I am trying to write a novel, could do with some help?

dvdbunny

dvdbunny

dvdbunny

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Hey Guys,

I have just started work on a novel, i am writing the first draft in Microsoft word using times new Roman font and size 12. How many pages would say 150 pages written in word be when converted to a paper back book at size 12 font in times new roman be?

TIA
 
For the first draft just write it as it comes to you (after having a detailed treatment of course:D) dont worry about word counts yet.

Then you focus on what works and what dosn't narratively and make adjustments.

You don't want to aim for a set word count/page count, you should find that if your story follows a traditional narrative structure it will end up about the right length assuming you don't ramble on or conversely breeze through.
 
Someone once told me that a full page of type (size 12) on a A4 sheet would take the average person five minutes to read*

Could be made up, but assuming it's 340 pages then that's a good 28 hours reading time.

Does that seem overly long? Perhaps not for the first draft, then again quality > quantity.

My advice is write as much as you can then prune it back accordingly.



* May not be true
 
dvdbunny said:
Hey Guys,

I have just started work on a novel, i am writing the first draft in Microsoft word using times new Roman font and size 12. How many pages would say 150 pages written in word be when converted to a paper back book at size 12 font in times new roman be?

TIA
Click to expand...
All the best with your epic, dvdbunny. :)

A few years ago while I was attempting my first stab at literary immortality I went the other way and deliberately avoided figuring out the page count too closely. I just wrote my initial drafts and what would be, would be... I found my fourth draft came out nicely at just over one hundred thousand words. That probably amounted to around 275 or 300 paperback pages, probably... My font of choice was plain Arial at 12, nothing fancy and it helped my proofreading.

I found writing a novel to be a fascinating process. The initial draft was my first ever attempt at writing something really long, and in the main turned out to be a disappointing, poorly planned unreadable tosh :(. Yet after ten months and three more redrafts, I'd learned a considerable amount and was actually enjoying reading what I was writing. Trouble was I'd spent so long on it, I found I could no longer see the novel for the words (, as it were) and haven't attempted anything since.

One day I will try again, I just need peace, space and time. So far I only have the third of these requirements... Give it another year or so and I should have the other two.
 
... And for god's sake keep it backed up at least once a week... daily if you can :p

I've read horror stories (no pun intended) of authors having lost 2 year's work through crashed hard drives... 2 YEARS! :eek: Just doesn't bear thinking about :(
 
wow guys thanks for all the amazing replies

I am the kind of guy that's really go to know how many pages, i like to the base the story on a page count. Then i make the story the best it can be within that set page count. So say 150 pages in Microsoft word in times new roman size 12, you guys are saying it will convert to 320 pages in a paper back book? I like the idea of just 150 pages in a paper back book.
 
Hi RandomTom

Thanks for the link, i just started reading that, i am going to finish reading it, but i am not sure if the article is really for me. The thing is once i finish writing the novel in word then i plan to re-draft it into a correct novel type format or even present it to my future agent to have a look at. and then take appropriate steps to make it all look right for the publisher.
 
Always been fascinated and thought about writing my own novel.

Does anyone have any links to "dummies guide to creating characters" and the such?
 
dvdbunny said:
Hey Guys,

I have just started work on a novel, i am writing the first draft in Microsoft word using times new Roman font and size 12. How many pages would say 150 pages written in word be when converted to a paper back book at size 12 font in times new roman be?

TIA
Click to expand...

I'd say it depends entirely on subject matter, the publication you're aiming for and subject etc. etc.

My advice would be to pitch your idea to literary agencies NOW, explaining you are part of the way into it
 
EVH said:
Someone once told me that a full page of type (size 12) on a A4 sheet would take the average person five minutes to read*

Could be made up, but assuming it's 340 pages then that's a good 28 hours reading time.

Does that seem overly long? Perhaps not for the first draft, then again quality > quantity.

My advice is write as much as you can then prune it back accordingly.



* May not be true
Click to expand...

Sounds like the average includes people who can't read, far too high.
 
'As he was desperately searching for something, anything that would help him land the plane he suddenly noticed the words OCUK faintly outside the cockpit window and knew he was on the right track...'
 
Good luck with your book,I am about half way through mine but got distracted for a few weeks and somehow lost motivation ..but I did really enjoy the whole process and am sure if I just relax one day I will just start again.
 
Hello Guys

I have been celebrating, i finished my books first draft on Friday with 260,645 words. It took me exactly 10 weeks. I started with just 1000 words per day and then 2000, and then later started writing 4250, then 4500, then i got ill during ten days but wrote through five of those days with 5,350 words and then took the other five days off to recover and then starting writing 5500 words a days and one day i couldn't be bothered after writing 2500 words and so i didn't complete the other 3000 words which i had to add on the next day with 8500 words and then last Thursday i wrote 10000 words and finished on Friday with 2000 words.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend anyone who likes writing to go ahead and write a book, now i got to work on my second draft, but have already come up with several ideas for other books. I also thought i may hold off from another book until I have written a movie script.

Do you think i should now contact a literary agent?

Do i need to copyright my first draft before i go sending it into agencies?

What should i do, do you know?

TIA
 
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