Does anyone else's story not feel like a "real" novel?

Kindness · Jan 13, 2013

It doesn't have anything to do with my writing. I'm happy with that, and with the way everything plays out. On the other hand, the whole thing just feels like a story full of characters I've made up, places I've invented and events I've contrived. I can't help but feel like that's what people with a seasoned eye will see on the other end.

It made me wonder if other aspiring authors feel this way. I mean, we've grown up reading finished books, and now we're all putting together our own. We can clearly make out all of these little bits that we're assembling, and maybe the whole thing just doesn't seem real because we can still see where those separate parts are floating in the finished MS.

Maybe it's just me. Anyone else? Is it normal?

mirandashell · Jan 13, 2013

the whole thing just feels like a story full of characters I've made up, places I've invented and events I've contrived.

But.... that's what a novel is, isn't it?

I'm not being funny, honestly. But I don't understand what you mean. All novels come from a writer's imagination. (well, unless you agree with Jasper Fforde....) so I'm not getting the idea.

Novels don't just plop into your head fully formed.

Anna Spargo-Ryan · Jan 13, 2013

I feel the same way more or less all the time.

Being so close to the story is the main culprit, I think. I read my own MS and pick out where I've foreshadowed something deliberately or a conversation between two characters that's designed to drive a specific plot point. It seems obvious and trite.

It won't (shouldn't..) seem this way to readers. They don't know the exact building blocks of your story.

What do your beta readers say?

mirandashell · Jan 13, 2013

So.... could you explain it to me?

BTW, sent you a rep.

areteus · Jan 13, 2013

Yep, I know what you mean... I even posted a blog about it on the amwriting site a while back. The fact that I had two pieces of work published, had even been paid (albeit not that much) for one of them and yet I did not feel like a proper writer nor believe that anything I wrote had any merit.

I still feel that. The point of my blog post was that I actually do not beleive that anyone, even professionals earning millions, feel as if their writing is 'proper' writing.

Maybe this is part of what makes us strive for greater and better things - the fact that even when we achieve something we still feel we have to do more?

And yes, knowing how it ends makes it feel contrived. Its like you read the last page before starting reading, of course it is going to sound bad to you... what is important is what it reads like to someone who isn't you which is why you need beta readers pre-release and reviews post release...

Tolstoyce · Jan 13, 2013

annaspargoryan said:
Being so close to the story is the main culprit, I think. I read my own MS and pick out where I've foreshadowed something deliberately or a conversation between two characters that's designed to drive a specific plot point. It seems obvious and trite.

I think this happens to writers in different ways. There are parts/elements of my story that I was really excited about/inspired by/touched by when I wrote it. Now that I've read the MS so many times, I don't think about that anymore. I pass over it as if it is run-of-the-mill and worry that my entire story is mundane. It's easy to forget that readers encountering that part/element for the first time might feel the same (or similar) things I felt when I wrote it. I've had people read my stuff and point out, "This *such and such* was really cool/beautiful/provocative!" and I think, "Oh, yeah. That. I forgot about that."

When you know your book too well, it can be really, really hard to see what the reader sees. So, be tough on yourself when appropriate, but give yourself a break once in a while, too.

WendyN · Jan 13, 2013

Glad I'm not the only one. There are some days I look at my MS and think, "Wow, this is really cool" and feel pretty good about myself... and then there's other days where I feel completely pretentious and phony about "writing a novel" (like, really, who am I kidding?)

P-Jay · Jan 13, 2013

It's a wandering thought that comes and goes. I'm sure it happens to most writers.

Keep your head up and continue writing!

Wilde_at_heart · Jan 13, 2013

annaspargoryan said:
I feel the same way more or less all the time.

Being so close to the story is the main culprit, I think. I read my own MS and pick out where I've foreshadowed something deliberately or a conversation between two characters that's designed to drive a specific plot point. It seems obvious and trite.

...

I'm worried about being too vague now, in order not to seem obvious in one WIP I have. I might know something in my head, but have I told the reader enough that he or she could get it?

But as you mention, getting some distance solves a fair amount of that.

rwm4768 · Jan 13, 2013

I think that's the difference between first drafts and finished products. Don't compare your rushed first draft to the polished and edited final drafts of other authors.

JLBrady · Jan 13, 2013

Yes, always feel that way -- whether it's a rough draft or absolutely polished up. Because the moment I feel something's polished, I have a need to go tear it all down again.

I think it's a side effect of being so close to writing and the writing process.

For example, I can go to a movie and relax. I don't necessarily sit there and analyze cinematography or other film-related techniques. I just lean back and watch. I leave satisfied or dissatisfied. Because I'm not a movie person.

My film student buddies? Can't just sit there and watch it. They are constantly analyzing throughout the entire film. Rip every part of it to pieces scene-by-scene. And they are just as merciless on their own works.

I think writers are the same way. If I get into a rut where I'm really focused on the technical side of writing, I can't even read for pleasure - even if something's critically acclaimed -- without pointing out things that could be corrected. Or things that "shouldn't" be there according to our writer-rules, but otherwise work fine to an untrained eye.

Writers are, generally, their own worst critics. Both to themselves and to each other. That can be a good and bad thing. Good because we'll all catch things that could be better. Bad because we're all overly critical, too. Easy to get stuck in the editing circle of death because of it.

Sunflowerrei · Jan 13, 2013

Yeah, I feel like this sometimes and I do think it's because we're so close to the work and because we created it. So I feel like an element--foreshadowing, for instance--is so obvious when it may not be. My novel isn't a real novel yet. But then again, it's not finished either.

Susan Coffin · Jan 14, 2013

Kindness said:
the whole thing just feels like a story full of characters I've made up, places I've invented and events I've contrived.

That's what a story is--characters within a story, all of which we created from pure imagination.

We can't foresee how others will see our writing, we can only write the best story possible.

Robert Gonko · Jan 15, 2013

Boy, do I feel like that about my stuff! I think part of it comes from my self-esteem issues. I also agree that we get too close to our work and lose perspective. When I was writing something many years ago I had a dream where I was introducing myself to people as one of my lead characters. I took a week off after that.

Anna Spargo-Ryan · Jan 15, 2013

JLBrady said:
I think it's a side effect of being so close to writing and the writing process.

Totally agree.

TheBladeRoden · Jan 15, 2013

Mine started out as a fanfic. Then it became a comic. Then it became a video game. Then it went back to a written story.

Hardly the path of a real novel.

crunchyblanket · Jan 16, 2013

Eh, most of the time my novel feels vaguely fraudulent. As if I'm luring readers in with the promise of something great and exciting and delivering warm shite in a bag.

Maze Runner · Jan 17, 2013

Kindness said:
It doesn't have anything to do with my writing. I'm happy with that, and with the way everything plays out. On the other hand, the whole thing just feels like a story full of characters I've made up, places I've invented and events I've contrived. I can't help but feel like that's what people with a seasoned eye will see on the other end.

It made me wonder if other aspiring authors feel this way. I mean, we've grown up reading finished books, and now we're all putting together our own. We can clearly make out all of these little bits that we're assembling, and maybe the whole thing just doesn't seem real because we can still see where those separate parts are floating in the finished MS.

Maybe it's just me. Anyone else? Is it normal?

"...where those separate parts are floating..."

I don't know if this will be on point, but I always had the image of a big plate of spaghetti, with all those entwining threads, and I figured that when I could lift the entire mound of pasta with my fork at once then it would be done. All the threads would be connected into a whole. All those ideas that I had woven connected back around and usually came in threes.

bearilou · Jan 17, 2013

I tend to wrestle more largely with "I'm not a writer. I'm a fraud who is bumbling along without a clue and who do I really think I am that I can actually write something that will interest anyone else."

Then I have a sit down with a mug of hot chocolate and keep 'being a fraud'. Maybe no one will notice and like my stuff anyway.

ccarver30 · Jan 17, 2013

Yup- right there with y'all. I think Anna summed it up. Kinda sucks though.

areteus · Jan 17, 2013

bearilou said:
I tend to wrestle more largely with "I'm not a writer. I'm a fraud who is bumbling along without a clue and who do I really think I am that I can actually write something that will interest anyone else."

Then I have a sit down with a mug of hot chocolate and keep 'being a fraud'. Maybe no one will notice and like my stuff anyway.

Shhhh, stop telling everyone this... we've been getting away with it so far...

ishtar'sgate · Jan 17, 2013

Kindness said:
It doesn't have anything to do with my writing. I'm happy with that, and with the way everything plays out. On the other hand, the whole thing just feels like a story full of characters I've made up, places I've invented and events I've contrived. I can't help but feel like that's what people with a seasoned eye will see on the other end.

I felt like that pretty much right up until my publisher sent me a box of novels to take to my launch party for signing.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 17, 2013

Kindness said:
...the whole thing just feels like a story full of characters I've made up, places I've invented and events I've contrived. I can't help but feel like that's what people with a seasoned eye will see on the other end.

I'm with mirandashell on this. This is what a piece of fiction is. And you don't need a seasoned eye to see it, you know as soon as you pick it up that its a work of fiction--it's usually printed on the spine FICTION. Or you found it in the FICTION section.

But no. I've never felt this way. Well, yes, I have because the characters are made up but so are the characters in "The Great Gatsby" or "Fahrenheit 451" or "Twilight." They all came from the authors imagination.

I'm sure Fitzgerald or Bradbury or Meyers all felt the same way about their novels. It's one of those feelings that has to be ignored or it'll drive you crazy.

Does anyone else's story not feel like a "real" novel?

Kindness

Back From My Self-Imposed Exile

mirandashell

Anna Spargo-Ryan

Just pokin' about

mirandashell

areteus

Tolstoyce

The glint of light on broken glass

WendyN

8-armed cyborg tree

P-Jay

My name is PJ.

Wilde_at_heart

υπείκωphobe

rwm4768

practical experience, FTW

JLBrady

up to no good

Sunflowerrei

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

Robert Gonko

Anna Spargo-Ryan

Just pokin' about

TheBladeRoden

Can finally change his title

crunchyblanket

the Juggernaut of Imperfection

Maze Runner

bearilou

DenturePunk writer

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

areteus

ishtar'sgate

living in the past

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Does anyone else's story not feel like a "real" novel?

Back From My Self-Imposed Exile

Just pokin' about

The glint of light on broken glass

8-armed cyborg tree

My name is PJ.

&#965;&#960;&#949;&#943;&#954;&#969;phobe

practical experience, FTW

up to no good

Tell it like it Is

Just pokin' about

Can finally change his title

the Juggernaut of Imperfection

DenturePunk writer

Nicole Castro

living in the past

Court Jester

υπείκωphobe