madness: what writing a novel is really like

Writing. It takes a lot of preparation and dedication to write a novel. Much more than I could have expected. It is like a wrestling match, and sometimes I feel the novel is on top of me. A big bloke in tight lycra - not good. Sometimes I've got him in a tight thumb hold, begging for mercy. Each day is a little different. The focus that my day job requires can make the wrestling match harder, but it also gives me a lot of confidence and drive to pump out words. Medicine is a constant uphill struggle against negative emotions. You are hurting people to make them better, giving all your energy against negative feelings. Steeling yourself against the instinct to stop because it hurts too much. That's like the feeling of writing murders into a novel, you don't want to kill off these characters, but you know it has got to be done. Editing is a bit like that too; or like cleaning up a wound: you're cutting out the dead bits so the wound can heal.

So basically writing a novel is the mental equivalent of cutting the dead bits out of a 120kg fat bloke in lycra who's got you in a body press.

Thank fuck for yoga.

Novel advice that's short and nice

There are an overwhelming number of books and sites out there that try to get you writing a novel - not all great. Here's one that is succinct and enjoyable to read. Advice on Novel Writing

most fun book ever, will get you noveling

No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty

This guy started a novel writing marathon that this year had 96,000 entrants. Troops in Iraq were even writing novels. Check out the moving story at:
In the lines of fire, Boston Globe

Complexity - The street as platform

This article describes complexity brilliantly. I arrived at the html via William Gibson's blog (author of Neuromancer and more recently Spook Country).

The street as platform

I hope they go home with the write baby

A nice illustration of the immediacy with which you register words. Notice how much you take in; how the words help create the story in your mind?

Ditches

I writing my novel by ditches. A ditch is usually about 300 to 1800 words long and is a continuous piece of a novel. It deals with either an idea, or a single scene in novel time. These ditches stand alone and can be weeded out as a whole, or, should they show promise, are short enough to be revised without giving you a brain-strain.
I call them ditches in reference to the feeling that I've finally run out of ideas. It's like I am always having a last ditch effort against a continuous and momentous feeling of failing.
This is a funny paradox, because I actually think that I am winning. Although I don't want to admit it yet for fear of sounding delusional.

Clive James interviewed about his works in progress

Clive James talks about his works in progress with the NYT Book Review blog - Paper Cuts.
Read the interview