If you’ve always wanted to write a novel, but found the traditional structured process too frightening or overwhelming, maybe your imagination works in a more organic fashion like mine. In that case, start with your main character and the idea the character gives you for the plot. Then close your eyes, grab your notebook or computer, and watch the main character. Sooner or later she or he will begin talking and moving around. When that happens, start writing! I guarantee what you hear and see will thoroughly surprise and delight you.
Even though my books are considered literary novels, I’ve always admired the mysteries of Tony Hillerman, and the way he laces his novels with information about the Native American tribes in his area. I call books like these “info novels,” and they are great fun if you’ve never read one. That is also a goal I try to achieve with my Occult novels. With these I’ve been able to weave information about contemporary Pagan life, as well as real spells, chants, or rituals throughout every chapter. This series also provides a wonderful opportunity to add data of interest to my women readers about holistic healing, feral cat rescue, perimenopause, fibroids, and much more.
Anyone who would like to undertake a big project like a first novel should know the sky is the limit. If organic structure development, experimental formats, and “info novels” appeal to you, go for it! Don’t worry if your ideas differ from the traditional novel. And don’t be afraid to seed your novel with information. Just make sure it occurs naturally within the flow of the storyline. For good examples, read the “info novels” written by novelists who excel in this form.
Also, don’t let your first draft scare you, because all first drafts tend to be utterly frightening. A first draft has only one purpose: it’s the place where you put your ideas down on paper. The editing of the first draft is where the magic happens. When I create the first draft of each chapter, it is an exhilarating experience. A real adrenaline rush! But I am first and foremost a poet, and like most poets I love to edit. It’s the polishing of each scene, sculpting it to sail smoothly into the next that gives me the greatest joy.
In fact I am currently working on a new novel, which is proving to be the most organic and intuitive one I’ve ever attempted, making it great fun to write. All I started with this time was the main character and her cats. She never told me her idea for a plot, so I just followed her around, writing down her thoughts, words, and actions as she moved from scene to scene. Suddenly, other characters appeared, and exciting subplots began to emerge.
Now I am six chapters into this novel. The first five chapters have already been published or accepted by literary journals, because I always submit each finished chapter as a short story to gain publication credits for the novel. Yet the main character still hasn’t revealed the plot to me. No problem. This novel seems to be following its own organic, information-rich course, and those who’ve read several of these chapters have enjoyed them immensely and can’t wait to find out what happens next. Me too!
Don’t let fear stop you from writing the novel that’s been bubbling around in your imagination for days, months, or years. Most of all, don’t let a lack of money or education stop you. I never took a writing class, and nineteen years later I’ve published more than thirty poetry books and novels. My poems and short stories have appeared in over seven hundred literary journals, magazines, and anthologies worldwide. How did I do it? I used what was available to me. I found my high school and college grammar books and studied those. And then I read the poetry books and novels of writers I admire, and that’s how I learned to write.
Sometimes if your mind works in an organic fashion this may be the best way to tackle your first novel. Then all you’ll need to do is let go, give total control to an imaginary character who lives in your head, listen to what she or he says, and start writing!
Laura Stamps
http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/a-different-way-to-write-your-first-novel-108415.html
#1 by Roald Ellsworth on July 16th, 2009
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For novelists: How was writing your second novel different from writing your first novel?
I’ve written pleny of short stories and articles, and been published a number of times. I’ve also written many longer manuscripts, but none of them felt as exciting as the one I finished this past year. It’s the first that I really got involved in and loved, and the first that has attracted the attention of an agency. So, I consider it to be my first real book. While I edited it, I had wonderful ideas for a second book, but now that I’m writing it, all I can do is compare it to the first and worry that it won’t be as good. I’ve heard that writers have a hard time with second books, and I’d like some advice. What were your experiences, and what kept you going?
Please don’t answer this like the first person. It says "for novelists." If you aren’t one, go somewhere else.
#2 by mustard100 on July 16th, 2009
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I have no novel-writing experience, but I suspect that for me, by the second novel, the novelty of noveling would have worn off.
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#3 by orbitaldata on July 16th, 2009
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My first novel took me ten years to complete. The second used up another five years. It went faster only because I learned to use my time a little more effectively during the writing of the first. Now that I’ve completed several the time needed is much less, but the effort is the same or, perhaps, a little tougher.
We all (as far as I know) look back at the first one and wish we had taken the time to do more editing, cutting, hacking, and slicing — but, hey, what’s done is done, right? Wrong. Every one of them provides the same dilemma. Was it any better? Could I have chosen different words here and there to make it better? What would I do if I could do it over from scratch? Will the next one be any better than the first five?
No, it never gets any easier from that perspective. The writing and the discipline, yes — the worries, no. I know that, when I go back and look at number six, I will say, "My gawd…did I really write that?"
J.
http://www.jrichardjacobs.net
"The speed of the brain is inversely proportional to the speed of the mouth squared."
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Coming up on 52 years of professional writing, editing, and proofreading.
#4 by Sky on July 16th, 2009
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The Starchild took me 13 years to finish. But during the last couple of drafts, I wanted to go to stage 2 of the process–which was writing the sequel: Starchild Duel.
I didn’t have any problems with it because it was a natural progression of what took place prior.
And I’m not worried if it doesn’t stack up the first book. Sequels rarely do. I just write and see what happens next.
Same with my first Stories of the Dead Earth novel: It was written the way it was supposed to be. And when I started on the second book, I just continued on with the story.
You shouldn’t worry too much. But you should heed some words of caution: Due to the volitility of the market, many first-time authors don’t get called back for a sequel.
I should know.
I asked the author of Maximum Ice why they didn’t do a sequel to the book. And she said: "The first book didn’t generate enough sales to warrant a second book."
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#5 by Persiphone_Hellecat on July 16th, 2009
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I have found exactly the opposite experience. While I enjoyed writing my first I loved writing my second. I found the way I approached it to be completely different and the book showed the difference. The second one practically wrote itself. I don’t remember hitting a single snag in it. It was as though I knew from the moment I started writing exactly how the last page would look. Oddly, the third was problematic and took a ton of rewriting, but the 4th was like the second. I knew the day I started it exactly how it ended. I couldn’t wait to write the last page. Now with #5, I am trying a completely different thing – and it is going well but I am still adjusting to the different style I chose for this one. Maybe there is something about me and even numbers. Hmm. Oddly enough of the two books I ghostwrote, the publisher likes the second one a lot more. Kind of proves my point I guess. I am an even numbered author. Pax-C
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