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| | The Write and Publish Fiction Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Need Help with my Novel | Views: 646 | | Jul 16, 2007 1:50 pm | | re: Need Help with my Novel | # |
Jenny | | Martin, I'm glad that you refuse to give up on your manuscript, but don't lose all hope either.
I'll tell you that there is a rare first novel out there that hasn't been rewritten at least once, and most likely many times. I rewrote my first novel (an historical at 100,000+ words) at least 6 times from beginning to end. It is a natural process for career-oriented authors with an eye toward traditional publication.
This is partly, I believe, the reason why so many first novels do go unpublished (like mine) because after a certain amount of rewriting, there comes a time when your skills have taken you far beyond the original premise that inspired your writing journey to begin with.
Having said that, however, I also want to share that this first novel is of the upmost importance and there is no way to circumvent the process you're going throgh now. It's painful, it's heart wrenching, it brought me to tears more than once. In that way, it's like falling in love. Investing your heart in someone or something is always a monumental risk, but in the end, it can be ultimately rewarding.
Don't overthink your work, don't write when frustrated. Take a lot of deep breaths, step back from the writing when you need to organize your thoughts, think about the characters and the story, and then return to the page when you have a game plan to improve the story. This will save you a lot of headaches.
Also, don't think of it as a sprint, but a marathon. Writing a novel is definitely about endurance and stamina more than it is about speed. Give this book the time it needs, not the time you think it should have.
I wrote my second novel in six weeks and spent a few months polishing it. I wrote my first novel over the course of three years and still have not given it the final polish it needs if I choose to ever persue its publication.
I know I offered you some suggestions outside the group about what I think would work best for your particular plot situtation, but that is only one person's opinion. Done masterfully, any 'rules' can be broken. My advice to you is to keep in mind the ideas I offered, but to write the whole book out, get to "the end" before you start making changes or really work on the polish.
A book changes as you write and if you spend all your time trying to make the first third perfect, by the time you get the middle and the end finished, in all liklihood, you'll have to rewrite the beginning again based on the revelations in the rest of the story.
Finishing a novel is by far much harder than beginning a novel. That first draft should be all about story with little regard for the way it's written. Once you have the bones down, you can then add the layers of muscles and skin. Without the bones, however, you'll end up with a Piccaso-esque finish--body parts where they weren't intended--no matter how well crafted they are ;)
Get the story out and down, let the book rest, and then return with an eye toward sculpting it into the story you want to share.
I hope that helps, and if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask!
Warmly,
Jenny:)Private Reply to Jenny | | Aug 17, 2007 11:31 am | | re: re: Need Help with my Novel | # | 
Anil Goel | | Jenny,
Wow, chanced upon this and this is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo trueeeeeeee...I am probably one of those fortunate few whose first novel is being published but I can completely understand what you are saying.
Its soooooooooo important to step away adn only write when the story comes to you
And somethign i didnt realsie but i think now in hindsight i did do as you ahve suggested - it is indeed VERY important to get the story out....
gosh I am SO glaaadddddddd i wrote it out just the way you have said though i ditn have the luxury of having got this kind of advice then nor did i read any book no how to write
but i can see clearly the trap i could have fallelng into
Have been an accidental writer but will keep that in mind as I write my next book...
P:S: I can't see the original post, only your comments
Best,
Anil
http://anilgoel.rediffiland.com
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