I know everyone takes different amounts of time to write their novel, but I was just curious as to how long it took you to complete it, and how often you sat down to write it (approx)? For those working on novels right now, how often do you find the time to right? Thanks.
2006-09-13 21:26:04 · 12 answers · asked by Maureen 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice when she was 18. She died before she was 35, leaving a mass of intricately woven stories that sell in every country in the world, especially the East, where delicate manners and astute judgments are treasured.
Some novellists write a book a year, but I would say with edits and whatnot you are talking around 2-3 years for a full blockbuster sized novel. There is never a good time to write. Roald Dahl used his shed and woe betide anyone who interrupted him... but of course he was a man, and women dont enjoy the same luxury of guilt-free time. I get up at 5 and write. you have to write every single day to begin with, at least 1000 words. A 60,000 word novel in theory should only take 60 days, but. It the thinking time, the re-doing certain story lines and arcs. Go to www.dramatica.com for some very good hints on writing. Do a writing course so that you learn what not to do. Plot your book then throw away the plot and write, write write. Good Luck!!
2006-09-13 22:01:34 · answer #1 · answered by Pan 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't get time too often, even though I have an extra day off in the week. At first, I thought I needed more inspiration before I could just sit down and start writing. Then I thought I couldn't write a novel as big as mine on sheets of paper, so I needed a laptop, and when I got a laptop I realised a palmtop would be better. Of course I've snapped out of that, but still I find it very hard to concentrate long enough. I started writing my novel in 1994, it's when the plot formed, and it thickened until 2001, when I wrote it down completely. For a project as big as mine, that was an enormous step. Since then, I've always been trying to write the perfect first paragraph - and of course I got stuck at that. I realised of late though, that it's worth writing the novel as I would write an article. My off-hand writing skills may lack, but as a poet and editor I like to think I could edit it instead. And asking a question on this site (about when and where the novel should start) got me thinking from new perspectives, while a Mancunian lass inspired me to start all over again. And I'm further into the novel than ever before.
Oof, this post needs an edit too.
2006-09-13 21:45:50 · answer #2 · answered by McAtterie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well it depends entirely on your schedule. Louise Doughty wrote her first novel "Crazy Paving" in 18 months.
Well, if you wish to write a perfect novel, this same writer is writing a column in this newspaper called Write a Novel in a Year. Can you write a novel in a year? Well, yes, if you don't do much else and you work hard and are talented.
But in actual fact, if you follow the column, and do the exercises she sets (yes, exercises) what you will end up with will not be a novel, it won't even be the first draft of a novel, it will be a body of work, the raw material, which you may one day be able to shape and work on until it becomes a book.
2006-09-13 22:45:05 · answer #3 · answered by Tarishi 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It took me about a year to write my first novel (over weekends and evenings as I have full time job).
It then took 3 months to rewrite based on the comments from the editor that were so obvious they needed to be fixed.
After that you tend to go into a spiral or re-writing that takes quite a while. The secret is to know when to stop.
In my case it was when the contract arrived.
Have fun and send me a copy when its published. Andy
2006-09-13 22:05:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am just a starter and am just in the middle of my first novel but I know a lot about them. It takes the same amount of time that you spend writing it. The more time you take to write it, the more faster it gets completed.
2006-09-13 23:35:40 · answer #5 · answered by risha a 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could check out www.nanowrimo.com (National Novel Writing Month) and try to take their challenge to write a novel in a month. That's a good way to get a lot of writing done in a short period of time, and have a great support group of people to cheer you on!
2006-09-14 00:38:31 · answer #6 · answered by Obi_San 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With writing about an hour a day, it tok me approx 4 months to write my novel. However, it took me over 7 months to type it. First proof read for typing errors and correction took about 2 weeks.
I try to leave myself a half hour to an hour to write a day. Always keep pen and paper with you, you nver know when the muse will strike.
2006-09-14 04:08:30 · answer #7 · answered by Bamabrat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on your schedule. I've written novels that have taken anywhere between three months and 5 years! If you write full time, it shouldn't take so long.
2006-09-13 21:33:48 · answer #8 · answered by babyeddieuk 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm writing my first right now. I'm clocking about 5 hours a day and about 15 pages. But I also did alot of research work and outlining before hand and that was about two months work. I write every day.
2006-09-13 22:12:44 · answer #9 · answered by Gabe S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is easy to write a best selling novel. Only 26 letters in the alphabet you only have to get them in the right order
2006-09-13 21:37:19 · answer #10 · answered by bwadsp 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋