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Just started.

edited August 2017 in Writing
Hello there. I'm new to writing and as I type this post, I feel like the lightest Helium balloon with a big bright target painted on me. I've launched myself into the bright blue. I feel an exuberance within me, a sense of expectation. Oh no! Here comes the bullets.
I didn't do well at english in school. I'm in my fifties. I started to write a short story last year and finished it with 20.000 words. I loved writing the story and had it put together in book form by a friend. I gave the book to some people and asked for feedback (Friends never tell the truth). One person told me I have a steep learning curve if I wanted to write, I took that as a compliment as they could have said "Very steep" I have started another story, I'm feeling the buzz already. I have rambled on a bit, but I hoped a keen eye would read between the lines.
Is there any hope for me, or should I just write for pleasure.

Comments

  • Welcome! There's always hope and you should always write for pleasure.
  • Pleasure first.
    Anything else is a bonus.
  • Hi Rob, and welcome to a place where you can talk 'writing' in all its aspects with people who understand.
    I agree with BB and Heather - write for pleasure first. The important thing is to embrace and enjoy the learning curve, and success may come your way in due course! :)
  • Hello Rob_d. :)
  • Hi Rob_d. Welcome to Talkback.
  • Hi Rob_d, and welcome. Write for pleasure. Learn to cut your own work down to size.
    You were very brave to let anyone read a first attempt!
    Keep going.
  • Just started?

    He said 'started' snailmail not 'far ...

    Oh never mind


    Welcome

    *sprays air freshner and leaves*
  • Hello, welcome, well done for starting, just keep on practising, you can write whatever age you are (I'm 58, nearly 59, and I only started when I was about 48.
  • Just started?

    He said 'started' snailmail not 'far ...

    Oh never mind


    Welcome

    *sprays air freshner and leaves*
    You called, dorakins?

  • Welcome! There's always hope and you should always write for pleasure.
    Yes. That.
  • Write for pleasure as writing for a job makes it feel like a chore. Write what you love and someone else will love it too. I was so focused on being published I lost the joy and let fears etc bring me down but not anymore
  • Welcome! There's always hope and you should always write for pleasure.
    Yes. That.
    It's difficult to throw oneself into a piece if there's no pleasure in it. If something is not meaningful in some way we generally find it harder to perform it.
  • Hello and welcome. I've been one here for around a year, maybe a little less, and the natives seem friendly.
    Dip your toes into the discussions and have fun with your writing.
  • Hi Rob, and congratulations on finding a love of writing. The majority of writers here do it because it's a compulsion. We all get better at it over time, and so will you.
    Feel free to join in with all our discussions - and fire away with any questions. There is a lot of expertise among the members of the forum and everyone will be more than happy to help.
  • Hello, Rob, and welcome. Write for the sheer joy of it - which is clearly what you're doing. Write to tell the story because you must. That's what it's all about. Do you read? That's as good as a classroom.
    Nobody writes a printable book without a huge amount of hard work: the saying is that writing is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration, but that doesn't tell you how exhilarating it is at the same time. If you're enjoying it, keep doing it!
  • Welcome Rob - nice to meet you. I love your enthusiasm which prompts me to say, yes, yes, yes, keep writing.
  • Hi folks, thank you so much for your comments.
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