People can't believe I did it, but I did. I wrote my first novel, The League, in about 30 days. I never spent more than two hours on any given day, unless I wrote then went back to edit. I also found and signed with a publisher in one month (see my article, Whatever It Is, Publish It Now, for details on this). Friends, family, and colleagues are fascinated when I tell them this. It's not possible, they say. Then, I enlighten them.
The secret to writing a novel is quite simple. You don't have to be John Grisham or Danielle Steel, either. In fact, you really need basic writing competence. Although I have years of experience in writing (I was a journalist for three years), I don't consider myself on the level of the aforementioned novelists, in terms of style and eloquence. What I am is a storyteller. I look for ideas that are unique. I look for a niche. Take Grisham, for example. His niche is courtroom drama. He uses his experience as a lawyer, takes a new angle on a case, and turns it into some type of conspiracy that no one has considered.
Now, I don't know how long it takes people like Grisham and Steel to pen their stories, but they too must be fairly quick, because they're turning out novels at a crazy pace. Don't forget, the publishing process is usually six months to a year. So, they obviously write a novel or two, while a prior work is being published and marketed. So, how do I churn out my own work so fast, you might ask? As I said, it's actually quite simple. I start at the end and work my way backwards.
I get an idea in my head of how the story will end, and I outline a way to get there. This usually takes a few days, maybe 10 hours total. Then, I sit down at my computer and start typing. I let the words flow, rarely stopping, until about two hours have passed. Knowing where I have to wind up helps me develop my characters and conflicts along the way. I usually write the story in about 25 days and spend five days or so editing and revising. There you have it -- a novel in 30 days.
You can do it too. All you need is the idea. Figure out your ending, sit down, and start typing. Learn more about The League and my other work at www.sportsnovels.com.
Mark Barnes is the author of the new novel, The League, the first work of fiction, based on fantasy football. Learn more about this suspense thriller and Mark's other work at http://www.sportsnovels.com
disinfecting cleaning services Highland Park ..In the ten years that I've taught people how to... Read More
If you dream of turning your book into a best... Read More
Op-ed articles, also known as opinion/editorial articles, are a great... Read More
'Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always... Read More
Complaint letters aren't always fun, but sometimes they need to... Read More
As a student of Spanish, my goal was to think... Read More
Since the headline is the first contact your readers have... Read More
When you write for international audiences, mainly directly in English,... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
EditingExpect, allow, and accept that every first draft will represent... Read More
If your writing muscle isn't in shape, writing a novel... Read More
If you're a writer, you're in business. It doesn't matter... Read More
There are a lot of tapes and books and CD... Read More
Eight or nine times out of ten, picking up and... Read More
Originality emerges from structure. Once you have a story idea,... Read More
So you've decided to crown yourself with a title that... Read More
Recently I was watching the Oprah show and it was... Read More
A writer can never be self indulgent whether writing fiction,... Read More
The creativity of Jaisini is not designed to be preaching... Read More
Have you ever wondered why some people can make millions... Read More
In the current job market, many editorial workers have turned... Read More
William Faulkner, the great Mississippi writer, said, "The tools I... Read More
What is a freelance grant writer? These individuals have a... Read More
You can create a great headline, a dynamic first sentence,... Read More
Interesting characters that readers care about are the most important... Read More
best cleaning company Winnetka ..If you want happy customers to use your service or... Read More
The self-indulgent writer listens only to the mumblings of sycophants,... Read More
Whether you are writing a magazine article, composing a press... Read More
Yes, you know your subject. You also need to think... Read More
Picture this scene.Your hero is sitting in a bar. He's... Read More
Poems. Just the mention of them makes me smile. Why?... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
Mixing and mingling with industry professionals is an opportunity that... Read More
More and more good authors are turning to the Internet... Read More
'Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always... Read More
If you are a serious writer who wants to publish... Read More
Remember the days when we wrote with pen and paper?... Read More
As one of those fabulous Baby Boomers, you now own... Read More
With the expansion and diversion of businesses, manufacturers, and even... Read More
Whenever you sit down to plot a story (or even... Read More
Ever wonder why we refer to convincing an editor a... Read More
If you are an aspiring writer, or you simply want... Read More
Open any book on 'how to write,' and somewhere you... Read More
9 out of 10 professionals and small business owners have... Read More
Charles Dickens was born in Portsea, England, in1812. His father... Read More
With the advent of email communications in the workplace, it's... Read More
A few months ago, I wrote a guide entitled: 101... Read More
If you're a writer, you're in business. It doesn't matter... Read More
Most of us hate housework.Nevertheless, even the most hopeless slobs... Read More
Beginning writers often tend to think of a book as... Read More
Writing |