Writing a Novel is not a Team Sport

6/18/2018

Picture yourself standing on a 40 acre plot of land. It’s nothing but rocks, weeds, and dry dirt. Underneath though lies rich fertile soil. The type of soil that will grow the most beautiful and tastiest crops anyone would be proud of.

There’s one small problem though. You only have a shovel. No livestock to pull a hoe, hell you don’t even have a hoe. No one else is around. Just that shovel, you, and 40 acres. If you start today and work hard it might take you somewhere between 6 months and 1 year. That is if you work at it every day and you don’t quit.

If you want to write a novel, picture yourself standing on a 40 acre plot of land.

As the pictures above depict, writing is a solitary endeavor if you are writing a novel. Read bio's of authors you admire. For the most part there will be nothing about writing groups. The truth is if you need others to encourage you to write you are not ready yet. Writing takes discipline and perseverance.

Writing groups make me think about the settlers who came out west over 150 years ago.
Big dreams in the beginning as a group. Helping one another with their supplies and there livestock if they had any.
Off they'd go into lands unknown. Most had no idea of the trials and tribulations that lie ahead.

One by one, the settlers dropped out.

If you are still reading this you might be saying that I am so negative or that I am not encouraging you. My friends, that couldn't be further from the truth. I will always encourage anyone who wants to write, as long as they as willing to work at it. Everyday, 1-3 hours each day, 300 + days a year.

There are so many facets in writing that need to be perfected, but they only come with practice and patience. The settlers and explorers who ventured into the unknown were fearless. That is exactly what a writer has to be, fearless. Go into the unknown with the knowledge that mistakes will be made. That's okay, make them, learn from them, improve because of them. Remember one thing. Writing a novel is a solitary journey.

#writing,#novel,#Iwanttobeawriter,#learntowrite,#writeanovel,#beawriter

1 Comment

https://www.essaywritingboo.com/review-of-essayontime/ link

7/12/2018 08:36:49 am

I am so touched by your blog. I really am an aspiring beginner of writing novels. It is so hard for me to find motivation and inspiration for the book I am about to write. To be honest, I am not fond of reading books before until I read just one book by Mackle Menor. I was so inspired that time to write fictional stories that can be a reality for an individual. I know writing is not about how fast you make your stories, but how you make it.

Author

Robert Stephen.
What makes a writer? What do you envision when you think about that question?

Someone sitting by an open window looking out over the ocean, desert, mountains? Rainy day, foggy, sunny?

My definition of a writer of fiction. A person who drives himself or herself to the edge of insanity when writing a story to the best of their ability that you the reader find entertaining.

I can honestly say my life has been interesting, far from boring. Land baron, restaurateur, photographer, artisan, author. A life full of ups and downs. A life full of stories.

Along the way I've met hundreds of people, some interesting, some not. Some dangerous, some beautiful, some kind, and some cruel. During my lifetime I've even had my heart run over a couple of times, but when all of it is said and done I wouldn't trade it in.

Writing has always been inside of me, but the siren never called to me. I wasn't ready until one day in October of 2015 when life said, "Start writing."

Writing is a long journey, full of many perils, but don't be afraid it is an exciting adventure!

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