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Simply study writing....

3/10/2013

11 Comments

 

Some of you may remember I am writing a novel (see post here). It began as a fun way to get through February which was my least favourite month of the year. The first February (2011) with the aid of a book called No Plot, No Problem by Chris Baty, I wrote about 25,000 words - half a novel. In February 2012 I wrote the second half, and the third year I began to edit. February 2014 I aim to have my final draft. (I've only worked on it in Februaries so far, but very intensively - see posts under Simply Write.)

I knew by now that I needed some help.

As a painter I am used to seeing all the elements of a piece of work at once - they are all there, visible on the canvas, and if I make a change I can immediately see what effect this has on the rest of the composition. With 50,000 words on I've forgotten how many pages, I find myself struggling to see the overall shape and structure.

I am now floundering in it so badly I enrolled in a course Writing Fiction: The Novel to help me along. The class is in the Open Course programme at Glasgow University - one night a week.

I have never been on a writing course before, but I think I have struck lucky....
11 Comments
Sarah link
3/10/2013 04:47:19 pm

When I saw you had enrolled at University I did wonder if it might have something to do with writing. I so glad you are finding it so inspirational and helpful.
Sarah x

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Freda
3/10/2013 05:27:44 pm

A wee bit nervewracking too (but in a good way!). Reading work out in front of others is something I've not done before..

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elaine link
3/10/2013 04:59:02 pm

I was given to understand that 50,000 words is regarded as a short story and 150,000 a novel so my first draft needs a helluva lot of filling out - so I can completely understand your floundering, and like you probably need some help. When I spoke to an uncle of mine about this he sent me a book called Structuring your Novel (from basic idea to finished manuscript) which is very complicated.
Good luck with the course - dare I ask what your novel is about?

Reply
Freda
4/10/2013 05:04:19 am

You're right - it's either a long short story or a very short novel! But at the moment it matters not! Thank you for the link - I'll mention it on the blog (also what it's about). What are you writing Elaine?

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elaine link
4/10/2013 03:35:15 pm

Difficult to put into a few words - basically it is about an old woman looking back over her life (sometimes it writes itself and I seem to have no control of the old lady).

Cornflower link
3/10/2013 07:21:09 pm

Well done you, Freda, and the best of luck! I'm looking forward to hearing how you are getting on.

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Freda
4/10/2013 05:05:43 am

Thank you Karen - I'm having fun with it all..

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Lucille link
3/10/2013 09:04:43 pm

I do admire your tenacity.

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Freda
4/10/2013 05:10:21 am

It is easy to hang on when you are enjoying yourself. (Glad the eye is OK and what a lovely photograph Lucille)

Reply
cath
4/10/2013 01:19:21 am

Are you with many in your class? And how much time did you set aside for writing your assigments? Every day? It feels like a really big step.

Reply
Freda
4/10/2013 05:12:36 am

More about the class on the blog, and I wrote most of the assignment on the long journey home! I'm a great believer in baby steps, but sometimes....you just have to jump.

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