Comments on: Five tips to start your novel http://www.ilanafox.com/blog/five-tips-to-start-your-novel/ Author of THE MAKING OF MIA, SPOTLIGHT, and ALL THAT GLITTERS (Orion Books) Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:52:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Ashleigh http://www.ilanafox.com/blog/five-tips-to-start-your-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-4133 Ashleigh Mon, 06 Dec 2010 06:57:27 +0000 http://www.ilanafox.com/?p=759#comment-4133 Some times I want to throw my work away. Hard to write a story :( I have done 800 words. Looooong way to go. Some times I want to throw my work away. Hard to write a story :( I have done 800 words. Looooong way to go.

]]> By: Doug http://www.ilanafox.com/blog/five-tips-to-start-your-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-2825 Doug Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:40:23 +0000 http://www.ilanafox.com/?p=759#comment-2825 Can I just say what a relief to come across somebody who basically knows what theyre speaking about! Thanks! Can I just say what a relief to come across somebody who basically knows what theyre speaking about! Thanks!

]]> By: Tweets that mention Five tips to start your novel | Ilana Fox - Author -- Topsy.com http://www.ilanafox.com/blog/five-tips-to-start-your-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-232 Tweets that mention Five tips to start your novel | Ilana Fox - Author -- Topsy.com Sun, 09 May 2010 17:28:10 +0000 http://www.ilanafox.com/?p=759#comment-232 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ilana Fox. Ilana Fox said: Want to write a book but you don't know where to start? Read my five tips to start your novel: http://bit.ly/startnovel x [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ilana Fox. Ilana Fox said: Want to write a book but you don't know where to start? Read my five tips to start your novel: http://bit.ly/startnovel x [...]

]]> By: Ilana http://www.ilanafox.com/blog/five-tips-to-start-your-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-231 Ilana Sun, 09 May 2010 15:07:46 +0000 http://www.ilanafox.com/?p=759#comment-231 Katie, let us know how you get on - and good luck! Sarah, wow, congratulations on how far you've already got! I've never been to a writing group, so I can't really help with that. I think if I went to one I'd be doing it as an avoidance technique - I'm always trying to improve my writing, and I'm sure having others' opinions would help with that, but at the same time I know my style and my subject matter best ... so would it help really? Perhaps it would help if it gives you that extra-bit of discipline needed, but defo stay away from ones with patronising old men! Unless they're really hot ... ;) Also, maybe think about <i>why</i> you keep procrastinating. When I refuse to tun my laptop on it's because I've reached a scene that requires extra thought and I'm stuck - but as soon as I've resolved it in my head I'm off writing again. Sometimes it means deleting a couple thousand words and going back a bit so I can tread a different path in the plot, but it's always worth it if it means you can move forward. And dedicate the same time-slot every day to writing if possible - don't deviate from it! x Katie, let us know how you get on – and good luck!

Sarah, wow, congratulations on how far you’ve already got! I’ve never been to a writing group, so I can’t really help with that. I think if I went to one I’d be doing it as an avoidance technique – I’m always trying to improve my writing, and I’m sure having others’ opinions would help with that, but at the same time I know my style and my subject matter best … so would it help really? Perhaps it would help if it gives you that extra-bit of discipline needed, but defo stay away from ones with patronising old men! Unless they’re really hot … ;)

Also, maybe think about why you keep procrastinating. When I refuse to tun my laptop on it’s because I’ve reached a scene that requires extra thought and I’m stuck – but as soon as I’ve resolved it in my head I’m off writing again. Sometimes it means deleting a couple thousand words and going back a bit so I can tread a different path in the plot, but it’s always worth it if it means you can move forward. And dedicate the same time-slot every day to writing if possible – don’t deviate from it! x

]]> By: Sarah http://www.ilanafox.com/blog/five-tips-to-start-your-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-229 Sarah Sun, 09 May 2010 11:10:51 +0000 http://www.ilanafox.com/?p=759#comment-229 I'm about 30,000 words in so I have a chapter-by-chapter plot, subplots, characters etc, just need to actually write! I'm looking for a new job right now too which is providing me with yet another excuse to procrastinate. Would you recommend going to a writing group? I'm thinking a formal meeting once a week might help me to put the time in, but the last course I took was full of patronising men my father's age, who told me my work was 'competent' and then chatted me up in the pub. Horrible. x I’m about 30,000 words in so I have a chapter-by-chapter plot, subplots, characters etc, just need to actually write! I’m looking for a new job right now too which is providing me with yet another excuse to procrastinate. Would you recommend going to a writing group? I’m thinking a formal meeting once a week might help me to put the time in, but the last course I took was full of patronising men my father’s age, who told me my work was ‘competent’ and then chatted me up in the pub. Horrible. x

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