Resolution: Write a Novel

There are times when you may have more ideas than energy. The ideas may flood out of you faster than you can type them and remember them. Be determined to keep working until you have no more flooding thoughts. Fight the temptation to stop at mid point believing you will remember the rest later. Just like that awesome dream, you won’t!

Invest in a hand held tape recorder to speak your thoughts on the fly. Forget how you sound. If using an accent that you don’t have works for you then do it, just don’t get caught up on disliking your voice. Write it to life. Remember, you are a writer, not an actor, so don’t worry about how you sound. The only acting you should do is when you act out your scenes by talking them out. Pretend you are whom you are writing about and then write it out immediately.

Get inspiration from every angle possible. I was working on a courtroom scenario, got blocked until I watched a daytime court show that I use to think was corny. I put myself in the perspective of each person in the courtroom, including the audience and had to hurry and type so I wouldn’t forget to get down the interesting dialog and various situations. Find your own angle of inspiration. Be the interviewer, the interviewee, the President giving the speech, the one receiving the award. Be the angle.

Comb through the advice on About.com. No other site is like it. Every morsel of information is valuable and FREE. Let it teach you, guide you, mold you and inspire you.

Finally, you should know what you are going to write about. Make an outline about your story, no particular order. That way you won’t write about everything outside of your story. But remember, there will be times when you will not have anything to write about on the subject you are working on, it’s called writer’s block. That’s when you write about anything you can think of. Writer’s block only exists when you can’t think of something to write about based on what you are working on. But the amount of unrelated subjects to write about is astronomical.

Become a rock that someone threw and describe the person who threw you, how their hands or the slingshot felt. What you saw as you were gliding through the air. The weather, the air, the landing – hard or soft, and the new surroundings from a rock’s point of view if you have to, and then put it in your scrapbook. It’s not always about writing about your current subject; it’s about constantly writing until that idea hits you, which can actually hit you while writing about anything off the wall. Better than not writing at all. There’s a good chance it will end up in one of your future tweaked writings, or maybe even in the one you are trying to finish in 2010.

Wordy but meant to help.

Good luck.

Setting aside regular time to write is key because it keeps the momentum going and you don’t have to reinvent the wheel continually. I think it is also important to realize that sometimes your writing session may focus on research, or developing an outline for your next chapter, or reading over what you’ve written already.

When you have an idea, do not let it go unless somehow you have passed where it held that special meaning. And even it can be recycled into something else.
Everybody has their own method and it makes us sound like we are some kind of gurus. This isn’t true for most. My way is to mull it around in my head. Mentally: create the situation, the characters, the happenings & the dialogue. Does it gel together? Remember that your voice is your own.
Some people plot the entire book. Fine, but just know things in the novel will face the chance of the fateful twist from the original ideas. Don’t worry about it; follow it through. Maybe it’s time to go back to the mental and think about it.
My novel was a challenge and almost dropped so many times. What got it going on track was writing the story for only one (the first version) person in mind. The revisions and the final product is my baby alone; it was my child to raise and make it shine.
So you got it written – good. When that happens, you have taken part in the best writing class ever – practical experience. You found your voice. You know your niche. Now, start on the next one; this time it will be easier. Good luck.
By the way, the same sweat you are experiencing is the same thing we experienced. You – are – not – alone.

Unless you’re well-experienced at novel writing, I’d advise you to write that first draft in strict chronological order: no back stories, no digressions that don’t have a date-stamp, keep the ‘meanwhiles’ to a minimum, etc. Then, with plot and characters firmly in place, go back and decide where the novel should actually begin (anything before that point in fictional time can be told as back story, or deleted if inessential), and play fictional time against page sequence if you want to do that (sparingly! see Huxley’s Point Counter Point for an example of the extreme).

This is great advice, especially if your story is complicated. It’s very easy to get bogged down in back story and flashbacks. Thanks!

Once you have begun writing, don’t stop! I’ve watched writers turn in a chapter or two to be critiqued and then instead of moving to the next chapter, they keep reworking the first chapters. In my writing I found that after I wrote the entire novel (and had at least some sort of ending) the characters matured. I knew them and knew them well.

Of course my first chapters reeked. The characters were all over the place, setting, times, actions that didn’t quite fit them anymore–but now–knowing them, seeing how they changed and became living breathing characters, the second draft was pretty easy.

Think about it this way, how easy would it be for us to write about someone we know intimately? I would assume not as hard as writing a fictional character, one you don’t know in that personal way. If we don’t spend time with our characters, know them in that way, we’ll never get past the first three chapters–we’ll never have a completed novel.

So write, write, write!!!

I have had to change my expectations about myself when it comes down to choosing a time to write. I’m not one of those who can set a rigid schedule for writing, but I thought I had to. It didn’t work, and then I would feel guilty! What works best for me is to simply write every day, whether it’s a little or a lot. I can squeeze in time here and there, and know that at least I can keep going on my second novel and complete it by spring. Other writers’ suggestions are great and I love to try them, but you have to use whatever methods work best for you. So, guilt be gone !

Thanks for sharing this: it’s good for people to hear that there’s more than one way of approaching a novel. And that you don’t have to feel guilty for not adhering to a strict schedule, if that doesn’t work for you.

In 2009 I finished a novel that took over a year to write. During the last two and a half weeks of that, I also participated in NaNoWriMo, so was writing two novels at the same time. Writing the long novel was a leisurely process while the November novel was almost frantic. Each day on a 3×5 card I kept track of my starting word count, set a word count goal for the day and noted what I did accomplish. I kept the goals small for the long novel (500 words) and the standard goal for the other: 1667 words until I was so far ahead that I could scale back. To write the short novel in November, I just kept throwing every obstacle at my characters so I’d have something to write about. For the long story, my goal was to finish a chapter a week (usually about 40 pages) so I could present it to my primary reader, a friend with whom I meet most weeks. She would read my chapter during our lunch and give immediate feedback, which was especially helpful when I meant to be funny. It is extremely helpful to be accountable to someone else, not just to say you achieved that week’s writing goals, but to have the person read the work. Many times I had to hurry up and finish a chapter to get to the meeting place on time! Also, give yourself time to think about your work. For me, when I was getting ready for the day was a great time. I’d imagine what the characters might do. Later, when I’d write, I’d have an idea of where the chapter needed to go and some of the details, but I also “listened” to what my characters “told me” they wanted. It made the story much more interesting. Remember, writing a chapter is something like telling a joke. You set the scene with someone or something that catches the reader’s (or listener’s) interest. Then you have the middle section that develops the beginning and finally the punch line. In the case of a chapter, it’s great to end with something like a punch line or a cliff hanger–whatever makes the reader want to turn the page to the next chapter. Sometimes I knew where the chapter needed to end, but had to work to get to it. When you write, you also have to recognize chapter endings, just like you know the punch line of a joke when you hear it. After I had several chapters written, I started giving them to other people to read. I eventually made up a reader questionnaire with quirky questions to prod readers to make specific comments. For example, one of my questions is “did anything surprise you and if so, what was it?” I have a rating system for how much the reader likes the characters as well as space for general comments. Some of the responses were startling! When readers wanted to have certain things happen, it was fun to try to accommodate them, but in a way that worked for the story. Of course, not everyone will love your story as much as you do, so give your work to kind people in the beginning. Finally, make some of your goals within your grasp, starting with finishing the novel!

Timing is everything. Nothing fills the blank page like writing every day. Obviously a day off may be necessary or unable to avoid at some point but adhering to the time that is yours’ to write is essential. I like to make routines. This past November I finished a first draft (NaNoWriMo) and before almost every session I would go to the deli and buy a large coffee. I’d bring it home, sit it on the table where I usually do, take a few sips and hit the keyboard. For me that routine was able to trigger the writing portion of my brain.

I have not attempted a novel other than during the month of November but I’m sure that routines and time would be just as important whatever time of year one begins.

And yeah, do research, make notes, do anything that is related to the book during your time. Even make more coffee if the deli one has been drained. For the first draft I have learned not to worry about the craft of writing too much. I mean there are still a million minute decisions to make along the way but get that story out, get that story out. There will hopefully be plenty of time later to fix the mix. Make goals and stick to them. Reward yourself when you do.

I’ve written two novels so far in my lifetime, with hope for a third and more beyond that.
I believe that writing a novel requires mostly determination. For my first drafts, I always quiet my Inner Editor and do it blindly – not editing or re-reading a thing. I try to write typically 2,000 words a day or more, because if I don’t, I fall off the wagon. Seeing my wordcount and page count climb is the most exciting thing about writing a novel, at least the first draft, in my opinion.
The first draft is always the most fun, at least for me. This is because I get out everything creative, and if I really hate it, I can always go back and change it later. I can say anything and feel good about it, even if it’s horrible.
The second draft is a different story. I usually find the easy things in the 2nd draft – spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, by running a spell check and reading it through once.
The third draft is the hardest for me. This is when I fix the big things – discrepancies, plot holes, character development, dialogue.
After the third draft is FINALLY done, I re-read it and fix anything that still doesn’t sit right with me – it’s usually little things, spelling or a word change here and there.
Then I give it to family members and friends, and they each give me a critique. I decide whether or not to change things, all in my fifth draft.
Usually I only do five drafts. If need be, I would do six, but I haven’t had to yet. For my second novel, I’m currently in the never-ending third draft stage.
Again, the main thing to have is determination for the first draft. For the second – an eye for detail. For the third, true creativity. For the fourth, ability to distance yourself, maybe. For the fifth – thick skin!
I wish everyone good luck with writing a novel!!

These comments are all so great. Thanks, everyone. I especially love the variety: it will be helpful for people to see that there are many ways to do this.

I started on one novel about three years ago, then let it go to focus on other things. It’s still waiting for me to finish, as the ideas come up again and again to return to it. I’m currently working on a novel that has progressed much faster. I started in Aug of 09 and I’m on the 2nd chapter, but I’ve titled all of the chapters with a brief sentence on what it is about. That helped my know where the story is going. The challenge I’ve faced is making my writing time sacred. I get busy with managing other things and not staying committed to my writing time. However, when I have been away from it the return is filled with energy and explosive ideas about the characters, and new characters show up, new twists and turns reveal themselves. Bottom line, to write a novel, I’ve got to write. One thing I’ve learned in the process is that it is far easier to let the novel write itself as if you are the observer of the story unfolding. I see the setting, the characters, the events and the minute details as if it were a movie playing out. Not all of it is there yet, of course.

Yesterday I was at the dealership getting my car repaired. They said it would take a few hours. I had two and a half hours sitting in the customer waiting area to write, and I hadn’t looked at the novel for a few weeks due to the holidays. It was fabulous! I reread over what I had written of the 2nd chapter, tweaked a few things, then continued. As new ideas came for later chapters, I wrote them as notes under those chapter headings.

Ultimately, your process is your own. I am finding what works best for me when I approach a story is that staying with it is of utmost importance. It is my child, I am responsible for its development and well-being until it is ready to venture out into the world on its own.

To Terence Kuch,

I agree about the chronological order if you’ve never written a novel before. The novel I’m working on has a chapter primarily narrative of historical back story, that is, American history that contributed to the development of the town where the story is set. To my own credit, I identified each chapter with at least its title and a brief sentence or two that describes what it is about. Because it’s a murder mystery romance novel, backstory is where much of the foreshadowing and clues will be found. Having established the chapters, which are not chronological, I then determined the timeline, when people were born and how their lives became intertwined, as well as the historical events in America that affected their choices. With the timeline down, I am able to write in chronological order and when I start my first draft edit it will be in chapter order. I also think writing chronologically with the first draft, is useful in the first revision because it gives you the platform to add and refine the suspense and anticipation of what happens next.

Hello. I am through the first chapter of a novel, and have come to a stop. Iknow what is happenng but can not get the words to flow.
Any ideas please

regards Joan shirley

Hello, Joan. I posted your question in new blog post. I had some thoughts on the subject, but I’m hoping other readers will contribute their own tips. Good luck with your novel. I hope some fo the advice helps!
http://fictionwriting.about.com/b/2010/05/03/stuck-after-first-chapter.htm

Hello, Joan. I posted your question in new blog post. I had some thoughts on the subject, but I’m hoping other readers will contribute their own tips. Good luck with your novel. I hope some fo the advice helps!

thanks,
jenifer dunn
public figure biography

When I had begun to wrote something larger from a short story, all my friends have said I am mad, it is too difficult (vs. life it is so short), demanding, commitment and, like Sahara, covering all my time and interests… So be it, I have thought. In my mind, there are several plots, born from the first there. And one plot more difficult that another. Yet, I have tried to come with a long, long short-story of mine, the one that covers larger periods of time. That was my first plot for the novel. It has a point… It has descriptions that in a short story won’t do. Too many personages implied, really, into the plot. I’ve just couldn’t stick to that. Each description, every character trying to break trough, as delivering so much important message.
Too many scenes implied, proving something, being described so awesome, like… is northing to be in a novel not shrinking into a short story for once (… as mint to demonstrate the deepness of a short story). But the idea of a short story is rather lost in between.
OK, could I have spoken the message in a long short story? Nope.
Starting at this point my new novel, I have realized I have so many scenes worthier to be written, so many directions characters could take, and that they wanted to prove… more. In a new novel. Some characters could make their entrance here, but be like in a novel, as a novel approaches to the very own definitions.
Anyway, if sometimes I have thought that writing is a curst, a burden, now I could not be myself without that burden, I am into it … writing is described like doing a drug… Because a writer is always detaching from the real world. Because of the actions, characters you are leading to the goal that is proposed to be demonstrated, or something like this, guys…are worth to do it…
A novel is a novel is a novel. Ant it will prove that by itself.

And, hey, about those second-handed plots and characters… Is just the witch pot is. In the boiling process, a figure or a conflict is raising like a puppet all of itself, then disappearing, never been there before. A little bit of a scream, a death man’s arm, a feather from a new build bird’s nest… No way. A novel is an elaborate, extremely provoking piece of art.

I’m not expert, having only completed one novel draft so far. But I can definitely say that working with a co-writer does wonders for your motivation and essentially eliminates the specter of Writer’s Block. If you have the opportunity, try it. Whether the end result is best-seller material or not, you’ll probably find it’s a rewarding and fun experience.

Your comment that we should chose a time and make it sacred is terrific advice. Skilled–now legendary–writers did just that. Wallace Stegner wrote four hours early in the morning, then went off to teach, first at Wisconsin, then at Harvard, then Stanford. T.S. Eliot worked full time at a bank. His biographer, Peter Ackroyd, says, “He would try to rise two hours earlier than was strictly necessary in order to concentrate upon his own writing, and then he would travel to the bank.” They carved out part of the day for writing, and seldom varied from it.

I have thought about my yesterday’s two posting, please do not read them. All I wrote and pretended to name knowhow writing ‘ NOVEL”, it ts far to be so complicated.

Yes, I really thing that secondary plots and second caracthers must be complicated, and the entire work should seem a lot with the bird net (see The Chinese National Stadion building site Olympics in 2008, called the Bird Nest). I really think, that writing novels are like surrounding something simple with an usual structure. Like the athletic competitions were those olds plots with new surrounding structures are our next 15 years novels. Take love, surrounded by the areal of the Chinese Nest Stadium. After the Great Unbelieveble surroundings, all that reamins is love. Of course, when someone breaks throught and love differently, maybe that will be a great novel.

This is a great idea. Writing a novel for the new year. I’ve recently been doing things I have always wanted to do without hesitation, (like sign up for a half marathon that’s in 22 days!) so I may decide to take this project on next.

My sister wrote a non-fiction book. She’s very systematic, and is big into schedules. She would set at least an hour, every day, after work to write and work on her book.

My mom’s working on writing a book, and the big problem is consistency and fighting insecurities, such as, “It’s too big of a task” or “It won’t be any good” or “I’ll never finish it”. But she keeps on realizing that once she just sits down and starts writing or working on her proposal, or whatever it may be, it’s not as hard as she thought it was, she can do it, she will do it, and she enjoys it.

I think a big thing is consistency in writing, and a positive and determined mind set.

I wanted to let you know that this post inspired me to create the daily writing challenge on my creative writing ideas blog.

I created the blog at the beginning of this summer to get me back into writing consistently, but then I got caught up in work, and let my blog and my writing go stagnant. After reading this, about writing a novel for the new year, it inspired me to back into writing, so I created the daily writing challenge to inspire me and others to write consistently, and just maybe a novel will come out in the process.

Thank you.

I haven’t been writing consistently, nor have I written a novel, but these past few months I have been trying to keep a work journal, and it’s the hardest thing to write daily. I find myself fighting writer’s block all the time. Maybe one day I’ll write a novel.

I have been writing a book, not a novel, but a non-fiction book, and I have been writing it for the past 4 years! It’s hard to stay motivated when you put your writing project on a pedestal, and make it appear to be bigger than it is. It builds resentment, fear, and procrastination. My advice would be to just do it! Give yourself a time line, make it short, yet achievable, and create yourself a routine and schedule. I’m finally getting to the end of my book, with writing proposals, and editing, but it still seems like a challenge sometimes.

I have not successfully written a novel, yet. I was reading the Writing Habit, and they list a lot of different authors writing habits and routines. It was a good read. I think someone an apple in the work desk to help them focus. I thought that strange, but I guess whatever works, works.

I hear from my friends all the time that they’re writing novels. In college, this one guy told me that he wrote a screen play in two days! My other friend recently told me that she likes to write novels, and is working on one, but is thinking of switching to another. How do people do this! I can’t even begin to write one.

Thanks for taking the time to leave comments and advice, everyone! It really is helpful to know what others are doing.