First time novelist.

ZannaPerry · Jul 31, 2007

Okay, I have a situation, and I am totally open to any advice from already published authors, or not. ANYONE is welcome into this discussion.

Since I am writing my first novel, big I mean! Real big! I was given a question by my mother about maybe since this is my first novel, I should start small. Not make the story so big, or complex. Since I am just starting out in the novel business of it all, should I start with something simple or just go at it with tooth and nail?

Now, this is not my first long story. It's my first complex story with multiple characters. I've written over 40 short stories, and wrote my own screenplays, but I've never fully tackled a novel yet. I've always had ideas, just never went for it until now.

What is best to do when/if I want to send to publishers? Start out small and work my way up, or BIG and just keep moving foward?

THANKS!

Danger Jane · Jul 31, 2007

Is your mom a writer?

Write the story that comes to you. If it's simple, cool. If it's complex and big, cool. Write your story, man.

goatprincess · Jul 31, 2007

k_obsessed said:
go at it with tooth and nail

That!!!

Give it everything you have. Get it drafted. Throw your heart into it. The most publishable book is going to be the one that vibrates with life. Doesn't matter whether it's simple or complex.

ZannaPerry · Jul 31, 2007

My mom writes children's books but she is not published. I don't think she will get published either because she really only does it as a hobby. Writing is my hobby too, but I want to get published some day.

And I will write it the way I want!

Thanks!

MerryDay · Jul 31, 2007

Erm, not that I have any experience in this yet, being an unpublished author myself, but I'm solidly in the camp of going full-out right away. Sure, the sensible thing would probably be to build up publishing credentials, but there are so many authors who are successful with their first novels and never published anything smaller. I know quite a few first time novelists in my own circle who easily landed agents and contracts without smaller stories.

Plus, no matter how complex it may be, your novel is probably what you're most passionate about right now. Going with your passion is never a bad idea - your writing will come off better and it will be easier for you to query with something you really love.

So, basically, I say go for the longer piece!

ZannaPerry · Jul 31, 2007

It is my passion. You have no idea...but then again you just might. I am putting all I have into this book. I've been having it on my mind since I was a junior in high school making little notes here and there. And I'm a sophomore in college now. Soooooo looking foward to the finish!

necia phoenix · Jul 31, 2007

Write the story
make it the best you can
edit
submit

if it is novel length or not.

Like the add says: Just do it!

Lyra Jean · Jul 31, 2007

My mom always says I pick the hardest projects to do as my first attempts but the hard projects are the most fun.

Good luck with your novel.

blacbird · Jul 31, 2007

Rosemerry,

I tried that zero-word historical novel thing you mention in your sig line, but had a hell of a time with the synopsis.

caw

Azraelsbane · Jul 31, 2007

Hmm, my first novel was 80k, but I'm not planning to query it until after I get something else published...cross-genre querying scares me more than the wrath of God.

The book I'm planning to query as my first work is likely to be 180k...so, yeah. Go hard! How big are we talking anyway...not like 600k, right?

Chasing the Horizon · Jul 31, 2007

My first novel grew into a 12 book series by the end of the first draft. (No, I haven't written 12 books, just have ideas for 12 books). The first four books were all originally supposed to be one (obviously I had no understanding of how many ideas it took to reach word count for a novel. Uh, not that many, LOL). There are certainly times when I get my subplots all tangled up in a giant knot, but I'm never bored.

I haven't even tried to publish yet, so I have no idea whether complicated sells, but it sure is fun to write, and a finished novel certainly has better chances for publication than one you get bored with and never finish.

Azraelsbane · Jul 31, 2007

Hope To The Horizon said:
I haven't even tried to publish yet, so I have no idea whether complicated sells, but it sure is fun to write, and a finished novel certainly has better chances for publication than one you get bored with and never finish.

Let me know if you get there first. I have a feeling my series is too complicated for its own good too, though MSWord insists that it's on a 5th grade reading lvl.

ZannaPerry · Jul 31, 2007

I think I'll just go at like a rabid dog on meat. See what happens...

Stuart Clark · Jul 31, 2007

Sounds like you've done small (40 short stories). I'd say the only thing holding you back is what your ulterior motive is. If you're writing to get published and that's the b-all and end-all of it you might be heartily disappointed when that tome of a manuscript gets rejected. If you're writing it because you love the story that's festering inside you and you've just got to get it down on paper and you couldn't care less if it gets published or not, then go for it.

I wrote my first novel (142,000 words) because I wanted to write it. I had no big dreams about seeing it in print. It was just about the writing. I got lucky though.

ZannaPerry · Jul 31, 2007

This is my dream novel, Stuart, that like you said I wouldn't care if it got published or not. For right now, I will be just happy to get it finished. Then maybe, just maybe if I want to send it into publishers I will do some heavy duty editing. But truthfully, this is my baby project, and I want to nail it for my sake.

johnzakour · Aug 1, 2007

Ah, my first novel was about the last freelance PI on Earth trying to stop a crazy, android who is an exact copy of the richest woman in the world who is an ex-exotic dancer from destroying the world.

Nuff said.

Saundra Julian · Aug 1, 2007

k_obsessed said:
This is my dream novel, But truthfully, this is my baby project, and I want to nail it for my sake.

You've answered your own question. Don't let anyone take your dreams from you. Go for it in a BIG way!

triceretops · Aug 1, 2007

Hey, full steam ahead, man. The more complex, layered and uniquie---the better!

tri

NeuroFizz · Aug 1, 2007

Whether you expect it or not, you should write your story as if you want it to be published. Writing is a form of communication, and it does no good if it isn't communicated in some way. It also does no good to expect a story to sit in a drawer, in fact having the mind-set that it is probably going to be a trunker will only make the task of getting through it more difficult. If you are writing it for you, and only you, why spend months or more of your life getting down a story that won't reach the hands and eyes of other readers? If it is just for perfection of the craft, kind of like a minor league internship, just bang it out and see what happens in the editing phase. In other words, don't agonize about its complexity.

As long as the story has a solid beginning, middle, and end, with good conflict and interesting characters, and it comes out as a stand-alone story, go for it full speed. But shouldn't "give it all you've got" be the approach to all of our writing projects?

Storyteller5 · Aug 1, 2007

You will learn a huge amount while writing and finishing your first novel. Let your passion come through and be honest with the story and characters. If the story wants to be a complex novel, go with it. Write well and try not to let your inner critic or external critics like your Mom second guess you. Good luck!

imagoodgurl4 · Aug 1, 2007

You should always follow your dreams, no matter what anybody says. Don't let anybody take them from you, even well-intentioned people. So go at it like two monkeys fighting over a banana!

preyer · Aug 1, 2007

since you want it published, it only makes sense to me to check out some potential publishers' criteria, particularly for word count. i see no reason to bother with ten side-plots if you know from the start you're going to edit those out, unless you just want to keep that for some 'special edition' or something, maybe even offering the extra material on your website but not necessarily stuff worth killing trees over (pixels are at least cheap and even the ones made in china and sold through wal*mart do the job, even though it takes jobs away from american pixels).

i imagine there's a lot more leeway with novels, but to ignore your audience and think you'll get lucky, well, that's like playing slot machines for a living, imo. you never know ~ *someone* has got to hit the jackpot every now and then. but, were i to sit down and say 'i want this to see the light of bookshelves,' you betcha i'd write towards my audience to a certain extent.
hell, i might even read some books in the same genre. and, yes, i'd definitely know what genre i was writing in.

airforceauthor · Aug 1, 2007

I'm not sure about this...I know everyone says go for the complex novel tooth and nail, and there's certainly merit to that, but...ok, to talk about myself (oh no, not again), I've come up with I see as my "epic" book - a hundred subplots, seven books, fantastic new locations and characters...but I have it buried deep in my hard drive, and here's why. As a newbie, I know no one's even going to look at the whole mss. Marketing will be a bitch and a half, so they're just going to pass.

The same thing could (possibly, not definitely, obviously) be the case with you. By all means write it out if you feel passionately about it, but think about just writing an outline - a very detailed outline if you will - and then writing something else; something smaller. As time goes by, you'll get even better insights on your "big" novel, while building publishing credibility. Then your big novel will get the attention it deserves, instead of becoming the victim of some intern. At least, that's the way I see it (and am doing it). My "epic" is going to stay where it's at till I have four or five novels under my belt, then I'll bring it out (with a flourish) and stun the world, mwahahaha.

Anyway, you get my point. Just my $0.02. Good luck all the same!

Claudia Gray · Aug 1, 2007

I say give it a shot. The first novel-length idea I had seemed to spring into existence almost of its own accord; I'd never even thought of attempting to write anything that length until, all of a sudden, I knew that I had to write this one, immediately.

Is it published? No. But I learned a lot that way about what it takes to write at novel length, and I firmly believe the experience helped me get published later. If you're not ready to tackle something of this length -- well, how can you know if you're ready until you try?

I say go for it. If you run into trouble, you'll still have valuable experience that will help you later. And if not, you'll have a manuscript!

Begbie · Aug 1, 2007

I should've asked this question before I started writing my first novel. I chose to play it safe, to write something light and entertaining. I was fortunate enough to sign with a very good agent soon after I began querying. The agent submitted my work to all of the major houses, and just about all of them said the same thing: They loved it, but it wasn't BIG enough. They wanted something they "could do in a big way."

So, I wholeheartedly agree with the others who advised you to go ahead with your big idea.

Good luck!

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