Hey Windchimes,

Good questions.

Btw; after having spent 2 1/2 years on my novel, rewriting it a zillion times, ya know what I forgot to do? I forgot to type The End at the end, before I sent it off to the publisher. Duh!

As to your questions. For me, the hardest part of a novel is letting go. I get so caught up in the characters that it's hard for me to walk out of their story.

There are a few tips I can share.

1) Be thinking about the novel as often as you can, especially when the mind isn't otherwise occupied (daydreaming, walking, ironing, relaxing). Make sure you keep it fresh by exploring any possibilities that come up, either in your head or ideally on paper. Mind mapping is a cool device for this. Don't spend too much time thinking about things before writing them down though. For example I first conceived the ending for "Hummingbird" in late 1999 but didn't write a single word of it until a week ago. Get any interesting thoughts you have down on paper or on disc. This point can't be overstressed.

2) Remember that whatever problems or blocks you face (plot, characterisation etc) can be solved best by simply writing through them. ie; go into first person POV for a character and start with I looked up at the .... and go from there. Or an even better way is to use first person POV to illuminate two characters by having your (female) narrator start with I love the way he... etc, thereby showing you/us his character and her perception of him. REmember to focus on specific detail in your exploration. Use the five senses, use tangible objects to echo intangibles through metaphor or symbolism and always use the character's voice as you perceive it. You can rewrite these passages later in third person POV if you wish. (If that's the overriding POV of the whole narrative.)

3) Don't bum out trying to get the novel to dominate your 'whole' life. We have other responsibilities - don't feel guilty about taking care of those too.

4) Re the point above. It is imperative though to set aside regular time to work on the novel. When and how much is up to the writer. It's better to do only half an hour each day, than 'save' it up with the intention of doing 3-4 hours on one day of the week. Something could override your intention on that day and you've done nothing, then you'll start feeling guilty. Not helpful.

5) Ask for advice. Wherever you can get it. Listen to every suggestion with an open mind, then make your own call.

6) Biiiiig point. Write the first draft for the characters and the story, write the second draft for the reader, write the third for the editor. Don't get stuck on thinking of selling points in the first draft. It's paramount in your first go at it to just get the authenticity and humanity of the story to come out. Then work on plot devices and hooks if you wish after you've got the story down. The final run through is for sharpening and polishing. If you're a writer who wants to perfect each page to final draft quality before moving to the next (not an approach I recommend btw) then this rule applies in its entirety on each page.

7) Get to know your characters to the degree you'd get to know someone in the tangible world who fascinates you. Get to the place where you'll make the character's decisions from the inside. The character is the bridge that allows the writer and reader to touch. (Think Michaelangelo and the Sistine.)

A writer has to need to write. No way around it. Liking it, wanting it, thinking it's pretty cool - won't do it. We have to need to tell our stories, to bring our characters out.

Needle,

Suggest you get a new scriptwriter. Your stuff was old a couple of years ago. I must admit though - your tenacity in continuing to babble your far right political gobbledeegook to an ever depleting audience who will allow you to post on their boards is truly astounding. If only you could be more creative and constructive. Ah well...