Some simple sums

Excuse the alliteration, but I'm off work for a few days and it can put you in a frivolous mood.

A question has descended upon me, and it's one I've heard a few times when I've done talks about the tvdetective books. It's this - how do I find the time to write a novel?

In fact, the more common form of the question is - I'd love to try to write a book, but I could never find the time.  Well, this is what I've come to consider to be the best answer to that.

We're well on our way up to Xmas (sorry, sorry, sorry for mentioning it), which is a time when people often look back on the year that's coming to an end.  And here's what I'd ask - how quickly does it feel the time has gone?

The answer that usually comes back is that the time flies by. It goes just like that, as Tommy Cooper might have said. Right then!  So, here's my simple sum.

If a year can slip by, seemingly sometimes as quickly as a blink, how many words per day would you need to write a book?

Most novels come in at around a hundred thousand words. So, by my menial reckoning, you need only write a mere 300 words a day or so for a year, and by the end of it - ding dong! You've got your book.

Ok, so there is a bit more to it than that, what with planning the thing, then rewriting it, etc., but that is the basic truth. Just a relatively few words a day and if you can keep it up, you can get there.

The point behind my little ramble is that I believe it's an error to see writing a book as a vast undertaking. Better to look at it as a series of small steps which can take you on a long and enormously enjoyable journey.

And that's the second point - it's quite probable that, like me, you'll come to find your writing a delight, which calls you back, and suddenly putting down those words on paper every day is something you find yourself looking forward to.

Here endeth the Hall lesson, for what it was worth, and I hope it helps.  If you've got a question, you're very welcome to get in touch and I'll do my best to answer it. You can do so via the contact page of the site - www.thetvdetective.com/contact.html

The final thing to mention on this post is the Callington Book Fair, on Sat (27th Nov), an ideal opportunity for some Xmas shopping with a range of books on offer - including some of mine!  I'll be there to sign copies, if you should so wish.  There are more details on the News and Events page - www.thetvdetective.com/news.html  Hope to see you there.