Not easy to write a book

I have nothing but respect for people who write books. I have tried on three occasions to create a novel, start well, but run out of words after about 50 pages.
When I read the awesome works of Dickens, Scott, RLS or any of the other classic authors, I am always impressed by their cunning way with words.
Just an observation!

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Pfuzylogic · M

i have the number of words down about 150K for a Novel. I stopped in the middle of my 2nd edit because i wasn’t satisfied or just felt totally unmotivated…hard to explain.

LizOwen · 41-45, F

@Pfuzylogic 150K is a lot. Most modern novels run at about 80K, depending on the genre.

Pfuzylogic · M

@LizOwen
This is science fiction. I started in late 2019. It wouldn’t take much to restart but i need to “feel” it.

LizOwen · 41-45, F

@Pfuzylogic That's a sizeable chunk of a book! I'd give advice if I was qualified, but my attempts don't go near that length.

Pfuzylogic · M

@LizOwen
it took 6 months and i wrote at least 500 words a day when i was hot on the trail.

LizOwen · 41-45, F

@Pfuzylogic 'Hot on the trail' - that's a good description. Will you return to it?

Pfuzylogic · M

@LizOwen
i’m sure i will.
i have been taking in more on subject matter but i must say there were about 5 times i felt an exhilaration like no other while writing my pages!

LizOwen · 41-45, F

@Pfuzylogic Highs, lows and the long slog in between. I think it was Hardy who described writing as 'the application of bottom to chair."

Pfuzylogic · M

@LizOwen My first draft was free of grammar and vocabulary. My first edit took care of that.?My first draft was pure candy/adrenaline/motivation.

LizOwen · 41-45, F

@Pfuzylogic Put the story down first, then edit, edit, edit?

Pfuzylogic · M

@LizOwen Stephen King doesn’t do it that way. It does allow generation of fresh spontaneous ideas. Downside is it can take forever! 😅

LizOwen · 41-45, F

@Pfuzylogic I suspect every author has their own way of working