by Michael Cristiano
When it comes to writing, there is nothing more daunting than writing a novel. Okay, maybe attempting to write a saga of twelve novels is a little bit more daunting, but let’s stick to just one for now. In my opinion, writing a novel is a little more difficult than say a short story or a poem. That’s not to say it’s more difficult than writing a good short story or poem, that’s just to point out that short stories and poems don’t generally run 60,000+ words — unless you’re Homer and write two epic poems that come in at over 200,000.
In any case, the enormity of a novel is disillusioning enough on its own, so while we’re at it, let’s disillusion some more.
Everyone Has a Novel in Them
To me, this misconception is the equivalent of saying that everyone has a music album in them. Sure, everyone has the capacity to make music, but does everyone have the capacity to make good music? Anyone who answers yes to that question has obviously never heard Friday by Rebecca Black.
The same is true for writing a novel. Sure, everyone has the capacity to physically sit down and hammer out enough words to write a novel, but does everyone have the capacity to write a good one? Even still, is novel writing something that someone can just wake up and do, or it is a learning curve of trail and error, observation and failure? By saying that everyone has a novel in them, we trivialize the skill of people who write for a living and chalk down writing a novel to simply reaching a word count. But for anyone who has written a novel, you know it’s more than that: it’s plotting and characterization and tone and theme development and atmosphere and so much more.
One Draft and You’re Done
This misconception is particularly cringe-worthy. I really feel for writers who think that they can get away with writing a first draft and then doing zero revisions or editing. Not only it is extremely advisable to read over your work at least once to catch any spelling, grammar or continuity errors, but first drafts (in my opinion) are meant to be the bare bones of a piece. Think you have an amazing first draft? Think of how amazing the second draft will be! Still not convinced to write a second? Well, give it to a beta-reader and come back in two weeks or so. Perhaps your judgement will be a little less clouded when the first-draft-finished high wears off.
You’re Getting Published so It’s Time to Quit Your Job!
Haha, if only that were true. I hate to break it to the hopeful, but a publishing contract does not equate to financial security — with or without an agent who’s got your back. That’s just simply not how it works. There are hundreds of thousands of novels published every year. You better believe that not every one of them is making $100,000 a pop.
That’s not to discourage anyone from trying — write if that’s what you were meant to do. But don’t think that you’ll complete and publish one novel and you’ll never have to work another day in your life. In fact, a UK study found that British writers made an average of £4,000 ($6252 American Dollars or $7140 Canadian Dollars) and only 1 in 10 professional authors were able to support themselves solely off of their writing. Kinda depressing, right? Yeah, but by now, I hope you’re not writing for the money. There are easier ways to make money that don’t involve perfecting tens of thousands of words, becoming an anti-social hermit, and potentially getting rejected hundreds of times.
But wouldn’t it be nice to be the exception?
Novel Writing is Not Work at All
I once wrote an entire blog post about this, so I won’t rant and ramble again here. To those who think that novel writing doesn’t qualify as work, I have one word: No. Actually, make that two: f*ck no. Yes, don’t get me wrong, I have fun writing novels, but I wouldn’t say that it’s something I breeze through. It’s blood, sweat, and tears. Okay, maybe a little less blood, but there are sweat and tears. And yes, I write because I want to, but that doesn’t mean I’m not warranted in calling a spade a spade. There’s no reward without work, right? Well, think of writing as no different. 85,000 words don’t just arrive with a big gust of wind.
Got any misconceptions?
Writing a story is not only difficult, it’s frustrating, soul destroying and almost impossible!
It is also one of the best things I have ever done…
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I couldn’t agree more with this post. I can’t tell you how many nights have lost sleep or stressed myself out because I couldn’t write my stories. It doesn’t come easy but because I love it so I push through. But writing the end is so satisfying even though the hard work has only begun with editing and such, it’s that reason alone I keep writing. For the joy and pride I feel.
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A few more:
• You can write well. (You can’t, not until you put in thousands of hours of practice.)
• You can get traditionally published. (You can’t, not without astronomical luck.)
• You can write without a plan. ( You can’t. Every story needs serious consideration for its general plot. Even the true “pantsers” plan their destination, theme, and intent.)
• A good novel sells itself. (It doesn’t. Expect to spend twice the time you wrote it to sell it.)
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I feel there’s a very real misperception that writing gets easier with time, that at a certain point all the doubt and anxiety just goes away. And while I am still at the “trying” stage, I’ve heard a fair number of very financially successful writers speak openly about the doubts and struggles that still dog their writing process.
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I agree with you. However, with practise you become better, but that means by nature, more challenges are presented to you, and when you master those, there comes new challenges. 🙂 It never becomes easy but I think you learn how to tackle the challenges more effectively. Does that make sense?
Have a good day.
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These are great points. However, if anyone believes even one out of the four- I doubt they’re writers!
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Reblogged this on Kim's Musings.
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As disheartening as it may sound, I too do NOT agree that “everyone has a book to write.” I think that phrase is just a ploy for motivational coaches to try and get more clients.
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Writing is challenging, but I love a challenge. When I sit down and finally starting typing, I am in the ZONE! But then a wall will come up and that’s when a plot point, a few lines of dialogue, or a casual description becomes a helluva obstacle. But that’s what I love about writing: it makes me use the part of my brain I’m not able to use in my 9 to 5 job. It pushes my creativity in a new direction and hones my skill.
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This gives an amazing insight into the struggles of writing novels! How many people have believed these misconceptions and had their dreams crushed?
However, I do think everyone has the ability to write a novel (bad or good). It just takes more effort than the saying implies. It should really say, ‘Everyone has one novel in them if they’re willing to put in hundreds of hours, read thousands of books and can bear the heartbreak of a fiftieth rejection.’
It’s true, these misconceptions sell writers short. And it doesn’t help that the more you learn with writing, the harder it is. You’re constantly critiquing yourself and you’ll never really think you’ve mastered it. And rejection doesn’t help the doubt, either.
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This is so true if only writing a novel were that easy then I’m sure everyone then everyone would be writing something. Only God knows the number of times I sit to write and then I actually write something and then I look through it and I’m like what is this? The amount of stress and time it takes to write something is so much but when it comes out good u are sure to be proud of what you have written.
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I would say that everyone has their own unique story to tell in their own way. If that takes the form of a novel, then so be it. For me the struggle comes before the writing. By that I mean I take a journey inward, shake up what’s there, and listen to what comes from that. Then I’ll start writing from there. Fab post
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