Poll: So I'm going to write a book....

[Cookiegerard]

So, now that my Leaving Cert(A very important series of Irish exams), I have some free time on my hands before college and silly little things like bills and taxes and a job. I love reading, Lovecraft, Stephen King, Yahtzee Croshaw, anything and everything. But most of all, I love zombies. Everything about, but mostly the classic, George A. Romero, walkers. And I have always wanted to write a book. But, here is my problem, would it be easier to write a single story with a concrete idea, or a series of shorter stories, which would be loosely tied together? I have some loose ideas flowing around in that bucket I call a head, but at the moment none that would be fully hatched plans. So, what do you think?

EDIT:Just noticed I managed to post this twice, sorry.

 

[Hungry Donner]

I would suggest that you start developing the short stories. If one really grabs you then run with it, but if nothing suggests an extended narrative at least you won't end up stuck somewhere with no idea of the direction you should take.

 

[Oliman43]

I know how you feel, if I could muster up the patience to write something then I would. If you think you have a good idea, then I say you should go for it.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Start with shorts. Lead up to a novel.

Only the novel will be really good, but the short stories will last even if you don't finish the big work.

I'd also take a good look around here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/

 

[Galliam]

Short stories! Ohh they're so much more fun!

 

[electric_warrior]

Do the short stories, then build up to novels

 

[TheIronRuler]

I recommend doing short stories, since you'll have some practice with writing, narrative and such.
I you do have something great, espand it. 'Fight Club' started as a short story (Chapter 6) and then it turned into a book. 'Fight Club' CAN'T BE WRONG, it's against the laws of physics.

 

[AlexWinter]

I just finished my 400 page thriller and but it started as a short story so that'd be my suggestion.

If it's good it'll grow.

Good luck it's pretty rough.

 

[Akytalusia]

I would suggest that you start developing the short stories. If one really grabs you then run with it, but if nothing suggests an extended narrative at least you won't end up stuck somewhere with no idea of the direction you should take.

pretty much this. i wrote a few short intro's to some of my ideas for stories before one just felt right and became the real story.

 

[Thespian]

So, now that my Leaving Cert(A very important series of Irish exams), I have some free time on my hands before college and silly little things like bills and taxes and a job. I love reading, Lovecraft, Stephen King, Yahtzee Croshaw, anything and everything. But most of all, I love zombies. Everything about, but mostly the classic, George A. Romero, walkers. And I have always wanted to write a book. But, here is my problem, would it be easier to write a single story with a concrete idea, or a series of shorter stories, which would be loosely tied together? I have some loose ideas flowing around in that bucket I call a head, but at the moment none that would be fully hatched plans. So, what do you think?

Geezus, another irish escapist? :O Gratz on completing your leaving.
I'd say do a "Tales of ________" kinda thing. Like Ray Bradbury's Martian Tales or the like. That way you can have those same disjointed tales linked together by your setting.

 

[Inkidu]

Do whatever you want. It's your book. I'd say take the middle ground though. Shoot for novella.

 

[spacepope22]

Start with the short stories. Then, if you find one you really like, you can expand it into a full novel.

 

[Rockchimp69]

So, now that my Leaving Cert(A very important series of Irish exams), I have some free time on my hands before college and silly little things like bills and taxes and a job. I love reading, Lovecraft, Stephen King, Yahtzee Croshaw, anything and everything. But most of all, I love zombies. Everything about, but mostly the classic, George A. Romero, walkers. And I have always wanted to write a book. But, here is my problem, would it be easier to write a single story with a concrete idea, or a series of shorter stories, which would be loosely tied together? I have some loose ideas flowing around in that bucket I call a head, but at the moment none that would be fully hatched plans. So, what do you think?

EDIT:Just noticed I managed to post this twice, sorry.

Short stories are probably best because they are easier to write and as people have said you can always develop them further if you want.

As for the zombie idea... hmm I'm thinking that if you have a few strong characters and lots of time to make the reader get close to them it will work better than the short story style.

But then again with a short story style you could visit many different aspects of the zombie outbreak continuity, i.e. who caused it, what the military is going to, what is happening in other countries etc.

 

[JoJo]

I'd say short stories, I tried writing a novel about a year and a half ago and it got to just over 20000 words before I realised that to put it plainly; the basis, plot and characters were all total crap. Somehow I was blinded for months on how contrived and bad it really was, so be warned that it is possible to over-estimate your own work. Since then I've been doing a bit of RPing on this site and written a couple of short stories, I'd like to try again on a better story some day but for now I'm happy doing what I am now.

 

[Fbuh]

You should do a series of short, interconnecting stories about the same people and how they all relate to each other, and then publish it within one volume.

 

[Hectix777]

If you go the collection route, consider going at it like Pulp Fiction, where several peoples' stories meet up at one grand moment.

 

[Irriduccibilli]

If you go the collection route, consider going at it like Pulp Fiction, where several peoples' stories meet up at one grand moment.

Ninja'd. Thats what I would do. Those types of novels are the ones that interest me the most

 

[Hectix777]

If you go the collection route, consider going at it like Pulp Fiction, where several peoples' stories meet up at one grand moment.

Ninja'd. Thats what I would do. Those types of novels are the ones that interest me the most

But it gets kinda,"what the h!?" at times because you're not sure what's happening, so feel it's safer to go comic with this go at things. You don't have to draw just write.

 

[Connor Lonske]

You should write a novel of completely different stories in the same zombie universe, with minor nods to the other stories but have them all separate.

Oh, and use a lot of changing perspective of time in each story, where one part your driving across the waist, next thing you know your at first contact for the character, stuff like that.