groups/64.asp
If you need any help navigating the site then just give us a shout.
- NaomiM
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If you have a problem with tenses, then maybe try dictating your story onto tape, and then play it back and write it down, and see if that helps.
thanks for both your replies, most appreciated. It's not so much the grammar all though it is a little hurdle. I spent the first 27 years of my life in Germany (native) and then moved to the UK 13 years ago, so it's more a case of me writing some sentences back to front, in the German manner if you will. The tenses are definitely my worst hurdle. But last night I had some kind of epiphany which goes a little like this:
Over the last four weeks I have obsessed myself to write a story that has been sitting inside my head for months. And write the story badly I have!!
So, last night something happened and I seem to have finally seen the light. I now know I have to stop my full speed ahead run and go backward to a toddler type walk.
My twelve chapter book, that was almost ready for the world (well family and friends for critic) yesterday morning is now nowhere near.
Well, enjoy the ride because I will. Back to the drawing board.
me writing some sentences back to front, in the German manner if you will
That happens between different English speaking countries too... The Irish use of "only" has to be heard to be believed and, while I enjoy hearing it, I'm not sure I will ever fully get used to their saying that somebody "does be doing something" (nor their use of "passing out" while driving to mean overtaking). Only way to get past all that is to put your work up for critique and see what people react oddly to. One of the members of the Intensive Critique group is originally Danish (I think) and, while she has had a few odd phrases, it doesn't seem to be any limitation to writing excellent and entertaining fiction.
Anyway, welcome to WW, good luck, have fun, and:
I have started to write about four weeks ago
You are clearly a quick learner. After only four weeks of writing, I still needed to be told how to hold my pencil correctly and I'm not sure whether I could tie my own shoe-laces either.
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