Comments on: How to Write a Novel (Part 2) http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/ 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: J Hugh Thomas http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-8078 J Hugh Thomas Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:54:18 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-8078 Part 2 is even better than Part 1! Thanks for taking the time to share all the helpful advice. Part 2 is even better than Part 1! Thanks for taking the time to share all the helpful advice.

]]> By: kurisuta http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6788 kurisuta Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:04:07 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-6788 So i've started my second draft and I'm doing the whole rewrite things and its really working for me. Thanks! So i’ve started my second draft and I’m doing the whole rewrite things and its really working for me. Thanks!

]]> By: kurisuta http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6782 kurisuta Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:18:54 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-6782 wow rewrite the whole thing for the second draft? I've always just tweaked and rewritten on the first draft. but i see your point. To get the whole flow out it seems to make sense to do it that way. i might have trouble though with not just retyping a lot of lines word for word, so I’ll defiantly have to do a detailed outline. It always helps me out. I always write up Character outlines, character relationship outlines, draw a map for my story, do a time line of events how they happen in the story and how they happen in real time. It helps me a lot but i don't overdo it. Though i like the color coding idea, might try it ^^ wow rewrite the whole thing for the second draft? I’ve always just tweaked and rewritten on the first draft. but i see your point. To get the whole flow out it seems to make sense to do it that way. i might have trouble though with not just retyping a lot of lines word for word, so I’ll defiantly have to do a detailed outline. It always helps me out.
I always write up Character outlines, character relationship outlines, draw a map for my story, do a time line of events how they happen in the story and how they happen in real time. It helps me a lot but i don’t overdo it. Though i like the color coding idea, might try it ^^

]]> By: Austin http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6781 Austin Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:15:08 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-6781 In the irony of the world, its stories are dark and chaotic, its allure: mesmerizing. Perfection is an ideal, and in the irony of the world, it strives for it with each labored breath, with every dwindling ounce of strength. Its guiding light is reality...but is it heeded? Is the Ideal to be the destroyer of mankind? Or will it be our inspired salvation? In the irony of the world, its stories are dark and chaotic, its allure: mesmerizing.

Perfection is an ideal, and in the irony of the world, it strives for it with each labored breath, with every dwindling ounce of strength.

Its guiding light is reality…but is it heeded? Is the Ideal to be the destroyer of mankind?

Or will it be our inspired salvation?

]]> By: How to write a novel « Orbis Writings http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6763 How to write a novel « Orbis Writings Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:41:21 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-6763 [...] http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2 [...] [...] http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2 [...]

]]> By: Anya http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6752 Anya Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:20:57 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-6752 Thanks David, Carol, and Laura, for your wonderful tips. So it's a writers' conference I want. There seem to be some in the UK, one in Paris (in English); ah, it's time to plan a nice vacation. ;o) Cheers, Anya Thanks David, Carol, and Laura, for your wonderful tips.

So it’s a writers’ conference I want. There seem to be some in the UK, one in Paris (in English); ah, it’s time to plan a nice vacation. ;o)

Cheers,

Anya

]]> By: Debbie White http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6780 Debbie White Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:11:24 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-6780 David, thanks for pointing out the surveys on Tobias Buckell’s site. I'm guessing the primary friend I was thinking of will simply think I'm crazy for writing so many novels without the assurance of having any of them published, but, hey. Partly based upon my friend's reactions, I've been a bit depressed about my apparent lack of progress. Yesterday I was even wondering if it was worth spending all the time and effort needed to write and polish these novels up. Then I asked myself, "Are these stories worth telling?" My answer was a resounding, "yes." So I'm mentally back on track again. It's not like I would ever give up writing--I love it too much. But it's nice to feel optimistic again. :) Thanks for taking the time to help. David, thanks for pointing out the surveys on Tobias Buckell’s site. I’m guessing the primary friend I was thinking of will simply think I’m crazy for writing so many novels without the assurance of having any of them published, but, hey.

Partly based upon my friend’s reactions, I’ve been a bit depressed about my apparent lack of progress. Yesterday I was even wondering if it was worth spending all the time and effort needed to write and polish these novels up. Then I asked myself, “Are these stories worth telling?” My answer was a resounding, “yes.” So I’m mentally back on track again. It’s not like I would ever give up writing–I love it too much. But it’s nice to feel optimistic again. :) Thanks for taking the time to help.

]]> By: David Louis Edelman http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6757 David Louis Edelman Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:37:32 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-6757 Point your friends to Tobias Buckell's survey on <a href="http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2006/12/19/survey-how-many-novels-did-you-write-before-selling-one/" rel="nofollow">how many novels did you write before you published one?</a> 13% of actual, published novelists said they wrote 7 or more novels -- 7 or more complete, finished novels! -- before they actually got one published. Point your friends to Tobias Buckell’s survey on how many novels did you write before you published one? 13% of actual, published novelists said they wrote 7 or more novels — 7 or more complete, finished novels! — before they actually got one published.

]]> By: Debbie White http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6741 Debbie White Sun, 03 Feb 2008 01:26:39 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-6741 Carol, thanks for clearing up the differences between conferences and conventions. Things suddenly make a lot more sense. I thought both were the same type of event, and it really helps to know the differences between the two. David, thanks so much for the sample conversation. Your advice makes a lot more sense than some of the suggestions I've heard. Now I feel like I can actually do this. BTW, yes, I have a completed and polished first novel which has received some nibbles from agents so far. I'm also nearly done with the first draft of my second novel. I guess I'm feeling pressured to try something new to get agent/editor attention because my friends don't understand why I'm almost done with a second novel and yet the first hasn't been published. Again, thanks for answering my questions. Carol, thanks for clearing up the differences between conferences and conventions. Things suddenly make a lot more sense. I thought both were the same type of event, and it really helps to know the differences between the two.

David, thanks so much for the sample conversation. Your advice makes a lot more sense than some of the suggestions I’ve heard. Now I feel like I can actually do this.

BTW, yes, I have a completed and polished first novel which has received some nibbles from agents so far. I’m also nearly done with the first draft of my second novel. I guess I’m feeling pressured to try something new to get agent/editor attention because my friends don’t understand why I’m almost done with a second novel and yet the first hasn’t been published.

Again, thanks for answering my questions.

]]> By: David Louis Edelman http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6739 David Louis Edelman Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:29:16 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/admin/craft/how-to-write-a-novel-part-2#comment-6739 Debbie: I imagine the perfect interaction with an agent/editor would go something like this. You attend a panel that the agent/editor is on. You listen attentively and, after the panel, approach the agent/editor and ask a pertinent follow-up question or two. Nothing too pushy. "Hi. I was really interested in what you said about <em>x</em>. What do you think about <em>y</em>?" After a couple of minutes, you say, "Thanks. I don't want to take up too much of your time. I'm ____, by the way. I'm writing a fantasy novel about [something very short, pithy and intriguing], and I'd like to send you a sample and a proposal." Chances are the agent/editor will say something pleasant and noncommittal like "Sure, send it and I'll take a look at it." At that point you smile, shake their hand, say thank you, and walk away. Don't push. A week later, you send them your proposal letter, the first few chapters, and a standard cover letter that begins with, "It was very nice meeting you after the panel about Yiddish Vampires at BlahBlahCon last weekend. As discussed, here's my novel about [something very short, pithy and intriguing.]" Obviously you adjust this scenario depending on the circumstances. And it's not going to work every time. But if your short, pithy and intriguing synopsis is intriguing, that's about all you'll need to get someone to take a look. Of course, it's probably going to have to pass through the 22-year-old intern first, but them's the breaks. Short, non-pushy interactions in person. Maybe a few polite comments on their blog, if one exists. You're not looking to be their best buddy. You're just looking to tickle their mind and remind them that, oh yeah, this was that nice, earnest guy/gal that I met at BlahBlahCon. If your book is good, the writing will do the rest. If it's not good enough, well, hopefully at least you've got someone you can send your next book to. Debbie: I imagine the perfect interaction with an agent/editor would go something like this.

You attend a panel that the agent/editor is on. You listen attentively and, after the panel, approach the agent/editor and ask a pertinent follow-up question or two. Nothing too pushy. “Hi. I was really interested in what you said about x. What do you think about y?” After a couple of minutes, you say, “Thanks. I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I’m ____, by the way. I’m writing a fantasy novel about [something very short, pithy and intriguing], and I’d like to send you a sample and a proposal.” Chances are the agent/editor will say something pleasant and noncommittal like “Sure, send it and I’ll take a look at it.” At that point you smile, shake their hand, say thank you, and walk away. Don’t push.

A week later, you send them your proposal letter, the first few chapters, and a standard cover letter that begins with, “It was very nice meeting you after the panel about Yiddish Vampires at BlahBlahCon last weekend. As discussed, here’s my novel about [something very short, pithy and intriguing.]”

Obviously you adjust this scenario depending on the circumstances. And it’s not going to work every time. But if your short, pithy and intriguing synopsis is intriguing, that’s about all you’ll need to get someone to take a look. Of course, it’s probably going to have to pass through the 22-year-old intern first, but them’s the breaks.

Short, non-pushy interactions in person. Maybe a few polite comments on their blog, if one exists. You’re not looking to be their best buddy. You’re just looking to tickle their mind and remind them that, oh yeah, this was that nice, earnest guy/gal that I met at BlahBlahCon. If your book is good, the writing will do the rest. If it’s not good enough, well, hopefully at least you’ve got someone you can send your next book to.

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