Been doing it for some time myself. Technical writing is a good start in my view, teaches you to hone things to what is strictly necessary though some like a lot of description and intricate subplots and poetic language of course.
Join a writers' club, having to to write something every month or whatever forces a bit of discipline on you. Most recent one is a bit Woman's Owny but then the club is mostly full of old ladies.
http://www.xoggoth.org/pages/xoggoth10.html#candle
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Reply to: Accidental Plan B
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Previously on "Accidental Plan B"
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I once wrote something that was read out by David Baddiel on telly on Unplanned, was a funny-at-the-time piece about West Bromwich Albion signing Saddam Hussein as their new striker, blatantly stolen by a WBA fanzine cos that's not who I wrote it for....
DB read it out, mentioning the no-football policy on Unplanned, made exception to take the piss out of Frank Skinner.
Now I admit I could possibly have dreamt this, but I'm sure it happened! I've torrented as many eps as I can find but can't find this ep.
Freaking sure it happened now tho!
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Nooooooo - that's boring Monday to Friday stuff.Originally posted by cojak View Post
We want a story
We want a story
We want a story
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I read that.Originally posted by cojak View Post
Want a more exciting example.
(Though to be honest that was more exciting than the usual drivel the site provides as news.)
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Originally posted by suityou01 View PostI think we need a taster before the panel can decide. 1000 words or so. I need to be riveted, and wanting more by the end.
Off yer toddle
There ya go!
(Not quite what you were expecting, I know - but it's a start!
)
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I think we need a taster before the panel can decide. 1000 words or so. I need to be riveted, and wanting more by the end.Originally posted by cojak View PostNot a huge Plan B, more an idea for a minor plan B.
Although I write documentation, I've always thought I had a block when writing essays in a creative way (it came from school and has never really left me).
But I've discovered that not only can I write, I enjoy it, and it seems that others enjoy reading it too.
Now I just have to think about how I do more of it...
Off yer toddle
Last edited by suityou01; 28 March 2010, 11:23.
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The idea of an accidental Plan B is an interesting thought.
I once met a chap who was one of the first to sell Pork Scratchings into pubs. According to his tale, the first he realised how well it was doing was when he asked his sales lass who had bought her a new car (expecting "Boyfriend" as the answer). She replied "You have, with the money I've made from you in the last 3 months". He went back and looked at his figures and decided to go full time with it.
After many years of managing to avoid Powerpoint, I have just discovered that I still enjoy giving presentations, and have had some encouraging feedback.
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A blog is one way to go about it.
I know of some people who have been fortunate to make it their full time job.
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I have hanging on my wall my only prize certificate.
It's a Merit Prize awarded to me by Cadbury Brothers Ltd for writing something long forgotten at skool.
The date? - 19th March 1969

I got a box of choccys in a posh metal tin as well
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I went through a writing phase - just for fun, although I did win a $10 Amazon voucher in a competition!
There's quite a few writer's websites out there where you can critique and get critiqued - writersdock used to be good, although I think they're charging now. There's also morewriting, but not sure how much activity goes on there these days.
I also did a short OU course - A174 which was quite good for getting the basics in place, if that's what you're interested in.
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There is a position available in the storytelling department.
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