tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post4141788206505970057..comments2024-01-29T10:16:49.201+00:00Comments on 52 Ways To Write A Novel: Week Six: Novel Avoidance SyndromeJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06700477414937065931noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-12480496143669865072014-06-17T17:03:22.728+01:002014-06-17T17:03:22.728+01:00I've had this for about a year. On and off thi...I've had this for about a year. On and off thinking about ideas I thought were good enough and then scrapping them and coming up with new ideas. <br /><br />Then I tried to actually write down my ideas into a novel and ended up re-writing my stuff tones of time. I think the thing to do is to just sit and write and don't stop until you have lots of it written. It may suck, but that is what editing is about, write for now and edit laterAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07956699033151962795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-69226629671146581752014-06-03T13:06:08.756+01:002014-06-03T13:06:08.756+01:00I wasn't too bad until I took on a sequel. Oh,...I wasn't too bad until I took on a sequel. Oh, my word. Got there in the end, with 20,000 words of deletions and rewrites along the way. But I won!. E.M. Powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00565716658256251123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-390806642650393822014-06-03T09:56:02.362+01:002014-06-03T09:56:02.362+01:00I seem to have tapped a common theme here. The aut...I seem to have tapped a common theme here. The author and the rapidly escaping novel ...<br /><br />Happy writing, all of you! VxJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06700477414937065931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-91562396391326985742014-06-02T23:56:21.476+01:002014-06-02T23:56:21.476+01:00This has happened again and again which is why I h...This has happened again and again which is why I have three unfinished novels sitting in a drawer but this time I will keep going until the end that is a promise.Lisa D, https://www.blogger.com/profile/17990194728330161897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-44215364441416005312014-06-02T18:17:06.379+01:002014-06-02T18:17:06.379+01:00H.E. Bates said you have to wrestle your story to ...H.E. Bates said you have to wrestle your story to the ground and keep it pinned there. Don't let it wriggle away.David Gilmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04146774631752815004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-70952895428456245622014-06-02T16:36:36.821+01:002014-06-02T16:36:36.821+01:00Every novel. Every time. xEvery novel. Every time. xLesley Cookmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699182779296799170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-86448405343231030072014-06-02T16:05:58.468+01:002014-06-02T16:05:58.468+01:00I've definitely been in the grip of NAS, and h...I've definitely been in the grip of NAS, and have three abandoned novels to prove it! I'm sticking with the current WIP come hell or hight water, otherwise I'll have nothing finished by the end of this year.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05986874444030474719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-58982428777935527092014-06-02T13:25:14.218+01:002014-06-02T13:25:14.218+01:00Totally agree. Found myself abandoning a novel be...Totally agree. Found myself abandoning a novel because it was wandering off on its own, and I didn't like where it was going. So I started scribbling down an outline for a new, shinier, and infinitely more exciting book, when I realised I had fallen into this trap before, but had persevered and been pleased with the result. Books reach a tough stage, for me it's somewhere in the middle, when the prospect of further research and the unpicking of muddled plot lines, makes a blank page and an unimpeded imagination seem so much more appealing. But I am learning that this is all part of the process. So I have returned to the story, and although it is slow going, I am surprising myself. You must stick with it!Jenni Keernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-77598400051085194422014-06-02T13:17:18.736+01:002014-06-02T13:17:18.736+01:00Oh yes. On novel #3 (out next year!), I took sever...Oh yes. On novel #3 (out next year!), I took several months off because I was convinced I could not and should not write it. The subject matter seemed too big, too important for little old me. BUT it nagged me. I continued my research and decided to feel the fear and do it anyway. So I jumped back in. Result! Real result: finished novel sold by brand new agent for more money than I have ever earned in one go. Moral? Stick with it if it nags/begs/needs to be written.Group 8https://www.blogger.com/profile/07924947352624027079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-24326320953242444892014-06-02T11:47:23.818+01:002014-06-02T11:47:23.818+01:00Excellent post, Victoria. I can empathise with eve...Excellent post, Victoria. I can empathise with everything you write here, and I have the file bursting with 'brilliant' ideas for future novels and short stories to prove it.<br />You're right though, the key thing is to jot down all those light bulb ideas, type them up, and file them safely away. Never...never...give up on the WIP to pursue a new project on a whim.Rena Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11520149404274102132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359488738647542307.post-64062542329049746502014-06-02T11:18:54.138+01:002014-06-02T11:18:54.138+01:00In its grip right now! I'm supposed to be sett...In its grip right now! I'm supposed to be settling down to a serious edit of the young adult novel. I have plenty of motivation - the beginning (the first 30 pages) was recently shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize. It didn't win but I attended a sumptuous dinner and met agents who told me I was welcome to send it when it's ready. So what have I done this last week? 'Cleared the decks' - I mainly write short stories as Rebecca Holmes for the women's magazine market, so want to get some of these out first, as they're my bread and butter writing. Fair enough in some ways - but it's surprising how long it takes. I mean, I'm on here, aren't I? Still, two stories nearly ready to go out so I don't have nightmares about not having work 'out there', then I WILL immerse myself. <br />Thanks for the timely reminder and hints. It's nice to know I'm not alone. :-)<br />Lilian Butterwick <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com