Fiction writers thread

[Cassiepeia]

We have a few people here (including myself) who enjoy writing fiction so I suggested, in the bookclub forum, that we start a thread here about fiction writing to share, inspire and encourage each other.

Well...here it is. I've no real idea how we're going to go about this, but perhaps we could post sections of our stories (or links to the entire thing) for others to read, as well as pieces of our work that we're stuck on or need help with (make sure you put your actual story in [ quote ] tags so we can see it)?
Perhaps we could just chat about genres or styles?
Maybe you have an idea for a story, but don't know where to begin or how to go about it?
Maybe we could even write a story together, or find a theme and each write a short story based on it, to see how different we all are?

*shrugs* The possibilities are endless. LOL So, use the thread as you will. This isn't an 'official' thread...just lil' ol' Cass reaching out to her fellow authors.

Oh..one thing I thought might be a good idea, and that is to (unless specifically asked) not correct spelling and grammer. Lets leave that to someone else and just use this thread, should someone want to post their work, to talk about the story itself rather than how bad someone's spelling is.

Hmmm..perhaps I should start?
I write mostly thriller, horror and urban fantasy. Urban fantasy is fantasy that is based in reality. Kind of like Harry Potter, where Harry lives in our world and the whole 'wizarding world' is within our own, but it's still very much fantasy. Make sense? LOL I hope so.
I've also been writing for kids lately. It's much more difficult than I first thought. I've written two kids picture books which I really want to get published.
But I'm currently writing 3 books (yes 3...I'm sure I'm not the only writer here who has lots of stories going at once. ) although I doubt one of them will ever be finished and the other two I'm having trouble with. I started the third one because I was stuck on the second and needed to get this story idea (which I now have one and a half note books full of notes on) out of my head.
Well, it's been unleashed and is starting to come to life but I'm still stuck on the imagery a little.

I'm really nervous about posting any of my work here so I won't do it just yet. I know...I'm a chicken. **clucks mockingly like a chicken**

So, any other writers? I know you're out there. What are you working on right now and what kind of fiction do you enjoy writing? Been in any competions? Been published? Just do it for fun?

Come join the...errr..unofficial GP fiction writers club. LOL Hey, I couldn't help myself...I had to give us a club and a name.

Cass.

[Raised By Wolves]

I've never writen anything down, but I have a few ideas for stories that "fester" in my brain, that I'd like to explore. Mostly sci-fi stuff.

Great idea Cass!

[Ritz459]

lol I just write for the fun of it. I know my "stories" aren't good enough to be published (not by far good enough), but my sister enjoys reading them! And they keep me from getting too bored when I have nothing to do. I have one story going that I'm kinda stuck on and I'm re-writing it to make it better, and then I have a great idea (well, maybe not great, but it'd be a neat story line) for another story, but I don't know how to start! lol
Both of my "stories" though are also the Urban Fantasy. I think my problem is with discription. I have the whole thought and scene and everything planned out in my head and it is wonderful, but when I try to pen it, it loses its "flavor"....does that make sense?

[DoozyDog]

You mean some members have other hobbies than playing or training their dogs. Did I wake up in Bizzaro world.

Good idea, I'll be interested in reading some fiction.

[Cassiepeia]

Originally Posted by Ritz459

lol I just write for the fun of it. I know my "stories" aren't good enough to be published (not by far good enough), but my sister enjoys reading them! And they keep me from getting too bored when I have nothing to do. I have one story going that I'm kinda stuck on and I'm re-writing it to make it better, and then I have a great idea (well, maybe not great, but it'd be a neat story line) for another story, but I don't know how to start! lol
Both of my "stories" though are also the Urban Fantasy. I think my problem is with discription. I have the whole thought and scene and everything planned out in my head and it is wonderful, but when I try to pen it, it loses its "flavor"....does that make sense?

Yup makes perfect sense. I've often had to put an idea aside because I can't get the visuals right. And even if I do think I've got it sometimes I'll leave it for a few weeks and come back to it only to discover that it's actually not what I wanted (or remembered writing). Or it's just plain crap. LOL

RBW...Tell us your ideas. Maybe putting our heads together we can figure out how to get you started?

Doozy...I know! It shocks even me.

Ok..I'm going to go out on a limb here and post a part of something I'm working on right now. It's a kids book (I'm thinking young teen...although I don't know if its going to actually work. Might have to change the way it's written so that it becomes either 'general' -adult- or pre-teen fiction instead). It's based on a fictional island...see this is what I meant when I said that my writing was creeping into high fantasy lately...but the island is in the real world, so I guess urban fantasy still applies. lol Anyhoo..I love my island and lots of my stories are based there now.

This is the first section of the first chapter. Just an intro to what's lurking in the story. It's early stages yet so I'm constantly editing and re-writing things...alright, alright I'll shut up and just post. I'm so embarrassed...I didn't think it would be so hard to do.

“C’mon, lil’ fella. On ya go.” The worm in Colin Harper’s fingers wriggled desperately to get away as he threaded it onto his fishhook. It was a big ‘un. Juicy and fat, perfect. He’d definitely get a bite with this one.
The salty waves slapped against the black rocks causing them to glisten in the moonlight. Just a metre or so above the lazy waves Colin stood firmly, the cool salty air prickling his skin, and cast his line out into the waiting ocean. It whizzed purposefully through the night air, landing with a plop some thirty metres ahead where the water was relatively calm. Colin flipped the bail on his reel and sat down onto the wet rocks to wait.
Sit, relax, and forget all else but what’s at the end of your line, that’s what fishing is about and that’s precisely what Colin treasured about his beloved hobby. Out on the lonely rocks at the bottom of the foreland at the south end of the Black Farm coastline he could clear his head and forget the hard work and troubles of the day. And there had been both troubles and hard work for him lately.
Colin was a builder by trade and work had been scarce for two years now. The bills were piling up and his wife, the lovely Alison, was always full of ideas and had suggested a change of profession.
Every day these last few months Colin (ginger hair combed over neatly to hide the bald spot and in his best Sunday suit that was navy blue, a little tight around the waist and over all just a bit shabby) had walked the streets of Black Farm and traveled to towns all across the island he lived on to find work. He was beginning to miss the heavy labor of building. It was a lot less effort and certainly less stressful than this.
A little pressure on his index finger told him something was nibbling the bait. He resisted the urge to reel the line and instead let the fish explore the prize. Just one solid bite and it was his. A night bird screeched in the trees above the foreland. Its piercing call accompanied by the sucking sounds of the ocean were all that could be heard in the cool night air.
Silently, Colin stood up being careful not to move the line too much and in a moment the line snapped tight. The fish was hooked. Colin pulled his fishing rod against the strength of the fighting fish and the rod arched gently over the water.
Reel it in, let it run, reel it in, let it run.
Colin rocked back and forth pulling the captured fish closer to the rocks. Gently, gently he waged a small war on his scaled prey until he could see the fish breaking the surface with each twist and thrash of its body.
The fish on his line wasn’t the only prey tonight. With the chill of the night and the world around him forgotten in the excitement Colin didn’t see the dark shape surface. As he reeled in his dinner the water to his left bubbled and began to swell. A shadow, about two metres wide, ascended through the salty waves. Its smooth skin broke the surface and shimmered like ice.
“Here we go”, said Colin as he anchored his rod in a small gap in the rocks and lent over the cold black water. The phosphorescent glow of the foam, that nudged and licked the rocks, gurgled over his green rubber fishing boots. Net gripped firmly in his right hand, he pulled the line with his left and scooped at the fish.
The rush of water that was pushed forth as the creature lunged at the fisherman, knocked Colin off his feet. He hit his right arm hard on the rocks as he fell sideways and crashed into the water below. The salty ocean enveloped him and the blood from his injured arm tinted the shadowy depths.
For a moment Colin was suspended calmly under the water. Its darkness stunned him with its terrible beauty, but only for a moment before he began to struggle for air. He flailed his arms trying to get some lift, the small net still held tightly in his hand, but his waders were filled with water and pulling him down with every thrash of his arms.
He released his hold on the net and it floated quickly to the surface. Grabbing at the straps on his waders he tried desperately in the cold water to unbutton them, but even as he managed to slip one strap free the creature moved in. Its large orange eyes burned like fire and appeared, vast and angry, through the gloom of the salty ocean. The creature opened its jaws, exposing several rows of white serrated teeth that, for the briefest moment, shone in what little moonlight had managed to filter below the surface.
Colin screamed, but no one heard his gargled cry. Bubbles of air sped towards the surface from his mouth and popped soundlessly in the tender waves. On the rocks the fishing rod wriggled free from the crevice, tipped over onto the rocks and was dragged slowly into the water where it bobbed awkwardly next to the aluminium fishing net. The fish, a fairly large snapper, struggled on determined to free itself from the line.
The lone night bird sang out over the foreland once more and then again, all was silent.

Wow, that's like being in a class and having to give a speech or presentation first. Can I faint now?


Cass.

[Ritz459]

I thought it was very good Cass! But I have to ask....what was the Creature?!?! lol Now your either going to have to tell me or post more of the story.

So the island isn't a place in real life, but is that the only "fantasy" in the story (aside from the man-eating monster) or are the other "fantasy" creatures as well?

[PitBullGrrl]

Great job, Cass.... I am REALLY interested! I write fiction and poetry... maybe I'll find the time to post something sometime?

[Cassiepeia]

Originally Posted by Ritz459

I thought it was very good Cass! But I have to ask....what was the Creature?!?! lol Now your either going to have to tell me or post more of the story.

So the island isn't a place in real life, but is that the only "fantasy" in the story (aside from the man-eating monster) or are the other "fantasy" creatures as well?

There is actually a whole range of 'creatures' that live in the world the island exists in (both humanoid and animal). It is our (real) world, but I've added some extras to it to make it more of a fantasy.

Can't tell you what the creature is. LOL It's a secret...but I'll tell you one thing...it ain't pretty.
I'm really enjoying writing this story actually...I've just gotten to the point in the first chapter where I'm introducing the main character. A strange little girl with a fairly odd name.
Nah, not telling you that either. I'll post more later...after someone else posts some of their work. I don't want to be the only one being brave.

Great job, Cass.... I am REALLY interested! I write fiction and poetry... maybe I'll find the time to post something sometime?

Awesome! Glad you liked it and that it spiked your interest...that's exactly what I wanted.
You should definately post some of your work. I'd love to read it.

Cass.

[RIo&Nickysmommy]

Wow now that is an excellent start to a story. I judge writing by what I can actually visualize. ( you know that movie going on in my head) You actually shocked me with what happen and you are totally drawing readers in to want to read more. Your writing skills are impeccable.
I have one story I will not post since its a romance novel based in the 17th century. But I have another story that I have been working on and is almost finished but needs lots of editing. Called the "Bermuda Star" Basically its about a passenger who is traveling on the Bermuda Star - a cruise ship and what happens- involves time travel. I have to pull my papers since its all on paper since I lost the files from my last computer After reading your story I am afraid to post. But I will sometime this weekend have to type in the computer the first part.
Thanks for sharing and jumping right in their and starting this thread.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[RIo&Nickysmommy]

Character names- I find one of the most diffult thing is naming my Characters. I can see them but naming them at times is so difficult. How does everyone esle chose their charaters names.
Also- I like to write about diffrent time periods and I am always doing research- which is absolutely amazing and fun. I am so fascinated with time travel and worm holes and all that scientifc stuff relating to that. How do you all do your research for writing. I search the web read books and then search my immagination.
RIo&Nickysmommy

[Dogsareme]

Sounds like fun
I'm not much of a writer, but I love to read

[Cassiepeia]

As far as research goes I do exactly as you do. I also ask people questions about stuff (they think I'm mad usually ).

Character names are REALLY hard to come up with because you usually want the name to be believable, but often even the most boring name sounds stupid when you read it to yourself. LOL
I usually think about the character themselves and then their background...who are their parents? What names would the parents choose? Why would they choose them?
Do I want an unusual name? If so...why? What do I want the reader to see when they read the name?

Like with Colin..it's a boring English name so I expect people to immediately imagine a white man, possibly middle (or close to middle) aged.

I use that 20000names.com site sometimes too. Sometimes I just make them up (although that's dangerous because you can sometimes find out that the name you honestly thought you made up is actually a real word that means 'fish' or 'toe' or something stupid ).

Actually in the 'creature' story I'm writing that I posted above...there is a little girl, best friend of the main character, whose name is Lilly Lakewood. Why? Because the name made me smile. No other reason. LOL

Oh yeah, and sometimes I use names of people I know. Just first or last name. Of course, mostly they're people I don't like and so I apply the name to characters that are tortured or killed. Errr...that doesn't make me sick does it?

Cass.

EDIT: I'm curious...how many people here write their own pets into the stories? Jesse is in one of my 'fictional island' stories. Owned by an old fat lady (Mrs. Richards -who has a fetish for tartan clothing-) who lives across the street from that particular story's main character. She use to show Chihuahua's and now just rescues them (although most of hers are failed rescues LOL). Jesse is her constant companion. The little weepy eyed, grumble bum boy who gets dragged (not literaly) around by his mistress every where she goes.

[Navygrrl]

I write fiction, although I think most of my stuff is too long to put into a post. If I can figure out how where to upload it, maybe I can provide a link.

Sorry I haven't had time to look over your story so far, since I'm just breezing through (Saturday is laundry/chore day hey-ho), but I'll make sure to come back and take a look later.

[crazy_paws]

Strong start. IMO The creature feels to me like a modernization of a sea serpent, or water dragon, perhaps. I may be inventing things.

As for character names, I primarily invent. I haven't checked to see if they have a meaning, and I hope I'm not in for a nasty shock . I sometimes use a baby naming site for inspiration.

I also must say I applaud your bravery Cassiepeia! I don't currently have the courage to post anything of mine yet. I'll have to become accustomed to the idea.

I'd really like see someone post a prompt and each of us post our interpretations though. I'd love to see the different places we each went with it.