Welcome… I’m New Here! Novice Writer

[amylsted]

Hello everyone,

I'm excited to join this colony and I hope it becomes a place most familiar.

I'm from Florida, a place full of tales to be told, and I'm 22 years old.
I was referred to the Colony by a professor.

Interestingly, I was never particularly fond of reading, perhaps because of the focus and dedication required. So, while I wish I could comment on my tastes I obviously cannot. In regards to my writing taste, my buds are too freshly formed but I've so far enjoyed writing poetry and begun a dive into a sci-fi/poetry novelette which is what brings me here today!

I've not yet lived long enough to have great successes but I have gleaned some of the many lessons life has to teach. I'd like to think I have an old soul and a child's heart.

I am a VERY picky eater, I'm not sure how that shows in my writing but that's OK.

I'd really like to get some advice on my writing, and suggestions for becoming a better writer in general.
Below I attached the first page of my novelette, The Repentant Poet, which I plan to make a post for in the Writing Workshops forum.

Glad to be joining,

Brandon Therrien

aka amylsted

 

[RK Wallis]

Welcome, Brandon Love poetry techniques in novels! I'll have a look when your work is in the Writing Workshops For privacy reasons (I believe), we don't post work here...

 

[Julie]

Hi Brandon, welcome to the Colony. As @RK Capps has mentioned, do check out the Writing Workshops. They're very helpful for developing your writing. You can also critique other work. Just check out the guidelines that are posted there.

 

[Lex Black]

Welcome to the Colony!

 

[Vagabond Heart]

Welcome to the colony, Brandon. I hope (and believe you will) find all the support you’re looking for here.
I’ve had a quick read of your very, very interesting piece. And I’m on the fence here. I really like what I think you’re attempting to do, but - on so short an extract - I find it hard to judge how successful it is. Would I need to to be less poetic, and therefore flow a little easier, for reading purposes, if it extended to Novella length? Would I, instead, want more pure poetry, in order to get into the rhythm of the piece? Not sure yet. A nice, interesting dilemma, and I wish you luck and success. X

 

[Paul Whybrow]

Welcome to the Colony!

 

[amylsted]

Welcome, Brandon Love poetry techniques in novels! I'll have a look when your work is in the Writing Workshops For privacy reasons (I believe), we don't post work here...

Thanks! I understand, that's good to know... do you think I should take it off?

 

[amylsted]

Hi Brandon, welcome to the Colony. As @RK Capps has mentioned, do check out the Writing Workshops. They're very helpful for developing your writing. You can also critique other work. Just check out the guidelines that are posted there.

Thank you! I'll be sure to

 

[amylsted]

Welcome to the colony, Brandon. I hope (and believe you will) find all the support you’re looking for here.
I’ve had a quick read of your very, very interesting piece. And I’m on the fence here. I really like what I think you’re attempting to do, but - on so short an extract - I find it hard to judge how successful it is. Would I need to to be less poetic, and therefore flow a little easier, for reading purposes, if it extended to Novella length? Would I, instead, want more pure poetry, in order to get into the rhythm of the piece? Not sure yet. A nice, interesting dilemma, and I wish you luck and success. X

Thanks, I hope so too!
I get what you're saying, I definitely hope to keep it correctly paced and so far I'd say it is a quick pace. My hope was for it to be a short intro to a novel. I hope you'll check out the full thing when I post in Writing Workshops!

 

[RK Wallis]

Thanks! I understand, that's good to know... do you think I should take it off?

I would, but just repost in the Writing Groups, your work is safer there

 

[Jonny]

Hi @amylsted

A warm welcome to Litopia.

In the coming days you'll receive daily messages telling more about the Colony and its many forums, but for now just browse around and feel free to get involved.

Litopia is a friendly and supportive community and we have lots of people happy to give and receive advice on works in progress. You'll get the most from the Colony with a two-way exchange and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how beneficial offering critiques on the works of others is for your own work.

Here's a great place to start and help you find some of the things you might like to get involved with. How-to Guide

If there's anything you're unsure about please drop me a message and I'll be happy to help.

 

[amylsted]

Hi @amylsted

A warm welcome to Litopia.

In the coming days you'll receive daily messages telling more about the Colony and its many forums, but for now just browse around and feel free to get involved.

Litopia is a friendly and supportive community and we have lots of people happy to give and receive advice on works in progress. You'll get the most from the Colony with a two-way exchange and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how beneficial offering critiques on the works of others is for your own work.

Here's a great place to start and help you find some of the things you might like to get involved with. How-to Guide

If there's anything you're unsure about please drop me a message and I'll be happy to help.

Thanks! I appreciate it

 

[Hannah F]

Hi @amylsted and welcome to the colony. Have you checked out novels written in verse? This Sunday's "pop-up submissions guest", Louisa Reid, does just that. Check out her publications on the Guppy Books website. Also Joseph Coelho's "The Girl who became a Tree". These are YA and MG respectively, but it might give you ideas as to how you wish to develop yours.

 

[Nikky Lee]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Emily]

Welcome to the Colony

 

[KateESal]

Welcome aboard, Amy!

Do come and subscribe to Pop-Up Submissions, so you never miss the chance to find out how agents and publishers think when they're reading our first pages... Maybe see you in the chat room later?

Looking forward to seeing you around the colony!