Questions

Ok, I am a pretty good writer, good with keeping interest, good with words, all of that stuff. So I have now decided that I would like to write a novel. The only problem is… getting started. I have been thinking about this for probably a month or so now, and still cannot come up with a definitive idea. Can anybody suggest any ways to help me get started and off the ground? Thanks!!
- GuitarMaster

Last fall, me and four other friends of mine, Tony, Matt, Kathleen, and Nate, all used to be in a group called The Fab Five. Because they five of us were so close. And I decided to write a novel about us. I wrote different chapters and stuff about our livwes going crazy and stuff. In one chapter, our lives get turned into a dramatic soap opera. It’s kind of interesting, too.

-Tony and a girl named Trisha are totally inseperable.
-Cary (me) is a struggling journalist
-Kathleen is enchanted by a woman and she falls in love with the first guy she sees and she picks Tony
-Nate has amnesia after tripping over a pipe and hitting his head.
-Matt has been accused of shoplifting but hasn’t done anything and he can’t be proven innocent.

I’m stuck and I have no place to lead them. I really need some help here.
Kathleen likes Tony who secretly likes her but won’t admit it who also likes Trisha so much.

Matt was shopping at Best Buy and then, after purchasing a DVD, the shoplifter alarm went off and he accused the salesperson but the police accused Matt and now he can’t prove himself innocent. And Matt called for Nate’s help. And when Nate was on his way to Matt, he passed through a construction sight, tripped over a pipe, and suffered amnesia. The Cary found him and is trying to convince Nate who they really are but Nate’s having trouble believing it. Meanwhile, Cary’s a Journalist and while writing an article, he’s struggling so much.

The whole thing started when Nate and Matt went fishing and Nate had “opened a can of worms” from a man named Josh.

If you can give me any advice in any way, that would be awesome. I can even give you credit.
- Cary

I’m trying to write a novel, but on word, it saves at a print page layout and not a reading layout. I want to know if i can find a simple FREE download of a novel writing program
- Drew H

My background: I have never written a short story or novel before, but I have the confidence and past education and writing experience from school to be able to try my best!

I have wanted to write a novel for many years now. Before sitting down and getting to work on it, I have lately been toying with the idea of just doing a short story.

But of course I have dreams of being published. (This is not my main motivation, of course, but I figure if I’m going to spend a good portion of my time and effort on this, I might as well try to get published - if it’s good enough!)

So, should I spend the time and effort doing a short story? Can any money be made off of short stories as opposed to novels? Would it be worth the extra work to do a novel? Also, if I wrote a short story, in the future could it successfully be expanded into a novel? Have any famous works of literature ever started as a short story and ended up as a novel?

I know this is a lot, but thanks for your time!
- Bernie J

is there a special program.. or do you just use Microsoft word works?
- CRAZYYKIDD

O.k. I need experts on this. I love reading and while I know that doesn’t quilify me to be able to write I am actually considering trying to write a novel. My question is how to get started? When you begin to write a stroy do you already know how the story ends or do you just let it flow? I think I could be successful in this but just need some insight. Are there any good websites to check out for beggining writers and also would you recommend taking a writing course?
- essence757

I have always wanted to write a novel. I had previously tried, though did not succeed. I always get too carried away with the story and I end it too quickly. Is it good to brainstorm events and characters first…or at least what is a good procedure to making the story not run a marathon?
- pibberlulu

There is a non-profit group, called National Novel Writing Month, at www.nanowrimo.org, that does nothing but encourage people to write a novel in the thirty days of November.

I have thought about it for the past year, and have started mine, and am on track, at least for the first day.

Are there any other participants on this site?
- finaldx

Any helpful tips on writing a novel?
I’m not looking to publish. I am looking to write a novel for pleasure to share with family and friends. I’m 14, I have to start somwhere. in the future, after lots of determination, persistence, and practice of course, i really would love to publish a novel.
- Kiara

Just wondering. I know I am! (For those that don’t know, it’s a program for people to write a novel of 50000 words in a month. It’s pretty cool because you get to focus on just writing it.)

If you are, what’s your novel going to be about?

?M?
Mrs. Edward Cullen, you can. Anyone can participate.
Aly, here are the FAQs. http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/faq
- ?Magda?