TECH: Get That Novel Started (9)

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original Posting 5 Oct 2012

The book is Get That Novel Started! (And keep it going 'til you finish) by Donna Levin. Part one was all about getting started -- start today, write 10 minutes, make sure you're writing, take care of your fears, and collect ideas. Part two started us working on a novel. Basic idea, characters, a rough outline, and then an opening scene. Then we had another look at that beginning. And jumped ahead to what it looks like when you're done, what are the various ingredients in the soup we're stewing? And now it's time for Chapter 9! "But what I really want to do is write novels"

In this chapter, Donna starts out by pointing out that lots of people go to writing classes. And they all want to write novels. Now basically she suggests that if you've already been writing other kinds of things -- short stories, nonfiction, stage plays, screenplays, or nothing in particular -- you can still write a novel. Admittedly, people who have been writing other kinds of things have some background that may help. They may also have some things that they need to think about.

For example, short stories are usually about one person, one incident, and some change. They're focused. Novels aren't just a collection of short stories. There's momentum that builds from one scene to the next, the stakes change, we see several characters responding to several situations. Short stories often occur in one time, one place, and with one big burst of action. Novels usually involve more time, places, and actions.

Similarly, nonfiction writers have learned some things, but now they have to tell the story of their characters, and make up the facts. Stage playwrights finally get to put several scenes in. And so forth.

If you haven't been writing anything? "No previous experience is necessary to learn how to write a novel. And on the positive side, you have no old writing habits to break." Read, follow the guidelines or suggestions, and get yourself into the habit of writing.

Or as Donna ends the chapter, use what you have already learned as a foundation to build on.

And write that novel!

Part three is all about keeping going. We'll learn about the mid-novel blues (chapter 10), revision (Chapter 11), writing groups (chapter 12) and how to be your own grandmother -- the conclusion. Stay tuned!