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

What well-known novels lack any character descriptions aside from names?
posted by odinsdream on Oct 9, 2009 - 17 answers

People talk about "writing the Great American Novel." What do you think are valid examples of the G.A.N.? What novels, American or otherwise, did you enjoy reading and wish you had written?
posted by Busoni on Jun 20, 2009 - 70 answers

Would it be seen as (and is it really) exceptionally tasteless to write a fictional novel about a soldiers' experiences in Iraq? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 6, 2009 - 16 answers

software for writing (i.e., organizing) a novel on a windows machine? [more inside]
posted by gcat on Dec 29, 2008 - 8 answers

Can anyone recommend good novels about gay people? Not just genre fiction but actually literature? It seems to me there must be, but I've never been able to find any.
posted by blue shadows on Dec 14, 2008 - 57 answers

What are your favorite unconventional novels and short stories? [more inside]
posted by mizrachi on Oct 21, 2008 - 74 answers

Working writers: how do you carve out time for fiction? [more inside]
posted by mynameisluka on Sep 5, 2008 - 18 answers

Why do novelists use "________" in place of a character's name? [more inside]
posted by serazin on Aug 11, 2008 - 10 answers

I am trying to get a better understanding of Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" **Spoiler Alert** [more inside]
posted by madmamasmith on Jul 28, 2008 - 13 answers

What one book will allow others to gain the truest insight into the soul of each city or region [more inside]
posted by reenum on May 6, 2008 - 16 answers

Would anyone in their right mind eat vegetable ghee, or any kind of ghee, straight from the can? [more inside]
posted by spoobnooble on Apr 20, 2008 - 32 answers

I've been offered a ghostwriting gig. Help me with my expectations, please. [more inside]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur on Feb 28, 2008 - 4 answers

New Year resolution: write a novel this year. Need some resources [more inside]
posted by spacefire on Jan 5, 2008 - 22 answers

Who's written fiction within the last 5-10 years, that deals realistically with the experience of American people under 40? [more inside]
posted by toomuchkatherine on Dec 14, 2007 - 26 answers

I'm looking for books, fiction or nonfiction, where the main character claims no country as his/her own [more inside]
posted by reenum on Dec 2, 2007 - 19 answers

I'm currently writing a novel. Should I use LaTex instead of MS Word? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Nov 13, 2007 - 41 answers

What would a teenage boy learn about women from reading romance novels? [more inside]
posted by spoobnooble on Oct 9, 2007 - 41 answers

I've just finished my first novel, now how do I revise this thing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 26, 2007 - 17 answers

How can I revive a dead novel? [more inside]
posted by Bookhouse on Jan 22, 2007 - 19 answers

I've been noting down ideas for a potential novel for over a year. Problem is, I now have so many that it's tough to keep track of it all. How can I organise and consolidate them into something workable? [more inside]
posted by Acey on Dec 30, 2006 - 27 answers

Once I've made my sci-fi novel available via Lulu.com, will it still be viable to shop around to agents and editors for potential mass-market publication? Are there factors that influence it? For example, if it sells a lot, is it considered a good buy by a publisher, or has it basically had its first run?
posted by JWright on Dec 8, 2006 - 9 answers

Please help me find something to organize this monstrosity of a novel. Oh yes, there is definitely [more inside]
posted by sperose on Oct 17, 2006 - 10 answers

Are there any great online tools for working on writing a novel? I've seen previous posts on desktop software for this purpose, but I haven't found any nifty online tools. [more inside]
posted by tastybrains on Sep 19, 2006 - 8 answers

Has anyone vastly improved -- or just changed -- someone else's already published writing by editing? [more inside]
posted by callmejay on Aug 30, 2006 - 25 answers

So I asked this question about writing software more than a year ago. I finally decided on Copy Write. Now I need hints, tips, or any tutorial you can point me to. [more inside]
posted by sugarfish on Jul 1, 2006 - 5 answers

HelpMyWritingFilter: Am I overthinking or do I actually need these extra words of clarification when it comes to writing fiction? [more inside]
posted by Chorus on Jun 29, 2006 - 41 answers

Suppose I were able to write a publishable novel. How much money would I get, as a first-time author as soon as it was picked up? How much would I make over all? Assume This an action sci-fi/cyberpunk type book (think William Gibson). [more inside]
posted by delmoi on Oct 19, 2005 - 25 answers

What's the best novel writing software for Mac OS X? [more inside]
posted by sugarfish on Feb 24, 2005 - 10 answers