Goal: Write a novel

[W13]

I've been wanting to do this for so long. Whenever I get some free time (which is almost never), I like to brainstorm and take notes for my novel.

I don't want to start writing it until I have a very solid world, solid plot, and solid characters in place.

It has been pretty liberating. Unlike a movie or a game, where your creativity is often limited by money, time, and expertise, writing a novel is like dreaming: you can literally (giggidy) write anything. You can make your world as vast as you like and your characters as unusual as you like.

What do you think? Is it an achievable goal?

[Wee Man]

Of course it's achievable, it might take a while and you might not be satisfied with it at the end of the project but you can definitely do it. It's not something I think I'd want to try my hand at, I feel like I ramble too much and I'm not exactly what you'd call creative.

[Murdoc]

I've always been someone who preferred to right short stories, to be honest, as I just don't have the focus to dedicate myself to a full-sized novel. But I have nothing but infinite respect for people who do, though. 

A girl at work is currently putting the last set of touches on one she's been working on. She's a Spaniard living in the UK and the story is quasi-autobiographical. Which I'm sure makes it easier, haha, as she doesn't have to think as hard about what to write next. 

I've offered to read her manuscript and give me 2 cents, if you W or anyone else for that matter wants me to do the same for them please let me know. 

[Dox17]

I don't want to start writing it until I have a very solid world, solid plot, and solid characters in place.

Seems like you're setting yourself up for defeat. Personally I think the best approach is to build from scratch and let the characters form as you write. Create a rough draft of the novel with a basic premises with basic characters and as you write you'll be able to see where you want to take the story and articulate the specific traits of your characters as it comes together. Waiting to write anything before you have a complete book in your head doesn't seem to be the right approach. Writing something basic then editing and adding to it will get the ball rolling. 

I also recommend the book War of Art to anyone in the creative field.
https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Winning-Creative-Battle/dp/1501260626

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I've always been someone who preferred to right short stories, to be honest, as I just don't have the focus to dedicate myself to a full-sized novel.

Ernest Hemmingway's book of short stories is great for those who just want to read for an hour or so or find the story bland.

[Murdoc]

That's a great book title, Dox, haha.

You can always hire ghost writers like all the big established names do. Give them a few sentences of background for every chapter and have them flesh them out and fill in the rest. 

And thanks for the recommendation. It's strange to think that I've never actually read any of his books, even at school... This thread is actually pushing me to rewrite one of the short stories I won SSoTM on Zybez with, because the original topic got lost. I wanted to do it before it shut down - but ah well. Can always post it here.

[The duck]

How about finishing the Zybez Book?

[Matt Slater]

How about finishing the Zybez Book?

This please. Will buy.

[Suzuna]

I've thought about writing a science fiction/fantasy work at some point, maybe more like a short story. Probably something I would publish online though just for fun.

[Murdoc]

How about finishing the Zybez Book?

This please. Will buy.

Get Hemlock to finish his story, too, while you're at it.

[W13]

I don't want to start writing it until I have a very solid world, solid plot, and solid characters in place.

Seems like you're setting yourself up for defeat. Personally I think the best approach is to build from scratch and let the characters form as you write. Create a rough draft of the novel with a basic premises with basic characters and as you write you'll be able to see where you want to take the story and articulate the specific traits of your characters as it comes together. Waiting to write anything before you have a complete book in your head doesn't seem to be the right approach. Writing something basic then editing and adding to it will get the ball rolling. 

I also recommend the book War of Art to anyone in the creative field.
https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Winning-Creative-Battle/dp/1501260626

I know what you mean but if you're writing a fantasy novel (usually the genre newbies start off with), your setting is a character in itself and you have to pay close attention to "the world". And being a gamer, I think I can curate an interesting, intricate setting. While I do this, I write character arcs -- just short half paragraph summaries. Later, I'll weave them together so they're all overlapping and integrated. I have a basic world map already - it was a headache because I had to make sure that things like my world's orbit, day-night cycle, yearly weather cycle, tides, etc. make sense scientifically. It's all done so I'm glad I can move onto more interesting things like filling in the world map and writing character arcs.

I've written chapter 1 a few times only for the purpose of seeing what sort of tone/style that my writing takes. I know I'm gonna need a good editor at the end   .