Who has literary ambitions?

There seems to be a fair amount of folks out on the site who write poetry fairly frequently. I'm wondering who amongst you has ambitions in the literary world?

I'll start with mine - I've written about 300 pages of what I would consider pallatable poetry. I have considered shopping it around to some publishers. I'm not so interested in getting published in smaller literary magazines, and after meeting some of the folks in the poetry publishing industry, feel I'd be better off publishing the book myself. These days you can get about 300 copies for about $1500 bucks. Or of course, there's always "print on demand"...by self publishing I can publish what I want, how I want to do it.

I have an ulterior motive here too, I like to tune in to journal entries written by creative writers, as I find them the most abstract and gripping.

Just wondering who else out there has the literary bug?

I have a BA in creative writing from Pacific University; and just finished a screenplay which I hope to shoot in june. I am also working on three novellas which interlock and a full length novel that I have been doing on and off since 92. I write some poetry, proses, and essay type stuff...depends on my mood. I think, as far as, mainstream publishing-there are to many other options available. I myself would like to purchase an old Chicago style #7 press and start my own operation-I can get the press I just have not been able to find a space big enough to set it up in. So I am hoping to find a warehouse style space which I could live in as well.

[Edited on Mar 16, 2003 by coldenginelogic]

I enjoy writing, but I don't feel I've got "a novel inside me". Someday, I'd like to write a screenplay.

I am currently writing a book about 1/3 done with first draft so i think it may be done before i die

I sold a total of four screenplays (three of them being a comedy trilogy) a couple of years ago, when studios were buying up scripts in fear of the WGA strike. Now, they're all trapped in development hell.

I did finish principle on another script that I wrote and produced. We have a second scheduled to start filmiing in Aug., this time with actual real money!!!!

So, my answer is, yes I do.

Yes, although sort of off-and-on. I have a sci-fi novel that's been in rewrite for about two years; I've had three short-stories and several poems published. I had an agent for a screen-play breifly, but he changed his mind--or so he said Everything's on hold for school, but I'm looking forward to summer break to get a couple more short-stories out!

I graduated with a degree in English from an unprestigious university, and I write things that are interesting to me. Strangely enough, I haven't had any written work published since high school, but I've had artwork adorn several book covers (books that I didn't write, and only one of which is available on Amazon.com).

my first book came easy, but after that i haven't had a central storyline to focus on... well... that, plus i'm in the process of sobering up which robs you of all creativity and everything life-affirming

People always seem to hate that they aspire to be a writer. I think the problem is in the development of the contemplative persona. Idealists at heart, everyone wants their vision to spread across the literary world like wildfire. I think this is great, but goddamnit you have to have fun with it! . Thats why I love reading Ursuls LeGuins essays on literary criticism. There's a lot of wisdom in the way she describes the writing process, and how she's let it affect her life. Just like in the creative process, you take everything in, then decide what to keep and what to send away.

Has anyone else read Bird by Bird? Anne Lamott rocks.

This may very well be, Goodbye.

[Edited on Mar 25, 2003 by RobtheSloB]

everytime i keep trying to write my book i'm working on right now i keep making sound like whatever book i just read last... it's not like i set out to do it, it just kinda happens subconciously

I love that book! It's a real inspiration for me. And believe it or not, "Chicken Soup for Writers," has cool entries from famous authors and poets.

I hope to do a children's book. I don't know if I"m good enough to illustrate it myself. But I'd love to do that.

I think they should make "Chicken" Soup for the Vegetarian's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Atheist's "Soul".

[Edited on Mar 15, 2003 by Skryche]

I like writing and im told im not bad at it. I cant see myself doing it for a living, i get these great ideas but get bored with them before i can develop them.

Right now im considering working on an academicish thing on marxism and social evolution. Its possible I'll be able to follow through on it, though probably not.

As far as creative writing, I always have ideas but am really horrible at writing poetry and stories. Too logical, I suppose.

i started a novel back in high school...got a good 87 pages done and ran out of spare time for a couple months...then never came back to it...its still here, and i actually opened it up a couple months ago and wrote about 2 more pages pretty steadily, then got a phone call and saved it and didn't come back...again

probably not, though i write pretty constantly. i have no idea if any of it is really publishable though.

Yep, I'm currently trying to finish up my BA in English/Creative Writing, and hope to make a living at writing one way or another, whether it's through reporting, screenwriting, copywriting, ghost writing, editing, publishing, all of the above, what have you.

I'm mostly a poetry guy, but I really want to work on my fiction more... the idea of writing a novel thrills me but I've never been able to come up with a compelling reason to write anything more than a few pages of prose. But I reckon I will.

Right now I'm reading a really terrific book that I think everyone here should read: "The Forest for the Trees: an Editor's Advice to Writers" by Betsy Lerner. Trust me, it is really really good. I'm recommending it to all my writer friends.

[Edited on Mar 15, 2003 by moondaddy]

I'm working on a few graphic novels that in different stages of production and I'm always working on prose short stories. I've had a few things published here and there, but nothing major. It's on the horizon though, I can smell it . . .

I'm writing the Great American Pirate Novel.

yeah for skryche you always come through for me.

oh, and aquafantasy--if you think you're too logical to write fiction, you should try someone like umberto eco on for size. yikes! literary theory and philosophy in loosely fictional format. but good stuff!

Unfortunately I'm finding that the most saleable writing is nonfiction, so that's what I've been writing of late. I'm not really sure what ambitions I have other than being able to support myself and have steak dinners from my writing.

I'd question the decision, though, of wanting to publish a poetry book without first publishing in literary journals. The market for poetry is extremely small, and the majority of people who buy poetry books first discover the poets in the journals. The best way to break in is through such journals.

With all the great things I've read on here from so many people I was thinking it would be kind of cool for someone to put together a book of poetry and stories by SG girls and members

[Edited on Mar 16, 2003 by selfinflicted]