51,184

[lobelia321]

That's how long the nano novel ended up being once all the longhand was typed up. I finished typing the last word into the iBook today, closed the lid of the laptop and told myself, 'What a load of tosh and drivel and badly written bad!fic.' Then I opened up Chris Baty's Bible of Nano and was informed that it is common, in the aftermath of having written a novel in a month, to experience the post-nano blues. Also, I'm not supposed to be re-reading the novel immediately but let it rest 2 weeks at least so as to gain some distance. First, I will have to buy new inkjet cartridges because even in compressed format, it is still 95 pages long, which makes 46 sides of A4 (I print out landscape, two pages to a sheet).

Has anybody else experienced this post-writing slump where you thought, 'what a terrible lot of rubbish I have written'?

Also, there is a mouldy smell in the house and despite washing everything and throwing everything out, the smell persists.

I have things of a political nature to rant about re Virginia Tech and Baghdad killings but am too tired to formulate them now. Also, I want to do a post, now that I have finished typing up, on Wot I Have Learned From Nano. Also, suddenly, as relief from bad!novel, a bunny for a short pithy Aliens Made John and Rodney Do It came to me and I thought, yes, I must cleanse the drivel of nano via sex!fic. (Actually, my nano has a lot of sex in it as well. T'h has uncanny knowledge of me. He asked, "Does this novel have gay sex in it, and does it have some other people in it from the World Music world?" And I said, "Yes, and um, yes." He has trumpeted news of my novel to all who will listen. He says he hasn't seen me in such a consistently good mood in ages, possibly ever, and is all for this novel malarkey, except when he hears me saying it may mean a cut in my salary.

How do I figure out a title for the novel?

Has anybody else here written a novel (well, I know some of you have but maybe there are others in the woodwork) who wishes to share their words of wisdom on the matter? I think novel writing is really hard! Plot is hard, structure is hard, avoiding triteness is hard, canon-construction is hard. And getting my head around the idea that this is a DRAFT is hard. People who wrote a novel: how often did you revise your manuscript? (Be this orig!novel or fanfic!novel.)

I will now go to bed and finish reading Marina Lewycka's A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian wot is an excellent novel. Late tonight, our friend the author Phil Hensher comes to stay the night so I will quiz him further on all these novely matters over breakfast.



Novels that I bought on Tuesday:
• Marina Lewycka, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
• Zoran Zivkovic, Hidden Camera (my first Serb novel)
• Neil Gaiman, Neverwhere (sucked in by the title)
&bull: Carmen Posadas, The Last Resort (world literature, and looked intriguing)
• Victor Pelevin, The Helmet of Horror (first few pages looked great: formatted as a chat room text; I read his Omon Ra last year: it was a staggering novel, if very gloomy and somewhat depressing; the best exploration I have ever read on how ideology works; also, sci-fi insanity and intense)

Comments

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

I have had two glasses of wine, therefore am over the limit for commenting. But can still type!

Am lightweight.

[sophrosyne31.livejournal.com]

Have had five gin and tonics but can still type with use of 'back' key a lot. Am also lightweight. But Lobe: do not despair! that is my message of drunken wisdom. That's it, I'm afrraid. That's my wisdom.

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

Well, I think that's good wisdom. It is all sunny here!

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

*waves*

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

*waves*

Promise I'll get back to you re: train times very soon. It's all go here - I'm moving house on the 5th May!!

*explodes*

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Gin and tonic!! *loves*

[laduchesse.livejournal.com]

congrats on finishing the novel! i've been working on one for five years now... it's at over 200 pages and clearly becoming a saga since i've done 50 pages of a prequel.

and i definitely think of all it is a lot of rubbish.

hrm, a title definitely has to be witty and capture one's attention, like neil gaiman's neverwhere.

damn, i need to think up of a good title myself!

as for the mold smell, i hope it goes away. just thinking of it makes me itch, since i'm horribly allergic.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you were working on a novel! Fabulous!

[giglet.livejournal.com]

Has anybody else experienced this post-writing slump where you thought, 'what a terrible lot of rubbish I have written'?

Oh god, yes. With short fiction, it's much easier for me to look at it somewhat objectively and say, "It may not be great, but it is what it is." With long fiction... yeah, it's harder not to loathe it.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you for saying this. :-) *waves*

[birdgerhl.livejournal.com]

Has anybody else experienced this post-writing slump where you thought, 'what a terrible lot of rubbish I have written'?

hahah, yes, i was on a total downer when i had finished mine. although i get that after all my projects.

*waits patiently for the what-i-learned-from-nano post*

i didn't like the tractors novel, and couldn't finish it.

b.x :)

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

How long did your downer last?

I planned to make this waht-i-learned-from-nano post today but suicide horror (as per other posts) intervened. I have no words for my institution.

Why could you not finish the tractors novel?

[birdgerhl.livejournal.com]

just like you i started another novel straight away - but quickly ran out of steam.

i couldn't finish the tractors novel because it was repetitive and boring.

b.x :)

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on achieving closure (not something that I've done very often.. witness a couple of WiPs hanging around my pages).

Don't worry about the Frankenstein-the-writer "I've produced a monster" thang. Your bible's advice is good - leave it a couple of weeks and then go back. Sometimes you then get the God-on-Day-7 thang - "I'm a bloody GENIUS".

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you, you sweet person. I'm now starting a second novel to rid myself of the first-novel blues!

[ukcalico.livejournal.com]

Well DONE. Letting it sit for a bit is very good advice. I've never attempted a novel and am deeply impressed that you crossed your finishing line. Muah!

Also your t'h's enthusiasm is so cool and sweet. I think Nick wishes I would write something he could talk about proudly and openly. But no! I like my furtive corner and I'm staying here. *g*

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, be not depressed that I crossed the finishing line, be inspired! I would love you to write a novel.

[calicoa.livejournal.com]

Not depressed - impressed! :)

[msilverstar]

Post-novel letdown is classic, you are in the best company.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's great to know! (-:

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

I wrote a novel at age 17, and logged about 400 pages. When I was finally finished, I just hated it. I had to put it away for about a year, and when I re-read it, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't that bad for a Mary-Sue historic romance. :-) I always meant to re-write it, better this time, but never got around to it.

I think it's probably quite natural to be somewhat sick of it, and also to have a wave of doubt upon finishing. Don't worry; I'm sure it's brilliant. *hugs*

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Oh, I remember you telling me about this in our first emal days. I've now started a second novel to rid myself of the first-novel blues! It's addictive.

Honey, how are you??

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of meh these days. Updating is on a long to-do list, which due to general meh-ness isn't getting done.