Comments on: How to Write a Novel (Part 1) http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/ Writing and Reading. Commerce and Art. Fantasy and Science Fiction. Discuss. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:24:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: David Louis Edelman http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-13298 David Louis Edelman Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:30:35 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-13298 Aida: I find I get the best results if I alternate writing and editing. Write part of a chapter, edit what I've written the next day, write the next part, etc. Aida: I find I get the best results if I alternate writing and editing. Write part of a chapter, edit what I’ve written the next day, write the next part, etc.

]]> By: Aida L. Irizarry http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-13295 Aida L. Irizarry Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:34:57 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-13295 One question, as I don't find the answer here: do you edit as you write? I find that if I do that, I keep on changing the outline. Isn't it better just to write all the way through and then do an edit? Aida One question, as I don’t find the answer here: do you edit as you write?

I find that if I do that, I keep on changing the outline. Isn’t it better just to write all the way through and then do an edit?

Aida

]]> By: Lonnie http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-13210 Lonnie Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:02:32 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-13210 Some fantastic information on here, David, though I don't know if I agree with just noodling around an idea. Unless it's done in shorthand and broad strokes. That seems like an awful lot of time to figure out if it's something worth sticking with. Maybe I've just got too much going on right now :) There's a great "checklist" to see how good your idea is in the course at http://zero2novel.com. Granted, it still all comes down to intuition and what "feels right" and excites you. Because, really, if you can't be bothered to be excited about what your writing (at least most of it..) then how can you expect others to enjoy reading it? Some fantastic information on here, David, though I don’t know if I agree with just noodling around an idea. Unless it’s done in shorthand and broad strokes. That seems like an awful lot of time to figure out if it’s something worth sticking with. Maybe I’ve just got too much going on right now :)

There’s a great “checklist” to see how good your idea is in the course at http://zero2novel.com. Granted, it still all comes down to intuition and what “feels right” and excites you. Because, really, if you can’t be bothered to be excited about what your writing (at least most of it..) then how can you expect others to enjoy reading it?

]]> By: zafar http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-12208 zafar Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:06:28 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-12208 I have to say that because writing is not structured and many a times the best writing is done without a full outline and goal, these point are good but not necessarily exactly how a best seller is written. I am not trying to ruin your hard work and effort but I must say it does not always come to structure but I find sometime ideas and writing just flows Anyways apprecaite the article Thanks I have to say that because writing is not structured and many a times the best writing is done without a full outline and goal, these point are good but not necessarily exactly how a best seller is written. I am not trying to ruin your hard work and effort but I must say it does not always come to structure but I find sometime ideas and writing just flows

Anyways apprecaite the article

Thanks

]]> By: J Hugh Thomas http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8076 J Hugh Thomas Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:10 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-8076 On behalf of all those, like myself, working on a first novel, thank you for a very informative and complete post. I'm linking to your posts in my blog to spread your wisdom around. On behalf of all those, like myself, working on a first novel, thank you for a very informative and complete post. I’m linking to your posts in my blog to spread your wisdom around.

]]> By: haiden http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-6697 haiden Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:29:02 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-6697 I'm pretty horrible. I have a general vague idea, but I don't quite know what it is. And I'll write a few pages about some random part of the idea (once wrote about a guy scared to death of walking down this alleyway, and left off before he even walked in) And each time I write it always seems to be in a different style with very different characters. So the commitment part is gone for me. I quit. I couldn't see where I was going, and had no reason to even start. I’m pretty horrible.
I have a general vague idea, but I don’t quite know what it is.
And I’ll write a few pages about some random part of the idea (once wrote about a guy scared to death of walking down this alleyway, and left off before he even walked in)
And each time I write it always seems to be in a different style with very different characters.
So the commitment part is gone for me.
I quit.
I couldn’t see where I was going, and had no reason to even start.

]]> By: How to write a novel - web resources « Dramaquill’s Weblog http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-6721 How to write a novel - web resources « Dramaquill’s Weblog Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:52:45 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-6721 [...] http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1 Check out this wordpress blog on novel writing [...] [...] http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1 Check out this wordpress blog on novel writing [...]

]]> By: kurisuta http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-6722 kurisuta Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:55:22 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-6722 (This is almost identical to how I write! I don’t like knowing all the specifics…like outlining the thing to death…but I always go from “basic idea” to “basic idea + ending” to “basic idea + trials & tribulations + ending.”) that's just how i do it too! Once you have basic idea + trials & tribulations + ending you can start jumping around to writing what intrests you in the story at the time, but I wouldn't suggest that before you have basic idea + trials & tribulations + ending if you do the story gets muddled. New ideas of the how and why it starts, ends and is start jumping out and then your not even sure what your writing anymore. then the story will seem pretty much hopeless, it will seem like the whole time its really been conspiring against you. you should always make sure you have the basic of idea of not just how it starts and ends but what trials and tribulations inbetween insentially set up all of it happening. (This is almost identical to how I write! I don’t like knowing all the specifics…like outlining the thing to death…but I always go from “basic idea” to “basic idea + ending” to “basic idea + trials & tribulations + ending.”)

that’s just how i do it too! Once you have basic idea + trials & tribulations + ending you can start jumping around to writing what intrests you in the story at the time, but I wouldn’t suggest that before you have basic idea + trials & tribulations + ending

if you do the story gets muddled. New ideas of the how and why it starts, ends and is start jumping out and then your not even sure what your writing anymore. then the story will seem pretty much hopeless, it will seem like the whole time its really been conspiring against you.

you should always make sure you have the basic of idea of not just how it starts and ends but what trials and tribulations inbetween insentially set up all of it happening.

]]> By: peggy http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-6707 peggy Fri, 30 May 2008 00:56:16 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-6707 <em>i have started writing a novel. although i dearly love it,i didn't have any idea what i was doing when i first began, nor did i realize the endless hours of study and revising the material ,that it takes to really write a story. i want to thankyou for this site and the time you have put into it. as a writer ,i know that time is a precious thing. i wish there were more hours in a day sometimes because i could really use it!!! i have used your advice on the web site when writing.it has really helped me from step to step!i'm getting there !i have finished my ever revised 6th page !i thought i would never get this far !! thankyou again,peggy</em> i have started writing a novel. although i dearly love it,i didn’t have any idea what i was doing when i first began, nor did i realize the endless hours of study and revising the material ,that it takes to really write a story. i want to thankyou for this site and the time you have put into it. as a writer ,i know that time is a precious thing. i wish there were more hours in a day sometimes because i could really use it!!! i have used your advice on the web site when writing.it has really helped me from step to step!i’m getting there !i have finished my ever revised 6th page !i thought i would never get this far !! thankyou again,peggy

]]> By: Nicole http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-6698 Nicole Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:04:28 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-1#comment-6698 I, admittedly, have always toyed with the idea of writing a novel. I'm not extremely talented, nor am I particularily imaginative, but I do get those moments where an idea pops into my head and I start writing it word for word, sentence by sentence. I'm sure this isn't the ideal method of doing it, but, you've pointed out a few things in your post that I've taken a liking to-- and a few things I'm already familiar with. That's a good thing, I think. Thanks for this. I, admittedly, have always toyed with the idea of writing a novel. I’m not extremely talented, nor am I particularily imaginative, but I do get those moments where an idea pops into my head and I start writing it word for word, sentence by sentence. I’m sure this isn’t the ideal method of doing it, but, you’ve pointed out a few things in your post that I’ve taken a liking to– and a few things I’m already familiar with. That’s a good thing, I think.

Thanks for this.

]]>