The Bloggers With The Most To Say
What are you working on?
Let's orient ourselves, find out who's working on what.
I'm writing my third novel, a story about a farmer/veteran trying to keep his family safe and fed during a dustbowl and other such cataclysms. It's something of a threequel, but I like to think (probably inaccurately) that each book stands on its own. I'm about 33,000 words into it, or 75 pages, singlespaced. It's surprisingly dialogue-heavy.
I'm writing my third novel, a story about a farmer/veteran trying to keep his family safe and fed during a dustbowl and other such cataclysms. It's something of a threequel, but I like to think (probably inaccurately) that each book stands on its own. I'm about 33,000 words into it, or 75 pages, singlespaced. It's surprisingly dialogue-heavy.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sebastian on -
Good thread idea!
I finally scored a paid-writing gig on a big tech site. I'll spend 3 days a week on that most likely -- though there's a limit to how much I'm allowed to write I think. If I can get them to sign off on some features, rather than just reporting news, I can turn it into quite a money-maker. We'll see how it goes.
Other than that, I keep toying with ideas for short stories. But I know how punishing short stories are to write, and read. They have to be so good, so sharp, so snazzy. There's no room for shitty short stories, basically -- and after reading Vonnegut's and Dahl's... I feel it's not even worth competing :P
I don't think I really want to write a novel. I've wanted to be a columnist for a long time -- daily or monthly in a big newspaper/magazine. I think a novel is just a bit daunting, and a bit nebulous. Not something I want to commit to, I think :) -
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Permalink Reply by Eric on -
Not true, not true. Plenty of room for shitty short stories. There's room for them in the fucking New Yorker. I'm thinking of "Pumpkinhead" by Joyce Carol Oates. Awful story.
They are hard, though. I think harder, in their way, than novels. -
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Permalink Reply by Sebastian on
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I would love to... but see previous fucking comments!
Is there a market for 500-800-word short stories? I could do those. It's just the 3000-6000 segment that takes some serious plannin'. -
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Permalink Reply by J.D. McCoy on -
The Short Story market holds a HUGE percentage of the publishing market. Seriously it's insane...if you don't believe me check out this guys blog for the specifics. Either way a great short story is a very daunting task. And in many instances i would say it's more difficult to write a short story than a novel. Think about it. A novel you have any where from 75k to 100k+ words to tell a story. While a short story you may only have 25k to 45k words to paint your characters world in. But if you are not able to create a rich a vibrant world in a short story then you definitely won't be able to write a novel. In all likelihood your novel would start out great but diminish as the story progressed. I would suggest writing a short story. Even if just for your self. It's a great tool to help you along the path.-Fin
J.D.
www.writerontheverge.com -
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Permalink Reply by Hannah Miet on -
I feel you on the "so snazzy" thing. Every word counts in a short story...sometimes I overthink before the words come out.
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Permalink Reply by Rachel Cotterill on -
I'm about 90,000 words into the novel I'm currently working on, which is the first in a fantasy/adventure series. I had finished what I thought was the first book of five, but the ending was rubbish, so now the first book is going to be longer & the series will probably be 3 or 4 novels in total.
I'm also sitting on first drafts of two other stand-alone novels (one medieval-esque fantasy, one near-future sci-fi), and resisting the urge to go back & edit them.
I've recently started branching out into travel writing, I've had a couple of articles published & am hoping to get one or two bigger commissions out of my Greenland adventure next summer... wish me luck! -
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Permalink Reply by Candice on -
Novels? Geeeez louise. You guys are superstars. I'm writing technical manuals and user guides, blogging, blogging for a film festival, taking a travel writing course, publishing my travel writing, and launching a new site.
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Permalink Reply by Nikki Yeager on -
I'm working on my first novel ever. It's a daunting task but I have faith! lol, good luck on yours!
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Permalink Reply by Lauren Cummings on -
I am in the beginning stages (well writing stages, the research is all done) of a historical fiction novel which is supposed to be my grad school final thesis. Hopefully I till be. I just finished a novella which I am sitting on for the time begin, there isnt much room for a novella in the market especially one as short as mine but I am not too worried about it I will either include it in a collection later on or as I have been advised use it to fish for an agent when I am done with my novel.
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