tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143694367787566951.post6060531538743583667..comments2023-09-10T15:57:43.129+01:00Comments on Novel Racers: And hello from me!Jenny Beattiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00640209636605410939noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143694367787566951.post-71539058455310225172007-06-24T15:47:00.000+01:002007-06-24T15:47:00.000+01:00Thanks Dot. Something I didn't mention in my blog ...Thanks Dot. Something I didn't mention in my blog was that a close friend died last year. She was only 33. It made me realise that we don't have "all the time in the world" to fulfill our dreams. You have to write as if there is no tomorrow. If I'm honest that's what spurs me on to write more than anything else.CL Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04650291635298634215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143694367787566951.post-36719647674057547962007-06-24T12:23:00.000+01:002007-06-24T12:23:00.000+01:00Congrats from me too! I am especially motivated by...Congrats from me too! I am especially motivated by your closing comments about being someone who claims they could have written a novel but never did.<BR/><BR/>It's a bit unfair on her, but my Mum motivates me. She wrote well and started a number of projects without completing one before she died. I am determined not to follow in her footsteps. I mean, I guess I will have to die one day but not before I finish my novel.DOThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00719312854612984929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143694367787566951.post-69971585633494608762007-06-23T13:50:00.000+01:002007-06-23T13:50:00.000+01:00Kevin - try as I might I can't find out the word c...Kevin - try as I might I can't find out the word count for a YA novel! When I started my YA novel I was aiming for 80,000 words - so I still had (or thought I had) 28,000 words to go. I was nowhere near the end of the novel at 52,000 words.<BR/><BR/>Since I abandoned it I've actually done some research into the YA market but the advice on how long a YA novel should be varies widely depending on where you look or who you ask. I've read it can be anything from 50,000 to 90,000 words and have no idea which figure is correct!<BR/><BR/>When I've finished the chick lit novel I'm going to have another look at novel #1 and work out what to do with it.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the congrats!CL Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04650291635298634215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143694367787566951.post-67294847462490919082007-06-23T13:20:00.000+01:002007-06-23T13:20:00.000+01:00Meant to also say: Congratulations on the writing ...Meant to also say: Congratulations on the writing contest wins and story sales! Milestones you'll always remember.KeVin K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14792797517571690942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143694367787566951.post-86174131577013765282007-06-23T13:19:00.000+01:002007-06-23T13:19:00.000+01:00"...writing short stories and sent out subs to mag..."<I>...writing short stories and sent out subs to magazines and competitions like some kind of obsessive.</I>"<BR/>There's no "like" about it. You have to be OCD to the max if you're going to make a go of writing as anything more than a hobby. The mantra I learned, and which helped me turn the corner from someone who dreamed of being an author to someone who wrote (and sold) stories is: Write, mail, repeat. (If your muse drops by, be polite but don't stop writing to chat.)<BR/><BR/>And you floundered a 52k on a YA novel? Those usuallly average around 40 and max at 50k, don't they?KeVin K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14792797517571690942noreply@blogger.com