New author looking for advice or pointers

[Bayoububba]

Hi all, I'm somewhat of a newbie to the boards, but I have been reading here for years. I've got two finished stories that I'm trying to get edited right now to submit. Does anyone have advice or pointers for a newbie of sorts?

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Welcum to Lit.

Pointers: Carry a loaded gun at all times.

If anyone asks, you haven't seen me. Okay?

Suspicously, JJ

 

[TheEarl]

Hey Bayo. Best advice I can offer is to read through some of the essays in the Writer's Resources section. If you wanted to read mine, that'd be nice, but apart from self-interest, there are some really useful ones for newbie writers there.

Also, you might consider looking in on the Story Discussion Circle on the boards. I haven't been in there for years myself, but it was a marvel when I started writing and really helped shape my style.

The Earl

 

[Bayoububba]

Advice

Thanks JJ and by the way, Love the avatar!

 

[Bayoububba]

Advice

Thanks Earl, I'll check out some of your stuff.

 

[NoJo]

Post the stories, then when they're up, solicit feedback in the Story Feedback section (or on this thread). That worked for me when I started here.

 

[Bayoububba]

Advice

Thanks Joe!

 

[lil_elvis]

welcome to the AH, by the way.

If you can, have someone give your stories a read. After you've written and edited for so long to finish, you might not see the forest for the trees. You start seeing what you wanted to write, not what's really there. You know the plot and characters so well that some missing details or contradictions might not be apparent to you, but will jump out at a pair of fresh eyes.

I got my mrs. to look at mine; saved my ass.

 

[NoJo]

I still have my embarrassingly pompous first story up here. I leave it here as a reminder to myself that basically I'm shit.

 

[kendo1]

I still have my embarrassingly pompous first story up here. I leave it here as a reminder to myself that basically I'm shit.

Shutdown and Restart?

Mm. See what you mean.

I've written worse.

 

[NoJo]

Shutdown and Restart?

Mm. See what you mean.

I've written worse.

Ok, I'm PMing a request to Laurel...

 

[kendo1]

Ok, I'm PMing a request to Laurel...

4.32

Only joking!
It is interesting to see an authour's early works.

 

[NoJo]

It is interesting to see an authour's early works.

Actually I have earlier works, but they were all about sPACESHIPS and ROKKitS

 

[kendo1]

Actually I have earlier works, but they were all about sPACESHIPS and ROKKitS

Ah! Heinlien.