tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post5876186508233328247..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: On Writing Your First NovelGabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-69029621258219128982012-08-01T06:36:13.682-07:002012-08-01T06:36:13.682-07:00Thank you, Todd!Thank you, Todd!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-15722804074060932442012-08-01T06:35:52.225-07:002012-08-01T06:35:52.225-07:00I suspect that many first novels die an ugly death...I suspect that many first novels die an ugly death--the first WIP, in many respects, is often the hardest to let go. When you've never trunked a novel, it can sound excruciatingly painful to do so, but like anything else, it gets a little easier with time. <br /><br />Your revision sounds very exciting and I wish you the best with your WIP!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-14086849084053310292012-08-01T06:33:34.778-07:002012-08-01T06:33:34.778-07:00Thank you, Forrest! I know exactly what you mean a...Thank you, Forrest! I know exactly what you mean about growing as a writer largely because of the passion and time you put into your early works. Without that passion and belief in your work, chances are it won't get very far.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-89721908750889112512012-07-30T20:03:43.761-07:002012-07-30T20:03:43.761-07:00I wrote my 1st novel 4 years ago, then I wrote 2 m...I wrote my 1st novel 4 years ago, then I wrote 2 more and started another, but it was that first manuscript that continued to haunt me. At the time, it got 3 requests but died an ugly death after 100+ queries. I tucked it away. Still, I loved the storyline and the characters moved me--I never lost faith in it, so I rewrote the whole thing, starting from scratch, <br />page-by-page, line-by-line. Now I am rewriting (for the umpteenth time) that dreaded query letter, starting anew. So really, this 1st novel has become my 4th! It is fresh and exciting and worlds better than its first incarnation. Hopefully, some agent will feel the same. Fingers crossed!Shirahttp://twitter.com/7Ravenwingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-9456819520171956322012-07-30T12:16:22.299-07:002012-07-30T12:16:22.299-07:00I wrote my first novel when I was 12-14 years old ...I wrote my first novel when I was 12-14 years old (it took me two years, but hey, it was nearly 200,000 words). It definitely was a practice book, looking back on it now it's nothing I care to share with other people, but it was a stepping stone to where I am today, just like my most recent novel is a step for where I'll be in another ten years. What you're saying is right. Though I look back on that first novel as lame, when I wrote it, it meant the world to me, and I put my passion (and plenty of my time) into it, and I doubt I would have grown as a writer if I thought of it as a mere exercise, or something no one would like. Great post! I think it's very insightful.<br /><br /><br /><br />Forrest Lybrand<br /><br /><br />-Learning by writing/how to teach children to write at http://www.advanced-writing-resources.com<br /><br />"We Kill Death" at https://www.createspace.com/3911765 or on Amazon.comForrest Lybrandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-88520943751292718502012-07-24T06:17:04.153-07:002012-07-24T06:17:04.153-07:00Agreed! There's always something more to learn...Agreed! There's always something more to learn, regardless of how experienced you are in the writing field.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-40764698972425848952012-07-23T14:06:59.712-07:002012-07-23T14:06:59.712-07:00Oh, yes, it is :) There are some things you absolu...Oh, yes, it is :) There are some things you absolutely cannot learn unless you go the whole nine yards. But even successful, published authors have a lot to learn ;)Margaret Alexanderhttp://twitter.com/markedforpowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-21083280601934812222012-07-23T07:54:25.337-07:002012-07-23T07:54:25.337-07:00I remember writing my first novel and hearing the ...I remember writing my first novel and hearing the statistics about how unlikely it is for writers to get their first novel published (and at the time, self-publishing was hardly considered a viable option) and I thought, <i>yeah, but that won't be me</i>. While that kind of thinking was far from realistic, it did give me the benefit of learning how to really believe in your writing and do the very best you can and put passion and hard work into your words...then move on. It wasn't an easy lesson to learn, but it was an important one, and for that I'm grateful. <br /><br /><br />Now with self-publishing, a lot of writers have to learn to become their own gatekeepers, especially if they want to pursue going indie. In my opinion, that's an even more difficult lesson because we have to try to learn to become objective enough about something that we are passionate about to be able to say, <i>no, you still need work.</i><br /><br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Tammara!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-75814370386912771662012-07-23T06:14:12.826-07:002012-07-23T06:14:12.826-07:00This is such great advice! Every book we write des...This is such great advice! Every book we write deserves all the care we can put into crafting it. I have three shelf novels. I did not, at any point in writing those three, assume they would be shelf novels. I'd never even heard the term "shelf novel" until I had two of them. (And then I was like, "There's a NAME for this?!? I feel... better?") I wrote the best novel I could, and I took pride in the fact that I FINISHED. Cuz lots of people don't. I revised, too. Still not good enough. Eventually, I wrote the one that after major and multiple revisions, became the first novel I presented to the world, but it wasn't *written* any more lovlingly, any more wholeheartedly, than its shelf sisters. (Disclaimer: I'm self-pubbed, so *I* decided when one was good enough in the end, rather than a traditional gatekeeper. Thus, I was the guy saying, "NONE SHALL PASS," to those first three.)tammara webbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-84321321459465762622012-07-23T05:51:15.313-07:002012-07-23T05:51:15.313-07:00I think the most important thing to take away from...I think the most important thing to take away from any writing blog (or book) is that yes, advice is helpful and there are certain thing we can all do to improve, but in the end it comes down to doing whatever works best for <i>you</i> as a writer. There are exceptions to just about every writing rule and techniques that work for one writer don't always work for another. Try a new technique or bit of advice out, but if it doesn't work for you, don't sweat it. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-55978646362351346732012-07-23T05:48:44.963-07:002012-07-23T05:48:44.963-07:00I had to learn this the hard way--but revision is ...I had to learn this the hard way--but revision is a beautiful thing for that reason and more. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-72916495574831916082012-07-23T05:48:01.660-07:002012-07-23T05:48:01.660-07:00Welcome to Writability! So glad you're enjoyin...Welcome to Writability! So glad you're enjoying my blog and I look forward to seeing you in the comments! ^_^Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-27034075342844864642012-07-23T05:46:35.170-07:002012-07-23T05:46:35.170-07:00You're very welcome! Best of luck, Raelene! :)...You're very welcome! Best of luck, Raelene! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-87619016177985521732012-07-23T05:18:18.615-07:002012-07-23T05:18:18.615-07:00Man, I'm having thoughts that even my fourth o...Man, I'm having thoughts that even my fourth or fifth novel is too crappy to even consider publication!Naomi Noenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-30832310633030687502012-07-23T04:56:38.307-07:002012-07-23T04:56:38.307-07:00I've just recently come upon your blog after a...I've just recently come upon your blog after a long night of frantic google-ing and mild disillusionment. Sure wish I found this site a long time ago. But no matter – it's never too late, is it.paperprosciuttonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-25004075535548815512012-07-23T04:18:05.732-07:002012-07-23T04:18:05.732-07:00This article is really worth reading, it has too m...This article is really worth reading, it has too much details in it and yet it is so simple to understand, Thanks for sharing the series pictures they had great details in them and i really appreciate your true artistic work!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sandfordhighschool.com/" rel="nofollow">High School Diploma</a>John Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-82837697600436217972012-07-23T01:51:42.959-07:002012-07-23T01:51:42.959-07:00i am enjoying the ride very much, thanks for the e...i am enjoying the ride very much, thanks for the encouragementRaelene Purtillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-46899327454072797792012-07-22T19:11:16.978-07:002012-07-22T19:11:16.978-07:00Definitely. It's actually one negative I have ...Definitely. It's actually one negative I have since I started being more active in the writing community. There are so many posts about how you should do things, how you shouldn't do things, how this person got famous and why you aren't.... I like your posts because its more of a discussion, but in general I find the whole thing very demotivating... I worked a lot better before I started being so active on the internet as a writer. BUT it has made me aware of how I can actually publish my work otherwise I would still be trying for a big publishing house. I guess I lack self-confidence and I automatically take other peoples' advice on board so I feel swamped by all the things I 'should' be doing.Matthew Rowehttp://twitter.com/RoweMatthewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-74667259352323706702012-07-22T06:07:18.769-07:002012-07-22T06:07:18.769-07:00The thing is though, it's not impossible to ge...The thing is though, it's <i>not</i> impossible to get your first novel published. Difficult? Absolutely. Unlikely? Sure, but not impossible. <br /><br /><br />The best thing we can do as writers is to keep doing what we love despite the odds. Sometimes ignoring the odds and statistics and facts isn't such a bad thing if it helps you keep writing.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-17046826452639953182012-07-21T21:29:43.359-07:002012-07-21T21:29:43.359-07:00These are the kind of facts that I find hard to de...These are the kind of facts that I find hard to deal with. I'm very fatalistic and tend to take the most negative meaning of anything (but I'm very cheery in person, why is this?). So if someone told me that first novel was unpublishable I would approach it as such. Sometimes it's just better to shut myself off from the world and do what I want. It's the only way I'll ignore people.Matthew Rowehttp://twitter.com/RoweMatthewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-54316327929537438752012-07-21T08:41:16.787-07:002012-07-21T08:41:16.787-07:00You're very welcome, Toria! I think sometimes ...You're very welcome, Toria! I think sometimes we get caught up in wondering <i>is this publishable?</i> so much that we forget why we started writing in the first place (which hopefully wasn't just to get published). Regardless of whether or not the WIP we're working on will ever see eyes outside of immediate friends, family and beta readers, we should try to enjoy the process as much as possible and do what we love to do most--write. <br /><br /><br />Best of luck with your novel! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-17159568688344404152012-07-21T06:29:05.721-07:002012-07-21T06:29:05.721-07:00This may sound a little weird, but I don't thi...This may sound a little weird, but I don't think age has anything to do with writing ability--it's experience that often determines it. What I mean is this: a seventy year-old writer who has never before written a novel (or written much of anything) is on the exact same playing field as a fourteen year-old trying to write his or her first novel. Age doesn't matter. Experience does. <br /><br /><br />On another note, I completely agree with what you said about writing novels helping you to improve your writing. I truly believe there are some things that you can really only learn by doing, and how to write a novel is one of them. <br /><br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Emily!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-5018750005438324902012-07-21T06:25:53.304-07:002012-07-21T06:25:53.304-07:00I agree 100% with your last sentence, there, and I...I agree 100% with your last sentence, there, and I think it applies to just about any field. Very few people can jump into just about anything and do it perfectly the first time--it's a matter of practicing and pushing and working to improve any way you can until you've become proficient enough to create publishable work. <br /><br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-47895231975797172182012-07-21T06:22:23.414-07:002012-07-21T06:22:23.414-07:00While I believe practicing your craft first might ...While I believe practicing your craft first might be helpful, I think there are some things in writing that you can really only learn by actually sitting down and writing a novel. I agree that you absolutely need to practice, but the process of writing a novel itself <i>is</i> practice, as is writing the second and third (etc.) novel. Just my thoughts. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-71925918685357475862012-07-21T06:18:13.654-07:002012-07-21T06:18:13.654-07:00My first novel was less than the masterpiece I env...My first novel was less than the masterpiece I envisioned it to be, to say the least. :D <br /><br /><br />I agree that any novel can be ripped apart and rewritten. You just need the patience and passion to take the time to do it correctly. <br /><br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Yesenia!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com