Topic: Beginner eager for advice

Hello everyone!
I am new here, and new to writing. I have never shared any of my writings with anyone before this. I am looking forward to doing so and to learning from other writers. I  glad I found this site.

I started writing recently for therapeutic reasons. I write about my experiences, sometimes in first person but most comfortably in third person. I have struggled and lived through a lot, so I have plenty of potential content. I just do not know what would be interesting for others to read and connect to. I am also having trouble finding my writing "voice". I would love any advice! And I can't wait to read some good stories.

I am on a 7 day trial. I don't know the cost of membership, but I doubt I will be able to afford it. I am an unemployed single mother transitioning careers. But I do appreciate any advice and critique during this week, and hopefully I will be able to come back soon after my trial is over. I just love the idea of this site.

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Re: Beginner eager for advice

I am curious how readers and literary agents respond to memoir type non fiction. Specifically ones with a lot of depressing content, even if there is a sort of HEA. I worry that writing about my life might come across a pitiful and too depressing to read. Thoughts?

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Re: Beginner eager for advice

Hello L.A.,

Welcome to TNBW!

You've definitely landed on a good site. Plenty of helpful members. If you decide to become a member after the trial, the costs work this way: Monthly Plan: $8.95 per month. Quarterly Plan: $21.95 per quarter (less than $7.50 per month). Yearly Plan: Only $69.95.

I hadn't shared my work with anyone other than friends and family before joining TNBW. Since I joined three years ago, my writing has continuing to improve. Join groups, respond to forum questions, and above all, read and review other members' works. It all helps to improve your writing. Your writing voice will come and members will help you along the way.

I can't answer about how readers and agents would respond to memoir non-fiction as I only write fiction, but have you thought about using fictional characters and tell your story through your characters? I believe this would still be therapeutic for you and still get your message across. I'm sure there are other members more knowledgeable than me who will chime in.  Regards, Randy

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Re: Beginner eager for advice

Welcome to TNBW, L. A. As Randy said, you've landed on a great site. I joined a few years ago and, after having my romance novel critically reviewed here (version 1 and version 2) with suggestions galore, published it last October. This is a wonderful place to help you find your voice as well as learn the trade. To post your chapters, you need to review others to gain points. Points are the coin of the realm, so to speak. The more you review, the more points you have available to use on your own posts. When you review, don't be reluctant to point out something that may no be obvious to the author. I've had plot holes, grammatical errors, and simple errors found by my reviewers.

Jump in and paddle around with the rest of us.

Bill

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5 Reply by vern (edited by vern 2018-07-04 16:46:48)

Re: Beginner eager for advice

Hi, LA, welcome to the site. Depressing experiences of the memoir type can be handled in different ways and of course the "voice" is crucial to the acceptance by the reader imho. As you mention the HEA results, the things leading up to that are key elements of tension, obstacles, character building, etc. which make for a good story. Depending upon the voice chosen, unpleasant experiences can be presented in a palatable manner for the reader whether gut wrenching or a more lighthearted style. I invite you to check out my novel Root Hog or Die for an example of the lighter side. It is a "memoir" basically, but uses composite characters to protect the guilty. There is no need to leave a review unless you wish to make a comment. Good luck with your writing. Take care. Vern

PS: If you decide to read, all chapters of RHOD beyond the first three are inactive, but I will gladly activate should you wish to continue.

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Re: Beginner eager for advice

Hi, L.A. and welcome to the site.  Posting your first chapter is always the hardest, but I suggest you jump in and see how it goes. You'd be surprised how much my writing improved after joining in 2008.  We're all here to help.  So before your trial period is up, take the plunge and we'll all offer our suggestions (if needed).  Good luck, and we're looking forward to reading your story.

Cheers,
MJ

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Re: Beginner eager for advice

Follow the advice in blue (the other, not so much): https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=you … &t=102

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Re: Beginner eager for advice

Lol

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Re: Beginner eager for advice

Welcome and good luck L.A. There are lots of helpful, knowledgeable folks here ! NJC - Thanks for the laugh, - That was a good one !

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Re: Beginner eager for advice

Check your ego at the door(it doesn't sound like this will be an issue for you). You're going to get some reviews that pick at the very things you find as your strengths. I started here about a year ago and most of my writing has changed completely since then. Most people are very helpful, a lot are talented, some are quite direct.

There's something to take from every review but one of the best ways to improve here is by reading others. Taking a critical eye to someone else's work helps you see what to add or avoid in your own. Take it seriously when critiquing, dont just hunt for points. The critique really is part of the learning process.

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11 Reply by TirzahLaughs (edited by TirzahLaughs 2018-07-06 17:58:14)

Re: Beginner eager for advice

L.A. Rambler wrote:

Hello everyone!
I am new here, and new to writing. I have never shared any of my writings with anyone before this. I am looking forward to doing so and to learning from other writers. I  glad I found this site.

I started writing recently for therapeutic reasons. I write about my experiences, sometimes in first person but most comfortably in third person. I have struggled and lived through a lot, so I have plenty of potential content. I just do not know what would be interesting for others to read and connect to. I am also having trouble finding my writing "voice". I would love any advice! And I can't wait to read some good stories.

I am on a 7 day trial. I don't know the cost of membership, but I doubt I will be able to afford it. I am an unemployed single mother transitioning careers. But I do appreciate any advice and critique during this week, and hopefully I will be able to come back soon after my trial is over. I just love the idea of this site.

Welcome!   There are some books that are published specifically as memoir.  Some are published a fictionalized versions of 'real events'.  Some have been traditionally published such as 'Lucky Me'   and a few others. 

If well written and with a narrative tension (even without a true narrative), it can work.

Welcome Bunny!   
To find your voice, try free writing on topics.  No editing, no second guessing, no re-evaluating.   If you do enough of it, your true voice starts to show through.   You can then start refining and editing.  If you edit early---you stifle the voice.   If you let it flow freely for a while, the voice gets easier to hear and you can just trim away the hubris.

But I am a forever student so I bow to greater voices than mine on this subject.

Tirz

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12 Reply by cherrie_palmer (edited by cherrie_palmer 2018-07-08 12:46:24)

Re: Beginner eager for advice

Find you a good editing software. Discover the formula that builds your unique perspective. I like to take what I know, mix in what I like then dress that in my imagination.  It gives a story life and passion. 
I also like for it to read either like a bedtime story or a campfire tale. Once I decide on the mood,  emotion, and opening line I  create.
Also you must remember just because some has the time to dissect your work doesn't mean that they are  a critic.
Be your  1st fan and biggest critic.  See how readers receive  take  your story. Use that as a guide. If you know a chapter is good but another finds fault in it take a hard look at it and see if a few more words will make it better or a few less will let it sing.
Above all else enjoy the journey:) and happy writing
Cherrie

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Re: Beginner eager for advice

Welcome to the site!  It's fairly cheap and worth it for what you get.  As to a market for depressing memoirs?  Almost all popular memoirs are really depressing, so I'd guess fairly good.

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