Welcome to Writers Talkback. If you are a new user, your account will have to be approved manually to prevent spam. Please bear with us in the meantime
Grrrr. Why does writing take so long?
Ever been frustrated at how long it takes to write that story... that novel? Wished you knew a quicker way?
Our writing process is individual, but it could help if we were to pool our combined discoveries of shortcuts and handy tricks, no matter how dodgy. If it worked for you, maybe it could work for some of us too.
One that I should mention is: Using a professional critique, like Cornerstones or Hilary Johnson. In all cases when Ive done so, I've learnt how to take giant strides in improving my MS, steps which I would not have made without their guidance.
Unfortunately, at a cost. I would say, WELL worth it.
What helps YOU get there faster?
Comments
There is no easy way. Each story is different. They can be forced, of course, but that generally shows.
Sorry not to be more help
Brutal, but honest.
My second idea springs from my own dreadful experience. My first novel has taken me years to write, a drudge which I don't intend to repeat. I was well into the ordeal before I discovered the method of planning your stepping stones right through the story, so that you can write each episode and not get stuck. It requires 'bum on seat and plough on' as Neil says, but it becomes a daily progress.
I also decided, at 150,000 words, that a whole plot/sub plot should be axed, and learnt that a debut YA novel should be between 60-80,000, preferably towards 60,000 - HP and the Philosopher's Stone was 86k. So you can see how I had wasted a huge amount of time through not planning ahead. Even more recently I've become persuaded of the wisdom of writing your synopsis first in a page or two, until you are happy with the story you want. Like doing an essay plan before writing the essay.
I think future novels will be a whole lot quicker.
Because writing is subjective, there is no single correct answer. If you write fast and that works for some, then great, or if you work methodically, as I do, things are done evenly and gradually. Do I want to speed up the process? No, I work at my own pace and never rush anything.
You can tell if writing is rushed; its contrived, stilted and a bit codswallop. Just go with your own flow and always work at your own speed. Do you think Michelangelo turned round to Pope Julius II when commissioned to paint the Sistine Chapel and said, No probs, mate, Ill have it done next week... You cant rush genius! ;)
Buy a bigger pen.
I so agree...;)
Still can't say what makes things quicker, Dwight, but Claudia is right when she says touchtyping helps.
I've never been one to plan everything out, scene by scene, because I tend to get the story in little snippets. I know generally what's going to happen, and where the story is going to end up, but the main body of the story is hidden away somewhere and I only get to see the big picture a pixel at a time. Generally, the action or romantic scenes come first - probably because, for me, they're the easiest to see. Sometimes I've had the whole action scene just burst into my head, and then I get obsessed with writing it down, so I can get it out of my head - and then I get what's happening in between.
Quite early on, I'll try to put the snippets I have into some sort of order(though inevitably I do end up chapter-shifting later on in the first draft), I'll pick working chapter titles, and maybe try to note down a bit of what I think is going to happen in the chapter. Other than that, it really is just a matter of sitting in front of the computer and getting down to business.
*SA*
I crossed your post, SA. When you are more or less there with touch typing, total familiarity comes with using it. And it sounds like you do plan ahead; it all depends how much time you spend putting down notes before returning to adding text. We're always going to have to shift things round later and re-do bits, unfortunately; that's one time consuming part we can't avoid.
Which programme to teach it (after 40 years of doing it incorrectly) would people recommend?
My problem has been developing the ambition to be a published writer (and to write as many stories as poss before I pop my clogs) from scratch, with no training other than the incidental help of degrees in English lit. So I've learnt as I go along. Some of the paths I chose to that end have been circuitous to say the least.
Perhaps my thread should have asked a different question: What is the most direct route to publication? (NOT self-publication, I hasten to add.) But time saving suggestions are most welcome.
Just editing to add: in hindsight, my best plan from the start would have been an OU or other distance degree in creative writing, to get it right from the start. Many newbie published writers, it seems, have followed that course, and I can understand its success. Maybe I should do that now.
I've got a friend at my BookClub (six members, huge, eh?) who has written and published Womag short stories for years but wanted to get a novel accepted. She did some research and discovered that Mills and Boon have several imprints, some of which produce multiple new novels EVERY MONTH. So she decided that the quickest route to publication would be to aim at one of these imprints because of their turnover. She's just packing up her first 3 chapters and Synopsis now. Her chances are far, far higher because of her intention to 'go for the market'.
She is not normally the sort to read (or, you'd think, write) for M and B, she's adapting to the market.
Short stories, on the other hand are quick-started, sparked by just a hint of an overheard conversation, or the sight of (for example) the crows mobbing one of the buzzards. The 'what if' and the 'why' are so easily thought through and answered that the story comes in one gulp. Needs revision and editing of course!
Nothing makes it any quicker except application, attachment of rearend to workchair and fingers and one thumb to keyboard (left thumb is the only one never gets used!). Only I can do my own work, if I don't it ain't gonna get done and if I never finish, I've nothing to send an editor.
That of any use (or interest!) Dwight?
Then, as you say, comes the fundamental need for will power in adhesion to workchair.
Back to topic, I'm finding recently that a good way of speeding up my work is to make sure I do a bit of writing each day, no matter how small, so that the manuscript is constantly in my mind. As a result I'm finding I'm coming up with new ideas and insights in between writing, so that when I go back to it the next day I already have stuff in my head to use.
Ah if only fiction writing were that simple! I can usually just about manage to crank out a piece of flash every month for the OWC, but I havent managed to write even a short story for literally years.
I dont know why, but I cant invent storylines that excite me enough to want to actually write the story. My brain just doesnt seem to work that way. Non-fiction requires the use of the imagination in a totally different way. I dont mind because I love writing travel articles, but I do wonder why I cant write fiction since I love reading it!
p.s. that ramble started as an experiment to discover if I use my left thumb when Im touch typing; I dont.
As for short-cuts to being published..........I have none. And I have just realised that I don't think I use my left thumb when typing, though it does rest on the space bar a lot.
How to write faster? All I can suggest is the age old idea is keep a notebook handy, or something where you can jot down the ideas as quickly as possible.