NOVEL WRITING

ISN'T FOR

BEGINNERS

WHY does every beginner want to start off writing a novel telling how rough their life has been?

There's no use in attacking me. I already have 100 beginners standing at my door, waiting to flog me to death. By the time you arrive, there will be little left for the imagination. But… it would be nice if you wrote my husband and extended your sympathies.

Novel writing is something that should be left for someone who has AT LEAST had some experience in short story writing. And when I say, "some experience," I mean some experience in being published.

And now for the brutal, searing facts of life, and I apologize before I say it. I know this will hurt, but no one cares what has happened in your life. Not unless it can be of practical use to them.

The day for caring about what happens to your neighbor is nearly at an end. Can you even call six of your neighbors by their first and last names? I rest my case.

But this is not an article for ranting and raving. There are solid reasons why beginners shouldn't try to write novels. These are only some of the things a beginner doesn't know:

• what a hook is, or how to make one
• how to build paragraphs with proper structure
• what a theme is, or how to find it
• what a plot is, or how to build it
• how to build a character, and how to give him warts
• what an arc is, or how to use it
• what resolutions are, or how to do them
• what pace is, or how to set it
• how to write a properly crafted 2,000 word short story

So where does that leave all of you beginners who are reading this? How can you learn these steps? The obvious answer is a writing course. Start at the beginning and work your way up. Two classes will be all you should need, unless you also need a review course in punctuation and mechanics.

But if you can't do that right now, read every article you can find on writing and take notes! Take The Writer Magazine, which is the best on the market (and I have no affiliations with them). Write to people with writing websites and ask them specific questions.  

Another thing you can is to join one or more writing groups. The one I recommend is Writing.com. They have a five-star rating system where you can rate other people's writing and they can rate yours.

And before you get into a writing group, make up your mind that you will accept and act upon 95% of the suggestions and criticisms that you receive, and that you will not wear your feelings on your sleeves.

So how do you know which 5% not to accept? At first, you won't. As time passes, you will be able to discern that.

In closing, when you can craft a good 2,000-word story (the equivalent of one chapter), take a novel writing class. A novel is too much work to "try out".

WRITING QUIZ

How much do you really know about writing? Test your knowledge, and check your answers at the bottom of the article.

ANSWERS:

1a.   The main climax scene is called the plot.

2a.   The main idea of the entire story is called the theme.

3a.    How you phrase your thoughts is called your writing style.

4a.   The four kinds of conflict  are man against man, man against nature, man against self, man against society

5a..  Name the four points of view – first person, 2nd person, third person limited, third person omniscient

6a.   Name the two kinds of voice – active and passive

7a.   Another word for people "speaking" is dialog.

8a.   The first paragraph should set the hook

9a.   Developing a character is called characterization.

10a. Making the readers see the setting in their minds is imagery.

11a. Use show, don't tell.

12a. When you have finished writing, the next step is editing.

13a. The end of the story is called the resolution.

14a. Fantasy, horror and romance are three different genres.

15a. Don't split an infinitive.

16a. Wordiness is called verbiage.

17a. A person who writes an article for someone else and receives no byline is called a ghost writer.

18a. A writer's pseudonym is his pen name.

19a. A writer sends a query letter to see if the editor wants to buy his work.

20a. When a writer submits the same story to more than one place at the same time, it is called a multiple submission.

If you got all 20 questions right, pin a rose on you!

If you got 18-19 questions correct, you get a rose, but you have to pin it on yourself.

If your score was 15-17 correct, you get a kiss from yer mum.

If you got 13-14 correct, you don't get tucked in tonight.

If you got less than 12 right, hmm… now that you know the answers, you better take the test again. 

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Don't make yourself wait another minute. Writing education is not a luxury. For writers, it is an absolute necessity.

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TYPING YOUR

CHARACTERS

You can type characters in a number of ways: by their education, their conversation, family background, associations with other people, by showing their passions, their needs, the plot of the story, by their conversation—or by giving them warts.

It has been said that every character should have a wart. That means every character should be noteworthy in some way, something that makes them recognizable, memorable.

Let’s say one character has a crossed eye, one has a mole on her cheek, another has a scar, and another has a limp. These are “warts”, i.e., noteworthy details that will help your audience separate the many characters in a long story.

Imagery in character typing

What would you think of a male character described as having manicured nails and spit-polished spectator shoes?

Now compare that mental image to another man who is described as having halitosis and an unevenly buttoned shirt hanging on the outside. Do you see the difference between these two people in your mind?

If you say a man has a “toothless smile” you’ve said a mouthful. (Yes, that was a deliberate pun.) Insinuate things about people’s teeth and jewelry to help typify the character. Think about a girl who wears no earrings- as compared to one who wears huge hoops. Can you see how this helps type a character in the reader’s mind? You can do the same thing with dirty nails, bleached hair, mini-skirts, torn tennis shoes, a woman wearing a dress shirt with a tie, etc. All of these things paint a picture of your character for your reader.

Using Dialog to Type Characters

Think how easily you could portray a sassy-mouthed teenager, a nagging wife, an unfaithful husband, or the innocence of a child by using dialog. There is no trick to it. Get in your character’s heads and say what a real character in his/her circumstances would say.

      Dear Darla

Send your writing questions to: darla@cwinst.com

Dear Darla

My new year's resolution was to write every day and I haven't written anything for a month. I'm so discouraged that I don't care if I ever write again. How can I get back on track?  Jill

Dear Jill,

No one keeps their New Year's resolutions, so don't get stressed over that. It doesn't mean you're a failure. It means you are very human.

Although every writer should try to write at least 15 minutes a day, five days a week is probably enough. The idea is to keep writing and if you burn out, you won't meet your goal anyway.

Start writing today. If you can't think of anything to write about, write about your parents, family life, or an autobiography. Just write.

Darla

Ask your question at: darla@cwinst.com

AVOID USING THESE WORDS

Avoid using any form of the verb "is". That also includes: am, are, was, were, will be, have been, had been, and has been. These are dead words that have little meaning. You won't be able to eliminate them entirely, but replace all that you can.

Editing

When you edit for the last time, try to replace most of your verbs with "jazzier" verbs.

Example: John threw the chair across the room.

John hurled the chair across the room.

Use as many high action verbs as possible.

Deb's Corner

Life is a learning tool, and he (or she) who stands still and doesn't keep learning will soon find boredom as their master.

As long as you are learning new things, new doors will open. Opportunities will arise. New ambitions will seize you, and life will be exciting.

Never think you are too old to learn. Stretching your mind - reaching for your star - is your best insurance to keep you from growing old.

Writer's Prayer

Thank you for the blessing of sharing with others. Help me recognize my gifts and develop them to your glory and honor.

Encourage my heart as I reach for wishes and dreams. And, should I be fortunate enough to have my work published, help me remember that you gave me my talent.