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/lit/ - Literature

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11335230 No.11335230 [Reply] [Original]

Im asking this in a very general way, but why exactly do I seem to struggle to hit big wordcounts?

Im now 4 chapters in (currently revising the first chapter) onto my novel and It feels like hitting a 50k mark for the entire novel is going to be a challenge. What could be the reason for this? Am I forgetting something in the writing process? Sure there is a relatively low amount of characters and dialogue but Is that the only reason?

>> No.11335346

Post a paragraph

>> No.11335358
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11335358

>>11335346
I cant, they aren't written in english yet. Its third person limited, there are (so far) only usually 2 characters (that can speak to eachother) max in a scene at once and the setting is more comparable to a nightmarish ayy lmao prison break rather than something where more traditional real life interactions like watching TV or hearing the news would happen

>> No.11335505

>>11335358
Translate a paragreaph to english FFS you just spent as much time writing out that post

>> No.11335839

>>11335505
this

>> No.11335880
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11335880

>>11335505
>>11335839
Honestly from the revision of the first chapter that Im now working on the only paragraph that I found 1000 words in that doesnt involve terminology only seen in this particular novel is just going to sound like something straight out of one of lovecrafts works ( on top of it being shoddy if Im now just going to quickly translate something on the spot)

actually I just checked and even that includes a "made up" word, admittedly which Ive posted on this board before but the closer I inch to this thing actually being finished the more I want to keep it fresh and interesting for the people who might be interested in actually reading the full book

>> No.11336035

>>11335230
Maybe you don't have all that many plot points to fill it out either? If your characters only have a small handful of stops and encounters then it is going to be short.

>> No.11336042

>>11335230
Looks like you'd be better off writing short stories. Novels tend to have various characters and subplots that let you expand on the story.

>> No.11336065
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11336065

>>11336042
>Novels tend to have various characters and subplots

there are, in fact the book is supposed to have 3 pov characters that get cycled through. However, Im 4 chapters in for the main protagonist (and its only going to be around 7 or 8 max in total for him) and currently the wordcount is under 15k.

>>11336035
Every single chapter has something meaningful in it. So far even every single scene is physically moving the protagonist forward rather than ever stopping or slowing down the pace. The main protagonist's story is pure action/horror for 5 chapters in a row.

>> No.11336527

>>11335230
My novels usually get bogged down around the 20k mark. The problem is, I have a great idea and I jump in with a lot of energy. Eventually the weak parts of the stories and characters come out.

What helps for me is to take a step back, outline as much as I can. Focus on the story. Write the blurb for your book (this is hard) or write the synopsis. Do one of those paint-by-number plotting exercises with your story.

Story is really hard.