Me: Huh? What do you mean writing books?
S: I was watching this interview with the author of Holes. He said all it takes to write a novel is an hour a day and a year.
Me: Really? I've always wanted to write a book.
S: Me, too. So do you want to do it?
Me: Seriously?
S: Why not?
Me: Because I failed ninth grade English and didn't finish college?
S: So what. We might as well try it.
(This is where I stare at her, my mouth hanging open, wondering if she's gone crazy)
Me: Sure. An hour a day. I can do that. (Insert internal groan)
One year later: Status: We had both written two manuscripts (45,000 to 120,000 words--yeah, I was a little long-winded back then!).
Two years later: Status: We had both written another manuscript (or two).
Six+ years later: Status: My debut novel, currently untitled, is being released in September 2011 by Walker Books.
Conclusion: Writing can become a long-term addiction. Beware!
So, are you addicted? How long have you been writing? And what in the world inspired you to try it?
--Bethany
Originally posted 2/1/10
14 comments:
Writing can become an addiction! January of 2011 will be two years that I've been writing. It all started after I had my second son. In the middle of the night nursing sessions, these ideas would come to me and I didn't know what to do with them. I was talking to my girlfriend one day and said, "I have this idea and I"m thinking I should write it down." And her reply, "Do it."
Me: "But I don't know how." her: "who cares. Just write."
that's the end of the story.
Nice story Beth and congrats.
I've always wanted to write, but never had the patience and stubbornness required until last year.
As a teen I tried to rope two friends into joining me, but I think collaborating on a novel is a whole other difficult skill and maybe they were never as into it as I was, so it kind of fell apart.
Long story short; time and the thought 'why not?' started me writing for publication last year.
Totally addicted. Started as a young kid and then started taking it seriously again a few years ago and haven't stopped.
i've been writing for over 14 years now, which seems like a long time. I started writing stories for my friends in highschool with characters they created and it was so much fun, i just never stopped
Totally hear that. For me, I've been writing about 10 years now. (Wow, I feel old.) I started off thinking about writing a screenplay. I'd put together a character roster (complete with who should voice the characters since it was an animated film) and had a bit of a plot.
Then while doing research on how to write screenplays and searching for character names, I came across a name that had a meaning which inspired my first fantasy world, and the novel telling the character's story. (That became my second completed novel.)
Hi. My name is Shari. *Hi Shari* And I am addicted to writing. I have tried finding a 12-step program, but alas, I cannot. Therefore, I continue to peck away at my keyboard, hoping to one day either find a home for my stories or a decent recovery program.
Writers are so amazing! I never feel odd or different when I read your comments.
120,000 words is long winded? CRAP! I better start again.
LOL! Am I addicted? Not sure. But determined to succeed, yep.
I was told I should write a book. I guess that was all I needed. *grin*
Congrats on your book coming out!
Definitely an addiction. =]
Have missed you both! Hope you're both well and looking forward to many happy holidays!
Oh, yes, an addiction it is. I've written short stories since I was really young but did it for fun. I wanted to be a journalist, somehow ended up as a graphic artist and started to write articles about my travels. I won a national competition and a journalist friend of mine (yes, the irony) said "you should write a book". And I listened to him, so it's all his fault. ;-)
Three manuscripts later I'm still at it, the first two were definitely my "apprenticeship" pieces. Hopefully this current MS I'm polishing is "the one". And if it isn't, I'll keep plugging away because I have an addiction and I have no intention of getting rid of it!
And congrats on your sale!
An addiction, of which my blog (2 1/2 years and counting) is a key component of moi.
As for writing, I started writing in the winter of 2005 after experiencing some personal problems prompted me to come up with an outlet to work out my issues.
Been doing it ever since.
Love the story! It's so cool that you have each other for the journey! :)
I'm definitely addicted. I've been writing stories since shortly after I learned how to write. I still remember one of the first stories I wrote... God it was awful!
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