I've also found that it's best for me to avoid (as best I can) focusing on the micro stuff before getting through the macro stuff. I've spent so many hours and days getting sentences and paragraphs "just right," then chopping them later. I also agree, though, that there's learning in all of it--even in writing the stuff that eventually gets chopped.
How Much Time?
- Thread starter measure_in_love
- Start date
- Status
Congratz!
This gives me hope. I'm revising my first novel and at the 18 year mark or so. It's slow going for me because my time is limited. Meanwhile, I've become a much better writer and done other projects. This encourages me to keep believing.
It's been 10 years since I first got the idea for my first novel. I'm still in the midst of draft #2.5. On the other hand, I have novels that I started for NaNoWriMo, between oen and three years ago. All of those are still in their first draft. There's nothing that says that you have to bang you a novel in certain time. Go at your own pace. Though, yes, I agree that it can be frustrating. Part of me desperately wants to be done with Novel #1.
I have something I've been working on for six years, simply because it's been enjoyable. Developing those characters, until they feel like they could breath. Feeling, smelling, and hearing their alien world. Working passages over and over, until they sing. The story has been an obsession of mine. In a way, I'll be kinda sad when it finally escapes.
Is it your first novel? I found that it took me ages to find my feet and write my first novel, but then after that I was able to write much quicker for my second one
Hello everyone,
thank you for all your comments. they were very helpful and put things into perspective for me. Sorry it took me a while to respond. I had a post all written out and my computer erased it. (blah!)
James, this sounds like the problem I'm having. Putting things off for a few months at a time, then going back to the project and writing a good quantity of it. I keep trying to come back to it a few days a week at least. I am seeing progress, but very slow progress.
Thank you for your comment Ishtar! This is similar to how I work. I write scenes that come to me, then connect the dots and expand them. I like having an almost-polished project when I'm done writing. Also, your comment "write in a way that satisfies your creative mind" is a very good insight. I have this creative need and if I don't express it, I just don't know what to do with myself. That's how I know this is a project worth doing.
Skye, fatigue is a huge problem for me, too. Which is probably why I put off writing for months at a time. I get distracted with life, work, etc, and I'm just too tired after all that to force myself to sit at the keyboard and write. Even though I really want to, I'm just tired. But I'm trying to make more of an effort.
Thank you so much for the confidence boost, Fullon. I really appreciate it.
Australian River, I guess you could call it my first novel. I wrote a "novella'-esque story when I was a freshman in college (I am now two years out of college) and after creative writing classes, and reading widely, I realize what a flop that was. It was maybe at 30-50k, and a mess. I considered it as a first novel, but now I know it was just plain writing practice. For me, this feels like my first novel. I feel like I have more tools and experience to write this. And I guess that's true, that with practice perhaps this pace thing will get easier.
thank you for all your comments. they were very helpful and put things into perspective for me. Sorry it took me a while to respond. I had a post all written out and my computer erased it. (blah!)
James, this sounds like the problem I'm having. Putting things off for a few months at a time, then going back to the project and writing a good quantity of it. I keep trying to come back to it a few days a week at least. I am seeing progress, but very slow progress.
Hah, slow. You don't know what slow is.It took me many years to write my first novel. I'm not satisfied whatsoever with the write-it-all-out-and-edit-it-later method. I can't move on until I'm content I've done the best I can at the time. For me it saves having to deal with filling plot holes and managing cuts and character changes etc. later that may create an even bigger mess once the entire manuscript is written.
I've already discarded several scenes from my current WIP. I found them interesting and fun to write but they didn't serve the plot as well as they should so they're gone. If I'd left them in and built up the rest of the story from that point, there would be extraneous material all through the balance of the manuscript because of it - a total waste of time.
My advice is to write in a way that satisfies your creative mind. If you write best by simply getting it all down and fleshing out and cutting later, then do that. If you write best when you're satisfied first before moving on, then do that.
Thank you for your comment Ishtar! This is similar to how I work. I write scenes that come to me, then connect the dots and expand them. I like having an almost-polished project when I'm done writing. Also, your comment "write in a way that satisfies your creative mind" is a very good insight. I have this creative need and if I don't express it, I just don't know what to do with myself. That's how I know this is a project worth doing.
Skye, fatigue is a huge problem for me, too. Which is probably why I put off writing for months at a time. I get distracted with life, work, etc, and I'm just too tired after all that to force myself to sit at the keyboard and write. Even though I really want to, I'm just tired. But I'm trying to make more of an effort.
Thank you so much for the confidence boost, Fullon. I really appreciate it.
Australian River, I guess you could call it my first novel. I wrote a "novella'-esque story when I was a freshman in college (I am now two years out of college) and after creative writing classes, and reading widely, I realize what a flop that was. It was maybe at 30-50k, and a mess. I considered it as a first novel, but now I know it was just plain writing practice. For me, this feels like my first novel. I feel like I have more tools and experience to write this. And I guess that's true, that with practice perhaps this pace thing will get easier.
I'm assuming you have a life, too, right? I've been writing my novel for seven years. I also have a day job, a husband, and two kids. And, like you, I edit like crazy WHILE I'm writing. Hang in there!
Its good to know that others are in the same boat too. I started writing this book my first year in high school and even though I finished it a few months after graduating college. It was easier writing in in high school though...less happening in my life.
I tend to get frightened if I don't work consistently. Every day I don't write I'm not taking a step towards my dream, so that fear keeps me working.
- Status