Six Questions Every Wannabe Novelist Asks
Budding novelists are often understandably queasy about embarking on a project this large. They often ask a number of "formatting' questions not related to the actual writing of the book. The six that are included here have been sorted out as the most universally asked.
a) How long should my book be?
It should be as long as needed to make the story work; long enough to convey what it is you want the reader to learn, yet short enough to hold the reader's interest. Granted that is a vague response, but the only one that is truly accurate. The majority of novels fall between 250 and 400 pages of printed text.
b) Is there a best length for a chapter?
The answer is No. Some will be longer, others shorter. The level of comfort the writer feels as the book develops will determine the length of each chapter. Average chapters in manuscript usually fall somewhere between 10 and 25 typed pages. This translates to roughly 2500 to 6200 words.
Let me emphasize here that chapters do not have to conform to the scene pattern of a story. There can be no scenes or many in a single chapter. The most important concern is to recognize that the end of a chapter is the most common stopping point for a reader. He/she is most likely to put down the book at that point. Therefore, it is crucial that we end a chapter with a definite impetus to continue.
Often that means ending the chapter with an unresolved conflict. If the protagonist is frustrated and searching for a resolution, the reader will be eager to discover the choice the hero finally makes. That will motivate the reader to pick the book up again if he/she stopped at the end of a chapter.
c) How about paragraph length?
Again, need determines the length. In a single book, you might find paragraphs of 30 lines or more and others that are just four or five lines long. It matters only in terms of pace, a subject we will discuss later. The average, however, seems to be about 10 to 14 lines, but again this is highly flexible and often is determined by pace.
Length of paragraphs and sentences is generally geared to the subject matter you are writing about. For example, a tense, action packed segment will have short graphs and clipped sentences. In a more contemplative narrative, the pace will naturally be slower and more relaxed.
d) How should I format my manuscript?
Most editors and agents feel that ragged right is the easiest format to read, and many insist upon it in the submissions you make. That means your copy is flush and even with the left margin, but lines end with full words on the right whether even or not. The simplest way to accomplish this on your computer is to go to the upper bar and click on the diagram that illustrates flush left. It is the first icon, just to the right of the underline "U."
e) How can I know the number of words I have written?
That's easy. If you are working on a current computer-and I certainly hope you are-click on Tools in the top menu of your PC. (I am not certain of how you obtain word counts on a Mac.) The first tool to appear is Word Count. Clicking on that will give you the number of words written thus far in the file you are working on. To count on your own, estimate 250 words per each double spaced page written in 12 point type.
f) The last universal question among start-up novelists is: How much should I expect to write each day?
The answer from most writers seems to be an average of three to 15 pages. However, if you are on a roll, don't quit just because you reached 15. Don't sacrifice the momentum. Conversely, if you can't reach three good pages, write anyway. You can always go back and rewrite, edit or toss those pages away. So the real answer to the question is the same as it was for several others. There really isn't an answer. It depends on you and your comfort.
Far more important than the number of pages is the consistency of your work schedule. Whether you choose to write in the morning, afternoon or wee hours of the night, you must do it regularly to maintain the continuity your novel requires. The majority of writers prefer to work in the morning when they are at their freshest, and then pursue other activities for the rest of the day. That was the choice of greats like Hemingway and Michener.
However, it is equally important to break away from your desk and enjoy a rounded, interesting day to keep you stimulated. Hemingway headed to his boat most afternoons when his work was finished. If you spend too much time at the computer, writing can become drudgery.
"The Writer Within You," the latest book by author and writing instructor Charles Jacobs, leads beginning writers through the start-up process. A seven-time Best Book of the Year winner, it guides writers of all levels through the task of finding a publisher and all aspects of promoting their book both on and off line. Order your copy from Amazon, B&N, any independent bookstore or http://www.retireandwrite.com.
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