On Monday at my writers group holiday party I received a book from the resident romance writer “The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing”. I cracked it open today and got to page 1. Basically, I read one paragraph.
As I’ve expressed before, novel writing is my hobby. I think I surprise people when I tell them I don’t really care if I get published. I’ve a story in my head and I just want it out on paper… I would almost rather give the book away for free to the people that want to read it than try and sell it. I’m not looking to be the next JK Rowling, Tolkin or Pierce… I just want to share the vision in my head.
This book is roughly 450 daunting pages. It covers typical subjects like the philosophy of plot and how to create realistic characters to creating authentic dialogue, hooking your readers within the first 50 pages and how to find editors and publishers.
I am very excited to read it. I’m not sure it was entirely meant for me, but I am glad that she had an extra copy and gifted it to me. The last writers book I read was on creating dialogue. Yes, an entire book on writing dialogue. Part III looks particularly interesting as it discusses how to start writing, what to do if you get writers block, and how to revise your work (my biggest problem is revising the same pages over and over and over to the point that I never move forward in my work).
At my writers holiday party on Monday we made a toast to getting contracts for our novels in 2010. I’ve just hit 70 pages, I do know that I’ve another 300+ to go so I made it a personal goal that at the end of 2010, on December 31, I’ll have completed the rough draft of my work.
Here’s to my novel and to 2010… boy am I going to need it.
