In May, I reached 40,000 words on my novel. It's not anywhere near the quality I expect it to be at. The tension, and characters, and the world are not fully fleshed out. That doesn't bother me, as they say writing is rewriting, and rewriting, and rewriting. It is in it's early stages. But I realized something the other day. I was trying to run the equivalent of a literary marathon, without having trained for it. If I started running a marathon tomorrow, I would fail miserably at mile six, without a doubt. I could probably walk the rest of the way if my legs didn't fully give out.
In April, I wrote 26 flash fiction pieces (500-1000 words each). That helped me greatly get my form down. It helped me see and fix technical errors in grammar, narration, point-of-view and scene making. Yet, I wouldn't go do a couple (or 26) 100 meter dashes and then expect to run a whole marathon. A novel is a different beast entirely. I like the world and cultures I am creating, and am amazed it's all coming from my imagination. But, like a runner training for a marathon, I have to hone my story telling and characterization before I can fully give my debut novel the proper treatment. Therefore I'm trying a new approach.
My current project is a couple of short stories to help me get my story telling chops in order and to fill in some background information for my planet. I doubt they will ever see the light of day. It really depends on the quality that comes out. And being my first true run outside the short sprints that were flash fiction, I expect this to be a great learning experience--much like the April A to Z challenge proved to be.
My current project is a couple of short stories to help me get my story telling chops in order and to fill in some background information for my planet. I doubt they will ever see the light of day. It really depends on the quality that comes out. And being my first true run outside the short sprints that were flash fiction, I expect this to be a great learning experience--much like the April A to Z challenge proved to be.
Perfect analogy here... and I think I've made similar mistakes. Not only have I purchased expensive running shoes before even taking the first step, but I thought that maybe years of blogging about random ideas in journal form had prepared me to write both a short story and a book... simultaneously, even! Some of the other IWSG posts today have consisted of "keep your chin up" type inspiration, but yours is the first to make me stop and revaluate what I'm doing before I set myself up for failure. I think the book may have to wait while I work on my stories first. Thank you for the sage advice... and I for one, would love to read your short stories about your planet.
ReplyDeleteThanks T. I think it's KEY to never stop writing. Even if you decide to wait on the book. Write, write, write. Find the things your good at and make them great. Find the things your okay at and make them good, and make the things your bad at, manageable. This is not coming from my experience as a writer (which is zilch), its from my experience in other aspects of life. Keep on, keepin' on and things always get better.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting.
Just stopping by from the IWSG :)
ReplyDeleteWow, 40,000 words of a novel! Give yourself a huge pat on the back, adopt a smug look and indulge in your favourite tipple! :)
I wrote my first Nano novel in Novel 2010 without having written a thing for, ooooo, Im not going to tell you how many years lol. But, although really it was totally the WRONG thing to do, in many ways, it was so right. It was a great experience, and yeah, I have 65,000 words that I'm currently editing, but, if I hadn't of jumped in feet first like that, I'm not sure I'd be sitting here now with 2 novels under my belt and planning the 3rd :)
Good luck honey!
Xx
I am a huge fan of doing short stories before a novel. Novel's have so many different pitfalls, better to hone your writing in shorter bursts then tackle the big project. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI loved your "The Last Six Miles" and love it. I can't wait for Tough Girl.
DeleteThis is exactly how I feel, only I'm trying to run the marathon after sitting on a couch, only leaving to waddle to the freezer for more ice cream, for years. Keep going though. You'll eventually reach that finish line.
ReplyDeleteI did take look at some of your stories in Life in Motion and I really enjoyed them. I hope to see your novel some day.
Thanks, today was very productive.
DeleteGood luck! Everything you do to strengthen your writing muscle is going to help in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI have an given you the Liebster Award on my blog. Feel free to stop by sometime to pick it up. :)
Andrea
Thanks Andrea. I'm so bad about those awards, I appreciate it though. I'll have to do do the Award thing, maybe this weekend.
DeleteHi! I'm new to your blog but what i have read I have really liked and wanted to give you the Liebster award! Hope you collect it!! :) Great blog!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paige. I'll collect it and send it back out. I tend to work at a snail's pace though. Perhaps this weekend.
DeleteFor me the A to Z challenge was the marathon I jumped into and fell flat on my face ;) It became more of triatholon where I was attempting all three parts at once and just didnt work out the work-life-write balance.
ReplyDeleteI fully admire your approach and determination and hope to see you acheiving results
Oh yes, AtoZ was definitely a marathon of sorts. I ended up with 22,000 words from it, all stories. Since I'm shooting for about 70,000 words for my novel, I'll call it a 10K instead. One thing I do miss is the deadlines; they made me write.
DeleteI find that flash fiction has helped me immensely with novel writing. It makes me more concise.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with everything. You're working towards something and becoming a stronger writer.
Concise for sure, it makes me pick my words very carefully and makes me mindful of adjectives and word choice. FF is totally worth the effort. For me, it's time to push the edges out. I just hit about 5,000 words on a short story that is about three quarters done. Can't wait to hit the rewriting zone.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone. I had been traveling for 23 years and before that allot of misfortune in the loss of many family members and friends. Well the last straw that broke the camels back happened about 16 days ago. Up until then I had completed 98% of a board game designed to help young adults in life choices. A project that had been off and on for over 23 years and It was on the shelf. I had 1/5 of a screen lay about my journey and yes on the shelf. I sat down on the 8th of june opened my Apple note book and started to write after a long walk going over in my mind my life of unfinished projects. I placed a poster board on my wall and put a the date and goal of 1000 words a day. 15 days later I had written over 39,000 words and Im obsessed. Its all by memory, I just put a chapter in my life wether its kindergarden or my trip to Africa and just write until I covered what was involved in that particular experience. As I hit my 32000 mark i get a call from an old friend who was well aware of my project and especially the board game and introduced me to a non profit organization who made games and only games.. I met with the gentleman who personally created over a dozen games that are played all over the country. He loved my game and agreed to present it to his staff and will get all the t's crossed and I's dotted and make it fun and then go from there. Its not a guarantee I will be on talk shows in any time soon but It will be completed and help kids, how many is not my concern right now.However I didnt even get to the chapter of THE GAME but now I have a special event in real time on this chapter. I have at least 30-40 thousand words to complete my official first draft manuscript and yes Im very excited on the re write. Its all non fiction so I just need to format and story polished to flow to my readers and keep them at the edge of their seat. I have shared stories of my peculiar travels for years and people would absolutely love them and beg for more and now it will be Bio and what a weight to be lifted and an accomplishment to be proud of. I hope this short description of my experience so far brings a fire within you to go for it you ahve nothing but win ahead of you. David
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteGood work - I like the blog! I'm in the same boat, trying to get that first novel done - just over half way through! Instead of the flash fiction I've started a blog to get me to write. Being a primary teacher I can usually find unfinished work to do instead of writing!
Keep it up!
Neil.
Thanks, Neil. I teach too, and I am surprised to say that I actually the summer threw me into a loop, I had a routine going in the spring that got disrupted by the randomness that is my summer vacation. I guess I need the structure. Fall should be bountiful.
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