When is your novel finished?

Forestqueen808 · Dec 24, 2011

How do you know when your novel is ready to submit? Every time there is more I could add to in each draft, and apparently even after an author is published, they are not completely satisfied. There is always more changes that could take place, so how do you know when its ready?

dangerousbill · Dec 24, 2011

Forestqueen808 said:
How do you know when your novel is ready to submit? Every time there is more I could add to in each draft, and apparently even after an author is published, they are not completely satisfied. There is always more changes that could take place, so how do you know when its ready?

You don't. And after it's published, expect to kick yourself, because the very first thing you'll see when you open it is a glaring grammar or logical error, like a misnamed character or a run-on sentence.

You can't get rid of all the errors, and you can never stop adding stuff and touching it up. Eventually, you'll reach a point where you make changes and the new version is worse than the old. But most of us won't live long enough to see that happen.

Putting your novel in the hands of others is one way, either paid editors or experienced beta readers. I also put my stuff up on lulu.com and have a single copy printed (keeping the setting on 'private'). Then I can read it as a book rather than an ms or on a screen. Amazing how many errors you find by doing that.

BRDurkin · Dec 24, 2011

I think once the plot has accomplished what you set out for it to do, and once your characters are developed fully throughout the book, and once you've done your best to eliminate typos, grammatical errors, and just general "bad writing," it's done. You're right, you could go on and on forever, constantly tweaking it and editing it, but you have to draw the line somewhere. As an author, only you can really draw that line. You have to determine when the novel gets to a point that you would be proud of it when you see it in print. Don't get caught in the trap of continuously editing and tweaking, otherwise you'll never get it published.

Silver-Midnight · Dec 24, 2011

As far as plot, I guess I would say either when the plot was at least somewhat resolved, or resolved "enough". If most of the questions the novel produced are answered fairly well. I would say a novel is finished. One of the time I feel this would change is when it is a series of books, and the books focus on that one character, like the Harry Potter series. Each year the conflict is resolved, but is not fully resolved until Deathly Hallows.

Grammatical errors, yeah, I think those will continually be spotted no matter what you do. I've posted stories online, and I didn't notice my mistakes until after I had read over it on the site I posted it on. I'm pretty sure even with editors, going over your work two or three times, an error will still be spotted. However, I think you'll be fine as long as it's not a lot of errors.

Jonathan Figaro · Dec 24, 2011

I believe that a book is finished from an author's intuitive perspective and the okay by one's editor.

Buffysquirrel · Dec 24, 2011

This one won't be finished without its final confrontation. *beats it with stick*

VoireyLinger · Dec 24, 2011

When the story has been told. There will always be a possible revision lurking, but revising the same story isn't necessarily going to make it better. There comes a point when I have to acknowledge the story is written and let it go. If I don't, then I can't write the next story.

So... if the story has been told and my three CPs have given me feedback that leads me to believe there are no major issues, I send it out and move on to the next book.

Layla Nahar · Dec 24, 2011

VoireyLinger said:
When the story has been told.

I like this

Cidewalk · Dec 24, 2011

With short stories, I work on them until I'm pleased with them, when I have the plot complete and pretty tight, when I have the characters going where I want (or where they want, as tends to be the case,) and tied up (or set up) any loose ends. Then I might let it sit for a while and see if it needs more editing. Edit, read, edit, read, so on.

Eventually, I'll hate to read the thing, not because of low quality, but because I don't want to see it anymore. Once I'm happy with it and don't want to read it again, it has become "done."

This may apply to novels, though I haven't gotten furious with those yet, but I'm getting close. The amount of material means it takes a little longer.

Silver-Midnight · Dec 24, 2011

Cidewalk said:
With short stories, I work on them until I'm pleased with them, when I have the plot complete and pretty tight, when I have the characters going where I want (or where they want, as tends to be the case,) and tied up (or set up) any loose ends. Then I might let it sit for a while and see if it needs more editing. Edit, read, edit, read, so on.

This!

(I'm a short story writer as well.)

Orchestra · Dec 25, 2011

VoireyLinger said:
When the story has been told.

What does this mean?

Layla Nahar · Dec 25, 2011

Orchestra said:
What does this mean?

I would guess pretty much the same as this:

BRDurkin said:
...once the plot has accomplished what you set out for it to do

VoireyLinger · Dec 25, 2011

Orchestra said:
What does this mean?

It's very easy for writers to get sidetracked by fussy busy-work... rewording tags, flipping sentences around, obsessing over rules and potentially passive sentences. Usually at this point, the writer knows the story is done, they are simply reluctant to let it go.

When the story has been told, you're done. Move on.

gothicangel · Dec 26, 2011

When I'm sick of the sight of the thing [getting close to there right now.]

_Sian_ · Dec 26, 2011

When I just can't stand to go over it one more time. Then I find beta's, because it helps me, and leave it alone for a while. I generally edit someone else's work to get me back into a more detached frame of mind.

Then I get it back from beta's, read, edit, read and edit till I can't stand it. Then it's done.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 26, 2011

I edit/rewrite each page as I go. When the page I'm working on is as good as I can get it, I move on to the next page. So when I type "The End", the novel is finished.

COchick · Dec 26, 2011

I'm not sure I could ever be done with my book. Every time I do edits I make changes, but I sure am tired of reading the damn thing...

VoireyLinger · Dec 26, 2011

COchick said:
I'm not sure I could ever be done with my book. Every time I do edits I make changes, but I sure am tired of reading the damn thing...

What are you changing? Are you changing things integral to the plot or tweaking sentences? Are these small shuffles or major rewrites?

If you are finding little fixes, it could be that you are done and simply reluctant to move on to the next part of the process.

BethS · Dec 26, 2011

Forestqueen808 said:
How do you know when your novel is ready to submit? Every time there is more I could add to in each draft, and apparently even after an author is published, they are not completely satisfied. There is always more changes that could take place, so how do you know when its ready?

It's done when all the plot questions have been asked and answered. When the prose flows in a logical order and all issues of clarity have been resolved. When all the words you've used are exactly the right words. When you have revised and polished it to the limit of your current ability. When you read through it one final time and you can find nothing more significant to change than a few words or a comma here and there. Then it's done, and not before.

Agents will tell you that the majority of manuscripts they receive are unsuitable because they weren't ready for publication. The writer did not give them enough time to mature. I don't know if you've put it aside for a couple of months already, but if you haven't, that would be my first suggestion. You need that time in order to distance yourself from it, so that you can return to it with a more objective eye.

Buffysquirrel · Dec 26, 2011

COchick said:
I'm not sure I could ever be done with my book. Every time I do edits I make changes, but I sure am tired of reading the damn thing...

It's fine to keep fiddling with the book if you aren't bothered about getting it published. If you're seeking publication, at some point you have to say it's as good as you can make it, and start sending it out.

Wish I'd got mine to that point.

Coco82 · Dec 27, 2011

When I was in grad school and had to do research papers I experienced similar problems. I'd write a paper and go back and find errors, go back again and find problems, and eventuallly had to come to grips w/that it had to be turned in. It was easier then because I had a due date. With my fiction I'll probably have the same issue once I get far enough in. It is a hassle no doubt.

seun · Dec 27, 2011

When the story is told to the best of of my abilities.

LadyDae · Dec 27, 2011

It's never finished. That's why after this last run through I'm doing, I'm going to start submitting and be done.

When is your novel finished?

Forestqueen808

What can I say? I'm a writer

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

BRDurkin

Trigger-Happy Pyromaniac Writer

Silver-Midnight

Jonathan Figaro

Buffysquirrel

VoireyLinger

Angel Wing Fetish

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

Cidewalk

Silver-Midnight

Orchestra

practical experience, GTFO

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

VoireyLinger

Angel Wing Fetish

gothicangel

Toughen up.

_Sian_

Ooooh, pretty lights and sirens :D

Jamesaritchie

COchick

in a holding pattern

VoireyLinger

Angel Wing Fetish

BethS

Buffysquirrel

Coco82

seun

Horror Man

LadyDae

New AW user. Veteran Writer 8+