Sofie Draheim
asked
H.M. Long:
A very dull question I'm afraid - but any top tips for writers who know that writing novels is their greatest dream, but have yet to actually commit and finish writing one novel - even the first draft of it? Thank-you - absolutely engrossed in Barrow of Winter currently! (Your world-building has really captured me!)
H.M. Long
Thank you for the question! I’m so glad you’re enjoying Barrow of Winter.
Committing to finishing a first draft can be a huge battle. Here’s what helped (and still helps!) me:
-Be selfish. Just focus on you and the book and the next page, and don’t let yourself dwell on the next step, or what people think. Snuggle up in your creative bubble and give yourself permission to take time, experiment, mess up and change your mind.
-Write what makes you happy. If that means skipping a scene, do it.
-Experiment with different writing methods. Sprinting, daily goals, time slots, writing non-linearly. The most valuable part of writing your first book isn’t the book - it’s learning your voice and what methods work best for you.
A manuscript can always be fixed, and there’s no wrong way to do any of this, as long as it works for you.
I hope that helps! Good luck!
Committing to finishing a first draft can be a huge battle. Here’s what helped (and still helps!) me:
-Be selfish. Just focus on you and the book and the next page, and don’t let yourself dwell on the next step, or what people think. Snuggle up in your creative bubble and give yourself permission to take time, experiment, mess up and change your mind.
-Write what makes you happy. If that means skipping a scene, do it.
-Experiment with different writing methods. Sprinting, daily goals, time slots, writing non-linearly. The most valuable part of writing your first book isn’t the book - it’s learning your voice and what methods work best for you.
A manuscript can always be fixed, and there’s no wrong way to do any of this, as long as it works for you.
I hope that helps! Good luck!
More Answered Questions
Brant
asked
H.M. Long:
I'm reading your book, DWD, and I absolutely love your writing style. Hard to put down! You have a brilliant knack for setting the scene vividly yet efficiently, and you choice of language is pleasing. I'm an historic naval fiction reader, and this novel captures the grit and characterization of the 17th and 18th Cs very well. Do you read nautical fiction?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more