Attributes of a Sucessful Novelist According to Nigel Watts

[wildcatter67]

Do I enjoy reading? Have I turned to pen and paper in times of turmoil? Am I interested in people, and what makes them tick? Do I have a story to tell, or a message I want people to hear? Have I ever been complemented on my writing?...I imagine most people would answer 'yes' to most of the above questions.

What do you all think of this excerpt from "Writing a Novel" by Nigel Watts? Does it describe you?

[blacbird]

You mean "getting published" isn't an attribute of a successful novelist?

caw

[CaroGirl]

You mean "getting published" isn't an attribute of a successful novelist?

caw
No. That's the success of a successful novelist.

[Shadow_Ferret]

You mean "getting published" isn't an attribute of a successful novelist?

cawThat's what I would say. You aren't a novelist until you've been published. Until then you're just a wannabe.
Do I enjoy reading? Have I turned to pen and paper in times of turmoil? Am I interested in people, and what makes them tick? Do I have a story to tell, or a message I want people to hear? Have I ever been complemented on my writing?...I imagine most people would answer 'yes' to most of the above questions.

What do you all think of this excerpt from "Writing a Novel" by Nigel Watts? Does it describe you?
I enjoy reading.
I don't turn to pen and paper in times of turmoil.
I'm not interested in people.
I have a story, but no message, to tell.
I've been complimented.
Who is Nigel Watts?

[CaroGirl]

Do I enjoy reading? Have I turned to pen and paper in times of turmoil? Am I interested in people, and what makes them tick? Do I have a story to tell, or a message I want people to hear? Have I ever been complemented on my writing?...I imagine most people would answer 'yes' to most of the above questions.

What do you all think of this excerpt from "Writing a Novel" by Nigel Watts? Does it describe you?
Oh, we're supposed to answer.

I enjoy reading. I've been known to write at any time, turmoil or otherwise. I'm very interested in people, despite being somewhat afraid of them. I have stories to tell (more than one, thankfully) but I'm not sure I have a "message". I have been complimented on my writing, yes.

Okay, so when does that "success" drop into my lap. I'm waiting...

[Straka]

No offense but I don't think we can ascertain the truth of success from that list of questions. There are so many other factors. What about perseverance to edit a WIP for years? Or to hunt down agents? What about the market? What about being just pump crazy? Luck?

Who knows? I don’t.

[scribbler1382]

I'm pretty sure one of those questions should be "Did I spell everything correctly?"

And I second the other poster's question...who the hell is Nigel Watts?

[Polenth]

Do I enjoy reading? Have I turned to pen and paper in times of turmoil? Am I interested in people, and what makes them tick? Do I have a story to tell, or a message I want people to hear? Have I ever been complemented on my writing?...I imagine most people would answer 'yes' to most of the above questions.

What do you all think of this excerpt from "Writing a Novel" by Nigel Watts? Does it describe you?

I enjoy reading. I only write when I'm happy, so no to the turmoil thing. I like thinking from other people's points of view. I have stories to tell. I've never been complimented on my fiction writing... only non-fiction and poetry.

That gives me three yeses and two nos. No, it doesn't describe me. It's hard to say what I think about that without knowing where he's going with it. What does he say next? Does he say novelists must have these things? Does he say they're things most people have, but they need others things to be a novelist? Without knowing that, I don't have much of an opinion on the questions.

[RedScylla]

And I second the other poster's question...who the hell is Nigel Watts?

I think I'll hold the phone for Attributes of a Successful Novelist by Nigel Tufnel. ;)

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/mgm/this_is_spinal_tap/christopher_guest/spinaltap2.jpg

[IceCreamEmpress]

And I second the other poster's question...who the hell is Nigel Watts?

Obscure UK novelist, whose several books about "How to Write a Novel" seem to have sold much better than any of his actual novels.

[KTC]

Those questions could be answered in the positive by just about anyone. I say pish posh to that nonsense. The mark of a successful novelist (if we are still using the same definition of successful these days) is a hefty bank account with the monies sitting in it having come from the royalties of published novels.

[KTC]

Spinal Tap

[KTC]

http://www.saxton.com.au/saxton_db_data/thumbs/Watts_Nigel.jpgWATTS in the Tank.

[CaroGirl]

Spinal Tap
You got Tourette's or are we just shouting out random words now? Should I blurt Christopher Guest?

[KTC]

You got Tourette's or are we just shouting out random words now? Should I blurt Christopher Guest?

I saw the picture, I shouted out the movie.

One more word out of you I'm going to turn it up to 11 and blow your eardrums.



Back on track: those questions really have just about nothing to do with writing. Yes, we'd probably all answer yes to them...but so would my grocer and my 12 year-old. Some writing books just have a flair for writing things that make people go, "Wow! That is so me. You're right. Wow...you're amazing. I have to buy your other books on writing now because it's like you're speaking right TO me!"

[Charlie Horse]

That's what I would say. You aren't a novelist until you've been published. Until then you're just a wannabe.

Man, if I had that attitude I would have quit a long time ago. I write novels. I work hard at it. Therefore I'm a novelist.

[SageFury]

Do I enjoy reading? Have I turned to pen and paper in times of turmoil? Am I interested in people, and what makes them tick? Do I have a story to tell, or a message I want people to hear? Have I ever been complemented on my writing?...I imagine most people would answer 'yes' to most of the above questions.

What do you all think of this excerpt from "Writing a Novel" by Nigel Watts? Does it describe you?

1. Sometimes
2. Actually Excedrin but yea
3. Fantasy wise yes, IRL never =P j/k
4. Tick tock? around the clock?
5. I have stories to tell? I thought I was suppose to write them and they are to be read?
6. No message, just bull and lots of it =) j/k
7. Once I remove the blindfold and ear plugs I'll let ya know =P

Apparently it describes me landing on a pointy fence =P

[dempsey]

Do I enjoy reading?

Yes. According to Steve Jobs, this makes me strange.

However, saying that being a reader is a sign of being a good novelist is like saying a car collector is a sign of a good auto mechanic.

Have I turned to pen and paper in times of turmoil?

Same as any other angsty teenager who spends far too much time on perfecting their eyeliner (which will only get smeared when the tears of their angst that nobody understands run down their face).

Am I interested in people, and what makes them tick?

Yes. Probably because I don't really fancy living the rest of my life alone.

Do I have a story to tell, or a message I want people to hear?

Yes. But wanting to share a message and actually sharing a message is the difference between proposing and walking down the aisle: there's still that chance to say screw it all and run off with the stripper.

Have I ever been complemented on my writing?

Yes. Friends will say anything to keep you from having your feelings hurt.

So, in summary: It's a load of crock. This guy should spend more time writing good novels and less time telling others how to write good novels.

But you know what they say: Those who can, Do. Those who can't, Teach.

[ishtar'sgate]

Definitely enjoy reading. Don't turn to pen and paper in times of turmoil. Am not so much interested in what makes people tick as I am in what they DO. We pretty much tick in the same way - we love and hate, get angry or sad or embarrassed. We're shy or extroverted, etc. What interests me the most is how people act out from those emotions. Does anger make them kill or make them cry in frustration? Do they love in a gentle romantic way or do they become jealous and possessive? As for having a story to tell, why would I write if I didn't? That question makes no sense to me. Yes, I've been complimented on my writng but I've also been criticized. Never read Nigel Watts' book, though, so probably don't have the whole picture.
Linnea

[Angelinity]

a good writer needs a good measure of--

imagination
vocabulary
detachment that allows him/her to step step back and see different perspectives
wickedness
love of words
patience
persistence
faith

...just what good writer may need to be successful...i've no idea.

[KTC]

Yes. As long as we are keeping good from getting mixed up with successful. They are entirely different beasts.

[NeuroFizz]

The attributes of a successful novelist likely will be as varied as the range of personalities you see here at AW or with any other collection of writers, successful and emerging. I would bet, however, that one trait that would be as close to universal as one could expect from a generalization-spin like this would be possession of some measure of self-discipline.

[Happy Pooch]

According to the title of the thread, we are talking about attributes of successful novelists. Getting published and making a lot of dough from writing should be high on that list. This is what I think: Nigel comes up with a list of bland questions to which most people would answer yes and think "Eureka! perhaps i should consider writing. Lemme buy Nigel's On Writing books to help me uncover my hidden talents."

[IceCreamEmpress]

According to the title of the thread, we are talking about attributes of successful novelists. Getting published and making a lot of dough from writing should be high on that list. This is what I think: Nigel comes up with a list of bland questions to which most people would answer yes and think "Eureka! perhaps i should consider writing. Lemme buy Nigel's On Writing books to help me uncover my hidden talents."

And this is a good plan for Nigel, because nobody appears to be buying his novels.

[a_sharp]

A successful novelist was the late Norman Mailer, by many accounts.

Mailer claimed he couldn't read others' works while writing his own--the alien voice interfered with his.

Mailer was read, he was admired, his works inspired discussion and thought, sold millions. He was also not read, hated, vilified, and rejected. He made a lot of money, lost money. He had friends, had enemies. Fostering nine children might make him a family man.

Some of the same can be said for Saddam Hussein.

I guess both were successes by some measure, but not mine.

[KTC]

According to the title of the thread, we are talking about attributes of successful novelists. Getting published and making a lot of dough from writing should be high on that list. This is what I think: Nigel comes up with a list of bland questions to which most people would answer yes and think "Eureka! perhaps i should consider writing. Lemme buy Nigel's On Writing books to help me uncover my hidden talents."


hehe. This is basically exactly what I said, so I think I'll agree with you. (-;

[OddButInteresting]

Do I enjoy reading?

It depends, actually. I can't just pick up a book and go for it; I need to be calm and focused. If something's on my mind I tend to concentrate on that rather than what I'm reading, meaning a few pages may just breeze past me, despite having read every single word.

Have I turned to pen and paper in times of turmoil?

If something's troubling me, I have trouble focusing on anything other than the source of my anxiety.

Am I interested in people, and what makes them tick?

I'm a real thinker, and often find myself reading into people's behaviour and its implications; dissecting it and making sense of it; drawing conclusions and links.

Academic psychology's far too "One can [insert circumlocution] that the [insert academic buzz-word/ circumlocution] of [you get the idea]" for me to read-up on and take an active interest in; but I do enjoy studying people and theorising about their psyche.

Short answer: Yes.

Do I have a story to tell, or a message I want people to hear?

Always. These days any story I concieve is driven by a key message or idea. This is what 2 1/2 years of Theatre Studies does to you...

Have I ever been complemented on my writing?

Aye. I rarely share material, but the last time I was complimented (to my recollection) was at a NaNoWriMo write-in in Birmingham. I'd been considering quitting, so thought there'd be no harm in sharing it with one of the writers I met there.

She laughed at the gags, told me that my writing felt really "It runs straight off the page" natural and spontaneous, and the icing on the cake was her request to copy the file to her laptop.

So yeah, with the exception of the first two questions, I qualify as a successful writer under Watts' criteria. However, he doesn't take into account that although I'm greatly imaginative (as I've been told by many), I often have trouble getting my ideas down even in outline form. I can spell, my grammar's decent, I'm reasonably articulate, and I can structure a story competently. But, as soon as pen hits paper, it never goes the way I wanted it to.

If ideas = dreams, and written words = facts, then I have trouble facing reality. I'm a dreamer - I romanticise everything. But, as I concluded in an essay I finished the other day, the reality rarely lives up to the fantasy.

My New Years Resolution is that 2008 will be the year when I make things happen. Fingers-crossed!

[wildcatter67]

I just can't help myself from starting these quote threads. As I'm reading, I keep thinking, "I wonder what everyone at AW would say if they read this?" I seldom have any agenda or strong opinion of my own. I just want to hear your reactions as they are always interesting.

[Takvah]

By God, if Nigel Watts says it, you best believe it mate!

[JustGo]

Yes, yes, yes (I don't like them in general but they still fascinate me), yes, and yes.

I think these are important traits for a novelist to possess. Honestly, I've known people who wouldn't read unless it was forced on them as homework but still tried to write novels, and... well, you can imagine how that turned out.

Obviously, one needs more than just these things, and one can get by while missing one or two, but they're helpful.