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/lit/ - Literature

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17006893 No.17006893 [Reply] [Original]

i'm about to begin writing a novel. what are some tips a first time writer should follow?

>> No.17006895

>>17006893
Write a short story first

>> No.17006919

>>17006893
Curse words are to novels what spices are to food.

>> No.17006929

>>17006919
So don't add any, and let the natural flavors prevail.

>> No.17006935

>>17006929
>Eating bland ass food all the time

>> No.17006939

>>17006893
>>17006893
Don't ask /lit for tips.
But seriously, write every morning until you almost run out of clear thoughts on where the story is going. Quit when you still have an idea what you're going to start with the next morning, and enjoy the rest of the day nd try s hard as possible not to mentally obsess about what you're writing. I guarantee your subconscious is anyway.
But also >>17006895 don't start a novel until you've written at least a few short stories first.
Though again, you may prove us all wrong. Don't ask /lit for writing advice.

>> No.17006951

>>17006919
>Curse words are to novels what spices are to food.
I've always found it interesting that despite it's reputation as one of the edgier novels of the 20th century, Lolita has almost no profanity. I don't remember a single 'fuck' or 'shit' in the whole book.

>> No.17007010
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17007010

>>17006893
Protagonist shouldn't be all good
antagonist shouldn't be all evil
Aristotle's "Poetics" gives a good synopsis of what makes a good story. He takes notes from the Iliad a lot so read that beforehand

>> No.17007028
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17007028

>>17006893
Don't ask for advice before finishing the novel, and don't waste too much time planning, because you will end up not doing anything.
Just get it done and don't think much about it. Once you've written your first draft start editing and asking for advice.

>> No.17007035

>>17006893
Outline your novel first. Look up the snowflake method.
I've been outlining mine for months.

>> No.17007038

Just jizz out your ideas uncritically. Never doubt yourself and never compare yourself to others. Unless you are touched by divine fire, your output will most likely be shit. Still it can form the raw ore of something better if you keep trying. Writing a novel is simply trying to give your dreams or imaginings the right words. It is the power of your imagination, not the words themselves, that will make an impact. JL Rowling for example is a mediocre writer but she had a vivid imagination and brought to life a fantasy that spoke to others.

There are no real tricks that I know of to acquire a better imagination, it's one of those few attributes which I believe are given whole and at once at birth.