How Do You Write Novels?

Traditional pen and paper? Google Docs? Adobe? Or some fancy new software?

Hello Fellow Dreamers,

I've been busy toiling away on my first draft and figured it was time for an update. I'm pleased to announce that I'm more than halfway through writing the draft. My goal is to write about 80,000 words. Here’s a snapshot of where I’m at so far.

Some of you Eagle-eyed readers might recognize this screenshot as none other than Campfire. I find it extremely easy to keep track of everything I need. I especially love the feature that keeps track of how many hours I put into writing.

I didn’t start writing on Campfire, however, so my hours are a bit off. Google Docs was my starter and I still use it daily for brainstorming and separating out ideas. I was about 10,000 words in when I switched over to Campfire.

How long does it take you or the average writer to write 50,000 words? As this is my first novel, I have no idea if I’m blazing through — I highly doubt that — or writing at a turtle’s pace. The hours listed are purely for writing and editing. They don’t account for the time spent when I’m lost in thought thinking about plot points or characters.

“What about writer’s block?” you might be thinking. I can’t say I’ve experienced that yet since I’m at the beginning of my journey. I have many years of pent-up ideas and Google Docs that should help carry me for a while.

Some people have said that novels sometimes write themselves and I can honestly say I’m experiencing that to a certain extent. Throughout writing the story I even find that the characters are taking on twists that I hadn’t even anticipated or thought about. Has this happened to anyone else? Surely, I can’t be the only one.

Yours in words and wonder,

P.R. Ramos