Hey, how far do you think writers tend to get before quitting?

Depends on the writer and the story, don't you think?

I would think that would be an impossible question to answer. Those who quit (outside of this 20,000+ membership) aren't likely to advertise the fact and I know of no groups that have polled all wannabe writers to find out.

The key to the answer of this question is in the word "wannabe." The writer won't quit until he writes the last word of the manuscript: "End." The wannabe will quit at any point between the first page and the last. cf

captflash said:

The key to the answer of this question is in the word "wannabe." The writer won't quit until he writes the last word of the manuscript: "End." The wannabe will quit at any point between the first page and the last. cf

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Have to disagree. It depends on the story as well. To me it doesn't make me a wannabe to know that the manuscript isn't working in its present form and to set it aside. When I do that it's on the understanding that I might never pick it up again if I don't get any idea how to make it work. When that happens I am still writing, but move onto a different project instead. Not everything you write will turn into gold. There are always 'false starts'. Sometimes you can use elements of abandoned MSs, (which is why I never delete anything permenantly) but sometimes you just have to admit that it's not viable.

As for 'when you quit', I agree that it depends on the writer and the project, so it'd be pretty impossible to produce a definite answer (however you want to interpret the word 'wannabe'). Me personally, I always have to fight a bit harder at around 40-45K as that's when I find it gets harder to stick with it. Since I've noticed that tendency though it's easier to look at the MS and see why it might be, if my 'middles' need more action or I need a different approach to chapters or the likes.

I agree; there seems no "right" answer to this question. The factors leading to completion or abandonment of a ms are too many to categorize a norm.

BlueLucario said:

There's not even an estimate?

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I don't think there's any possible way to guess. At all.

BlueLucario said:

I just had a thought. I've written 32,000 words so far. But others say that's a great achievement compared to others who quit. To be honest, it's a big surprise. But for some reason I'm curious to know how far to wannabe writers get before they quit the book before finishing?

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I suspect you're thinking of the people who have loads of ideas and make a bunch of false starts, never getting much past the first or second chapter. My brother is one of them. He started a really great suspense story but stalled at chapter 3 when he ran out of ideas. It's been sitting in a drawer for quite a few years now and he never tried to write anything again. A lot of people love the idea of being a writer. It seems romantic and something easily done because of all the terrific ideas they have swirling around in their heads. Once they begin to write though, they find out it's not as easy as they thought it would be and they quit.
Linnea

This is too hypothetical. Moving it to OP.

ishtar'sgate said:

I suspect you're thinking of the people who have loads of ideas and make a bunch of false starts, never getting much past the first or second chapter. My brother is one of them. He started a really great suspense story but stalled at chapter 3 when he ran out of ideas. It's been sitting in a drawer for quite a few years now and he never tried to write anything again. A lot of people love the idea of being a writer. It seems romantic and something easily done because of all the terrific ideas they have swirling around in their heads. Once they begin to write though, they find out it's not as easy as they thought it would be and they quit.
Linnea

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Again though having loads of ideas and a lot of false starts doesn't necessarily make the writer a 'wannabe' as opposed to a serious writer. Some people, myself included, just tend to work more that way. Quite often I'll get six or seven novel ideas, not including little ones for existing WIPs, in the one day, and once I finish a WIP I quite often have a period of false starts before I find one that takes me in again. Yet I've been writing for as long as I can remember and haven't quit yet.

I think since every writer is different and will have different strengths, techniques or preferences, assigning particular characteristics or working methods to the label 'wannabe' is potentially insulting to a few people.

BlueLucario said:

I just had a thought. I've written 32,000 words so far. But others say that's a great achievement compared to others who quit. To be honest, it's a big surprise. But for some reason I'm curious to know how far to wannabe writers get before they quit the book before finishing?

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captflash said:

The key to the answer of this question is in the word "wannabe." The writer won't quit until he writes the last word of the manuscript: "End." The wannabe will quit at any point between the first page and the last. cf

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I have a problem with the use of the word wannabe. 32,000 words is definitely beyond being a 'wannabe'. Define perhaps what a writer is verses what a wannabe is and maybe it'd be easier to answer.

just a suggestion

But for some reason I'm curious to know how far to wannabe writers get before they quit the book before finishing?

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WHAT???

I'm sorry, I'm a little rusty on gibberish. Could you rephrase the question?

Writers do not quit. Hobbyists and people who wish to prove their erudition but are impatient with the writing process quit.

If you don't quit, then you're a writer. If you do quit, you're a wannabe writer. Period. Quit asking silly questions, put your butt in the chair, and go back to writing. Don't let all of these questions distract you so much, because no one here wants to see you turn into a 'wannabe' because you're distracted by the internet and/or your need to ask these things.

And congrats on 32k. Good job! Do that twice more and you have a novel.

Good luck.

huh. I always thought wannabe is just another name for poser. So in my estimation. However, humble it might be, the person who writes, no matter how consistent is a writer. Not everyone seeks publication and not everyone who seeks publication gets published.

A writer is someone who. writes.

A wannabe is someone who pretends to write so they can talk about it and get a lot of attention.

So in other words, 32 k ...good job! Your showing how serious you are about your work. Good job. Keep it up.

BlueLucario said:

Can I make a new thread, since not many people understand?

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Sure, but I would suggest starting a new thread in the Religion forum since we are talking about creationism. Right?

Celebrity authors of children's books quit the moment the ghostwriter is hired.

BlueLucario said:

I just had a thought. I've written 32,000 words so far. But others say that's a great achievement compared to others who quit. To be honest, it's a big surprise. But for some reason I'm curious to know how far to wannabe writers get before they quit the book before finishing?

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32,001 words, exactly. FACT.

My mantra is

Wannabe writers wanna write, writers write.

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Published writers don't quit. Which is why they eventually get published.

Unpublish writers quit all the time.

Guns don't kell. Publishers due.

He's not the messiah! He's a very naughty boy!


:sorry I couldn't help it: