Two of WWK’s recent blog posts, one on April 12 by Heather Weidner, and one on April 27 by Kait Carson, got me thinking about how to write a novel. Their posts were more about how to get back into a regular writing schedule, but I realized that a tangent to their points is a simple principle: How do you write a novel? One word at a time.
Think about it. If you never write the first word of the novel, you can never write the last word of the novel. And if you stop writing words somewhere in the middle, then all you are left with is a half-finished novel. So, in many ways, butt-in-chair-fingers-on-keyboard remains the central core of any writing regime. Unless you still write long-hand, in which case you have to keep pen on paper for similar periods of time, or unless you like to sit somewhere outdoors to do your writing, in which case your derriere will be sitting either on a lawn chair or a rock or a hill with your back against your tree or…. Well, you get the idea. But no matter what, your keyboard or your pen must continue to plunk out words until you come to the end.
Notice, I did not title this blog “How to Write a Successful Novel,” which would be silly for me to write since I have yet to have my book published. But I did complete one book and have started a couple more since then, so I can authoritatively discuss what it takes to write a novel. While “writing one word at a time” as a guide to writing a novel is a bit of an oversimplification, since you also need something to write about (an idea), and characters that you enjoy writing about, but without the words, the idea and the characters won’t get much traction. And I have good news – sometimes when I have pounded out words just to keep going, thinking at the time I was putting out my worst writing ever, I later discovered when I re-read it that what I had written was better than originally thought.
Also note that the “one word at a time” theory does not apply to polished novels. What you get with the “one word at a time” approach is a finished novel you must then edit. But again, if you never finish the first draft, you will never have anything to edit. (A word of caution here – try to resist the temptation to edit any part of your novel until it is finished. Otherwise, you can get stuck editing Chapter 1 repeatedly to make it perfect, and never reach Chapter 2, let alone “the end.”)
If you’re disenchanted with the amount of writing you’ve been able to get done lately, take heart! Promise yourself that you will take fifteen minutes to start putting words on a page. I’m willing to bet that before you know it, a lot more than fifteen minutes and a lot more than just a few words will pass by.
What thoughts do you have that you use to encourage yourself or others to keep writing? What tricks do you use to get the small voice that says you never will be successful to get quiet, even for a little bit?
Excellent advice, Nancy. There are so many writing sprints available now (Sisters in Crime does multiple sprints each week), where you log on and just write for an hour. If an hour feels like too much for you, set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes. Above all else, do NOT strive for perfection in those precious few minutes of writing. You can tinker with it later.
ReplyDeleteAs the line goes: you cannot edit a blank page. Whether you commit to spending a certain amount of time creating new word or to writing a minimum number of words is a style choice. The commitment is what gets it done.
ReplyDeleteSometimes stories just write themselves, and I feel like a stenographer (do people even know what that is anymore?) Other times I have an idea that stubbornly refuses to coalesce into a reasonable form. In either case, the old "pants applied to the seat" idiom applies.
ReplyDeleteSuccess has many definitions. Some people want to see their writing pay off financially. Some people want to share their work with others. Some people are content to have expressed themselves in writing and who cares what anyone else thinks>
I recently finished the first draft of my next book. With a plot outline, I pounded the keyboard, producing (as you noted) good words, words I'll keep. The great Zhaazam! moment came unexpectedly. I love it when that happens.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the words aren't good, but maybe they will lead to some that are. The blank page never does.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the words come easily. Other times they don't. I find it helps to know where I'm going in my WIP before I sit down to write.
ReplyDeleteHardest part for me is the don't tinker while you draft part. I will usually do a first pass edit after each chapter to get me back in the story for the next day's writing. Yep, pantser. It helps. I'm trying to learn to leave it at one pass by reminding myself that the chapter may not make it into the finished product.
ReplyDeleteI used to keep a tube of Boudreaux's Butt Paste on my desk to remind me to keep it in the chair. The tube didn't make it in the move and I haven't replaced it. The concept is valid though.