How many hours in a week do you allocate to writing?
Do you write more on week days or at weekends?
I allocate the whole weekend to writing, and about 2-3 hours each week day evening. When I am not editing, I write about thirty hours a week.
I have read blogs where agents have asked the same question. I can only surmise that the time an author spends writing is an important factor when an agent decides whether to represent an author. I believe a dedicated productive author has a better chance of hooking an agent, providing they are recognised as a talented writer.
I have firm opinions, but I am no expert. I learned the hard way. I wasted two years on my first as yet unpublished novel, because I did not plan. I had to go back to the beginning.
Ernest Hemmingway said, 'The first draft of everything is always shit.'
I decided to invest in a private literary editor and research the aspects of the novel. I read essays and books on the subject by the most respected experts. I highly recommend the books listed below, and advise those that can afford the money to get a literary editor.
E M Forster - Aspects of the Novel
George Orwell - ( Essay ) - Politics and The English Language
Clayton Meeker Hamilton - Materials and Methods of Fiction
Richard Gill - Mastering English Literature
Walter Allen - The English Novel
I am now confident of the aspects of the novel. I now believe I know what I am doing, but I am not comfortable commenting on other people's work. I have commented on Alex and Mark's work, as they were eager for feed back. But that is only because they are regular contributers on this site.
I am not a confident writer and I hope that I never will be. It is the lack of confidence and fear of failure that makes me strive so hard. I am a perfectionist by nature, and am very hard on myself. I will never achieve perfection, but in seeking perfection, I hope to write to the best of my capabilities.
Your mantra of 1.000 words a day is fine. Graham Greene advocates 300 words a day, that is 2,100 a week, which is 109,200 a year. When I am not editing my target is 500-600 words a day.
I am not a fan of self-publishing. I do not believe you can maximise the potential of a novel by self-publishing. Agents and publishers are vital to the success of an author. The best publishers have the resources and contacts to promote novels.
However, if I do not get what I consider to be a good deal, I will reluctantly self-publish.
I am determined to be published.
Hi Adrian
You do give the impression you are working to a set of an "Old School Writing Success Formula" and good luck to you.
Why don't you share it with some feed back on shared works. I am sure there is an army of unsure first time writers that would benefit from your absoluteness and certainty about the art of writing a novel.
Do not take this as a critical attack of your endeavours. Just the thoughts of a very unsure writer.
Most writers do not have your confidence and I am sure they will benefit by any tips you can throw their way.
I write from the feeling of the story and make no attempt to organize either chapters or characters.
They come in and go as the story moves along. I believe in a lot in editing and compressing the story line. I also write when I have the time.
My mantra is 1000 words a day. But alas this is not always possible.
When I am happy with my final cut/draft I will self publish on Amazon. As I do believe we are in a golden age of self publishing.
That will be gone in a flash as the publishers regain control again.
Sending my work to lie in an unread publishers slush pile has no interest
for me.
It differs for me, some weeks I can't write, and some I can't stop, if I lived on my own I would write a lot more, but I can write when ever I want too really.