General guide to writing a novel on your PC?

I never had much interest in writing since finsihin high school, but afew nights back I had a very vivid dream that got me thinking about writing a science fiction novel.

While I'm not worried about the publishing process as of yet, I'd like to know how I'd go about writing one in Microsoft Word (templates, number of pages/words needed for a good story, and formatting).

Any help is appreciated.

General guide to writing a novel on your PC?microsoft windows xp

You're asking for a general guide to writing a book on the PC, right?

1. Have an operational computer. (This is a must.)

2. A cluttered office which has never seen the light of day, or a vacuum cleaner in 8 months. (Don't ask!)

3. No distractions lasting more than 20 minutes.

4. No loud children.

5. No annoying spouses asking you, "Honey? Does this make my butt look big?"

6. Your choice in music--either on the portable, or in your PC. (The louder, the better. Pisses off the neighbors! Trust me! But it'll keep you focused and everyone else away from you.)

7. A good supply of water and munchies by your computer.

8. A working TV, DVD player, with something playing in the background while you write.

9. An open window with a mesh screen for ventilation.

10. A good writing routine.

For writing:

1. Templates for Word aren't needed. (You won't need to make your pages look snazzy and "cool"--unless your intention and aim is to annoy the hell out of a prospective publisher or agent.)

2. Tahoma, Verdana, or Times New Roman, are good ones to use. For the vision-impaired, use the first two and forget the last. Less eye strain.

12-point, and double-space your pages. (Click on 'format', then 'paragraph', hit 'spacing', and then click on where it says, "single", or "double". Choose "double". Then hit okay.)

3. The number of written words shouldn't exceed 2000 a day. But the number of pages per chapter should be between 5-7 minimum, 10 pages maximum. The number of pages overall is entirely up to how long you want the book to be, based on the needed maximum word count.

Hope this helps!

Sky

General guide to writing a novel on your PC?ie 7 internet explorerYou're welcome! Report It


Most manuscripts are written double spaced with 1 1/2 inches R and L side margin . start with that and as for font use 10 pt. courier. Number of words vary. Check out websites by Writers Digest, editors and Preditors. They can be helpful
I did the word count thing some time ago and let me pass it on, so you don't have to sit and count words in a novel.

An average chapter in a fiction novel is about 5000 words (yes, I know it varies - but that is an average)

A short book, about 175pages is about 78,000. Today's' mass market novels are averaging 150,000 words, but they are getting longer it seems.

Formatting, I have forgotten what I knew about formatting. I think standard first page of chapter begin half way down, always double space and five spaces in for each new paragraph. Author name and title in header of each page, which can be added later.

Go to the Writer's Digest website and they have wonderful books all the way from start to finish on novel writing, formatting, how to send it, how it should look and how to query.
BACK. EVERYTHING. UP. ONTO. DISK. FREQUENTLY.
First, there are no rules to writing. It's an art form. Make it up. Second, you're creating art, who cares about formatting? Concentrate on the story because that's the main focus. The other things are just packaging and the publisher will take care of that for you. Remember, it's quality not quantity. If you start trying to fill up pages because of suggested word counts, you're not a writer, you're a page filler. And no one will pay you for page filling.
For longer works, use a Document Map when you format as you go along. It will be easier that way to go directly to a chapter or point in your novel.
You've pretty well got the info you need already, but I would urge 12 pt. Courier, not 10. 10 is a little bit small for some folks whose eyesight isn't perfect.
A story makes its own length. Don't worry about how many words or how many pages you come up with. Write the thing first. You can always edit and proofread and trim it down later.

It should be written on a standard 8 x 11 sheet of paper. 1 inch margins all around. That means left and right and top and bottom. DOUBLE SPACE. Your name, address phone number goes on the upper left hand corner of the title page and put the title of the book dead center with your copyright notice under it. On page one and every page thereafter, you will put your name/book title/page number in the upper right hand corner. Use Times New Roman font--12 point. It's easy on the eyes and good for long time reading.