Important decision

[Bob The Mercenary]

Yup, just another thread marking another checkpoint in my race to start my book. I'm just about set to begin writing it, but I recently had a great idea for a short story, and "sources" have told me that it's better to have a few stories under your belt before approaching a novel.

Although, if I further put my book on hold, I would have to spend a lot of time coming up with characters, straightening out the plot, and fixing other technicalities for the short story. However, I would at least have some experience in writing if I went with the short one first. But, I don't want to lose the drive I have right now to write the novel. >_<

So which do I do first?

[Premmy]

Me, I haven't tried doing any short stories, I do have some episodic type things that I'm working on alongside my book. I reccomend the short story anyway it should be easier to get outta the way so that you'd have it and still be able to do the book sooner, but if you can, work on both at the same time. What's your book (or the SS whichever) about

[Roy_D_Mylote]

If you really have the drive for the novel, moreso than the story (and this comes from experience) you should start the novel first. Really. Or you will lose the drive and what you write will be forced and crap. Again, experience.

[Shoraru]

Short-stories? Hmm... Timewarp..... Back in the 20's and 30's it was quite fashionable, but as of today, literary inspirations usually come suddenly and with out the sudden impulse, I'm wondering if it will come together at all.

Not to dowse your plans or anything. If you should find a need to impulsively write, (I do it all the time and it comes out half decently some times) keep track of it in a portfolio and when you find a particularily touching one or something that works for you really well, then send scraps of it around and see what others think about it. It should come back to you with editations and such that will help enhance your story.

[Toast]

I would write the novel and finish it. One thing I've noticed among writer friends and acquentances is that they rarely finish their work and get into a pattern of starting and stopping without finishing anything.

If you think you can finish the short story easier than the novel, then do the short story first. If not, write the novel. I started out that way, I wrote for about a month, stopped and started for five months and finally sat down to finish it. When I was done it was crap, but it was finished. And it allowed me to write my second and third novels that much better.

[Jastiv]

You just reminded me of all the unfinished novels I have laying around. Maybe I will go back and finish them all someday. I hope I don't die before I can do that. I would be so mad that I would have to come back and possess someone else, forcing them to finish what I started.
At least my webcomic is coming along. With twisted tales I finished two tales so far, and I am working on the third one, by far the longest.
Short stories can be good, but you ussually have to read some really awful ones for English class. That will cure your desire to read short stories real fast.

[Shoraru]

Oooo. I just had a great idea. post a few of the not so great ones on the internet for the rest of us to read. If we hate them, write in a different genre. If we love them, see if a magazine will publish them. It'll be a great way to gain publicity!