Ok lets’ get things right from the start, this is
not a how to write a good novel blog, but all the little tips everyone had said
that I had written down and thought I would share. Some of it may sound
contradictory, some may sound way out there weird, but as I have come to know,
every writer has their own way of writing and sharing part of your wisdom may
help someone else.
First rule is to NEVER under any circumstances think your
first draft is good enough for publishing. Nearly every author has said that
the first draft is a throw away but a good starting point for your novel,
story, blog etc.
First drafts can be written in a few minutes to a few
decades. But if you have to think too hard about it then it’s time to put it
away and let it develop in the back of your mind until you’re to tackle it
again.
Be prepared to sit down with all your notes and literally
cut and paste your story to make it flow well and help get those ‘creative
juices’ flowing.
Inspiration comes from the corner shoe store down the road
next to the mall….ok we know that it can come from anywhere, but as Jackie
French said after having to answer that question repeatedly, it can be as small
as a pattern that catches your eye to a big emotional event in your life.
Getting a good editor is a great key to getting passed the
tiny chance your piece may be picked up from the slush pile. Take your time
when it comes to editing your own piece as well. Most times we can correct our
own work if we take it slowly.
Do your research when it comes to publishing houses. Don’t
send your piece to every publisher hoping one will pick it up. Pick a publisher
that works with the type of novel you have written and make sure you answer
their key selection criteria in the cover sheet. Most times that is the only
chance you get to impress a publisher.
Remember the chances you’re going to make millions out of
your novel are pretty slim, but not impossible. So it is important to either
have a part time job or investments that can help you. (if only it was that
easy)
To help you focus, going into a ‘lull’ and tuning out all
outside white noise and distracting thoughts can help develop story lines,
characters or ideas to whatever piece you want to write. (Most times these
happen for me in the shower where I can’t just write down my ideas) A lull is a
fantastic way of meditating for writers. It doesn’t require any awkward poses,
or noisy chants, it is just you and your thoughts of creativeness. It’s a place
that is personal and happens differently for every person but it is a fantastic
way to tune out the world and have your creative world around you.
Your first novel will take 3 years and 3 days to write…3 days
of you trying to start, getting frustrated, scrapping ideas, having bad habits
of writing before actually starting to write coherently. The novel may only
take you 12 months to write (less if you’re lucky), but then it goes to an
editor, a publisher and then once you have made all the corrections you need
to, then it gets published.
Your first novel will take 5-10 years to write…from the time
you start writing your novel and you finish, then you edit and re-edit and
re-edit again, then send it to a publisher and re-edit again the process can
take up to 10 years
Now after all that information and advice who would really
want to tackle writing a novel? Then answer….ME!!
I don’t care if it takes me 3 years and 3 days, 5 to 10
years or 20 years to write a novel, this is something I really want to do and
after the writes festival weekend I have more inspiration to keep going with it
and more support from the networks I made that I feel as though it is an
achievable goal.
