Would a novel be too much right off the bat for someone looking for their work to be published?

Naan Violence · May 16, 2013

Well, I am not really just a starting writer, but I haven't published anything yet because I have just really been casually writing for a while . The thing is that I have held on to many ideas over the course of a decade, and I would for once like to see at least one of those ideas get published.

I read author bios sometimes for inspiration, and it seemed to me that some were able to start in the writing business right off of the bat with their first novel without any previous published works, and some built their way to their first novel with a background as a journalist or having some other short stories/poetry under their belt.

Anyways, this is my dilemma right now: I really would love to scratch the itch and actually get rolling with the prospect of turning one of my ideas into a novel; but on the other hand, I would like to get some writing experience first from writing smaller works and also brush up on some of my flaws. I typically am patient and could work with whatever I have, but this has been bothering me for a while.

Can anyone give me some insight into this? Thanks in advance.

wampuscat · May 16, 2013

Each form of writing takes a slightly different set of skills. Even different types of poetry require different writing skills and styles.

There are no "right" ways to become a published writer. (And there are plenty of good writers who are not published.) There are plenty of people who specialize in short stories, because that's what they love. There are people who have only written novels.

In short, write what you love.

Be smart about the industry, though. Do some research, and don't expect to be published right away, or you may get discouraged. I've heard many times that tenacity is as valuable to writers as talent.

Good luck, and welcome to AW!

Layla Nahar · May 16, 2013

Naan Violence said:
I really would love to scratch the itch and actually get rolling with the prospect of turning one of my ideas into a novel.

If that's what you'd love to do, seems best to do that. If you set your mind to learning you'll learn whether you write short or long works.

Dreity · May 16, 2013

I learned how to write grammatically correct, interesting prose through the short stories and essays I wrote during childhood. Valuable stuff, to be sure, but it didn't prepare me for every problem I encounter as a novelist.

Writing in a variety of forms will absolutely teach you a lot about the craft in general, and I encourage you to give it a shot if that's what you want to do. But the thing about writing novels, is that you can only get good at them by writing novels.

Jersey Chick · May 16, 2013

I've tried to write short stories, but I can't. Everything I write turns into novel-length stuff. I envy people who can write short.

Write what you want to write. There is no right or wrong way to do it.

Crescendo2020 · May 16, 2013

Give it a shot. What's the worst that can happen? You write a novel?

DancingMaenid · May 16, 2013

Like others have said, not everyone writes both novels and short stories, or starts out with short stories before writing a novel. If what you really want to write is your idea for a novel, I would start there. I think it's a lot easier to get started writing if you have an idea that you like.

Also, if you want, you can probably work on your novel and also do some shorter writing exercises. I used to enjoy writing short responses to prompts for fun, to play with my characters, and to practice some techniques. But I never did it in place of working on projects that I wanted to be working on.

emmajane1626 · May 16, 2013

I'm in the same boat as you! I think if you write what you know, and what you enjoy, then you have more chance of being published than if you wrote something because you felt you HAD to... something you're not as passionate or confident about

good luck!

Naan Violence · May 16, 2013

Wow, thanks to all of the replies so far.

I have thought before that if I were to just start off with a novel it would be like learning how to run before I learn how to walk.

Kerosene · May 16, 2013

Naan Violence said:
I have thought before that if I were to just start off with a novel it would be like learning how to run before I learn how to walk.

I started out writing novels.

In the past, one of the ways to enter the publishing world was to build your way up. But now, you can just debut with a novel.

I say: Choose whatever you'd like to write in and stick with it. If you want to write a novel, then write one.

Like others have said, short stories and novels are written differently. They both have different sets of skills (which aren't hard to learn), but it's just what is taking up your time.

Of course, you can write shorts and longer work, but early in your craft you might not establish two different styles of writing and know how to differentiate them enough, e.i., you might write novels like short stories and visa versa.

Marian Perera · May 16, 2013

Naan Violence said:
I have thought before that if I were to just start off with a novel it would be like learning how to run before I learn how to walk.

I've written both, and for me, a short story isn't easier to write than a novel. It just takes less time.

J.S.F. · May 16, 2013

OP,

I'll just give you my own experiences for what they're worth. I never set out to be a writer or be published or anything. I just felt an urge to write and did so. The Tower--my first novel--came out of that urge, and it was published about a year later. (It isn't my best work but it was my first and it's still a pretty cool feeling).

At any rate, write what you want to write about. Short stories are not necessarily easier or harder to write--they're just shorter. I prefer writing novels, but that's just me. Get on that keyboard and put down on cyber paper what's in your heart and see what turns up.

rwm4768 · May 16, 2013

If you want to write novels, write novels. That's the best practice you'll find. You might not get it right the first time, but that's okay.

DancingMaenid · May 16, 2013

Naan Violence said:
I have thought before that if I were to just start off with a novel it would be like learning how to run before I learn how to walk.

I don't think so. I don't think short stories are necessarily any easier than novels. They're just shorter, and usually take less time. Short stories and novels require mostly the same things, but they also have some unique challenges. Writing short stories will certainly help you learn how to write, but it won't teach you the skills that are specific to novel-writing, so if novels are what you really want to write, I think you might as well start there.

thepicpic · May 17, 2013

Naan Violence said:
I have thought before that if I were to just start off with a novel it would be like learning how to run before I learn how to walk.

I started with novels. Granted I'm not published yet, but I'm working on it. It's as valid a starting point as any other.

Becky Black · May 17, 2013

If you want to write novels, write them. Plenty of novelists have no prior publication credits before they sell a novel. I didn't. Although I've now sold a short story and am working on another couple this year, just to diversify a bit and to get a couple of stories that aren't novel material written, novels are my main thing.

People have different paths to becoming novelists. Some may do other kinds of writing jobs before they become novelists, but that doesn't mean those jobs are apprenticeships for novel writing. For one thing, writing a novel is a different skill than writing an article or a short story or a script, or whatever, so when that journalist comes to write their novel they certainly have some writing skills, but they still have to learn many other new ones. It's no shortcut.

WormHeart · May 17, 2013

When I was a teen I loved telling stories, but thought a novel was an insane project.

Then one evening I watched Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.

That movie touched me (no, not like that) in profound way. The whole kids-caught-in-post-apocalyptic-setting. Plus violence.

So I went upstairs and turned on the music. As I sat there, listening to Metallica's Fade To Black, I turned on the computer and just started to write.

I had been inspired and cranked out my first novel in the next six months - not surprisingly a Mad Max rip-off, that never got published, but I had written a novel.

The following years I wrote two more and many years later my fourth attempt was selfpublished. Now I'm with a regular publisher and have eight novels under the belt.

Point is, obviously, that if you really want to start that novel, go for it. Don't let the inspiration grow cold - just do it!

WormHeart

Wendy Jenae · May 17, 2013

Something else to consider:

When you think of a novel, shift the focus from "novel = really long story" to "novel = a series of scenes".

If you're into outlining and plotting scenes, a scene itself can seem like a work of flash fiction. Focusing on a book scene by scene is much less daunting than thinking in terms of climbing the 50,000+-word mountain.

Lady Ice · May 17, 2013

Wendy Jenae said:
Something else to consider:

When you think of a novel, shift the focus from "novel = really long story" to "novel = a series of scenes".

If you're into outlining and plotting scenes, a scene itself can seem like a work of flash fiction. Focusing on a book scene by scene is much less daunting than thinking in terms of climbing the 50,000+-word mountain.

This- definitely. If you want to write a novel, learn as much as you can- through reading and writing- about the form. Think about why somebody might write a novel as opposed to another form (ignoring the obvious point about publishing). Think about how your story will work best in the form of a novel.

jaksen · May 17, 2013

Short story writing is NOT practice for novels. It's an art in and of itself.

True, some short story writers go on to novels, or do both back and forth. Jeffery Deaver comes to mind, he can do both excellently.

But if you feel it necessary to write shorts first, go for it. It's just not an absolute YOU MUST do it sort of thing.

Cathy C · May 17, 2013

Naan Violence said:
Wow, thanks to all of the replies so far.

I have thought before that if I were to just start off with a novel it would be like learning how to run before I learn how to walk.

This isn't quite an accurate analogy. Short stories is to novels as a 100-yard dash is to a marathon. One doesn't train you for the other. They're different skills. I know a lot of novelists who can't write a short story to save their soul, and vice-versa. A lot of people seem to think that a short story is just a chapter of a book, but that's not true. Shorts (at least the good ones) have their own dynamic. Sometimes a short can be turned into a good novel. Sometimes a slice of a novel can be turned into a short. But they're not the same.

Starting with a novel is fine if that's what works in your head. The only way to know for sure is to give it a try.

kuwisdelu · May 17, 2013

Cathy C said:
This isn't quite an accurate analogy. Short stories is to novels as a 100-yard dash is to a marathon.

First of all, since when is the 100-yard dash a thing? When I ran track, we measured all the races in meters...

Second of all...

Yes, they are different skills, but I submit that learning how to write will teach you how to write.

Someone who has trained for the 100m is not prepared for a marathon. Someone who has prepared for a marathon will not win in the 100m.

However, anyone who has prepared for either will be more prepared to prepare for the other than anyone who has never prepared for either.

In the end-case, naturally, I agree:

Start by writing what you want to write!

You'll get better at writing prose by writing prose. You'll get better at writing novels by writing novels. You'll get better at writing short stories by writing short stories. Etc., etc., etc. Ad infinitum, ad infinitum.

Susan Coffin · May 17, 2013

Naan.

The thing is that I have held on to many ideas over the course of a decade, and I would for once like to see at least one of those ideas get published.

Ideas don't get published, words do. I would suggest just sitting down and writing and see what you come up with. You can do it!

Writing short stories and novels are very different, and often are not interchangeable. Sure, many people write both short stories and novels, but you cannot learn to write one from the other.

Jamesaritchie · May 17, 2013

Technically, I started with short stories. I wrote three of them, and they sold, so I wrote a novel, and it sold. No one cares what you start with, only what the finished product is like.

Some of the biggest bestsellers out there started with a novel, wrote it quickly, and became very rich, and very famous.

Never think of short stories as practice for novels. They aren't. Write what you most love to read, and what you most want to write.

James D. Macdonald · May 17, 2013

There are novelists who never write short stories.

There are short-story writers who never write novels.

What you'll learn from studying others' career paths is that those paths are theirs, not yours.

Would a novel be too much right off the bat for someone looking for their work to be published?

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