How many people do you think?

Question

How many people that have said that they're writing a book or novel, have actually finished said book or novel?

Sorry, but I'm a bit pessimistic when there are so many questions on here of people asking 'does this sound interesting, because I'm writing a book?'. Especially doubtful when it sounds cliche and predictable, and the person has really bad spelling and grammar.

Have you finished your book, or do you think the majority of people that have posted have completed theirs?

Answer 1

I too have noticed that there seem to be a lot of "Read This It's From My Novel" questions that then turn to be something that is harder to read than Captain Kirk/Harry Potter fan fic. I think that there are probably better sites for people to post portions of their writing, but this is a very accessible site and it's easy to use and usually has good feed back.

I think that there is something to be said about the spelling and grammar issue too. I heard an interview with Christopher Moore(Author of "A Dirty Job" and "Fool") where he said that he's had to tell kids that want to be authors that they need to use full spelling and proper grammar, that it didn't occur to them that there are people out there that don't know how to read 1337. And I think that he has a point. People are so used to talking with text messaging and internet chatting and things that there are some who care little for grammar but want to write and don't understand why they can't have a novel that has the following bit of dialogue:

"LOL! UR 2 funy"

"Kthxbi"

It's a part of our culture now that we can post questions/pieces of writing and get INSTANT feedback on it. Yeah, it's not good feedback, it's not good advice. You probably get as many responses that say "Hey, answer my question!" that link to a question about lint traps as you do serious answers. Sometimes you might get more lint traps than proper responses. But, as you've shown by asking YOUR question, there are also people out there that use this as a forum for improving their work. It's probably a better idea if you can afford a professional editor who can over see your work, but it's not a bad thing to do if you want to get a start on something that you don't know what to do next.

I think that you're right in saying that the majority of people just post something that is grammatically one step away from being mistaken for a cat jumping on the key board, but sometimes you still can see a glimmer of hope in those posts. There is sometimes something there that should be nurtured. I don't think that Yahoo! Answers is the best place to put something, but it's a start. Maybe it'll lead to something down the line.



Also, I have a question about lint traps that I need answered.

Answer 2

Yes, I've finished a book, but don't feel the need to let everyone know. The book I've finished writing isn't one that I've actually posted anywhere on the web, so not very many people have seen it.



I'm currently editing, but there are a lot of other more important things I need to do right now, so that's on the backburner.



Do I think most of the people who've said they're writing a novel have actually completed theirs? No. I will say that the ones who are writing novels because it seems to be the new "in" thing to do or because they loved reading Twilight and think they can now become a writer, haven't actually finished their stories.



Who am I to say so, though? I don't know them. I just think you can tell easily those who want to become an author because they have a passion for writing (because they truly want it) and those who want to become an author just because they think it's a cool thing to do. The latter most likely won't finish writing a novel. That much is obvious.

Answer 3

Well, I've been involved with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month - in November) for the past two or three years, and I've worked on three books. One I have finished (but it will never see the light of day, haha), one I am continually and slowly working on, and another I am actively working on at the moment. I do think that a lot of people don't seem to finish the things they start, but often they come back to them.



Personally, I procrastinate a lot and take extremely long hiatuses, and I don't think I would ever be able to be a professional fiction writer unless I really knuckled down. However, I still have a passion for writing and would love to finish my current book.. I'll see where that goes.



I have used Yahoo Answers to get feedback on another idea I have for a novel, and I do feel like I received some very valuable advice from it. I actually do try to give people very direct, honest advice about their writing on here, and I don't know if they are committed enough to their stories to finish them.



However, that is their own personal business, so I honestly don't mind. When I see people who I can tell have fallen in love with their stories, I do my absolute best to help them in any way I can, and I leave it at that.

Answer 4

Honestly, some people, but not all, mainly write their stories within one genre: young adult romance, which can be dull at times. However, I have seen very few stories on here that are truly amazing.



I have written novels before, but I never really plan on showing anybody or asking them about their opinions, because I know for a fact that they wouldn't get very far.



I wouldn't know if they have actually finished their novel themselves. Maybe some of them have, maybe some of them have not. But whatever they do, I wish them luck.

Answer 5

I have actually just finished my second novel, and am in the process of editing it. it was quite hard to stay on track at various points, and keep motivated, but i really believed in my storyline so i just had to keep on going. My characters were also quite addictive, i feel like i know them, in a weird kinda way, so it would have been practically impossible to just dump the story- it would be like dumping a friend.

I don't know if i'm the only one, and i have had a few stories that i just stopped writing, as i realised they sucked. Hope this helps :)

Answer 6

Well, its easier said than done, I suppose. Its hard. I'm fourteen years old an I'm writing a book, its hard, but its fun. I mostly just do it for myself, but I have fantastic (I'm normally modest when it comes to anything besides my amazing talent for writing. I'm not conceited though, I swear;) grammar.



I haven't finished my book, I could've but I'm a major procrastinator. I seriously doubt anyone has finished theirs, it takes years of course to go through the whole, "finding an agent, editing, publishing" process.



So mostly, I think you have to just lay down your whole goal and practice your writing before you decide you want to write a whole book. I'm just practicing and having fun, though.

Answer 7

i just started in march but i've already written 17000 words

i may be young but i am confident that i will finish mine by the end of this year

i'm not the kind of person who quits unless it's for an extremely good reason

don't judge people by their covers (maybe they have bad spelling here but may be way better in their actual writing)

Answer 8

i have a hard time writing mine. also in general typing conversations and such i have a hard time getting the words right. in stories it just flows.