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Novels written in present tense — Page 4

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#76

re: Novels written in present tense

You are so not very bright.

If you can't follow a generative theme in a message board thread, HOW are you going to write a novel?
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#78

re: Novels written in present tense

Seriously, FW, I know you think Namo's being cruel or attacking you needlessly, but he's not making it up when he says multiple people on this thread are involved in the publishing industry in some fashion (I know there are probably MULTIPLE editors here)...if I had the hubris to post a thread saying "hey, guys, do you think I could turn my blog into a memoir?" I'd be prepared to actually take their real, honest advice. And I'd listen to their advice about classes, finding professionals (or even my old college professors!) to work on my writing style with me.
It's harder to see it when you're the one asking the question, but Namo wasn't being belligerent when he was giving you this advice and you took it that way.
So, deep breath. You want to write a novel in the first person, present tense. That's great. PEople have told you what they thought of it and what you most likely need to do in order to whip this novel into publishable (if that's a word) shape. Try it all out. It can't hurt.


#79

re: Novels written in present tense

What's the projected word count? No more than 100,000 or 110,000 words, I hope. And how many words do you have written already?

If you have anything less than 40,000, you really shouldn't be talking about it or showing it to anyone. You will only dilute your inspiration.

Do you write everyday? Or only when the spirit moves you?

Hemingway wrote every day in the morning, even when he was hungover. "As soon after the first light as possible," he said. "There is no one to disturb you and it is cool or cold and you come to your work and warm as you write."

Do you write your first drafts in one push and then go back and refine and rewrite? Or do you go over everything until you feel that it's perfect? Or do you consider your first draft final?

"The first draft of everything," Hemingway said once, famously, "is SH*T."
#80

re: Novels written in present tense

What's the projected word count? No more than 100,000 or 110,000 words, I hope.
-Projected word count is somewhere between 90K and 100K. Probably closer to 95K.

And how many words do you have written already?
-Just over 60K

Do you write everyday? Or only when the spirit moves you?
-I try to write atleast 1000 words a day.

Do you write your first drafts in one push and then go back and refine and rewrite?
-I'm on my third draft, and the first two weren't finished. The very first draft was awful. The second, better. I plan on finishing the 3rd.

Or do you go over everything until you feel that it's perfect?
-What I usually do is write it out on paper (usually in the bath or in bed), and then type it up. As I type, I'll edit. After that's typed up, I'll print it out and give it to Ivan to read. He'll let me know what he doesn't like, and what doesn't work. After that, I'll go back and edit on the computer.

Or do you consider your first draft final?
-I agree with Hemingway.
#81

re: Novels written in present tense

How many pages does 60,000 words, double spaced take up?
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#82

re: Novels written in present tense

*does the math

229.

I actually have 68, 471 words. There's an average of 299 words per page.

PS: I'm not writing it in first person. It's in third. Why does singer keep on talking about first person?

PS #2: I forgot that there's still about 40 pages that I haven't added to the manuscript. They haven't been edited yet.

Updated On: 8/9/06 at 12:21 PM

#86

re: Novels written in present tense

You should really take some literature classes. Quite a few of them, if possible.
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#87

re: Novels written in present tense

oh boy, I am leaving this thread alone.........this is just getting too ridiculous.....
It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956
#89

re: Novels written in present tense

Wow.

Personally, I think you're all being pretentious assholes.
"I can't figure out what kind of life this is, comedy or tragedy, I just know it's showbiz. And what if I don't agree with the lines I have to read? They don't pay me enough, the way I see it."
#91

re: Novels written in present tense

Sorry about the end of your relationship, Greek. But "pretentious" means pretending to be something you're not. I only see one person doing that in this thread.
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#92

re: Novels written in present tense

Geek, thank you very much.

And I'm not going to start this, because I don't think that I need to argue with people I do not know. But I think that the worst thing to do for someone who's trying to develop a talent, especially in writing (as I myself would know, as I'm also a writer with five years of Literary Arts courses behind me) is to discourage them and act snobbish towards them.

but again, I won't argue it. Your opinion is your opinion and you are entitled.
"I can't figure out what kind of life this is, comedy or tragedy, I just know it's showbiz. And what if I don't agree with the lines I have to read? They don't pay me enough, the way I see it."
#94

re: Novels written in present tense

PJ -- Interesting quote from Hemmingway -- but didn't Asimov only write one draft of his books and stories?
Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.
#95

re: Novels written in present tense

Sorry. I actually was reading it as Greek.

I don't really see how encouraging a fledgling writer to get involved in writing classes and groups and to read literature is discouraging or snobbish.

Dismissing those suggestions out of hand because a person "already knows" anything that could possibly be learned is snobbish.

And perhaps you're not particuarly familiar with FW's long history of not being closely acquainted with veracity.
Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none
#97

re: Novels written in present tense

And as I said at the very beginning, in the hands of a very skillful writer it can work beautifully.
Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none
#98

re: Novels written in present tense

It's not the suggestions you made, it's just the way that you made them.
"I can't figure out what kind of life this is, comedy or tragedy, I just know it's showbiz. And what if I don't agree with the lines I have to read? They don't pay me enough, the way I see it."

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