For anyone else who wants to start/progress/finish writing a book in 2011

[artifarti]

As the title says really!

Me: After several years of dithering with short stories, I committed myself to Nanowrimo last month and managed to bash out a 50,000 first draft of an idea I've had for ages. There is some excrutiating crap in there but also the bare bones of a plot and some interesting characters. So I'd really like to spend 2011 trying to develop it into something better.

But I need some company so that we can mutually kick each other's arses when the temptation to watch Holby City is proving too great. Anyone else?

May I join please? I started writing a book ages and ages and ages ago, and I reckon it's about 70% written, but I would love to finish it off and seeing if maybe it could get published (not holding my breath).

I read somewhere that you just need to send the first three chapters, and a synopsis to literary agents - is this right? And how long/detailed should the synopsis be?

On my MA we were told (by agents who visited) not to send anything unless it was finished. A lot of people have several sets of three chapters lying around. If they like it, they want to see the rest, not have a promise.

We were also told to do a synopsis in two or three paragraphs and also to say the genre, the length and who we thought it would appeal to, eg people who liked Marian Keyes novels, that type of thing. They were all adamant they didn't want a long synopsis; they'd rather just read the first few chapters. Having said that, if they didn't like the first few pages, they didn't read much further.

Thanks!

So completely finished? I've worked out most of the story and how it ends (and have in fact, written the final chapter and the epilogue. Written most of the chapters), it just needs some fleshing out and editing (like the chapter I am working on today which I put TERRIBLE, NEEDS REWRITING across the top.

PM novelist if possible - would love to be nosey know....Not getting anything done at all - too much going on emotionally at the moment to write about the characters. But, the new one has become like a story that happened that I could write down, which is good. Quite looking forward to it when I get a chance.

Once I start again it'll be fine!

Totally second not sending anything unfinished.

Hi AbsDuCroissant, a third from me on finishing. After you've had at least one book published you can sell on proposal (synopsis and 50 pages or so), but before that you need to finish the ms as there's no track record to say that you can finish a ms. It's actually the middle that's the hardest to write -- the start and end are easier. I'd suggest finishing, polishing, polishing, polishing until you get to the point where you just want to vomit on the ms and then sending it in (I like to call that draft the vomit draft).

Oops, sorry, missed your question, DandyLioness. I do have a most creative time and do you know when it is...? 3pm! School pick up time! Very annoying!

What's the ms?

The manuscript.

thanks. Now I'll reread the novelist's helpful advice and actually understand it

Okay, so rather than sending in a couple of chapters for a first novel, send in the whole manuscript? Or send in a few chapters and say that there is a completed manuscript, should they want to see one?

Write a letter to the agent.

First paragraph should be about yourself - what you do, whether you've written before, whether you've been to writing classes, etc. You can skip this paragraph if you want to - eg if you think it's starting to sound negative.

Second paragraph, describe the book - the genre, target audience, what the reader might also have bought, length of book. Say that it is completely finished. (But make sure it is - it would be awful if they liked the chapters but you hadn't actually finished/polished it.)

Third paragraph - say what the book is about, eg "When James Bond first started working for MI5, he ..." (Sorry, ran out of ideas for that book!)

Fourth paragraph - say "I enclose the first three chapters of the novel and would be very interested to hear from you."

Sign it and take a deep breath and post it!

Hello all, well today I made a tentative foray back into my book. I re-read the last few chapters, reminded myself of my outline and typed a few scenes. Phew, glad I got some words out on the screen. Hopefully more of the same tomorrow. I'm in the final section the novel and can see the end so I just have to crack on and get there!

Have we all run out of steam or are some of us ploughing on but not posting here?

Me, I've run out of steam due largely to childcare but am feeling that surge of energy building up now to resume my WIP...

How is everyone?

Hi Bssh. I've found a beta reader for my novel, she's done the prologue so far and has ripped it to shreads. I've been wavering between keeping it and putting the info in somewhere else anyway so I may chop it. I also have a new picture book that's a WIP. The little agent rejected me though.

Childcare is a huge problem, it's hard to write with the darlings around.

I'm desperately waiting for school to go back, so I can get some work done! Squeezing bits and pieces in where I can. Had a full manuscript go out on submission yesterday, so will fret until I hear anything back about that (publisher didn't pick up option book, unfortunately).

Sorry to hear about the agent, belle. Beta reader sounds pretty good, though. I did a workshop a number of years ago where we were told no prologues, never, no excuses. I think it was Jenny Crusie. I agree in some ways -- it does hold the action up. But I also don't believe in absolutes like that, so you never know!

I read 'no prologues' the editor advised me to do one though. It's an important part of the book as it lays the foundations to the whole story. I can put it in elsewhere though. I think I'd have more luck auditioning for the x-factor Just 1 week to go before school. Best of luck on your manuscript

Well DD returns to nursery next Monday. My reduced work hours also kick in at the same time which means time to write. Hurrah! Will check in on Monday ladies.

I have written 30,000 words of a children's fantasy novel. I feel it is probably a load of rubbish, but I feel the need to write every day. I have two kids, one at school and a toddler at home. She still naps, so that is when I write. Only about half an hour a day, but over time I have a book coming along.

My book tackles quite adult themes. Is this okay in a children's novel? I know it has been done e.g. Phillip Pullman but it is hard to convey it in a way a 9-12 year old would enjoy. How long should it be? I reckon mine will be 60-70,000 words when done. Is this too short?

god belle, all - it is really tough trying to relax enough to write with the kids awake. i'm leaving it all stewing until next week - i will get friday mornings for three hours, so will force myself to rite then. bad news belle - sorry to hear about the agent.

i hate word lengths. i'm not even getting into that

Hi, addressbook. I reckon 60,000 to 70,000 sounds ideal but it really depends on your story. I'm at about 53,000 on a fantasy too and have found it pretty good. I'm feeling quite motivated as I enjoy the genre. I write when I can and it's come along reasonably well. I've developed ways to keep a track of the storyline so if I do miss a week then I can climb back in fairly easily! Good luck to you. I think children of 12+ are quite sophisticated so a moderate adult theme shouldn't be a problem but I don't mean in a sexual sense.

Sounds like good advice from allbie. Well done addressbook for having written so much :)

allbie, can you share your technique for keeping track of your storyline? I keep an outline of the entire novel I've been writing in order to keep track, with a line per scene per chapter. Obviously things shift or change as I write but then I amend the outline. It really helps me.

Hi allbie!

Yes I love this genre too. No sexual themes in my book! But I try to explore the negative aspects of western civilisation and alternative ways of living through my fantasy characters. Parental cruelty and its effects are also a theme.

I am not so good at keeping track of time in my storyline, so I am sure when I go back to edit there will be a few mistakes. At the moment though what works for me is just writing. I just want a first draft and then I can edit, edit and edit!

I think my characters are pretty deep and interesting. However I need more work on the world my story is set in I think. I need to beef it out a little and make it more substantial.

Bssh, I have written each chapter's storyline as I go and make sure that I write or draw characteristics of each character and any links they have to other characters in detail, eye colour, attitude etc...This means that I can re read the current chapter and then refer back easily to write in sequence and know where to go next. I have also created a glossary of each individual character and their family links, names etc with some drawings.
Address, sounds great. We all have our own ways which is just as well! My book looks at good and evil too.

Childcare sorted, Summer holidays over, I'm back in my writing seat. Hurrah! Only 612 words today (my aim is always 1000 a day, by hook or by crook) but I feel so motivated. On Chapter 18 out of 22. Nearly there so need to keep the momentum up...

816 words today - that daily total is inching upwards so I'm :) Hopefully will get more words down tomorrow. Am really happy I'm back in the writing saddle again.