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Original poster

Novel Writers support group

81 replies

pinkroses · 15/02/2005 13:18

Hi. I have started this thread as I am currently trying to find the inspiration to begin my first novel...and I can imagine I am alone.

Even if you're not writing a novel, you are very welcome here. We all enjoy writing on here.

I will begin by asking a simple question. How would you write a novel from the perspective of two people?? Would you write it like chapter one is Bob's point of view and chapter two is Fred's?? or would you write two seperate stories on one book. Bob's first, then Fred's to follow??

OP posts:

SaintGeorge · 01/06/2005 14:22

So impressed by you all (and so of Fiona, published multiple times no less).

I wish I could get disciplined enough to write - I keep having little moments when I get about half a page written but then get really annoyed that I can't get the flow of ideas going. I have had a story rattling around in my head for years but as soon as I pick up a pen (or bring a page up on Word ) my mind goes stubbornly blank.

Fiona - just read the reviews of your books on Amazon, and again you clever lady

AnnieSG · 01/06/2005 14:30

D'you know, SaintGeorge, it's one of those things we build up before getting started, but actually, what it took for me was a friend saying 'Well, why aren't you writing anything?' when I said that 'one day' I would do it. I farted around with diary-writing and long emails and even my job, in truth,before facing up to the fact that writing fiction was my real, true love. Why don't you just jot some characters down or a couple of scenes that might be in a book? It can seem overwhelming when you think of all those blank 'pages', but little bits of writing here and there can really add up.
Maybe if you take pressure off yourself a bit, it might start to flow?

SaintGeorge · 01/06/2005 14:36

Ah but that's it you see Annie, I have got that far so many times - lots of half pages of characters, scene ideas, notes, even one or two actual bits of 'story'. It's the fitting them all together and padding out to novel length that gets me every time.

However, my mother has placed a bet on another thread that I will never finish my book (cough, need to start it first) so finish it I bloomin well must!

SaintGeorge · 01/06/2005 14:36

Hmmm, not exactly taking the pressure off am I

GeorginaA · 01/06/2005 14:40

One word: NaNoWriMo . Okay, I didn't say the word had to make sense. Anyway, it's short for National Novel Writing Month and it runs every November - the idea that you sit down and churn out a 50k word novel in a month.

The principle behind it is that it gives you a deadline and that the deadline is so tight that you don't have time to think too carefully, just sit down and WRITE! Anything that gets you to the point of shitty first draft stage. Yes, I have done it and I have completed it. Of course, I haven't touched it since or edited it... but hey, it's a bit further along the route

Fully plan to participate this year so am starting to collect ideas and character sketches ready and then will do my writing blitz in November during ds2's naptimes (ds1 will be starting school in September, yay!). Anyone going to join me this year?

motherinferior · 01/06/2005 14:45

If I lurk, does that mean I have to write something?

Original poster

pinkroses · 01/06/2005 14:49

GeorginaA I plan on doing that next year when the kids are a little older. I may look at it for this year though, as November is still ages away!!

OP posts:

mousie · 12/06/2005 21:14

what a fabulous thread. I am desperate to write a novel - I dream about it, fantasise about it - everything other than actually write it. When I do sit down and write I find it so crunchingly hard and I am seldom happy with anything I write. I have ideas and areas but no actual solid story. Is this something you all start with - a proper story or just areas to explore/ research further. How did you all actually stop faffing around and start writing The Novel....

GeorginaA · 13/06/2005 14:50

mousie - I'm a big fan of the "shitty first draft" and "bum on seat" approach to writing. You need to force yourself to sit down for a set period of time (doesn't matter if you don't write a bit in that time, but you're not allowed to do anything else either) and just WRITE. You can always edit later.

I've never been able to plan too much in advance, my damn characters never do what I want them to do. And if you just force yourself to write, plot twists materialise out of nowhere and surprise even me. Chances are you'll chuck most of your first draft away, but the ideas will be there and even if only 10% is useable, that's 10% you didn't have before...

GeorginaA · 13/06/2005 14:50

(she says, not having written anything substantial since last NaNoWriMo)

Tanzie · 13/06/2005 19:58

I've done 14 chapters, but will get the sack if it gets published.

mousie · 14/06/2005 07:29

mm, I have a friend in New York who is an agent and she stresses to me regularly that to be a writer you have to be prepared to be "alienated from your community", not sure, at the baby and toddler phase that I am quite ready for this. Feel lonely and freakish enough as it is much of the time!. R.e being sacked, is this because you have written it at work, or about people at work?! Or both.
Georgina A - I like your November plans. However my characters never get off the ground enough to defy me with their independent-mindedness. They are like cardboard cut outs who don't have the energy to leave the house let alone turn right if I want them to go left!

ggglimpopo · 14/06/2005 07:48

Message withdrawn

ggglimpopo · 14/06/2005 07:50

Message withdrawn

Tanzie · 14/06/2005 22:59

Mousei- both.

AnnieSG · 15/06/2005 12:16

Lucky you, ggglimpopp and well done on getting an agent. I had a couple of bruising experiences where I came tantalisingly close and then it didn't happen. Long story, but it was a real learning curve anyway.

I had that lovely feeling when it just seems to write itself for the first one, but have a good idea for number two and am a bit stuck. Think I'm going to take the advice to just force myself to try even if nothing comes! I read something recently about doing a kind of questionnaire with your characters, asking them all sorts of questions so you can 'get to know them'. Thought that was a really good idea.

fionagib · 16/06/2005 21:28

Not been on this thread for ages, don't be saint george, as have v unenviable schedule at the moment as the book I thought I'd finished 2 months ago turned out to need major surgery, and have to have it sorted in next 2 weeks (so should not be mumsnetting...)

So lots of midnight oil, as still work part time until our youngest child dd starts full time school in autumn. Reading all the conversations on here I don't think it's ever easy. Have never met a writer who can just trot books out. Obviously getting an agent is a huge step forward, congrats ggglimp!

AnnieSG · 20/06/2005 14:08

Good luck with the re-writes, fionagib.

pinkyroses · 20/06/2005 16:07

Hi fionagib. Haven't been on here for ages. How's the re-write coming?? Hope all is well.

I have been busy lately. I finally got myself going with my writing, so now I have an agent for a children's book I have written, and I have a publisher for a supernatural book coming out soon. This book came from true events as my ds was talking to an imaginary friend and wierd stuff was happening in the house.

Anyway, I'm waffling. ttfn xxx ps, not on here much anymore so CAT me if you wanna chat xxx

Freckleface · 23/06/2005 13:52

I started a novel about six years ago. Tend to write a lot in a few days and then leave it for months! Oh dear. V impressed with fionagib's success ? totally agree about the Stephen King book, On Writing, it's fab.
Two questions, both will probably make me look shallow. How many words do I have to bash out (got to about 19,000 so far). Also, is there any money in it Fiona? Hope you don't mind me asking, of course I'm doing it for my art!!

GeorginaA · 23/06/2005 18:29

Freckle - depends on genre. 50-60k words is around the mark for catagory romance a la Mills & Boon. 80-100k is your "standard" paperback. Multiply by thickness if you're going for one of those bricks

SenoraPostrophe · 23/06/2005 18:33

you've counted them, haven't you georgina?

GeorginaA · 23/06/2005 18:51

God yes... and 50k was a killer. Mills & Boon only for me I think

GeorginaA · 23/06/2005 18:53

Ah... see what you mean. No I haven't counted the words in books on my shelf, lol.

50k is the NaNoWriMo target. A couple of years back they had a standard table of what the different word lengths were of "standard" books and explaining that they were going for a short novel really. Mills & Boon also have a submission guidelines section on their site which explains the required word length for each of their categories. (Historical Romance is longer than a Tender Romance, for example).

fionagib · 25/06/2005 22:04

congrats on your successes pinkyroses! Think current books is nearly done, am really desperate to start something new now. Not quite sure what, it's all a bit hazy. Am hoping it'll come together during our hol in france (will probably end up sending off my revised manuscript 10 mins before we drive off on our mammoth drive from scotland to plymouth on thursday night!)

freckleface, some people get teeny advances and some of course get astronomical amounts. It's unusual to get any offer until you have a completed book, so I'd just finish the book and see what happens.

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