Novels where political extremism is an underlying theme. [more inside]
posted by thesailor on Oct 26, 2009 - 32 answers

With NaNoWriMo looming ever nearer, I would like to hear your best tips, tricks, habits, and techniques for staying chained to the keyboard. [more inside]
posted by BitterOldPunk on Oct 22, 2009 - 26 answers

How often are the stories of a comic, novel, play, TV series, movie, or song conceived by the writer's friend, relative, acquaintance, neighbor, mailman, dog, etc? [more inside]
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing on May 28, 2009 - 14 answers

How much of book one do I have to explain in book two, if book two is part of a series I'm writing? [more inside]
posted by Xurando on Nov 7, 2008 - 9 answers

What are some good novels set in the US of the mid-late seventies? [more inside]
posted by Potomac Avenue on Oct 21, 2008 - 17 answers

Can you help me set the writing soundtrack to my novels? [more inside]
posted by changeling on Jun 26, 2008 - 23 answers

There are about the same number of Mormons in the US as there are Jews. The founding of the Mormon religion happened relatively close to when large Jewish migration to the US began. Both Mormons and Jews had to deal with persecution. There are countless novels about the Jewish-American experience. Where's the great Mormon novel? [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo on Feb 7, 2008 - 35 answers

What are some intelligent, very clever (funny is OK, but not necessary) recent novels that are readable but not trashy? Think along the lines of Zadie Smith's White Teeth and Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Avoiding verbosity (Rushdie) and anachronism (The Great Gatsby, etc.), what's left? [more inside]
posted by stvspl on Sep 16, 2007 - 52 answers

Help me think of great novels that were written when their authors were unusually young. [more inside]
posted by scarylarry on Apr 9, 2007 - 39 answers

How many type written pages make up a novel? [more inside]
posted by finitejest on Feb 9, 2007 - 12 answers

Looking for inspiration in two kinds of books. Perhaps you've got some recommendations? 1) Novels with very short "chapters" or fragments or pieces, that combine to make a whole; 2) Books boldly written, whether that be a writer being bold with timelines, punctuation, language, etc. (examples of both types of books inside). [more inside]
posted by dobbs on Dec 6, 2006 - 54 answers

Where can I find sales figures for novels (new and/or classic)? I am aware of Bookscan and Publisher's Lunch, but those are very expensive.
posted by Gnostic Novelist on Oct 26, 2006 - 9 answers

I want to spend three to six months writing a novel as my primary activity. I have savings, but not enough. What kinds of work can I pick up and do, wing in and out of, make money but have maximum flexibility to do my writing? I have published two books previously and have strong well-developed skills in technology writing, web writing, some copy writing, etc., if that matters to your answer. Many thanks.
posted by lustra on Mar 1, 2005 - 9 answers

Two weeks and counting... Is anybody planning to participate in nanowrimo this year?
posted by codger on Oct 18, 2004 - 34 answers