So, you had an idea. You want to write a novel. The story line is already in your head, and you are itching to get your hands on that keyboard. In your mind you have already sold thousands of copies, and you are thinking about who will play the lead role in the movie version. Been there, done that, and still like it…

The harsh reality is that most aspiring authors never finish the first draft of their novel and some start a second before the first one is not even close to completion. I personally managed to finish my first novel and publish it, but I also started writing my third novel after the second was only half finished. The major problem is that we all have too many good ideas, and it is hard to focus on one story, especially when writing it turns out to take more time than we estimated. I once calculated that, due to abundance of ideas, I could (theoretically) write four novels per year… if only I could write eight hours per day. In reality, I do have a daytime job and a family. The thought of quitting my job and leaving my wife and son didn’t appeal.

Before I explain a solution to the problem, let me add more obstacles to this Mission Impossible. First, a good novel should have at least 60,000 words, and that will take time. When your work is finished you need to hire an editing service to review and improve your work. Otherwise you won’t have the hint of a chance to be accepted by agents or publishers. Editing will cost you $800+. I have written several posts on this blog about the daunting task of finding an agent or publisher, or, in case you self-publish, market and sell your first novel. I will not go into further details; again, I wrote several posts about it. Promoting and selling your first novel is the most difficult task in the business world. Even traditional publishers won’t help you there, unless you have a Dan-Brown-Potential. So, writing should not be your only talent.

The solution to the problem is first of all perseverance, focus, and a major investment of time, blood, sweat, and tears. You may notice that I did not add talent to the formula. Talent does definitely help, but all aspiring writers believe they have it, and I won’t judge who has and who does not.

From my personal experience I can say that writing my first novel was nothing short of exciting. It was a trip into a different dimension, a different life and time. I had a good outline of my story, but it also took some surprising turns that I did not expect. A story develops while you write it, and that simple fact is absolutely fascinating. For that experience alone it was worth writing it.

So, here, based on my personal experience, are some tips:

• Don’t expect your first novel to be a bestseller. I always say that the best marketing tool for your first novel is the release of the second.
• Write for yourself, not for commercial success. Have fun!
• Write plenty! The more you write the better your style will be in the end. You don’t necessarily need to write on your novel all the time. Watch people or events and write a story about it. Post it on your blog.
• That being said, run a blog! This very website is my personal blog…
• Read plenty! Read online versions of the New York Times, Washington Post, etc. Read from Hemingway to Sarah Palin (Yikes!). Reading will help improving your style.
• Pace yourself to 3,000 to 5,000 words a week (some do better, some do worse).
• Don’t edit your own writing over and over. You’re losing too much time. Keep the editing for the time after your first draft is done.
• Find a place and time to do your writing on a regular basis.

The Monty Python Code

For those who happened to stumble upon this article per search engine, this particular post is part of an article series Let’s Write A Novel. My intention is to challenge those authors who write about writing a novel. About 99% of these books are filled with inspirational blubbering. Their strongest feature is a strong, but misleading title. The rest is pure fraud.

To follow our little writing project go to Let’s Write A Novel – The Monty Python Code.

Last, But Not Least

I know there are many more aspects on this topic, and I am not the source of all wisdom. If you want to contribute helpful information, please do so by any means. Any comment, whether you agree with me or not, is appreciated. The only request I have is to, please, keep a professional tone.