The Every Day Novelist

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Question 1113: Troubles Finishing Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Pablo asks:
I have been struggling with a manuscript for a novel since 2015. I begin, stop, give up, take it up again, and all the time it keeps evolving in my head. Now it’s an unfinished chaotic first draft, only 38 pages so far.

I’d like to be done with it so I can move to something else. I’ve never finished anything except for a 20-page short story during pandemic lockdown. The narratives for the short story and the novel merged in my head, so the finished short story has details that connect with the unfinished novel.

I’d like to start writing the novel from scratch again, but that feels like more of what I’ve done before. So, do you have any recommendations on how to proceed?

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Radio series
Down From Ten
The Clarke Lantham Mysteries

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Question 1112: Products of NaNoWriMo Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Khellan asks:
What happens to the stuff you and Kitty write during nanowrimo?

Lost Days, Last Nights

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Question 1111: Tough Truths About Loving Writing Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

Jim asks:
I may have asked something like this before, but how does one rekindle the enjoyment of writing? It used to be a thing I did to avoid doing things I didn’t want to do, like finding time in the middle of the work day to sneak in some words, or a thing I did to prove to myself I could do it. It seems like as soon as it became a thing to do as a potential career, suddenly it’s the thing I don’t want to do, and it became the video games rather than the writing, which is now the expected work. How do I fix it?

The Clarke Lantham Mysteries
Chinatown

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Question 1110: Breaking Faith With Readers Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

Ed asks:
What does it mean for an author to “break faith” with his readers?

The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
Poodle Springs by Raymond Chandler and Robert B Parker
Variable Star by Robert A Heinlein and Spider Robinson
The Silmarillion
The Game of Thrones
Writing Excuses podcast
A Subversive Masterpiece

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Question 1109: Writing the Right Sequel Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

Jim said:
In my last question I talked about re-discovering the sequel I was supposed to be writing after spending 95,000 words on the wrong idea.

As I approached the writing of the appropriate sequel, I bogged down early. I think I’ve figured out that the problem was not understanding the motivations of the various characters and whose perspectives told the story best. I have some ideas, but what are ways you establish those motivations to keep up the story momentum?

Suave Rob’s Rough & Ready Rugrat Rapture
Ideas, Inc.
Lost Days, Last Nights
Crime and Punishment
War and Peace
Rope
Macbeth
The Tell-Tale Heart

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Question 1107: Film vs. Book: Characterization in Lord of the Rings Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Indiana Jim:
A couple years ago you did an epic twitter thread on what the Lord of the Rings films got wrong. Could you do an episode on this topic so we can learn how to avoid these pitfalls in characterization?

Original twitter thread
We Need To Talk About Frodo
Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Lord of the Rings film series

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Where The Hell Have We Been? Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

A guide to surgery for writers and an update from the hosts.

Healthy Living Can Be Deadly

The Secrets of the Heinlein Juvenile

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Quick Announcement Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

Quick show announcement – we will be back Monday.

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Question 1106: Creativity and ADD Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

Jim asks: You’ve spoken before about how ADD and its derivatives can be a boon to the creative person, and the dangers of medicating it out. What are some ways the writer can manage the symptoms while appreciating the benefits?

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