When I got laid off nearly four years ago, my wife suggested I write a novel. That seemed like an odd suggestion, but she reminded me that I had mentioned it more than once, and that being a dungeon master was like being a writer (it is, and it isn’t, btw). So, I wrote a novel. And I shared it with some friends, and the reception was luke warm at best…..which, I guess isn’t bad for a first novel! There was a story there, but it wasn’t quite compelling. And the characters were kind of boring / samey. Anyway, I’m writing a novel, and I need to do two things before I start.
I need to pick a novel
I have four novels in my head. Well, three and the a re-write of the one I wrote 3 and a half years ago. So, I kind of need to pick one, because they are quite different.
- I could re-write the first book.
- There are four draft chapters of a novel that takes place in the same world as the first book I wrote, but in a very different land.
- There is the briefest “outline” of a science fiction book, about a woman and AI and what it means to be a real person (maybe its about that, who knows, really, once I start writing, what will come).
- Then I have a somewhat autobiographical novel about a guy that gets laid off, and tries to write a novel. But he kind of sucks at it, so he starts to copy stuff from the internet, and then the world around him takes on the style/topic of a chapter (like, he starts writing a romance, and then his friends have one, and that chapter is written like a romance).
Frankly, I doubt I can pull that last idea off, not without turning the book real, and learning to write in various styles by going to the internet. On the other hand, the writer stuff might write itself. So, the likely pick is one of the two fantasy books (the one written, the one started). We’ll see, I guess.
The question I’ve asked myself since I starter writing this post yesterday………”how do I pick?”. And, frankly, I still don’t have an answer. Though, I did have a dream last night that could be uses in the novelist novel….about me being in a place like the Middle East, and the CIA sending me back there. Of course, the people in the area knew I was CIA, but didn’t care for some reason. They just wanted me to tell the CIA that what they just did was bad / wrong / evil. Sure. Being stuck between two governments sounds fun…..
I need to learn more about writing
I pantsed that first book. For those unfamiliar with the phrase, it is short for working by the seat of your pants, without a plan, without an outline. Apparently there are planners and pantsers (and everything in between). I literally just sat down and wrote out the first book in MS Word over a month or so. Then I edited it, and made it better (but not great). So, I need to learn about planning, I think.
But more important than learning about planning versus not doing so, I need to learn more about writing. There are an amazing amount of resources on line about writing, and I have read some of them, and watched some YouTube videos.
What I need to do is take the learning more seriously. There are few things people are so naturally good at that they don’t benefit from learning and practice. I’ve been doing some writing for months now, but not novel writing. I think I’m better, but I’m still not as good as I want to be. So, I need to study, and learn.
One way to do that is to read more, so I’m also committing to a lot more reading this coming month. Yup, I’m going to try to write a novel, learn more about doing so, and record the process for people to learn from. All in one month. (this is where I’d say maybe, but then I’m less likely to do it, oooops, said it……let’s be realistic here).
So, sure, I’m writing a novel, again
I guess one way to pick which novel is to start writing each, and see what I enjoy more, or where it flows better. Not sure I can start four novels, though, and finish any of them. Maybe I’ll put up a poll, here and YouTube and Twitter and other spots?
One more thing, I’m going to blog and record videos of the process, so anyone that wants to learn about the process can watch. Mostly, I’m guessing, you’ll learn what not to do, but we’ll see.