Comments on: Survey #1: The 30-Day Novel http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/ The Fundamentals of Our Publishing are Wrong Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:37:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Heather http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-855 Heather Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:08:00 +0000 http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/#comment-855 I'm a NaNoWriMo veteran. <br /><br />However, I known <i>damn</i> well that what I'm turning out is shit, unpublishable, and not really fit for human consumption. <br /><br />What it is is a start. <br /><br />I've written 50k in 12 days. The book's not done; I'm going to keep on writing, and finish my draft. Because that's what it is: A rough draft. I've spewed the ideas on paper. It doesn't suck horribly, and doesn't contain filler or padding. It's my story, in it's roughest form. After a couple dozen rewrites, then we'll talk about being a novelist. <br /><br />What irritates me the most is the number of people who will post excerpts, tidbits, ask questions, all wanting to know if their work is any good. <br /><br />My answer? No. You haven't finished. It sucks. It might suck less when you're actually done, but considering that it's day 14 and you're not even past 4k... I doubt it. It'll still suck though. <br /><br />The only comfort I have is that the majority of these people will probably go on to self-publish or POD, and give my future agent all the more reason to take me on... because I don't suck. <br /><br />Or rather, I won't in a year or two, after this book is actually fit for human consumption. I’m a NaNoWriMo veteran.

However, I known damn well that what I’m turning out is shit, unpublishable, and not really fit for human consumption.

What it is is a start.

I’ve written 50k in 12 days. The book’s not done; I’m going to keep on writing, and finish my draft. Because that’s what it is: A rough draft. I’ve spewed the ideas on paper. It doesn’t suck horribly, and doesn’t contain filler or padding. It’s my story, in it’s roughest form. After a couple dozen rewrites, then we’ll talk about being a novelist.

What irritates me the most is the number of people who will post excerpts, tidbits, ask questions, all wanting to know if their work is any good.

My answer? No. You haven’t finished. It sucks. It might suck less when you’re actually done, but considering that it’s day 14 and you’re not even past 4k… I doubt it. It’ll still suck though.

The only comfort I have is that the majority of these people will probably go on to self-publish or POD, and give my future agent all the more reason to take me on… because I don’t suck.

Or rather, I won’t in a year or two, after this book is actually fit for human consumption.

]]> By: Simon Haynes http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-854 Simon Haynes Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:36:00 +0000 http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/#comment-854 I don't consider myself a pro, I just impersonate one from time to time.<br />And is there any way of targeting this model-turned-writer-zapping death ray? Only there are some which have already had a lifetime of press coverage and I think it's someone else's turn. I don’t consider myself a pro, I just impersonate one from time to time.
And is there any way of targeting this model-turned-writer-zapping death ray? Only there are some which have already had a lifetime of press coverage and I think it’s someone else’s turn.

]]> By: Sean Lindsay http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-853 Sean Lindsay Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:51:00 +0000 http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/#comment-853 Not true. I say it every day, like a mantra, and yet there she is on NatGeo, taking credit for other people's documentaries ...<br /><br />Redrafting your own work and despairing that others would redraft theirs also requires different regions of the brain.<br /><br />Mr Haynes, you are truly a giant among nano's. Not true. I say it every day, like a mantra, and yet there she is on NatGeo, taking credit for other people’s documentaries …

Redrafting your own work and despairing that others would redraft theirs also requires different regions of the brain.

Mr Haynes, you are truly a giant among nano’s.

]]> By: Lee Battersby http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-852 Lee Battersby Fri, 03 Nov 2006 10:58:00 +0000 http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/#comment-852 Yeah, but Simon: you're a <i>pro!</i><br /><br />Remember, every time you say you don't believe in writers, a model-turned-suspense 'author' dies.... Yeah, but Simon: you’re a pro!

Remember, every time you say you don’t believe in writers, a model-turned-suspense ‘author’ dies….

]]> By: Simon Haynes http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-851 Simon Haynes Fri, 03 Nov 2006 09:14:00 +0000 http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2006/11/03/survey-1-the-30-day-novel/#comment-851 E<br /><br />And returning to the subject of NanoWrimo, much like a crow and its favourite piece of roadkill, there is a huge difference between a novel written in one month and a first draft written in the same time span. My last three books underwent 20+ drafts each before publication, which wes ten times the work I put into writing the blasted things in the first place.<br /><br />Incidentally, did you know writing and rewriting give you headaches in different parts of the brain? And the twitches seem to move from side to side too. E

And returning to the subject of NanoWrimo, much like a crow and its favourite piece of roadkill, there is a huge difference between a novel written in one month and a first draft written in the same time span. My last three books underwent 20+ drafts each before publication, which wes ten times the work I put into writing the blasted things in the first place.

Incidentally, did you know writing and rewriting give you headaches in different parts of the brain? And the twitches seem to move from side to side too.

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