I want to write a novel?

Question

I am only 13 but I really want to write a novel and I started a LOT already. My friends say it's okay but they might be lying. I really like to read and I'm very good. I've read a 700 page book in one day before in 4th grade. i need ideas tho. i am writing a fantasy book that i want to be at least 200 pages. My friend claims i have no imagination and i might have writers block like full time. can someone help me?

um well, i cant ever finish a novel. i always do like 50 pages and then i read it and think its stupid and throw it away. i have never finished a book. never. i cant think of good plots or conflicts either and then i wonder why i even started it.

Answer 1

It sounds like you are letting your internal editor get to you!

NO ONE writes perfect first drafts! It takes time and editing. Don't go back and read it until you have the entire story down on paper, from start to finish. Once you have the basic story down, then you can go back and make it better. Every writer rewrites things, moves scenes around, deletes entire passages that don't work-- it's just how you edit.

Some people plan and outline, some people just let the story take them wherever it wants to go. Neither way is the "right" way-- you just have to figure out what works best for you! Maybe try doing an outline for your fantasy project, and see how it goes. But remember that an outline is not the final product and if it seems right to change it, you can.

Read as much as you can. If you want to write fantasy, read fantasy. Anything you can get your hands on. When you are reading, really pay attention to how the story works. Where do they begin? How do they show you about the characters? How is the pacing?

I also love to read books about writing. I have a couple books that I recommend. They are my inspirations, and whenever I feel blocked I turn to them and they motivate me to continue:

1) "Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life" by Anne Lamott. This one really focuses on taking things one step at a time and not getting ahead of yourself. There is an entire section on writing terrible first drafts that might be of help to you.

2) "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg. This is on the practice of writing. Like all other skills, the more you do it, the better you get. Ms. Goldberg has an amazing style and some great exercises to get your hand moving.

3) "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy" by Orson Scott Card. This book focuses more on sci-fi, but it is helpful to the fantasy writers as well. If this is a genre that you are really interested in, you might want to take a look at it!

If your parents say it is ok, you might want to check out http://www.nanowrimo.org which is a competition to try and write 50,000 words in the month of November. Mostly adults participate, but there are always some young teens, so you might be able to find a good support group of writers to talk to. I think it's extremely important to have people to talk to who are going through the same things!

Lastly, ignore that "friend" of yours! A friend should encourage your dreams and your passions, not tell you that you have no imagination! Of course you have one, everyone does. You just may not have practiced with yours enough just yet. Don't let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough to write a novel. If you want to do it bad enough, you can!

It takes time and patience, but it's worth it.

Happy writing!

Answer 2

Here's the trick: Quantity, not quality.

I wrote two novels while participating in the National Novel Writing Month competition held every November (details at http://nanowrimo.org). The goal was simple: write 50,000 words starting no earlier than 12:00 AM on November 1st, and you must stop writing at 12:00 AM on December 1st.

It has to be new writing, you can prepare notes before you start, and you can setup an outline, but on November 1st you have to start clean.

We had plenty of participants in your age group and everyone was really excited about it. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

How is it possible to write 50,000 words in just 30 days? Easy, in baby steps. 50,000 words is 1,667 words a day. Write half in the morning, half in the evening. Or write half in the afternoon, half before going to bed. You will write your first 10,000 words with very little effort.

Then you'll get scared.

What you will do is go to the forums so you can talk to the other hundred or so people that are freaking out because they hit 10,000 and don't know what to do. The forums are a great source of motivation, and you will find the strenght to plow through the next 10,000 words.

At around 25,000 or so you will get scared away because you made it halfway. Back to the forums, your friends are freaking out too.

Then you will hit the zone and you will write fine until around 48,000 or so. By then you will definitely be ahead of the game, so you will have 2 days or so to write 2000 words. You will either take it easy, or overshoot and end the book at 52,000.

I can tell you this is going to be the most fun you will ever have while writing.

The contest is free and there are no prizes except the bragging rights. Lulu.com will usually let you have a free copy of your book if you prove that you participated in the contest.

As for your friends, don't listen to them. You already showed interest in writing, only worry about yourself. And do not under any circumstance re-read anything you wrote until you are done. There's plenty of time to agonize over editing, the goal right now is to get you to write you first full length book.

If you are curious as to what a NanoWriMo book looks like, you can check out both of my books, I allow people to download them for free:

http://veraperez.com/pdf/ShiningStarReadandShare.pdf
http://veraperez.com/pdf/PullingStringsReadandShare.pdf

Answer 3

Hi there. 13 is pretty young to decide you want to write a novel, but it's been done. My advice is to keep reading and writing. Sounds dumb maybe, but the very best authors read voraciously and write many hours a day. Also, try to find a study group or take classes on novel writing, plotting, developing your characters, anything to do with your craft.

Writers block means you can't write. I've had it and it's horrendous. Instead of waking up with ideas and plots filling my head, there's nothing. Shudder.

Good luck

Answer 4

Sounds familiar. I'm writing a novel right now. When I get tired of the old idea, and I come up with a better one, I try to morph the two together so it becomes a bigger idea.


A fantasy book eh? I'll email you if anything pops up...

*To build off of what Ralph said, try doing the story in fragments. What I do is organize a folder on my computer (do you type your stories?) and have all separate word documents for each scene i suddenly have an idea for.

Answer 5

I recently listened to a reading by John Irving, the novelist who wrote The Cider house Rules and The World According to Garp (both of which are also now movies). His reading was good but one of his comments really stuck me.

In my own writing, like yourself, I have started stories and not finished them. I have about 5 short stories and 6 novels started right now with no endings! What mister Irving said he does with every book is writes the ENDING FIRST and then works his way backwards filling chunks of the story as he goes. He even writes what he called “the pefect ending line” – the last sentence for each story before he even starts. This was an amazing revelation to me and I am now on a writing bonanza to finish one of my novels. Now that I wrote an ending for it I have a GOAL.

This should have been obvious to me but is wasn’t. I hope this concept works for you as it did for me!!!

And to quote popofprthemasses from above:
”Best wishes man, don’t give up on writing. EVER!”

Answer 6

it's also good to have a plan going into the story. I outlined my entire book before I started and talked to my friends about any problems they saw in the story line before I started writing. Knowing where you're going helps a lot. I know that in Chapter three A B and C have to happen to get my hero to Chapter four.
I also did a timeline just to keep the reality of the book straight. I'm not writing it in chronological order but I wanted to make sure and have my "facts" striaght.

Keep writing.

Answer 7

Don't stress over it. Everytime a wild idea crosses your mind, write it down. Take those random thoughts and brainstorm.
Scribble down all the weird stuff, it's the best!

It took years, but I finally finished a book and I'm soon to be published. I've been there and seen the other side, it's worth it.

Most important: have fun. The ideals will come.

Answer 8

hey man, we are in the same boat. i too am an aspiring author. im working with a published author to get some stories put into some magazines. in fact, thats a great way to start. find some issues of fantasy or sci-fi magazines, like analog, cricket, asimov's, etc, find out what kind of stories are in them, then try to write one yourself and submit it. if you are totally set on writing a novel though, then go for it. and you know, writer's block is totally normal. i get it full time as well. =)

but just work your way through it. if you are stuck, leave the story sit for a day or two and think on it. maybe brainstorm. you could even check out some random subject generation sites, like

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/index-name.php

its a great help to find more ideas. trust me, its a load of fun to work with. give it a try.

best wishes man, dont give up on writing. EVER.

Answer 9

I am also in the process of writing three novels. What helped me when I was struggling to come up with creative ideas, was to think of the type of stories I like to read about, and story plots that would interest me.


My best ideas have always come from my dreams.

Answer 10

Start it. Write it. Finish it. And then start, write and finish another. They probably won't be good, but it will help your writing skills and by the time your 21 you'll have a best seller.