Reading Around A Subject and Beginning a Novel

[Daphnesmate01]

Working on my second novel (first novel to be self published end of Jan).

Partly historical, so reading around the subject and trying not to get overwhelmed. I have at least 3 books still to read (I try and speed read). Anyone else researching/reading for their book at the moment?

30,000 words on paper so far. Anyone else at the beginning of their book? Last book took ages to write, so I know the work involved...and it is easy to feel overwhelmed! Plus first book not taken up by agent (only sent to 5 granted) but it still feels demotivating (though I write largely for myself, it would have been nice to have had it positively acknowledged). Just looking for a bit of moral support.

Hello, am a write whose had a hell of a time with book one ( always my first book and one I'm too tenacious too let go.) I'm currently researching a myth retelling which I'm going to take at a sprint in November and December, as opposed to the five year slog of book one.

So much reading and still working on book one, but I'm looking forward to something free and lovely with no e of the painful baggage first book carries.

Which period of history are you looking at? Mine is Minoan Crete.

theotherfossil - My first book is set in dual time frame - modern day and Victorian era. There was a lot of information and I didn't go into huge depth but little details here and there. It took around 3.5 years (working whilst little dc had a nap). It does carry a lot of emotional baggage too. Second novel isn't exactly light hearted either but much more so in comparison.

My second novel, is again dual time frame - modern day and early 18th century France. I feel a bit out of my depth, I think the research is going to take longer than the writing!

I love Victorian writing, that era is so dark and steeped in hypocrisy but also the wonder of the new, the world on the brink, you know? It's so exciting.

Are you thinking pre revolutionary France for book 2? Have you read A Place of Greater Safety?

Yes, the darkness was perfect for what I wanted to write about fossil.

And, yes, pre-revolutionary France, can't get bogged down in all that (shudders), I want to write fiction not non-fiction. Not read suggested book, will definitely look that one up. Minoan Crete must also be very fascinating - is yours a YA novel?

I've not actually thought too deeply about what book 2 will be. As I say, I'd like to take it at a sprint and see what it turns out as. The image in my head was of an adult myth retelling, but these things have minds of their own. I'm using Scrivener to compile research while I slog through yet another draft of book 1.

I love pre revolutionary France. I remember someone saying something like, say one inaccurate thing in non fiction it's instantly non believable, say one accurate thing in fiction and the whole thing rings true.

A Place of Greater Safety is wonderful, far better, in my opinion than the Wolf Hall novels although everything she writes is excellent. She grew up obsessed by history and her first book was rejected repeatedly.

I wish I could stop reading up on background. As it is, there is always more to read (my period is 16th century Low Countries). I know there is a great book that could be written about about the period, and that too much information really doesn't enhance a book, but I'm still stuck.

@MaMaLa321 I'm trying Scrivener, just to get the research I need into different files. 16th Century Low Countries sounds fascinating, weirdly, I am enjoying the research.

yes, I'm enjoying it too much.

theotherfossil...how does Scrivener help with organising research? I could probably do with this. The research could be endless, couldn't it. I've found snippets of useful stuff today.

I did try Scrivener, and I know that lots of people find it useful. But I found I was spending time getting it to work that I could spend writing. Instead, I just have a great big pin board

I write dual timeline, present day and 16th century and I spend a couple of months researching before I start writing and then make notes to research any specific details as I go through. I sometimes try and do that sort of research in the evenings when I've stopped writing. At some point I have to decide to stop researching, which I love and actually get on and write the book!