Comments on: The Three Golden Rules of Novel Writing

By: Daniel Wright

Daniel Wright — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 05:32:27 +0000

In this article, you have shared some really very good tips on writing novels. With the help of these tips, I think that I will also be able to write a good novel. I really had a great time reading this article. Thank you for taking all the efforts to write this article and sharing it with us.

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 08:34:37 +0000

I break Rule 1 all the time, but I’ve realised that parts of that is because my 1st draft is closer to what’s described as a 2nd draft. My 1st draft mainly takes place in my head, so I have a coherent (if mutable and generally sparse) storyline with no ginormous plotholes when I’ve finished the first write-through

By: Emmelie

Emmelie — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 02:07:26 +0000

Thank you for the advice, Andrea. I’ll have to keep the three golden rules of novel writing in mind.

By: Linda Maye Adams

Linda Maye Adams — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 11:14:04 +0000

I have to say I disagree with #2. I tried it at one point because it made sense, and it completely wrecked my story. I’m an organic writer, and doing that left out an important part of my creative process that was essential for creating the story. I have to constantly move around in the story and reshape it as I learn more about what the story is.

By: Vickie Miller

Vickie Miller — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 23:08:51 +0000

Rule #3 is a challenge for me. My goal is to get there with my current WIP by 5/29/14. I want to get to the 2nd draft where I’m promised a pot of tea as I edit!

By: The Three Golden Rules of Novel Writing | Litte...

The Three Golden Rules of Novel Writing | Litte... — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 01:12:16 +0000

[…] Andrea Gillies is the author of three books: the novel The Enlightenment of Nina Findlay (2014), the novel TheWhite Lie (2012), and the non-fiction book Keeper, which won the Wellcome Book Prize 2009 and the Orwell Book Prize 2010. […]

By: Brendan from Now Novel

Brendan from Now Novel — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 08:48:01 +0000

I think your second point is spot-on.
We mentor a lot of first time novel writers and the desire to go back and “fix” what they had is overwhelming. It’s so easy to think yourself out of writing and overanalyse what you’re doing. I was speaking to someone this week who is writing the middle of her book and she was worried about having the right voice for her writers and whether it was flowing well, even though she was confident about it the week before.
As you say it’s hard to disconnect the subconscious and just write.

By: Marialena

Marialena — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 18:19:19 +0000

Wonderful advice. I love your characterization of the editing process. A lot of writing advice seems to center on the the Shitty First Draft, which I applaud. Your insistence on refraining from judgement (or even re-reading) spot-on. But so often I find that the time spent and effort required for editing and rewriting often seem to be given little attention, so I was pleased to see the supply list for editing (much paper and more tea). 🙂

By: Artycappuccino

Artycappuccino — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 11:11:28 +0000

Reassuring to hear editing processes esp when they emphasise the creative alongside the technical.

I always take a deep breath and dive in after my first draft whether it is two weeks, two days or two years after the initial creative outpouring. Its hard!