Why write a novel?

So you’ve had some success with your short stories, flash fiction, perhaps even a blog. Your family/friends/writers group/creative writing coach all say “they’re good” and “You should write a novel”.

You think about it, come up with a killer idea, and decide that it’s only a short story but longer.

But a novel is a whole new level. It’s hard work. Not only does it take considerable time to develop the story outline, it’s difficult to maintain the level of writing output that gets you to the end.

For example, I’d take around three months to produce my outline then aim for a daily writing target of 500 words – so 120 days to my first draft target of 60,000 words. Some days I’d write only 100 words (more of that later), some days 1,000. Some days I’d write none. And that’s only first draft, with at least another 10,000 words to add.

When the first draft is completed, the heavy lifting begins. One or two structural edits, then the adding of all the character and location detail you’ve glossed over in the first draft. Then the line editing, and finally the proofreading. I’d guess most of my novels have been through at least half a dozen redrafts before submission to the publisher.

This is when the real heartbreak kicks in, finding a publisher. I’m not even going to go there on this post - except to say it is possible, so don’t give up.

Even when you’ve leapt all of these hurdles, the financial rewards for the vast majority of writers are pitiful. Sure, you could write a best-seller and earn a few shillings. You might even make a living, but very few do on a single novel. Stephen King has published about 65, James Patterson over 200.

So, why am I being so negative about this?

Well, surprisingly, I’m not. I think you should write a novel if you have it in you. I just think it’s important to know what you’re taking on because the world is littered with half-finished novels, and frustrated novelists.

·       Write because you enjoy it, not to be famous or rich.

·       Write because it takes you to places you wouldn’t otherwise go.

·       Write in the knowledge that this is your creativity and no-one can take it away from you.

·       Write, write, write – right?

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