Thinking of Writing a Novel

[Holdfast]

Why do you want to write a novel? Have a good answer to that, and you'll probably finish one.

I know I don't have the patience to write a novel; all that sustained effort on a single project is more than I'd be willing to commit to. It just doesn't attract me enough to force myself to do it. I rather enjoy trying to define ideas in as few words as possible; I quite enjoy blog writing for instance, because I can knock a post out in half an hour and then it's done. That's enough for my creative urges!

Good luck if you go for it though!

 

[thestrangequark]

A lot of good input so far, thanks guys. I'd love to hear more experiences and ideas!

The only advice I would give is, don't just think about it: do it.

Robert A. Heinlein's first rule of writing was simply: "you must write."

You can read the rest of his rules here, along with a sixth rule and discussion by Robert J. Sawyer.

Interesting link, thanks!

Why do you want to write a novel? Have a good answer to that, and you'll probably finish one.

Why? I don't really know, actually. It's for the same reason I draw and paint. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I'll wake up, my head so full of pictures that it seems like it'll burst, and I just have to paint them. This time, though, it's a story. The characters just appeared out of nowhere, real and complete, and I need to put them on a page.

Last night the first 2,000 words just poured out. And as I was walking home today more of the story revealed itself to me.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Why? I don't really know, actually. It's for the same reason I draw and paint. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I'll wake up, my head so full of pictures that it seems like it'll burst, and I just have to paint them. This time, though, it's a story. The characters just appeared out of nowhere, real and complete, and I need to put them on a page.

Talent does what it can. Genius does what it must.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"I'm writing an unauthorized autobiography. When it comes out, I'm going to sue myself." - Steven Wright

 

[iguana_tonante]

A lot of good input so far, thanks guys. I'd love to hear more experiences and ideas!

I don't have much input to give, as I've never wrote a novel before. I'd dabbled in narrative before, but it never went beyond personal amusement.

Still, I strongly suggest to go with it, not just for your own personal success and achievement and stuff, but because I would love to read it.

So, get your shapely ass to work and do it.

 

[RoJoHen]

I actually used to have a lot more passion for writing when I was in junior high. My family had just gotten our first computer, and everyday after school I would boot it up, open ClarisWorks, and start writing. I wrote a lot of fan fiction at the time because it was easier dealing with characters and universes that already existed, but even so, I wrote a lot.

I try to start new novels from time to time, but I just have such a hard time getting motivated.

 

[edisraf]

Write the ending first. If you think it's good then write the rest.

raf

As the title says, I'm thinking of writing a novel. I've been told numerous times I should write a book about my life -- I have the experience, I have the skillz when it comes to prose -- but I think I could only do so if everyone I knew were dead, for fear of them ever reading it! This leaves me to fiction. As I said, I have the experience, I have the prose, and (finally) I think I have an idea.

I know we have some writers here, and I'm eager for any advice or anecdotes that might enlighten or encourage me in my effort.

 

[Captain_Nick]

I once wrote a series of scripts for a spoof of star trek that I had called Nicktrek. It was about Captain Nick and his crew of misfits flying around in a tub that doesnt work and trying (and failing) to have sex with things. It was considered to be a really funny series by everyone who read it except for the people who aren't me. Incidetnally that was the origin of my old username. I wonder if anyone here remebers me from that long ago.

 

[Captain_Nick]

The point of that (^) post was - don't let me write things

 

[Admiral Shran]

Having never written a book myself, I can only offer second-hand advice. But if you're going to try to get it published, I'd suggest getting a literary agent once you have the book completed - someone who will seek out an interested publishing company for you. Oftentimes their payment consists of a small percentage of the profits from the book sales.

From what I've heard, most publishing houses will only accept works that come to them from literary agents.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ No, that's not true. There are plenty of major publishers who accept manuscripts.

Whether or not you have a better chance with an agent is another question.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Well, like I said, secondhand info.

But I would assume you stand a better chance with one.

 

[trekkiebaggio]

It depends what agent you get, and some agents only take on clients who have already been published.

 

[Ruaidhri]

TSQ, here's a tidbit I learned from participating in NaNoWriMo last year (and finishing my 50K on time).

DO NOT EDIT AS YOU GO.

In the past, I had started so many books and never been able to follow through to the finish, and NaNoWriMo finally illuminated the reason why. I would get so bogged down in trying to make my first draft my final draft, and dear lord, if you ever take any advice from me, just write write write, without concern for making everything perfect. Just get that storyline down while all the ideas are jumbled up in your head.

Once you're done, then fix everything.

I was so far behind in my first week of NaNoWriMo, when I just had this one evening of pure creation, and the process then clicked for me in a productive way.

Since I had this realization, I've got a signed contract to have a short novellette published, and I'm doing a second round of rewrites on my NaNo novel to lengthen it and fix inconsistencies, so I can start the submission process later in the year.

In summary:
Write write write!...........................................edit later

 

[Holdfast]

Why do you want to write a novel? Have a good answer to that, and you'll probably finish one.

Why? I don't really know, actually. It's for the same reason I draw and paint. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I'll wake up, my head so full of pictures that it seems like it'll burst, and I just have to paint them. This time, though, it's a story. The characters just appeared out of nowhere, real and complete, and I need to put them on a page.

The reason I asked is because there's a conceptual difference between "writing" and "finishing a novel". In other words, for the vast majority of writers, "finishing a novel" requires much more willpower and drive than just "writing" from inspiration. A few writers operate differently, just writing in full flow from start to finish, but I rather believe they are a pretty small minority.

This difference is why lots and lots of people (myself included, come to think of it) have various outlines, paragraphs, handful of chapters, etc, etc lying around, but never bothered to pull into all together into a completed, polished work.

Personally, I'm happy with the fragments, because I don't have a reason to want to write a full novel. If you have one, that's likely to sustain you, motivation-wise, in the moments when attention inevitably wanders to other things or when writers block hits.

 

[thestrangequark]

^Is material gain a good reason?


Seriously, though, I see the distinction you're making now, between the creative act and the completion of such a towering task as an entire novel. In fact, I'm feeling that disparity at the very moment: the initial euphoria of creativity having waned and now replaced by the tedium of getting everything down.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ Writing is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. I'm just full of these little bits of wisdom.

Well, like I said, secondhand info.

But I would assume you stand a better chance with one.

I have a pal who submits novels directly to publishers. They say they don't discriminate, but he hasn't had an acceptance yet-- and he's good enough.

I would get so bogged down in trying to make my first draft my final draft

Man, that's me all over. Agonizing over a word or phrase....

 

[JarodRussell]

How does one find an agent that doesn't fuck you over because you're a newbie?

 

[Trekker4747]

I've been kicking around a novel on and off for the last couple of years and about a year ago I finally finished the first draft, read through it, wasn't satisfied (parts of it weren't clear and it was a lot shorter than it probably needed to be) and sarted over again a couple of months ago and am now done with Chapter 2 with a Prologue.

I can't offer much advice other than to just sit down and do it and depending on the type of novel you want to write you may want to look into the many books that are out there to help first-time novelists.

If you're writing an autobiography make sure your life is interesting enough that people would want to read it, I don't know enough about you to say either way.

I'm doing a fiction novel that takes place in the not-to-distant future and concerns a fight against an overly corrupt and powerful government. I've been taking my time through to make sure it's as polished as possible since I'm prone to thinking faster than I type and stuff can get muddied up and even lost in the process.

Taking a class at your local CC on novel writing might be a good idea too, something I've alos considered doing and need to look more into doing.

Doing it can be a chore, if I really try I can get a chapter done in about a week but I tend to get distracted by editing my own work and other stuff, but if you write a novel you're looking at about 80,000 words for a decently sized one, a chapter is going to be about 4,000-5,000 words depending how you break up your book.

Right now my own plans are to take a break from the board at the end of May and focus my attention on finally hammering the thing out and getting it done, afterwards it's going to get a huge polishing to perfect it including getting family and friends to read it and give me opinions on it.

 

[Holdfast]

^Is material gain a good reason?

Yes... if it's enough to get to you through the tedium you just mentioned!

Having said that, I think if I wanted to make money from writing, journalism would probably be an easier way than creative writing. Although one should note the comparative rather than absolute nature of that statement...

So I think you need to particularly enjoy the artistic process of creative writing (all or most of the process, not just the initial spark of an idea) too, or have a burning desire to put something out there for others to read.

Of course, sometimes the proof of things is in the pudding, so maybe just trying to do it is enough for now. Good luck, anyway.