Since the band split up and the new musical projects are a lot slower paced, Ive decided to finally fulfill a lifes dream and try to write a book. I pondered for ages over what type of book, I would love to do a non-fiction (maybe travel or history) but the research and time commitments for now at least were too great. I have settled on writing a childrens novel, like the books I loved when I was young - The Hardy Boys, The Famous Five etc..

Searching the net New Novelist looks like a good bit of software to get me started - just wondered if anyone had any experience with it or with any alternatives?

My favourite writing tool is something called Rough Draft. A relatively simple text editor for .rtf files. It was written by a writer though, and as such it has some unique advantages over heavier software. Most notable is the side bar. giving you instant access to files, a list of search results, insert special character and a pad to make notes on. The pads contents saves with the main file and loads when you open it.

The pad comes in useful for names of characters, places and useful facts

Later I switch to Open Office for spell checking and editing. Three books, fourth half done and an offshoot book nearly complete means it works for me.

http://www.salsbury.f2s.com/rd.htm

TBH a lot of specialist software apps arent any better, it also depends on how you write. I just create a list of events and then try to hit them. You might try something but you are trying to conform to what they think you should write and not how you want to write. This is very bad, for me at least. In the end its an acquired taste. Make sure you try before you pay out a large amount of dosh on something you may not use.

Writing ten pages on each character, their aims and objectives isnt something I do easily, some of these programs demand it though. If you dont use that, or rebel completely, then whats the use of having it?

Definitely buy a monochrome laser printer, it will save you money and effort in the long term. Most of your printing will be copies to read yourself so dont worry about quality too much. Most inkjets need a refill after each printout, or at least the one I had used to. I have been going three years and not changed the toner cartridge yet, despite over 3000 pages. Thats fifteen copies printed out...

A duplex one saves paper but thats the only advantage. It is also more expensive to start off with. Better to go for a reliable but cheaper one. Usually these have a manual duplex option.

Ok cool Ill def give that Rough Draft a look. New Novelist is about on a couple of torrents - might just give it a try and then buy it if I like it. The fact they offer no demo to download worries me....

I know what you mean about Blyton, although Im with you I think its rubbish and I loved those books as a kid. However I would like to aim for a slightly older age group - possibly even a crossover that adults can enjoy too (no Im not writing Harry f*cking Potter!!). Its only my first book though so inevitably its going to be sh*t anyway - but you got to start somewhere!

I use Rough Draft because it works the way I want to, it doesnt impose anything on me. The spell checker isnt the best so when you have finished writing swap to Open office for spell checking and printing out. Total software cost £0!


As for the other, try a review. Not even a word counter? :shock:

Verdict

Good Points

    * Easy to learn and easy to use
    * Integrated word processor

Bad Points

    * No timeline or outlining facility
    * No word count

Overall Newnovelist 2.0 will Will help draw a novel out of you if you really don’t know where to start, but won’t teach published authors to write better novels

http://www.vnunet.com/computeractive/software/2167639/review-newnovelist-design

Also remember that there are other writers on here, sooner or later you are going to get peed off at something or just stuck. If you want some help or to complain just stick up a thread and well listen

Obvious answer is to both get involved if possible. I use my brother as a springboard for ideas and he does the same back, means some of the worst bits get caught early on. Quite often I give him bits that hes never thought of and the same happens the other way. Im editing the first part of his second book for him, putting in some changes to smooth it out. A couple of bits will be almost entirely written by me.

TBH plenty of writers do this sort of thing. David and Leigh Eddings wrote many of their books together, even though her name is only mentioned late on.

Look and see if there is a group in your area. Creative writing courses arent usually that worthwhile in themselves, but if you end up with a small group of friends from it then that might be an item too.

Right from the start I made decisions, one of which was to let characters go if they had to die, but make it good for them, a hero should have a death to suit them.

Another is to keep it as believable as I can. I wont change that, even for a good plot line.

Keep it interesting. A story doesnt have to be continually exciting, but it should stimulate the reader, give them characters they can relate to and care about.

Balance doing with saying. If there are pages of stuff telling what people are doing and describing monotonous locations then it can become a problem, try to keep characters talking at least as much. Let them talk about themselves, each other, the weather, whatever.

Lastly dont do it in the hopes of getting published, do it just for the sake of doing it, its the equivalent of climbing mountains for me. If I do get published then great, but it wasnt what I started out to do.