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Achieving Novel Physics
By Laura Wright
Last
edited: Wednesday, August 28, 2002
Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2002
Writing A Novel: Simplified, Not Squared
One of the greatest difficulties for a writer is the novel. Be it fiction or non-fiction, many authors hesitate to get involved. Sometimes, the largest intimidation isn’t editors or agents, it’s the thought of the commitment.
“I’ll Never Get It Done”
One hundred thousand words. A simple number simply comprised of six numeric digits. However, when you sit before a blank screen or piece of paper, the zeros multiply. Suddenly, six digits become nine, then twelve. It’s automatic panic, the thought of the time it’s going to take. The months and months of endless writing and editing and often, researching the topic. The estimate we give ourselves leaps from a few months to a few years, in anxiety, we might even believe we’ll never complete the work.
Sometimes we shudder to contemplate the harsh realities of so many words, we forget to listen to the creative voice inside. That’s when it’s time to slow the pace and concentrate on what is realistic and what is ridiculous.
A looming screen can make many writers back away, and return to thoughts of writing instead of the act itself. For many, there is nothing more frightening than a blank screen or piece of paper.
I=NS (Interest = Novel Success)
Forget what’s popular, forget what’s trendy. Your writing must interest you. You should enjoy researching and reading your piece. Most writers forget that they play dual-roles in their craft. Not only are they writers, they are readers. Understanding this fact can make self-editing, even in the most brutal fashion, painless and easy.
If you are drawn into your novel’s plot, your subject matter, it will show. If your characters are diverse and deep, readers will adore them. All of this, along with a genre and plot you are interested in, will give you a wonderful piece when you are through.
Time Is Of The Importance:
This is the main body of many writing fears. The time. You really can give yourself a good idea of what you can write with a simple equation. While no writer can guarantee uninterrupted writing sessions, knowing your abilities is key.
If you are unaware of your own capabilities, you will become bored, frustrated, and angry at the slothful process. You can’t compare yourself to other writers, we are all unique. However, if you use this method, it takes much fear out of the commitment. Starting with the most amazing and difficult:
Time Equations:
This is the formula you can use to monitor your progress and how long it will really take, before the anxiety sets in and you’re counting the years. Every one of these figures will take you to the 100,000-word mark.
50,000 words a day = 2 days
(I would like to speak with someone who can type this quickly. I need lessons)
25,000 words a day = 4 days
10,000 words a day = 10 days (1week, 3 days)
5,000 words a day = 20 days (2 weeks, 6 days)
3,000 words a day = 33 days (1 month, 3 days)
2,000 words a day = 50 days (1 month, 2 weeks)
1,000 words a day = 100 days (3 months, 1 week)
800 words a day = 125 days (4 months, 1 week)
700 words a day = 142 days (5 months)
600 words a day = 166 days (5 months, 3 weeks)
500 words a day = 200 days (6 months, 3 weeks)
250 words a day = 400 days (13 months, 2 - 3 weeks)
Even at the most slothful pace, you can still have your novel in less than one year and a half. Just a few paragraphs at a time will give you a completed work of fiction. It isn’t rocket science or nuclear physics, it’s writing. Plain and simple.
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