Four Days Into My First Lengthy Story

Saturday I was inspired to attempt a novel. I started it Sunday and have written for two hours every day since. I hope that it ends up being intriguing and entertaining but my main goal is simply to finish it. It's definitely hard work to make it interesting and to keep it "going" but I think I've gained some momentum with both the work habit and the character/plot development.

I'm posting this mostly for myself, so that I have accountability in regards to staying focused on it. I've read up on many great story writers and they all say to be consistent about writing daily and to just keep working. Now that I've posted it here I have to do it.

My hope is that it ends up with enough value in it to have been worth the time and effort put into it. I guess there's not much I can do about, save putting my best effort into making it as good as I can.

I know some people here have survived the "first novel" hump and lived to tell about it. Any stories you want to tell about your experiences?

Hey, stick it out man! I think somewhere there is a distinction between writing for writing and writing for reading; so don't let anything get to you.

Wanna share how you write? Do you type, typewrite, longhand, pen, nepcil

Rogers, write for your audience.
When I say "your", I mean the kind of people you would like to find your book interesting. This concept differs than writing for mass production; writing to make money; writing with an agenda, etc.
To thine ownself be true. Only then will you be pleased with your own work.

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Originally Posted by decon_blue

Hey, stick it out man! I think somewhere there is a distinction between writing for writing and writing for reading; so don't let anything get to you.

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The main challenge seems to be not having enough time for all the things I have on my mind. My wife is incredibly supportive and has helped me figure out a time that I can set aside each to write but I think I may need to prioritize a little, as there are several "avenues" of writing that I want to pursue. In addition to working on a novel I also really enjoy writing short, humorous essays about life lessons and I want to pursue publication via online and print magazines. On top of all that, I have a full-time day job and a two year-old son. Crazy.

I don't know if I want to work on the novel exclusively and put the other writing on hold, or if I want to still "novel" at night (I'M SO TIRED!:)) and scramble to put essays together on lunch breaks and bus rides, et cetera. My dream is to be able to switch careers and write for a living within a couple years, God willing.

I had just started to explore the world of magazine publication when I decided to start a novel. I have an opportunity to write regularly for a California-based online mag and there are also several other mags that I read that I think my work would be suited for.

See? There's just not enough time... :D

My other option is to put the novel on hold and try to get regular publication in magazines going. I'm not so keen on that idea, as I'm sure it is MUCH more difficult to finish a long novel than to write occasional articles. Now that I've started, both Anne Lamott and Stephen King's books on writing have drilled it into me that I should keep going until finished.

I apologize for the rambling but I do welcome comments/advice on how to prioritize.

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Originally Posted by decon_blue

Wanna share how you write? Do you type, typewrite, longhand, pen, nepcil

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I prefer to use my portable manual Smith-Corona for the first draft, revise when I transfer to a computer, then revise as necessary from there. There's just something about the click-clack and the lack of electricity. :)

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Originally Posted by Countess

Rogers, write for your audience.
When I say "your", I mean the kind of people you would like to find your book interesting. This concept differs than writing for mass production; writing to make money; writing with an agenda, etc.
To thine ownself be true. Only then will you be pleased with your own work.

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I'll have to remember the audience thing. Basically, I've been going at it with the idea of writing the kind of story that I would like to read. I LOVE the human condition and I LOVE sarcasm and I LOVE when the flawed characters are the ones that carry the greatest amount of redemption, so that's what I'm trying to create. Does that make sense?

Great myspace quote, btw.

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Originally Posted by Rogers_68

I LOVE the human condition and I LOVE sarcasm and I LOVE when the flawed characters are the ones that carry the greatest amount of redemption, so that's what I'm trying to create.

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Then you and I are just alike. (-: