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Grand Master

Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 301
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Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


Hi all,

A little while ago (probably talking the best part of three years!) I was in my local Waterstone's and I found a how-to book on writing with the title, Novel in a Year. Now, I've never read a book of this type before, nor did I go to the shop with a specific desire to buy one, but the book had a nice 'calm' cover and so--following the old addage of "Always judge a book by its cover"--I picked it up and had a look.

Casting my eye over a few pages, I decided I liked the author's style and approach to her subject, I thought the exercises she set would be fun to have a go at, and I honestly concidered buying it. But then I re-read the summary and saw that the book was based on the author's newspaper column of the previous year and so, being the tightest git on the face of the planet, I reasoned that it might be worth checking the paper's website to see if the articles were still there.

They were emoticon

So over a period of time I sorted through the website and painstakingly archived the whole book-worth of articles, and began to work my way through the 'chapters'. Then, disaster: my son was born! Any and all writing committments were thrown out the window and all my energies were focused on staying alive and sane.

By the time I decided I could face picking the writing up again (though I've lost massive amounts of self-confidence), I'd half-forgotten about the list of articles. Then the other day, after a bout of "I can't do this, I'm rubbish", it occured to me that I could pick this up again and maybe it would give me some motivation. Then it occured to me that you guys might want to have a look yourselves.

So, here it is. I think it's quite nicely written; it's very 'chilled' and can be quite calming if you're panic-stricken with your current project(s).

Hope you find it helpful emoticon

Last edited by Flasheart2006, 7/11/2010, 12:56 pm
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Flasheart2006 Profile
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Grand Master

Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 301
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


'Writers have always banded together informally to read and criticise each other's work, agonise together, support each other and quietly stab each other in the back. It is not normal to spend most of your life in a room on your own making up stories. I think we deserve all the help we can get.' Based on Louise Doughty's highly successful newspaper column, A Novel in a Year takes a clear-eyed, frank and funny approach to the practicalities of novel writing and being a novelist. Designed to be read a chapter a week, Doughty discusses issues such as finding time to write and crafting first lines through to plot construction and narrative viewpoint. Practical writing exercises at the end of every other chapter show you how to build ideas to form the raw material for a book. A Novel in a Year is a witty, gritty and honest look at technique from a working novelist who takes no prisoners.

Week 1--06 January
Week 2--14 January
Week 3--21 January
Week 4--28 January
Week 5--04 February
Week 6--11 February
Week 7--18 February
Week 8--25 February
Week 9--04 March
Week 10--11 March
Week 11--18 March
Week 12--25 March
Week 13--01 April
Week 14--08 April
Week 15--15 April
Week 16--22 April
Week 17--29 April
Week 18--06 May
Week 19--13 May
Week 20--22 May
Week 21--28 May
Week 22--03 June
Week 23--10 June
Week 24--17 June
Week 25--24 June
Week 26--01 July
Week 27--07 July
Week 28--15 July
Week 29--22 July
Week 30--29 July
Week 31--05 August
Week 32--12 August
Week 33--19 August
Week 34--25 August
Week 35--02 September
Week 36--09 September
Week 37--16 September
Week 38--23 September
Week 39--30 September
Week 40--07 October
Week 41--14 October
Week 42--21 October
Week 43--27 October
Week 44--03 November
Week 45--11 November
Week 46--18 November
Week 47--24 November
Week 48--01 December
Week 49--08 December
Week 50--15 December
Week 51--22 December
7/11/2010, 12:50 pm Link to this post Email Flasheart2006   PM Flasheart2006 Blog
 
Firlefanz Profile
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Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


Wow, Dan, this is a great resouce!

Thank you so much for sharing what you archived so painstakingly.

  emoticon

---
- Firlefanz

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Hannah Steenbock
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Intrepid Adventurer

Registered: 04-2003
Location: England
Posts: 313
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


Thanks, it's nice of you to share this.

Though I feel I have to ask:

quote:

Flasheart2006 wrote:
Then, disaster: my son was born!



Does your wife know you put it like that?
 emoticon

---
"Why sometimes I've believed as many as 6 impossible things before breakfast" -- Red Queen, Lewis Carrol
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Flasheart2006 Profile
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Grand Master

Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 301
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


LOL

He's two years old--the greatest natural disaster there is! emoticon
7/12/2010, 11:24 am Link to this post Email Flasheart2006   PM Flasheart2006 Blog
 
Reythia Profile
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Knight of Honor

Registered: 11-2005
Posts: 1883
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


Very cool, Flash! Thanks for listing the whole lot of them for us!

...You know, if we wanted, we could get together as a board and follow these "assignments" in order. Possibly altering them slightly to give them a more scifi/fantasy flavor, if needed. We haven't really had a group exercise here in ages.

---
  -- YAR!
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Flasheart2006 Profile
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Grand Master

Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 301
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


I don't think that's a bad idea at all! As I said, I'm in need of a bit of motivation emoticon

Glad it's going down well emoticon
7/12/2010, 9:44 pm Link to this post Email Flasheart2006   PM Flasheart2006 Blog
 
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The Reeve

Registered: 07-2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 2474
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


I like it! It reminds me of the "Novelist's Boot Camp" by Todd A Stone but it is on the internet where I may have better luck keeping with the program. emoticon

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Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 6984
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


I would love to see this on here!

Yet, to be quite honest, I doubt I can commit to doing it myself. I'll do my best, but ... I have three to four balls in the air already.

  emoticon

---
- Firlefanz

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The Reeve

Registered: 07-2005
Location: Texas
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


Only 3 or 4? I remember when you always had half a dozen! emoticon

---

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Lady of the Land

Registered: 05-2003
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


Well, those are crucial. emoticon

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Hannah Steenbock
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Shepherd

Registered: 02-2006
Posts: 573
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


quote:

Pastor Rick wrote:

Only 3 or 4? I remember when you always had half a dozen! emoticon



LMAO! So true our Horsie is rather industrious!

---
...waiting patiently for a few submissions to come back.
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tryingtowrite Profile
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Knight

Registered: 03-2007
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


It would be awesome to do these together! However I fall on Firle's side of the fence, by the end of the day its all I can do to write one sentence.

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I'd procrastinate now, but it would be easier tomorrow.
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The Reeve

Registered: 07-2005
Location: Texas
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


quote:

tryingtowrite wrote:

It would be awesome to do these together! However I fall on Firle's side of the fence, by the end of the day its all I can do to write one sentence.



But you just posted two sentences here! (just kidding) emoticon

---

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QS2 Profile
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Shepherd

Registered: 03-2006
Posts: 2138
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


It's kind of interesting how the one is so trivially accomplished while the other is so difficult to write, yes.
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Reythia Profile
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Knight of Honor

Registered: 11-2005
Posts: 1883
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


quote:

QS2 wrote:
It's kind of interesting how the one is so trivially accomplished while the other is so difficult to write, yes.



emoticon I second this!

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Intrepid Adventurer

Registered: 04-2003
Location: England
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


"I'd have awfully clean stairs if I didn't write books."

I really like that as a quote.
And my stairs aren't very clean, so I must be something right. emoticon

---
"Why sometimes I've believed as many as 6 impossible things before breakfast" -- Red Queen, Lewis Carrol
7/20/2010, 11:37 am Link to this post Email dragonlady   PM dragonlady
 
QS2 Profile
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Shepherd

Registered: 03-2006
Posts: 2138
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Re: Louise Doughty, 2006, Novel in a Year


Quick! Post it in the Quotes thread!! emoticon

At least it will make it easier for others to find there. emoticon
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