Trying to Write a Novel...

[RachaelIsaacHill]

So I've had an idea in my head for a novel for years at this point. I've gotten pretty much the entire plot worked out and have written quite a few chapters in. However I keep going back and finding things I need to fix, and am currently in the process of changing the entire opening. Because of this change there's things I need to fix in all the chapters thus far to make it easier on the audience (they will no longer start the book knowing certain backstory, etc...).

My problem is that whenever I start an update like this, I just stop writing. I don't know if I'm anxious or just lazy or what. I think what I might need is to have a small group of proof-readers, because if I make it my job to keep them updated, I won't put it off anymore. That's the idea, at least.

Any ideas, suggestions? I really want to do this, I think I'm just a little self-conscious about the whole thing. And frankly worried I'm no good at writing.

 

[Erana]

Hrm...

Why don't you deliberately write in very brief sentences that just get the meaning across?
Like, "Sasha looked at luke. Luke thought of his mother and cried." Because Sasha was a giant dinosaur, she ate luke."

If you're like me, as I suspect, you take forever to write because you keep going back and perfecting every little thing. So if you write the bare minimum needed to capture the content of each thought, you will be able to produce a larger quantity of work, and then your perfectionism will kick in and you'll rewrite it all. But you'll have more stuff to rewrite, because you spent less time writing it in the first place.

It also relieves some of the nervousness for me; its not that great on its own, so I don't have to feel so worried about how I've written something or altering it beyond the point of recognition.

I dunno, its just a thought. Whether or not it works for you depends on who you are.

Either way, good luck!

 

[TheIronRuler]

So I've had an idea in my head for a novel for years at this point. I've gotten pretty much the entire plot worked out and have written quite a few chapters in. However I keep going back and finding things I need to fix, and am currently in the process of changing the entire opening. Because of this change there's things I need to fix in all the chapters thus far to make it easier on the audience (they will no longer start the book knowing certain backstory, etc...).

My problem is that whenever I start an update like this, I just stop writing. I don't know if I'm anxious or just lazy or what. I think what I might need is to have a small group of proof-readers, because if I make it my job to keep them updated, I won't put it off anymore. That's the idea, at least.

Any ideas, suggestions? I really want to do this, I think I'm just a little self-conscious about the whole thing. And frankly worried I'm no good at writing.

That's a class A mistake.
You should firstly write your story and THEN edit the shit out of it.
Remove bits, rewrite it, add new ones - But at least have a finished product BEFORE you start polishing it.

 

[Ando85]

So I've had an idea in my head for a novel for years at this point. I've gotten pretty much the entire plot worked out and have written quite a few chapters in. However I keep going back and finding things I need to fix, and am currently in the process of changing the entire opening. Because of this change there's things I need to fix in all the chapters thus far to make it easier on the audience (they will no longer start the book knowing certain backstory, etc...).

My problem is that whenever I start an update like this, I just stop writing. I don't know if I'm anxious or just lazy or what. I think what I might need is to have a small group of proof-readers, because if I make it my job to keep them updated, I won't put it off anymore. That's the idea, at least.

Any ideas, suggestions? I really want to do this, I think I'm just a little self-conscious about the whole thing. And frankly worried I'm no good at writing.

Like the above poster said probably best to finish writing the entire novel, then go back and make revisions. It will make the job a lot easier in the long run. Don't worry if you don't think you are good at writing. Practice makes perfect. Keep writing and also keep reading. Reading a variety of authors will provide you with information about what style of writing is effective and what isn't.

 

[The Man With the Soap]

So I've had an idea in my head for a novel for years at this point. I've gotten pretty much the entire plot worked out and have written quite a few chapters in. However I keep going back and finding things I need to fix, and am currently in the process of changing the entire opening. Because of this change there's things I need to fix in all the chapters thus far to make it easier on the audience (they will no longer start the book knowing certain backstory, etc...).

My problem is that whenever I start an update like this, I just stop writing. I don't know if I'm anxious or just lazy or what. I think what I might need is to have a small group of proof-readers, because if I make it my job to keep them updated, I won't put it off anymore. That's the idea, at least.

Any ideas, suggestions? I really want to do this, I think I'm just a little self-conscious about the whole thing. And frankly worried I'm no good at writing.

Like the above poster said probably best to finish writing the entire novel, then go back and make revisions. It will make the job a lot easier in the long run. Don't worry if you don't think you are good at writing. Practice makes perfect. Keep writing and also keep reading. Reading a variety of authors will provide you with information about what style of writing is effective and what isn't.

That's what I did during NaNoWriMo, and I got the whole thing done. Just write. You don't have to write everything in the order it happens either. You can do the interesting bits first, and then fill it in form there. After you've finished, then go back and revise. If you're still looking for proof-readers, I would be willing to help out. My Skype is linked on my profile if you wish to send me something or get more specific advice. Best of luck in your endevor!

 

[frizzlebyte]

That's a class A mistake.
You should firstly write your story and THEN edit the shit out of it.
Remove bits, rewrite it, add new ones - But at least have a finished product BEFORE you start polishing it.

That's pretty much my biggest obstacle to getting my novel written, I think.

I make some pretty good stuff, but I get so bogged down in the specifics that I freeze.

 

[TheIronRuler]

That's a class A mistake.
You should firstly write your story and THEN edit the shit out of it.
Remove bits, rewrite it, add new ones - But at least have a finished product BEFORE you start polishing it.

That's pretty much my biggest obstacle to getting my novel written, I think.

I make some pretty good stuff, but I get so bogged down in the specifics that I freeze.

It's critical to draw the flow of the story, with the characters and locations - all related to the plot down on a piece of paper before you do anything or you'll find yourself chasing your own tail.

 

[RachaelIsaacHill]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I guess I'm a bit too much of a perfectionist to have considered just writing all of it before I went back and edited. But I'll give that a try, I guess it can't hurt. At this point writing anything is better than writing nothing, haha.