Discussion Question: Do you plan to write a novel?
Have you written a novel? Do you plan to write a novel? If you plan to write a novel, but haven’t started yet, what’s holding you back?
Please discuss your responses to this question in the comments. Note: you can respond directly to other comments by clicking the “Reply” link in the bottom right corner of each comment.
Special Note: We’re in need of blog posts for this week (and every week), and as always, we’d appreciate anything you want to contribute. See the Contribute page for more details or email Ashley at twentysomethingwriters[at]gmail[dot]com.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
The short answer, yes. Will it be good? I hope so. It’s been on my mind for a few years now. I have a few scenes in my head but nothing else. It’s kinda like my own personal version of Garden State. It’s based on my life but it’s also fictional.
I need to start jotting it down. You never know, it might be the next great American novel
April 13th, 2009 at 6:20 am
That’s all it takes, writing down a rough outline, and before you know it you have a story to tell. Good luck!
April 12th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I have.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I tried to write a novel when I was younger. I could never end it, though.
I hope to write a novel/memoir of sorts someday.
April 12th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I want to. It will probably be horrible and I’m okay with that. But yes, I do want to.
April 12th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I think I’d like to write a novel. I’ve tried to in the past, but I find my lack of organization often hinders me, though I’ve never used and of the fancy organizing software they have out there now.
However, sometimes I think that I might not be suited to write a novel. Or, I should say, that’s not the best way I can “express”… whatever. I’ve resigned myself to writing a book, yes, but something that will sit in a dusty university library and only be known as a footnote in another article/book.
But I might give the old novel-writing thing another try…
April 12th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I always thought I wanted to write a novel, but have recently changed my mind. I’m much more interested in writing a collection of short stories or a memoir. Or maybe both?
April 13th, 2009 at 2:19 am
I have! Three finished ones, and half a first draft of my fourth! Now, if only I could crack this agent business and get them out there!
April 13th, 2009 at 5:54 am
I have. And I am.
April 13th, 2009 at 5:59 am
yes! i’m almost done with the first draft, just a couple more chapters
April 13th, 2009 at 6:18 am
I’m in the process of getting the final draft of my first novel done and submitted to agents and finish writing the second one. I love it. The only thing that held me back in the past was that I thought I wasn’t good enough or that my ideas were horrible.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I would love to write a novel, oneday. I’m not sure if I would do fiction though, I’ve never been very good at writing fiction.
April 13th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I’m a writer. I’m in the process of one of my short stories right now. Just working on the characters and locations. But I could definitely see it as a profession. Though I sometimes rationalize and think I need a more practical career.
April 13th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Hmm, not yet. I’ve published a short story, but never considered a novel. I think I would need to start reading more frequently before I attempted a novel. I’ve paged through so many textbooks and programming books over the last few years that my creativity is probably at a low.
April 14th, 2009 at 5:15 am
I would love to, I just dont know if it would be any good! That’s why I started writing my blog, because I have been out of touch for so long with writing that I almost forgot that I might even have good ideas.
I hope you check out my blog and give me constructive criticism!! I really want to join your team!
April 14th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I’d absolutely love to write something memorable and send it out into the world! As it stands I have no definite plans to write a novel. Just in the wishing and hoping stages at this point. Eventually I feel as if I’ll get on it more.
April 14th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
it’s a nice thought. i have absolutely no idea what i’d write about though.. it’s definitely one of my “dreams” for sure.
i’m currently working on some erotica. i have no idea how long it will be, or when i’ll be ready to share on my side of the blogosphere.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:43 am
I have completed two novels. one is 95,000 words, the other 125,000 words. One of them I feel I am ready to publish, so I gave it to two friends of mine to read and let me know what they think. That was six months ago though. They tell me what they have read so far is good, and I understand people have lives, but I am starting to think if it takes over six months to read it, it can’t be that interesting so I’m a little nervous about it now.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I have just started writing more of a memoir of sorts from my past 6 month trip to Ireland/ backpacking across Europe. I want to make it into a book, but I’ve never really done anything more than writing essays for academic purposes. I have a lot of good stories, but Im having trouble describing them in a clear, discriptive fashion and forming it into an interesting plot. Any suggestions?
October 19th, 2009 at 4:35 am
I have been trying for the past year to get my first novel on paper. It’s incredibly complicated and the deeper I go into the world and it’s characters the more complicated it gets. Still, I have fallen in love with that story. It has such a hold on my mind that I will not get any peace until it’s on paper.
I wonder if its that way for other twenty somethings?