Tag: novel writing

My First Novel: (Finishing 2nd Draft) January 24th, 2019

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet

Yesterday, I finished editing the 2nd rough draft of my novel. I was elated but then immediately felt let down, in my mind I had finished writing the book again and was sad to see it end.

I still have some work to do before I order a printed manuscript. I have about a dozen pages that I have marked. These pages need work on dialogue, additional beats, expansion, and added details. I’m tempted on just ordering a manuscript today and working through it but I know what I need to do, it’s just hard.

What is also daunting is the fact that I’ve cut approximately 16,000 words from my first draft. My word count for the first draft was a little over 50,000 words. But after going through the draft and spending some time rereading chapters I cut, and cut, and cut.

The biggest cut that happened was the ending. At the time I was finishing the first draft, I was conflicted on who’s Point Of View (POV) I was going to use, so I wrote out about five different endings, all from the perspective of each character, the characters that mattered. I cut all the endings out and landed on a two-paragraph epilogue. The Epilogue doesn’t sit well with me because of the voice of the narrator and I’m debating on cutting that out as well and leaving the end of the book at the end of the chapter of Part Four. I’m just not entirely sure what to do about the ending.

I’ve read in many books on writing that working from the ending backward helps writers figure out what their story is really about. I know what mine is about but I am tempted to try this out, or at least on the next draft working backward, editing from the last chapter to the very first.

In summary, I am checking in and vomiting up my doubts and insecurities about my draft today. I have about four hours today to work on my novel and I will, I really will but with reluctance.

What I’m Listening to:

The inspirational playlist I’ve created for my novel GHOST IN THE WOODS

What I’m reading:

Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film

photo source: amazon.com

Thank you for reading! Please follow or subscribe to read more about my journey writing my first novel.

-Alina

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My First Novel: (2nd Draft Progress) January 22nd, 2019

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet

I’ve been working all weekend while trying to balance my time between work, my partner, and my novel. So far, I have found time before and after work, editing a chapter or two, or reshaping key dialogue parts. I feel like I’m making progress but sometimes I get overwhelmed with the work I still have to do.

I’m about two-thirds finished with the second draft but there are half a dozen chapters I need to expand on and the dialogue…so much dialogue I have to work on, the hardest part.

The most challenging obstacles I’ve been coming across the past week is weaving beats into my dialogues. Beats are pauses, like in music, between lines. For instance, having a character say,

“I want some milk,” she walked to the fridge, opening the door and grabbing the glass jug of milk on the second shelf [beat].

“Don’t drink all of it.” Her mother said.

The beat in this example separates “I want some milk.” and “Don’t drink all of it.” which would read completely different without it.

Example without the beat,

“I want some milk.” She said.

“Don’t drink all of it.” Her mother said.

I’ve been trying to use my beats appropriately, to add more to my scenes and hopefully show not tell what’s happening. Another big thing I’m working on, SHOWING NOT TELLING.

Even though the work is daunting, I’m not quitting. I like to have a challenge and I’m looking forward to finishing my second draft. When I finish my second draft I’m going to have it printed off into a manuscript to edit by hand, I did this with my first draft and it helped immensely. It’s an amazing feeling being able to hold my novel in my hands, sort of in book form and having a draft closer to the finished product is exciting.

On another note, I finished reading Patti Smith’s Devotion, which was amazing. It is a tiny book, short but full of so much. A few chapters on Patti’s experiences, a short story, poetry, and photos. Amazing.

Thanks for reading, please follow or subscribe to read more about my journey writing My Frist Novel.

-Alina

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Alina on Instagram

Writing Fiction: My First Novel

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet

I am writing my first fiction novel, a Supernatural Thriller! I want to chronicle the writing of my book so I have a reference point in the future. This will be the place on my blog (Fiction: Writing My First Novel) where I’ll be posting updates on my progress, discussing elements of fiction, and any issues I have. I will be blogging my journey of writing in case other new fiction writers are looking for relatable content.

The Story Thus Far and NaNoWriMo

In 2014, I scribbled out a few pages of a story, an image stuck in my head of a man on the run puking up blood. But I hit a wall, and the pages were eventually forgotten. Four years later, in the Fall of 2018, I recalled the story, the image of the man popping into my head one day out of the blue. Since then, I have become obsessed with writing my novel.

✨Check out my Pinterest board for my novel HERE ✨

NaNoWriMo 2018: Writing My Novel and What’s Next

For the National Novel Writing Month of November 2018, I spent the entire month writing the first draft. Barely over 50,000 words in three parts with countless chapters, it revealed itself as a Supernatural Thriller, no big surprise there. Now, in 2019, I am working on the second draft, which is a long and grueling process.

From now on, I will be chronicling my work, including my progress and the reading materials I am using (such as Self-Editing for Fiction Writers). I hope to create a dialogue about writing fiction novels that can help other writers while keeping an archive of my journey for future use and reflection.

Are you writing a novel? Let’s connect! I’d love to hear about your experience, process, and recommended reading materials.

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I’m a Winner of NaNoWriMo 2018!

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet

nanowrimo 2018

I did it! I finally finished my book, Ghost in The Woods, today. I did have a head start at the beginning of the month, I already had about 16,000 words written but I still wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo so I could try to finish my book.

nanowrimo certificate 2018

I am so glad I finished! It was a lot of hard working, brainstorming, and determination. Now I am looking forward to revising and honing my next couple of drafts. YAY!

Please follow or subscribe! Want more? Check out my Patreon page!

My patrons will have access to upcoming posts featuring excerpts from my first draft of ‘Ghost in the Woods’!

-Alina

 

Participating in NaNoWriMo2018

Alina H. Hansen Writer & Poet

I’ve decided to participate in the National Novel Writing Month ! I have been working on my novel for a while. I wrote the first few pages back in 2014 then forgot about it until July of this year. I returned to what notes I had and became intrigued by where I could take the story, if possible even complete it. This last month I haven’t worked on it as much as I would have liked to so I decided to try NaNoWriMo this year. Although I already have about 16,000 words written which is quite a head start, I figured I should still take advantage of the opportunities and resources available and attempt to finish my novel!

capture nanowrimo2018

Capturenanowrimo2018synopsis

Here I go! I will be posting behind the scenes access to my novel writing on my Patreon page soon! Check it out!

-Alina