We’ve told you how to get going and how to stick with it, here’s the third installment in the writing series with Barbara Jane Mackie. VB spills all of her advice on how to get your novel completed.
How long should a novel be?
The length of a novel is as personal and individual as the content.
Barbara offers this advice: “It sounds a lot but it’s not really a novel until its 60,000 to 70,000 words, until then its a novella.
“For your first novel, people say that 110,000 words is pushing it, but that’s just a guideline.”
The best way to find an endpoint is to give yourself a deadline
Explaining that she has been through the process herself, Barbara says: “Give yourself a deadline. An endpoint for when you’re going to complete.
“It’s about reaching a target, rather than just working in a vacuum. You’ve got to think about finishing.
“See it as a job to do.”
According to Barbara, most writers need deadlines, she suggests making an agreement with someone close that you’ll finish the novel in a set amount of time. A little bit of pressure to help you hit completion.
Be ruthless with yourself
Barbara also offers tips on the finished product. Writers have got to cut words to create a novel to be proud of.
She says: “Be self-critical and learn how to cut your own stuff. If not, share it with someone you trust who’ll be tough with you.”
Before you know it, you’ll have thousands of refined words to your name. Coming to a shelf near you.
Barbara J Mackie will be holding her next writing workshop at the Blacksheep Bar in Ryde on 21, 22, 23 September.
Image: bowenmurphy under CC BY 2.0
