Catherynne M. Valente – How to Write a Novel in 30 Days
July 31, 2008 6 Comments
Check it. I plan on doing this for Nano this year- I’ve done it before. And I plan on going way past the 50k mark, almost doubling it. I’ve done that before, too.
Paul Jessup is a critically acclaimed writer of fantastical fiction. Published in many magazines, both offline and on, with two books published in 2009 (short novel, Open Your Eyes and the short story collection Glass Coffin Girls) and third book (Werewolves) to be published by Chronicle in 2010.
6 Responses to Catherynne M. Valente – How to Write a Novel in 30 Days
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Werewolves!
[buy a copy]Werewolves takes the form of an illustrated journal that plunges readers into the life of a high school girl-turned-werewolf as she makes her transformation. After Alice and her brother are bitten by what they assume are large dogs, her journal/sketchbook becomes a place for her to record the changes they start to experience her socially awkward brother falls in with some creepy new friends, and she surprises herself with new strengths and instincts and a suddenly nonvegetarian interest in raw steak.
Glass Coffin Girls
[buy a copy]"As the story moves along, the imagery becomes more and more bizarre and there is a real sense of claustrophobia built up as Lewis loses control of everything around him. I genuinely enjoyed it."- Innsmouth Free Press
Open Your Eyes – Apex Books
[buy a copy]"After only a few bites, the reader sits back, gasping, and reaches for the water glass. Then, eyes watering, he or she dives back in, licking the plate clean and asking for seconds. Think of Samuel R. Delany or Cordwainer Smith. Welcome Paul Jessup to the ranks."- Analog Magazine
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I wrote an 80,000 word novel in 12 days. 12-18 hours every day. The book is, however, truly craptaculous and, most likely, completely unsalvageable. However, it satisfied my goals at the time: I was out of work at the time and wanted to feel productive. And I also wanted to prove to myself that I could write something that long.
Lol. Well, I’ve done about 3 books in 30 days. The first was 60k, and was good but my writing at the time was crap. Nothing to do with the time period, and everything to do with my skills. The second one was 70k, and was really good. Not much editing needed. But shelved anyway. The third one was 80k, and well, had gotten me an agent.
I don’t think length of time leads to quality.
“I don’t think length of time leads to quality.”
True. Right now though, with the exception of just a few stories that sprung from my head fully formed, everything else seems to take at least 3 HUGE rewrites and dozens of minor drafts to get done. As I’ve said before, it feels building an arch by using calculus. I can get infinitely closer to the actual curve, but I can never reach it..
Hah! I really have to figure out a better process 
err.. “building an arch using calculus” should probably be “carving an arch using calculus”
Well, each person’s process is completely different.