Prolific authors write; they don't just dream about it. A good example is Georges Simenon of Inspector Maigret fame. He writes a book quickly, at one sitting so to speak. The first draft of each chapter is written longhand in a single afternoon. The following morning he transcribes it with his typewriter, revising and rewriting as he types. The afternoon is spent writing the next chapter, but before this happens he outlines a plan for the novel.
Perhaps one should do as Charles Dickens did. Early in his life he learned shorthand as a reporter and would write many of his novels first in this manner. He also was a prolific writer, in shorthand and longhand, no typewriter or computer for him. A man of great energy and vitality, he wrote voraciously but he did many other things as well.
Anthony Trollope, another 19th century novelist was also a prolific writer who adhered to a very strict schedule for work. He invariably arose at 5:30 am and wrote until 11:00 whereupon he breakfasted and spend the remainder of the day in personal activity. As a result, he was able to write 47 novels and 16 books. He was methodical worker who considered writing as a trade, probably one of the reasons his books have lost esteem.
Honor? de Balzac (1799-1850) is another prolific writer of the 19th century who wrote from midnight to dawn almost every day of his life, thus turning out a million words per year. Although he was prodigious he was always poor and that might account for his abundant output.
Victor Hugo (1802-1885) like Balzac was a prolific French writer of the 19th century. He too spewed out poetry and novels at an unbelievable rate. His most famous novels are The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables, but they are a small example of the many works that he produced at the amazing rate of over a million words a year.
If these writers-with paper, pen, and pencil-could effect the volume of writing they did, then writers today should easily do as much. Writers today have computers and word processors, with spell checkers and grammar checkers, and other aids that make the process easy and enjoyable. Probably what is lacking is the focus and vision that these writers had. Perhaps lives today are too full of computers, television, films, theater, music, and other distractions that impinge on the writer's time. Yet is possible with planning and discipline to put ideas to paper in poems, stories, novels, articles, essays, etc. Although the competition to be published probably exceeds that of writer of the 19th century and the 20th century, the way to publication is more varied and available.
Traditional publishers are being replaced by electronic publishers who now print books on demand or to order. Soon the publishing industry and booksellers will have to wake up to this new phenomenon and change the way they do business to satisfy the new prolific writers.
Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and a BEd in English literature. Several of his novels have been published and are available at Amazon. com, Amazon. ca, Barnes and Noble and many other bookstores.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareMost books aren't rejected because the stories are "bad." They're... Read More
Not long ago, I took stock of my unrealized desire... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
The biggest mistake authors make when trying to get free... Read More
Everyone has a unique story to tell. From explaining business... Read More
Let's Discuss Publisher Ethics:If you are an ezine publisher or... Read More
The freelance writing market is a growing market to be... Read More
Every hero has a seminal insight - the apotheosis. Once... Read More
ESSAYS ON AUTOBIOGRAPHY: NUMBER 1Preamble:Nearly seven years ago I wrote... Read More
Long ago, movie directors mastered the technique of creating a... Read More
It occurred to me one day that I needed something... Read More
Characters in a good novel really carry the story along... Read More
In one of the exercises in my "Getting Started as... Read More
Dave, I just got a contract for a book... Read More
More and more good authors are turning to the Internet... Read More
Writing is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in... Read More
What is a freelance grant writer? These individuals have a... Read More
We all need a cheer squad.We all need people to... Read More
"I don't know if I should put 'writer' on my... Read More
If you either want to write a book to help... Read More
How do you describe a scene without slowing down the... Read More
What is this annoying, insidious angst that permeates my psyche?... Read More
Here's everything I know about improving your writing, publishing it... Read More
Open any book on 'how to write,' and somewhere you... Read More
Although he has his own website, John Grisham probably does... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..Today I took the dog for a walk and realized... Read More
If you become a writer for any publication, private business,... Read More
If your cash is running out fast and you have... Read More
There is an image most people carry of the artist... Read More
Many of us have always wanted to write. We have... Read More
Each author has special editing needs. To save yourself time... Read More
A writer can never be self indulgent whether writing fiction,... Read More
Recently, I was hunting for a book that would simply... Read More
Have you ever started a creative writing project with great... Read More
Typically when falling asleep in bed at night great thoughts... Read More
Regardless of what sort of writer you are and how... Read More
Writer's block! Even columnist Dave Berry has it. He admits... Read More
If you are an aspiring writer, or you simply want... Read More
In his book, "Achieving Financial Independence as a Freelance Writer,"... Read More
The creativity of Jaisini is not designed to be preaching... Read More
Human beings seem to be born with a gene for... Read More
Q. My writing sounds stiff and stilted. Help!A. Memories of... Read More
The Internet has truly revolutionized the careers of writers worldwide.... Read More
Writing a sales letter doesn't have to be that difficult... Read More
Interesting characters that readers care about are the most important... Read More
Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules... Read More
A friend and I were talking the other day about... Read More
FERRETING OUT WORK You keep hearing that there's work out... Read More
Good writing requires self-examination. Why is one writing? What part... Read More
As many authors are fond of stating, "Ideas are all... Read More
Writing |