I am two days into taking notes for my novel and I am so angry at all the Creative Writing teachers I’ve ever had! Why didn’t they teach me the stuff Chris Baty so obviously points out in his one little book? It makes absolutely the most sense ever, and I have a real feeling that this is the RIGHT way to go about writing a novel. I mean, I know every writer has a different procedure, a different inspiration, but I think this way is going to work for me. If I had done this years ago, I might very well be published by now. Maybe. Anyway, I am still so on fire for this idea.
Also, I was reading a little bit by C.S. Forester, who wrote the Hornblower novels, and that poor guy! I mean, his experience in “constructing” the story makes a lot of sense, but when he sits down to actually write (in longhand, with one of the most undecipherable handwritings I have ever seen) it was an absolutely exhasting procedure for him, and it went on for three or four months at a time. He didn’t really enjoy the writing, but he very much enjoyed the “having written.” His story is in The Hornblower Companion, if anyone is interested. I personally find it very interesting to hear what other writers go through.
And as usual, my favorite quote is the one I heard in college years ago: How do you write 50 novels? Put your ass in a chair and keep it there for a LONG, LONG TIME!!!
