How many hours go into writing a novel? - Page 4

lindsayw · 10-25-2011, 09:30 AM

I'm the one who offered the 8 months planning & writing; 8 months of editing and pruning – that's for a 140k novel. What happens during the writing phase is that I go like stink and the plot expands to suit the unfolding story despite the months of planning preceding it. I always end up with about 170-200k, and I KNOW that some substantial parts will have to be sacrificed. I end up sacrificing more than an entire novella-worth of content in the editing phase, and it hurts. It's mostly descriptive writing, and I end up thinking "I could condense this entire chapter into a different character's observation, in far less detail. Hate to lose the nice descriptive stuff, but if it keeps the story rolling... it has to go."
Yes, it's inefficient, but it also gives ME (not the reader) a better understanding of the plot and the characters, and it probably even helps the reader in that they read only what is essential. And, like most authors, I basically write for me, not the reader. It's a passion.

dbeman · 10-25-2011, 01:49 PM

As someone who is still in the process of writing his first novel please take my input with as many grains of salt as you see fit; but thus far I will echo others who have said that the best thing that you can do, at least initially, is to set aside one or two hours of uninterrupted time a few days each week and get started. Turn off the phone, stay away from the internet (unless you're looking something up that's pertinent to your writing) and only answer the doorbell if a sweepstakes van is parked in your driveway, or if you one of those giant checks.

There will be some day when your so productive that time flies by and you find yourself needing another hour or two. Then there will be times, especially at the beginning, when you're balancing objects from your desk on your forehead while waiting for inspiration to strike.

While I do not follow the system religiously, I've found that Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method can help you get some of those initial ideas sorted out for further plotting. He sells a program that walks you through the process step by step, but the entire method is outlined fairly extensively for free and I've found that the freebie is good enough for the beginning stages of plotting. I eventually chose to buy the full product and was somewhat disappointed; but for others I'm sure its an invaluable tool.

scottrssll87 · 10-27-2011, 12:17 AM

For me, it depends upon your mood..I mean,because there are sometimes that we feel like not to write anything as our imaginations failed to function so well.

stormdream · 10-28-2011, 12:25 AM

Depends on the book, the writer, how much time you have to throw at it...I write first drafts pretty quickly (I can crank out 100k in about two months), but then I spend a lot of time revising, editing, reworking, etc. I've been trying to cut down on that by paying a little more attention to my first draft -- revising as I go, recognizing earlier on when things don't work or need trimming. One day I'll find a happy medium.

Todd Young · 10-28-2011, 12:57 AM

For a 50,000 word novel, the first draft takes about two months. I leave it alone for two to three weeks, then read it on my kindle as though I'd never heard the story before. Then I write the second draft, 4 to 6 weeks. Then I proofread it with text to speech. All up, I'd say 3 to 4 months, not counting the period when I'm alone, and I'm talking about working 2 to 3 hours a day. Sometimes more.

Keryl Raist · 10-28-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frahse

If I may offer some advice on your "8 months to write. 8 months to revise."

If that means that you spent 8 months writing, and then stopped writing (so to say) and then started 8 months of revising, then that is not efficient.

You need a better plan to begin with. You would probably end up with, say, 12 months rather than 16 months total.

That of course is only my opinion (from a distance) for whatever it is worth.

16 months, at 18 hours a week for 257k words isn't a slow pace. Most novels come in at 80k to 120k. So, if you prefer, you can think of it as two novels in 16 months.

But really, no I'm not terribly interested in advice to speed up my process. I write and revise as fast as I do, about 2000 words a day writing, with greatly variable output on the rewrites.

frahse · 10-28-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keryl Raist

16 months, at 18 hours a week for 257k words isn't a slow pace. Most novels come in at 80k to 120k. So, if you prefer, you can think of it as two novels in 16 months.

But really, no I'm not terribly interested in advice to speed up my process. I write and revise as fast as I do, about 2000 words a day writing, with greatly variable output on the rewrites.

Whatever you are comfortable with...

10-27-2011, 12:17 AM	#48
scottrssll87 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: none	hours in writing a novel.. For me, it depends upon your mood..I mean,because there are sometimes that we feel like not to write anything as our imaginations failed to function so well.

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10-25-2011, 09:30 AM	#46
lindsayw Author from pBook days Posts: 49 Karma: 10782 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kindle-3-Keyboard; 8" Android Tablet	I'm the one who offered the 8 months planning & writing; 8 months of editing and pruning – that's for a 140k novel. What happens during the writing phase is that I go like stink and the plot expands to suit the unfolding story despite the months of planning preceding it. I always end up with about 170-200k, and I KNOW that some substantial parts will have to be sacrificed. I end up sacrificing more than an entire novella-worth of content in the editing phase, and it hurts. It's mostly descriptive writing, and I end up thinking "I could condense this entire chapter into a different character's observation, in far less detail. Hate to lose the nice descriptive stuff, but if it keeps the story rolling... it has to go." Yes, it's inefficient, but it also gives ME (not the reader) a better understanding of the plot and the characters, and it probably even helps the reader in that they read only what is essential. And, like most authors, I basically write for me, not the reader. It's a passion.

10-25-2011, 01:49 PM	#47
dbeman Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 511010 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Hampshire Device: nook ST	As someone who is still in the process of writing his first novel please take my input with as many grains of salt as you see fit; but thus far I will echo others who have said that the best thing that you can do, at least initially, is to set aside one or two hours of uninterrupted time a few days each week and get started. Turn off the phone, stay away from the internet (unless you're looking something up that's pertinent to your writing) and only answer the doorbell if a sweepstakes van is parked in your driveway, or if you one of those giant checks. There will be some day when your so productive that time flies by and you find yourself needing another hour or two. Then there will be times, especially at the beginning, when you're balancing objects from your desk on your forehead while waiting for inspiration to strike. While I do not follow the system religiously, I've found that Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method can help you get some of those initial ideas sorted out for further plotting. He sells a program that walks you through the process step by step, but the entire method is outlined fairly extensively for free and I've found that the freebie is good enough for the beginning stages of plotting. I eventually chose to buy the full product and was somewhat disappointed; but for others I'm sure its an invaluable tool.

10-28-2011, 12:25 AM	#49
stormdream Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 2144 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Socal Device: Nook	Depends on the book, the writer, how much time you have to throw at it...I write first drafts pretty quickly (I can crank out 100k in about two months), but then I spend a lot of time revising, editing, reworking, etc. I've been trying to cut down on that by paying a little more attention to my first draft -- revising as I go, recognizing earlier on when things don't work or need trimming. One day I'll find a happy medium.

10-28-2011, 12:57 AM	#50
Todd Young Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 1004164 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle 2	For a 50,000 word novel, the first draft takes about two months. I leave it alone for two to three weeks, then read it on my kindle as though I'd never heard the story before. Then I write the second draft, 4 to 6 weeks. Then I proofread it with text to speech. All up, I'd say 3 to 4 months, not counting the period when I'm alone, and I'm talking about working 2 to 3 hours a day. Sometimes more.

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