Writing a novel – how to keep going

No first draft was ever perfect.

Most novels need rewriting and extensive editing. But if you never finish writing, it, there’ll be nothing to work on.

Writing four published novels, I’ve learnt one or two things about how hard it is – and how to make it easier on yourself.

I believe in rewards. Even little rewards. While busy with my first book, I used to make up lavish “When my book is published” daydreams. Only, I wouldn’t allow myself to indulge in them until I’d finished writing for the day.

While a colleague and I worked on a screenplay, we would allow ourselves a glass of champagne at the end of every scene. At the end of each act, we went out to an elegant cocktail bar for strawberry daiquiris.

There’s nothing more important than just keeping on. It doesn’t have to be perfect first time, so that’s no excuse.

Make yourself rituals, if that helps. I like to place a certain pen by my computer. And (ridiculous as it sounds) I always wear the same pants when I write. (I become hysterical if they’re in the wash.)

I view them quite supersitiously, which helps, I suppose. They can’t be used for doing anything else. That means I can’t “just quickly check my emails”. I’d have to get up, take my pants off, check my emails…

More than anything, it’s an aid to discipline.

Let me share another tip with you: Don’t talk too much about your book in the making. If you need to work through ideas, choose someone who takes you and your idea seriously.

I know writing is lonely. But talking about it somehow neutralises the desire. It satisfies the story-telling self, and allows you to stop doing it.

Also, so many people claim to have a story in them, that few people will take you seriously. They’ll pop in for coffee because … well, you’re not really working, are you?

They’ll find it vaguely amusing and ask you, in arch tones, how The Book is going. It’ll begin to seem ridiculous and you’ll feel absurd – an imposter in the literary world. It’s better just to keep quiet, at least until the end is in sight.

So, that’s it really. People often ask me for one tip for aspiring writers. And I always say just that: Keep writing. Whatever helps you do that – personal threats, rewards, rituals – use them for all they’re worth.

For more information on how to keep writing, see our online writing courses.

Jo-Anne Richards is the author of four novels. Her latest is My Brother’s Book, published by Picador. Order it from Kalahari.net

Her first novel, The Innocence of Roast Chicken, was published by Headline in London, shortlisted for the M-Net Book Prize and nominated for the Impac International Dublin Award. The book was chosen as a Dillon’s Debut in the UK, to be showcased as “an outstanding first novel”. She has published short stories in five collections.

She lectures in journalism and writing skills at Wits University, besides running workshops in literary skills, narrative journalism and Romance writing. She supervises Masters students in the Creative Writing Masters programme at Wits.

She is co-founder of allaboutlove.net, a website dedicated to good reading and writing. The site publishes novels and short stories, and runs interactive online writing courses in romance writing. It includes a basic lesbian romance writing course – thought to be unique.