Finding the time to write - how to actually finish an epic fantasy manuscript

Epic fantasy novels are big. They have grand stories, various subplots and a host of characters all needing to be developed - as well as detailed world to be brought to life. It can be a challenge to actually get the book finished!

For years, the challenge for me was not writing something others would want to read, but actually finishing the manuscript. I'd get to about page 100 and lose interest, or run out of steam, or start planning another - more interesting - story. Whatever the excuse, I had a box of half-finished stories, but none that were finished.

Sound familiar?

Fortunately, I eventually learned how to actually finish the novel I'd started. I'm now on the final stages of writing my fourth full-length epic fantasy novel, and have not struggled to finish writing a book in years. 

So, what's the secret to finishing a novel?

There wasn't just one thing that caused me to keep writing past page 100 and actually get to 'the end'. I think my shift came with accepting four concepts: practicing, planning, avoiding perfectionism, and patience. 

1. Practicing: one of the reasons I think my early attempts all failed was that I was still cutting my teeth as a writer. It takes years, and thousands of words, before you get to the point where your work is ready to show to the world. I know we've all heard of those few whose first novel was a bestseller - but, I think it's better to think of ourselves as the rule, not the exception! Talent is, and has never been, enough. So, if you want to finish a novel one day, and be proud of it, write more! 

2. Planning: for years I hated the thought of planning. I thought it would stifle my creativity. These days, I now always sketch out an outline of the story from start to finish. The plan isn't set in stone, but it does give you a framework. More than other genres, epic fantasy really benefits from planning - with a huge cast of characters and often two or three subplots running alongside the main story, it can be hard to keep track. I write a lot faster with a plan, even if there are points when I deviate from it. Plan your time as well. I'm more 'creative' in the afternoons, so I do my day job in the mornings (freelance copywriting), and block out three hours every afternoon, put on some music and write!

3. Avoiding perfectionism: some people never get started on projects because the fear of not producing something perfect stops them from ever writing that first page. There's nothing wrong with having high standards, and wanting your finished novel to be something you'll be proud of is admirable. That said - rewriting a page or chapter, over and over (before you've completed the first draft), is a sure way to never finish the novel. Not only that but you'll go slowly mad.

4. Patience: we live in an instant world, where e-books on writing tell you that your can pump out a full-length novel in just two weeks! Forget about that. Plan your time (see point two, above) and record how many words you wrote during each session - it's a good way to keep yourself motivated. Most of us don't have the luxury of being able to write all day, but that's actually a good thing. Many great books have been written 'after hours'. Remember, a big book won't get written overnight!

I hope my advice has been helpful - these were definitely 'breakthroughs' for me. 

There are few things more satisfying than reaching the end of a story that has been part of your life for months. It's also a bittersweet moment because you have to say good-bye to characters you have grown to love. But, if you don't finish the manuscript, you won't know what that feels like...

So get writing!

_________________________________

Sign up to Sam's monthly newsletter and receive a FREE copy of DEEP-SPIRE (PDF format). Newsletter subscribers will also get sneak previews of upcoming novels, behind the scenes 'extras', epic fantasy book reviews & recommendations, and podcasts from Sam!

Email Address

____________________________________

How to finish that manuscript – advice for aspiring authors

Another one bites the dust!

Often, the biggest challenge for anyone who dreams of becoming an author – is actually finishing that damn manuscript!

I have been writing for years now. However, the first decade was filled with drawers of half-finished stories. My classic pattern was to reach page 100 and then throw away the bloody thing in disgust. Either, I’d just discovered the story wasn’t working, or it was boring me to death. Whatever the reason, I had just spent a couple of months on a story that I would never finish – again. Fast forward a few years and I have self-published one epic fantasy novella and three full-length novels, as well as a Lord of the Rings fan fiction series. I have also written a number of non-fiction works, and fiction novels under pen names. 

These days I rarely begin novels that I never finish.

Some hints to make sure you finish that manuscript

I could come up with a detailed list of all ways to ensure you get that story written – but in the end it boils down to three key pieces of advice:

Write what you love: I write the stories I have always wanted to read. I throw myself into epic adventures that have me clamouring to return to them. I have to keep writing because I have to know what happens! This advice might seem like a no-brainer but so many of us start out writing the novels we think we ‘should’ write. Is it any wonder then, that we can’t stand the sight of it after a couple of months? Writing a story you love is hard enough, don’t throw rocks in your path by trying to write anything else.

Plan it: I’m not saying you have to sit down and plan the story out in meticulous detail – you’re likely to get bored half-way if you do. However, a story outline and a rough chapter plan, will help ensure that a) the story actually works and b) you think about important elements like structure, pacing and characters. If you’re embarking on an epic fantasy, make sure you do some serious world-building before you write, including summaries of the magic system and a potted history of the world your characters inhabit.Otherwise your story will lack credibility and depth. If you don't believe in the world you've created, no one else will.

Approach it as a professional: If you’re serious about writing, then act as if it is a job. Once you self-publish and list that book on Amazon (or any other self-publishing platform), then you are officially ‘in business’. Self-publishing was a huge motivation for me to finish my novels. Once you approaching your writing as a professional, your entire relationship with it changes. Suddenly, it isn’t such a slog. You find yourself scheduling time, setting milestones and treating your writing with the seriousness it deserves.

Get over the idea of the ‘tortured artist’ stereotype. You know, the guy who stares blankly at his laptop screen, waiting for inspiration to strike, for his muse to whisper in his ear. That guy could be waiting a long time... 

The act of creation is not some elusive power that only the select few master. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t actually finish anything, who will care? Write the kind of books you crave to read, plan before you throw yourself in, and treat it as a profession - and you will have that manuscript written in no time!