M R - June 27, 2010 writes:

Hi mates,

I just need to know how do you people make your research on internet? I thought better to ask here, because I want to see whether my research method is similar to you or not. I've fiction writing coarse so I've maily short story to cover its all the area. I read story stories downloading them, but some of them I find easy to understand than others. So I read the difficult parts twice and thrice to get through. Is that enough for me to develop my writing skill? While reading I underline the stylist portion in paragraph; I circled the words I dont know. What about yours trick ?

Mainly I wonder to know research ideas how you usually do for short story and what magazines you choose for submission.

Any post would be appreciated.

Robert

Tina B - June 29, 2010 replied:

Robert, I think it's a very good idea to read a lot, the more you read, the better your volcabulary will become and you can develop your own writing style too. I truly believe you can never read too much!

Try to vary your reading matter as well, we all have our favourite genres, but try to read something that you wouldn't normally go for, you might be surprised and find you enjoy it.

There are lots of sites that have short stories on them, try ABC Tales for instance - http://www.abctales.com/

Try to get hold of as many magazines as you can to see what they want from a writer, and if you find one that has similar stories to the ones you write, find out what their requirement are. Most mags will send you - via email if you ask - a list of their writers guidelines, so you can see exactly what they are looking for - word count etc.

I choose the sort of magazines that publish stories similar to the ones I write. I'm quite lucky because I write tales with a twist, and found a specific publication that like twist in the tale stories. I've sold several to them now.

I know we are told to fit the story to the magazine, but I don't work like that. I get an idea for a story and write it, then send it to magazines who I think will enjoy it. I can't write a story to fit a magazine, I have to write what comes to me - if you understand what I mean!

It sounds to me like you are doing the right thing, so just keep at it :)

Good luck,

Tina

M R - June 29, 2010 replied:

Thanks for your post and sharing your idea on market. I got some tips from your reply here.

Yeah, I like readin to develop my writing skill -- mainly I like writers' stlist way of telling tales. I take one story at a time and take some notes out of it to set into my writing style, whatever. I wonder upon the notes which I set into my story that really needs -- but I never copy whole sentence cuz I feeling its a cheating.

So far I haven't contacted any magazine directly to ask what usually they want, So I'll write them directly following your suggestion. Thanks for it.

Robert

M R - July 22, 2010 replied:

Hi Tina, Where are you? I havn't seen your post these days. I love to see your post.

Tina B - July 23, 2010 replied:

Hi Robert, thanks for asking :)

I've been busy editing my novel, which I've now finished - yay.

I can't believe I've written an 88k word book - mind you it's taken me a long long time!

If I can pluck up the courage, I'll start sending it out to agents, but I'm having a writing break for a bit as I'm worn out. I've been writing the novel, writing short stories and writing articles so need a bit of a rest. I'll still check in here and read the posts though.

Hope your writing is going well.

Tina

M R - July 25, 2010 replied:

Hi Tina,

Pleased to see your post!

Wow, so you'll be a novelist. It's really good news you'be written such an 88k lenth novel, isn't it? Still I need to know did you send your work to any professional editor to get edit or you did it your self? However, the posistive point is that you've already some publication credits in your pocket so they will give you a firm hope to get an agent.

Okay, best wishes.

Robert

Tina B - July 25, 2010 replied:

Hi Robert,

No I've edited it myself, and I'm also a member of a very good writers website called Writewords. They are very professional and have lots of knowledgeable people on there who can help with all aspects of writing, as well as many new writers too. You might like to check them out -

http://www.writewords.org.uk/

If you do join, let me know your username and I'll look out for you :)

Tina

M R - August 5, 2010 replied:

Hi Tina,

I think my words hurted you, I thought it later when I checked my email several times but couldnt see your reply forum where u asked my nationality. I think I dont know how to write elders and where they feel hurt or something that upset them.

My apologies for that. Well, there is age difference between you and me, thats matter but you're very helping-nature woman so I need your help.

I'm soon going to be member of 'writewords'. Forgive me, please.

Robert

Tina B - August 5, 2010 replied:

Hi Robert,

I didn't see the reply, so have just gone to look for it and see you have deleted it, so no hurt was caused. I apologise if you didn't like me asking your nationality. I am just curious really, no other reason. I like corresponding with people of different nationalities, and would like to know what yours is, that's all. It's obvious that English isn't your first language, so I wondered what was.

Never mind, you don't have to tell me :)

It will be great to see you in Writewords, there's so many knowledgeable helpful people in there, I'm sure you'll find it a great source of information. Don't forget to let me know your username and I'll welcome you.

Regarding our ages, well maybe we are quite different, but I like to think that's irrelevant. We are all writers, age is immaterial. My husband is 16 years older than me, but it doesn't matter. I have never been bothered about age differences, I like people for who they are - regardless of whether they are 20, or 60! I mix with people of all generations :)

Anyway, I look forward to 'seeing' you in Writewords.

Tina

M R - August 6, 2010 replied:

Hi Tina,

I thought I've lost a friend when I didn't see your reply for some hours because you're a quick responder. It little bit upsets me when someone does not reply me which I wait for. I'm amused to read your post agian. Don't worry about my nationality, I'm from the same western culture. I'll let you know you each and every thing about me, but there is a time to come. In that post there was nothing to hurt you, however, I just thought. In these days I'm lookin for a job and I think I'm bit worried.

Anyway, what about your novel? Did you find any angent for it?

Good Luck,

Robert

Tina B - August 6, 2010 replied:

No not got an agent yet - I have submitted my novel to one, and have been recommended another one from a writing colleague on Writewords. I've contacted them and had a reply back asking for the synopsis and first three chapters, so I'll send that off next week.

You'll enjoy Writewords, and it's easier to chat in there as you can send private messages, so we won't be blocking up the forums, lol.

They have different groups for different genres, and they also have 'The Lounge', where members can chat about non-writing subjects and get to know each other - if they want. You can have a free trial membership for a month to see if you like it too, so you have nothing to lose :)

Good luck finding a job. I'm going to be job hunting soon, but my work is quite specialized so it'll be a bit harder for me to find something!

I think it takes while for us to get each other's replies because you're in Oz and I'm in the UK, so there's quite a big time difference!

Tina

M R - August 6, 2010 replied:

Hi Tina,

I just got an email from 'Platinum Page Magazine' She's happy to consider my work if I make some minor changes. Please read her letter and do me a favor as I'm nervous with excitment. It was my first assignment.

Tina B - August 6, 2010 replied:

Deleted at Robert's request

M R - August 6, 2010 replied:

Thanks Tina,

Now Please remove it. Thanks again.

Tina B - August 6, 2010 replied:

Deleted as requested, another good thing about Writewords - you can upload work - stories or articles, and it can be viewed by just yourself - good for copyright issues as it's date stamped, or by the members of any group you join and nobody else - that way the group members can comment on it for you - or by everyone on Writewords but nobody outside the site, so you have various options.

I'm surprised to see you up and about, isn't it very early in the morning there in OZ?

Tina

M R - August 6, 2010 replied:

Thanks a lot Tina, I will let you know about my success. Thanks again for your editing.

Robert

Tina B - August 7, 2010 replied:

Hi Robert, just a quick post to let you know I won't be on here again.

I have no need of it as I'm a member of the short story group in Writewords and go on there all the time.

Good luck in your writing, and hope to maybe 'see' you there. My username on Writewords is Katerina, so if and when you join, send me a private message - called a WW mail - not on the open site - and I'll look out for you.

Best wishes,

Tina

M R - August 7, 2010 replied:

Thanks for your kindness.

Shabreena Z - August 10, 2010 replied:

Hi Tina,

I am interested in joining http://www.writewords.org.uk/. Do we need to pay to be a member or else is it free?

Please let me know more, if you can.

Thanks

M R - August 10, 2010 replied:

Shabreena, Tina said she won't be on here again. You should have read. There is a full informatiion on the writewords. Just check it out. However, you can be trial member there for a month, further you should know.

Robert