Things that Making Novel Writing Hard (and what you can do to help)

The almost surreally talented and blog-prolific novelist, Justine Larbalestier, has been writing brilliantly about why novel writing, it turns out, is a tad less pleasurable than, say, a day at the beach. Since I am currently taking my once-a-day internet break from my own novel/albatross, I thought I'd add my own two cents.

The Top Three Things I Hate About Writing Novels

1) The Middle. A novel is basically a horse. When it's good, the middle part expands into a gentle, muscular curve that ultimately leads to the powerhouse--the ending (or horse's butt, to continue with the metaphor). When a novel is not good, it looks like an old donkey with sway back. Once your middle is sagging, it's a job and a half to write your way out of it, but write your way out of it you must. My current novel has eleven chapters and I have spent the past month rewriting chapters five and six. Coincidence? I think not.2) Sequels. My first novel is all about discovery. Or as a reviewer recently said of it (and I paraphrase here) in the first half of the book, the premise is the plot. Enter the sequel and now you have to do something with this premise. But, alas, one can't merely tack on some artificial plot structure, some cloak and dagger nonsense, or scooby doo escapades. One must juice the premise itself for some kind of forward-moving narrative. Very tricky indeed.3) Fatigue. I write short-ish novels. 60,000 to 70,000 words. Still, that takes a long time. And by the time I've realized I've made a donkey instead of a stallion, I'm tired. Not sleepy tired, but frazzled, mind-wrecked, useless tired. And I still have the hardest part of writing to get through.Of course, there are other challenges. I still don't fully get commas and tend not to use them much. My first drafts are always darker and meaner than they should be. And I tend toward protagonists who find themselves ridiculous. But these are small things. Things I can deal with. It's the three baddies above that are slowly driving me insane.Nevertheless, I shall endure. Sadly for me, I am passionately obsessed with this novel, as I have been with everything I've ever written for publication. Making sure my characters make their way out into the world on the back of a mighty stallion is my burden and my calling.Oh, and as for what you can do about any of this? Sadly nothing. Just, maybe, have a heart next time you're reading a book and wondering why you've suddenly gotten bored half way through. It means you're reading a donkey instead of a stallion. But even donkeys take love and commitment to make.