Comments on: How I will Write a Novel in 2008 http://georgedonnelly.com/writing/how-i-plan-to-write-a-novel-in-2008 Supplying your Soul with Sovereignty Since '06 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:45:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: George Donnelly http://georgedonnelly.com/writing/how-i-plan-to-write-a-novel-in-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-7401 George Donnelly Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:29:14 +0000 http://georgedonnelly.com/44#comment-7401 Actually I did write at first, but I got lost in it. So I read in order to get a more intimate grasp of the principles behind successful fiction, so hopefully I wouldn't get so lost. I think I'm less lost now, actually. :) Thanks Carradee for your comment and excellent advice. I appreciate it. Actually I did write at first, but I got lost in it. So I read in order to get a more intimate grasp of the principles behind successful fiction, so hopefully I wouldn’t get so lost. I think I’m less lost now, actually. :)

Thanks Carradee for your comment and excellent advice. I appreciate it.

]]> By: Carradee http://georgedonnelly.com/writing/how-i-plan-to-write-a-novel-in-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-7400 Carradee Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:22:56 +0000 http://georgedonnelly.com/44#comment-7400 Not to be devil's advocate, but if you want to write an actually <em>novel</em>, you don't want to practice with short stories. They're two entirely different genres. Back when I was in the experimental phase, I practiced with fan fiction. (So I wouldn't slaughter my original ideas.) I ended up slaughtering some of them anyway, but that's another issue. Stop reading about writing and just write. That's the best advice I can give you. When you get stuck, free-associative writing can help you figure out why. ("I'm stuck. Why am I stuck? I'm not sure. When did I get stuck? Well, I got stuck right after xxxxxx" etc.) You can also storyboard. Take note cards and summarize one scene per card, for each scene you have in mind, ignoring the gaps in between. Then put them in order and note the gaps. How do you get your characters from point A to point D? What do B and C have to be? If you can't figure that out, then you don't know your characters very well. Figuring out your characters' personalities and back stories can help with that. Some people do character interviews. I hope this is helpful! -'Dee Not to be devil’s advocate, but if you want to write an actually novel, you don’t want to practice with short stories. They’re two entirely different genres.

Back when I was in the experimental phase, I practiced with fan fiction. (So I wouldn’t slaughter my original ideas.) I ended up slaughtering some of them anyway, but that’s another issue.

Stop reading about writing and just write. That’s the best advice I can give you. When you get stuck, free-associative writing can help you figure out why. (“I’m stuck. Why am I stuck? I’m not sure. When did I get stuck? Well, I got stuck right after xxxxxx” etc.)

You can also storyboard. Take note cards and summarize one scene per card, for each scene you have in mind, ignoring the gaps in between. Then put them in order and note the gaps. How do you get your characters from point A to point D? What do B and C have to be?

If you can’t figure that out, then you don’t know your characters very well. Figuring out your characters’ personalities and back stories can help with that. Some people do character interviews.

I hope this is helpful!

-’Dee

]]> By: George Donnelly http://georgedonnelly.com/writing/how-i-plan-to-write-a-novel-in-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-6677 George Donnelly Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:02:23 +0000 http://georgedonnelly.com/44#comment-6677 Thanks jac. It's good advice. :) Thanks jac. It’s good advice. :)

]]> By: jac http://georgedonnelly.com/writing/how-i-plan-to-write-a-novel-in-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-6675 jac Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:19:14 +0000 http://georgedonnelly.com/44#comment-6675 It sure is ambitious! What I would suggest is that you start with writing short stories first, because hey, they're short, and you can write many of them in a year. In addition, they allow you to try out different styles and plots and characters and develop your own 'voice'. Maybe from there you can move on to longer works, but for me I usually write short stories because of time constraints (i'm a student and we do timed assignments). In any case, heaps of good luck for your novel and I hope to read it someday! jac:) It sure is ambitious!

What I would suggest is that you start with writing short stories first, because hey, they’re short, and you can write many of them in a year. In addition, they allow you to try out different styles and plots and characters and develop your own ‘voice’. Maybe from there you can move on to longer works, but for me I usually write short stories because of time constraints (i’m a student and we do timed assignments).

In any case, heaps of good luck for your novel and I hope to read it someday!

jac:)

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