Writing a Novel 3rd Lesson

Have you started you novel? No? Have you at least started writing a poem or a short story?

If the answer is still no, DO NOT READ THIS BLOG! Write instead!

If the answer is yes, please continue...

If you are a beginner writer go to your local library. Do not buy books on writing, borrow them! Read writer's digest books and magazines. If you plan on writing magazine articles then you will probably want to purchase the ones you are interested in submitting to, but if you are merely using the magazines for learning purposes, save your money.

Have a desperate need to own writing resource books? Pick up used writing books. The information may be somewhat dated, but you can look for the updated material on-line, and again save money!

Writing Reference Books to check out

See Jane Write: A Girl's Guide to Writing Chick Lit
Sarah Mlynowski (Author)
› Visit Amazon's Sarah Mlynowski Page
Farrin Jacobs (Author)

ON WRITING, by Stephen King

WRITE YOUR HEART OUT and WORD PAINTING by Rebecca McClanahan

Thesaurus

Dictionary

Webster's Compact Rhyming Dictionary

Webster's Compact Writers Guide

The Elements of Style (1918), by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White

If you absolutely must buy some books visit http://www.betterworldbooks.com/ or amazon.com


Will Write for Shoes: How to Write a Chick Lit Novel
Buy new: $14.95 $11.21
40 Used & new from $6.70
4.2 out of 5 stars (16)

This Is Chick-lit
Buy new: $17.95 $15.34
34 Used & new from $0.68
4.8 out of 5 stars (9)

The Weekend Novelist
Buy new: $17.95 $12.21
46 Used & new from $5.28
4.0 out of 5 stars (24)
See all 13 results

Also browse your favorite authors sites. That will give you insight into the writing life and the technological demands of a career in writing!

How to write a novel without losing your mind?

I don't know if you can truly remain sane while writing a novel. I had my only swearing match with a smart good hearted lady, while I was writing a novel. The fight was more my fault than hers. I put milk in the cupboard instead of the refrigerator and money in the refrigerator instead of my wallet. The joke I wanted cold cash was indeed made. I have done some insane things while writing, but I know that sanity returns after I finish. It does not return if the writer walks away from the project mid sentence or paragraph or story! The truly insane never finish or started their novel(s). Girl Interrupted is a good example of how a book, a memoir in this case, can restore someone's mind.

So far I explained that to write a novel I needed to ignore my doubt, be true to my own unique words, and lose my mind. I have read the myriad of books on writing, the craft, the process and the techniques. They were helpful after I started writing! Before they can derail, confuse and discourage a new writer! Once  I started writing I had the experience, limited, yes, but still, to recognize that advice and those tips that helped my writing and those that harmed it. Now to be clear a word of advice that would hinder my process, my writing path, may in fact help another writer on his or her way. As I wrote before writing is very individualistic.

I am reading my own words as I write. The argument could be made that novelists, and or writers that kill themselves are not sane, but I argue that in fact these suicides were the result of writers who indeed have NOT finished their work, their novels. These writers, poets, novelists, and or artists had more to write, to release. The words they most needed to put out in the world stayed trapped and it was that or those inner demons that never became fully formed paragraphs, chapters, that killed their creators, or rather caused the creators to kill themselves.

Also a true writer lives forever in his or her printed words. Look for Writing a novel, 3rd Lesson