"Personal" question(s) to John Jarrold

[gary compton]

Is it possible to write 2 books at the same time.The reason I ask is when I get up in the morning I try to do 1000 words.

In the evenings I always edit the days catch of words but then after that I get bored with the TV.

I have always resisted doing anymore of book one as I like to be fresh but as an experiment I wrote 1000 words of book two tonight, I felt fresh as its a new and different project, even though its the same protagonist.

What do you think John?

[John Jarrold]

Although I have made the point often enough that each writer is an individual, I would always suggest that a new novelist should finish one book, revise, get it right, before starting another - it ain't easy to get a book good enough for commercial publication and it seems to me that anything which draws your concentration in another direction is wrong. However, having ideas, and writing them down, that's another matter.

[SJAB]

Gary, John is right, least I have found so.

I have also found out that there comes a time when you have to set the current novel aside. That the re-writes, editing, sending off as a submission, the rejection, then re-write again, is not working, that this time you haven't made the grade.

I find it is a two year cycle lol... Writing, editing, sending off for submission and beginning again with a new effort. Just started the cycle for the fifth time . (Ten years this September since I began the madness on an old Amstrad, running windows 3.11!!!)

I am, though, working on an idea I first outlined back in late 2006! I don't plan to give up, ever! Even if I never sell any of my efforts, it is the writing and the trying that is important, anything else will be a bonus I will enjoy to the full.

[Simon Haynes]

Originally Posted by SJAB

(Ten years this September since I began the madness on an old Amstrad, running windows 3.11!!!)

Heh - 15 years ago I was SELLING Amstrads running Windows 3.11 ;-) $8000 for a 386 ... those were the days.

[Havlen]

I concentrated solely on my first novel until I decided it more resembled a plate of spaghetti than a novel. But it taught me a lot about writing, including my process for writing.

Since then, I mostly work on multiple projects at a time. I prefer to let a project sit for a month or two between drafts so I can go at it with fresh eyes, and I work on something else during that time.

[lin robinson]

I like the cool off period as well. Additionally, I'm happiest when I have something to edit and pick at while writing something else.

I do my writing in the morning, then get out and move around, and it the afternoon/evening like to sit in a cafe or somewhere with a paper MS and some colored pens.

Then at night I do graphics work and promotion.

If I don't have a rewrite project on hand, it bugs me.

[John Jarrold]

Just to let you all know I'll be away from Tuesday to Friday this week, so don't worry about the silence from this end. I'll be checking the forum next Saturday, on my return.

Cheers!

[Scarfy]

Are you going anywhere nice?

[John Jarrold]

Just got some family business to sort out in Kent.

[Scarfy]

Ah, okay. Hope it all goes well.

[John Jarrold]

And here we are again. I'm actually out on business most of today, but I'm around!

[Mr. Lime]

Dear John,

Do you think that some of the books we now consider classics might not have been published if they were written today?

I ask this question because I've been getting a lot of advice from people that a book has to grab people instantly, characters have to be relatable at the very least, and preferably, likable as well, that you should avoid using metaphors, etc.

However, a number of my favorite books are classics like Dostoevsky's Underground (neither likable nor very relatable, yet a truly one of a kind character), Golding's Lord of The Flies, and Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath (In both of which, the narrators try to say something truly profound about the human condition, and yet, I've heard people call that sort of writing pretentious.)

Or, for instance, lets take Herbert's Dune. Almost everyone I've spoken to who's read it says it takes some time to pick up. And in my opinion, it would probably fall into the category of novels that are more driven by ideas than they are about characters.

So basically, I'm just curious what your take on all this is. Thanks very much. (and I would like to say I think it's really great what you're doing here.)

[Hilarious Joke]

I think it's great that your name is Mr Lime. Welcome to the Chron, good sir!

[Troo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Lime

Do you think that some of the books we now consider classics might not have been published if they were written today?

I know, question not addressed to me. But what the heck

No. Most classics wouldn't get published if they were written today, because today's market is not the same as the market of the era in which a particular classic found the market.

Similarly many novels which were passed over for publication in other times might be snapped up today. And what's sought-after in a book today won't be what publishers are looking for in ten years' time.

[Peter Graham]

Do you think that some of the books we now consider classics might not have been published if they were written today?

I agree with Troo. The sad fact is that a book might be excellently written and brilliantly conceived, but if it doesn't hit the zeitgeist, you've got no chance. I stand to be corrected, but I suspect that the nature of the business is such that most professional agents and publishing houses cannot afford to take too many punts on what might be the Next Big Thing.

A year or so ago, someone submitted the first three chapters of Jane Eyre to a huge number of literary agents or publishing houses as an unsolicited, slushpile manuscript. They all turned it down. Now, even if we can accept that one of the greatest literary works in the English language, dealing as it does with basic themes of love, injustice, betrayal and morality was considered not to fit the 21st century market, what amazed me was that no-one working in the industry appeared to recognise it for what it was. Isn't that like an architect not recognising St Paul's Cathedral?

Regards,

Branwell