My first ever novel is finished with its rough draft

[AZLD4Candidate]

Thirty one chapters.
Two years of work.
493 page manuscript.
302 page actual book

[Karadeniz]

1. Wheeeee!!!! Congratulations !!!

[WhiteTara]

2. Congratulations

That you completed the work is in and of itself, is commendable. Here's to a publisher for you!

[zanana1]

3. That's quite an achievement.

In my younger days, I thought I might write a novel one day. Later on, I realized I don't have enough storyteller in me. I admire you for actually writing one.

[WacoCheryl]

4. Congratulations

Writing a book takes such imagination, organization, and energy. Wishing you well on your publishing journey.

[KS Toronado]

7. Welcome to DU!

[bucolic_frolic]

5. I'd like to learn the secret

to getting books to write themselves.

Do you use special software? Like Manuskript?

[AZLD4Candidate]

10. I did the same thing I do, when I write my screenplays

Plot out the story
Flesh out the characters
Focus on the message
Make sure everything either moves the plot or develops the characters

Each plot point is a chapter and I try to go for ten pages a chapter.

For this novel, I used Scrivner.

For my screenplay, I use either CELTX or Trelby. Fina can Final Draft has given me too many problems and Trelby can import CELTX and Final Draft files and convert them.

[hunter]

6. Have you built a community to grind through it? All the good, bad, and ugly?

That's everything.

I have a first novel, circa 1982.

It was not accepted as my Senior Thesis.

I'm no Andy Weir.

[AZLD4Candidate]

9. Yes. . .the same group that does that for my screenplays.

[crosinski]

8. Congratulations!

That’s a wonderful accomplishment!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. Good for you!

I am a sometimes writer. But a novel is completely beyond me. I write short. Very short. I almost never get as far as 500 words.

I cannot plot to save my life. Which is why I'm not too bad at very short stories.

Please keep us posted and tell us when it gets published.