CreativeThinker

I started writing a book about a year and a half ago, and I really don't feel anything when I'm writing it. Do you know what I mean? When I write short stories that I'm really into and love, I'm really proud once I'm done. Maybe I'm not ready to write a book? Any advice or comments???

silverwriter

Always keep writing. Rule number one.

There has to be a little kernel of something there if you keep writing in it...right? Maybe put it away for a while and then try a rewrite. It takes a lot of dedication to write a long book though so maybe you should try to write out a rough plot to see if this is something you want to see through to the end, needs spicing up, etc.

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Perad

Put it down for a bit and write something else, it will let you clear your mind. A year and a half is a long time and if you are not approaching the end then it could just be that subconciously you are getting tired of doing the same thing.

CreativeThinker

Thanks. I think I'll put it away for a while and work on something else, and maybe come back to it later.

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Perad

just out of curiosity how much have you written so far?

CreativeThinker

I've got about 110 pages so far(not typed).
It's bad, I know. 110 pages in a year and a half...wow

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suzakugaiden

What's your story about?

Trilock

I have 143 pages and I started a year and a half ago. Is that bad? Depends on how you look at it. I'd go with just not even looking at your story for a while and perhaps start a short story to get some ideas flowing. If they don't fit that particular story, than see if maybe it meshes will with your novel.

Hodge

No, it's not bad. Everyone works at a different pace. Some people can't sit down and work on a piece for an extended period of time. Others can't work on anything else until that piece is finished (I purposely didn't write an important essay in my English class last semested so I could work on my novella).

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XandrilZaax

I've been working on my novel for 3 1/2 years and have 458 pages...not extremely long, but a decent amount. Of course, that includes extensive editing and long periods of frustration and no motivatio.n

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bane

are you counting those pages as A4 pc work, or hand-written? Good god, that's a lot. My story I have now, is just over one-hundred pages A4, roughly works out to be a little over 200 in paperback form, and I've been writing that since feb 2005, most of it done between feb and may with a few breaks up to the end of august.

Just take a look at your book mate, I have stopped writing many books when I feel my writing has moved on, or my ideas change and I want to work on something else. If nothing else, the book you have been writing has just gone towards experience, so even if you don't finish it, it's not a wasted effort : )

Write a few short stories for a while ... then get back to it : )

nieros

It took me the entirety of my high school career to write my book (freshman-Senior). Is this a bad thing? Of course not. There's nothing wrong with setting a work aside to be picked up at a later time. But above all, never sacrifice quality for quantity. It's not a matter of how many pages you can write in X amount of time, but how those pages intermingle and contribute to the overall picture. Put it aside, for as long as it takes. Truth be told, I have at least three projects that I've set aside for 2 years now. Such is the price of quality

Later.

John

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mammamaia

as one who's been writing for longer 'n most [all?] of you have been in this world, i have to say that if you're not feeling anything while writing that book, then it doesn't want to be written [maybe just not 'yet']... when you're really to write a novel or anything, really, and when it's ready to 'come out' you'll be fully engaged and connected to it, no matter how long it takes...

if it's just hard work, toss it on a shelf and work on something you CAN 'feel'... maybe after some time's gone by, your connection to that novel will be resurrected... or, maybe after improving your writing skills, you'll blush with embarrassment when you take another look at it, and recycle the paper with something better...

just don't stop writing, if it's really what you 'have to' do...

love and hugs, maia

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Robgb

Writing a novel is a long process. You won't always feel it. But since your expertise seems to be in short stories, maybe it will help if you treat each chapter as a short story. Fall in love with it long enough to finish a chapter, then move on to the next.

Writing isn't always fun. HAVING written, however, is a blast....

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