So, you want to write a novel. That’s great! But, how do you actually get started? If you’re like me, it can be intimidating to start an enormous project like writing a novel.
There are so many steps and decisions to make from the plot and characters to your writing style that it’s easy to get caught up in all the possibilities.
Fortunately for us all, there are plenty of tips and tricks that can help make the process easier. In this post I’ll share some of my go-to tips and tricks for how I approach writing novels:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Embrace unexpected plot twists to keep readers engaged. |
| 2. Experiment with writing in different locations for fresh perspectives. |
| 3. Incorporate unconventional writing exercises to stimulate creativity. |
| 4. Utilize dialogue effectively to reveal character personalities. |
| 5. Break away from linear writing and explore non-linear storytelling. |
| 6. Discover the power of writing with a specific reader in mind. |
| 7. Use sensory details to immerse readers in your story world. |
| 8. Take advantage of real-life experiences to enrich your storytelling. |
| 9. Overcome writer’s block by writing from a different character’s perspective. |
| 10. Play with pacing to create dynamic shifts in your narrative. |
| 11. Allow your characters to surprise you by deviating from your initial plans. |
| 12. Embrace imperfection and focus on continuous improvement in your writing. |
Don’t Worry About Writing Style
Writing style is a funny thing. It’s what makes one author’s work distinct from another. Some people love Hemingway’s terse, economical prose; others prefer Faulkner’s sprawling, experimental style.
But if you’re a beginner writer, don’t worry about your writing style. You should focus on getting the words down first and foremost.
I like my writing to be lean and clean no adverbs or adjectives (they’re often unneeded), no run-on sentences or fragments (these are just distracting to read), and no passive voice (I hate passive voice).
But those rules were drilled into me by studying with masters of the craft and reading professionally edited books like Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style and Stephen King’s On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition (both highly recommended).
So don’t worry about writing style yet; just write! When you’re done with your first draft, then you can go back through it and fix up any issues that need fixing grammar errors, spelling mistakes, or formatting problems.
But for now, just get down whatever story idea is in your head onto paper as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t get away from you!
Building a strong foundation for your novel involves using the right tools. Explore the list of 11 Most Important Software Tools that can significantly enhance your novel writing process.
If You Need To Know The Difference Between A Story And A Novel, Start With Stories
You may have heard the terms “short story” or “novel” used, but what is the difference between them?
Short stories are a type of narrative fiction that can be written in the first person (by one character) or third person (about multiple characters). A novel is also a kind of narrative fiction that is usually written in the third person.
Novels can be broken down into many sub-genres: mystery/suspense, romance/erotica, thriller/horror/sci-fi etc.
Short stories are fairly easy to classify; they simply tell a complete event from beginning to end in one sitting by one narrator (and usually do not include chapters or sections).
Use A Dictionary
There are two main reasons for using a dictionary.
You want to make sure your readers understand what you’re writing. If there’s a word that might be confusing or unfamiliar, look it up! The best way to find out how people use words is by observing them in their natural habitat. (Or at least on Twitter.)
You want to make sure your writing is clear and precise.
On top of ensuring that your reader understands the meaning of your sentence, you also want them to get an accurate sense of how clearly you express yourself in general with every sentence not just those containing tricky words like “bravado” or “paucity.”
When writing fiction, clarity matters even more than usual because it allows the reader’s imagination room to roam freely inside the world you’ve created;
If they have any trouble figuring out what’s happening, they’ll end up feeling confused instead of immersed in whatever magical place(s) exist between your pages.#ENDWRITE
Show Your Characters’ Humanity
Show your characters’ humanity by avoiding stereotypes.
Stereotypes are a common way to portray a character, but they aren’t always the best way. If you have a character who is supposed to be tough, show that toughness in action rather than telling us about it with dialogue (e.g., “I’m so tough!”).
We can see through words only so much; actions speak louder than words.
When writing your characters, show their flaws as well as their strengths it’s important for readers to relate and empathize with them!
Flaws can help us understand why people do what they do without having all the information at our disposal: maybe someone is rude because they aren’t confident in themselves;
Maybe someone puts on an arrogant front because s/he has low self-esteem and wants people around him/her to think highly of him/her; etcetera! Whatever the case may be, we must see both sides.
Before judging anyone completely (or even partially) based on first impressions alone this goes back again into showing humanity through flawed characters instead of telling us about them through narration alone.”
As an aspiring novelist, you can never have enough tips to guide your journey. Check out these Top 10 Tips for Aspiring Novel Writers to get expert insights on improving your craft.
Think Of Your Readers First. Don’t Write Your Agenda Into Your Story
When you’re writing, write for your readers. This is probably the most important tip of them all. It’s easy to get caught up in your own agenda or personal bias, but it’ll only hurt your story if you do so.
Don’t write for yourself and friends/family/colleagues; instead, focus on who you’re writing for: the readers!
Remember, critics will always be able to find something wrong with whatever it is that you’ve written whether it’s because they don’t agree with something or because they think it should have been done differently.
The same goes for money; if an issue comes up and causes a rift between two characters that ultimately leads them apart, don’t abandon your original intent just because someone says it isn’t worth keeping around anymore (and remember:
Even if something doesn’t make sense right now, there could be some kind of connection later).
Go Beyond The Format Of Traditional Novels
If you want to write a novel, but don’t feel like following the traditional format, then go for it! You can write in any genre, on any subject, and in any style that suits your fancy.
I love novels. But there’s something about writing a long-form nonfiction book that makes me excited too.
Having said this, if I were to write a novel today I’d probably prefer to do so in some form other than the traditional one: perhaps an epistolary or stream-of-consciousness narrative; maybe even with only one character’s point of view (which would be very difficult).
Crafting the next great American novel is a daunting task, but with the right advice, it becomes achievable. Dive into this Step-by-Step Advice for Writing the Next Great American Novel to get started on your literary journey.
Write In Third Person, From The Point-Of-View Of Multiple Characters
The third person is the most common point of view used in novels. It allows you to show what is happening in a scene and also allow you to show your characters’ thoughts and feelings.
The first-person narrative can be tricky because it’s hard to write without sounding like the narrator or character is talking directly to the reader, which takes away from your story.
When using the third person, you don’t have this problem as long as you give each of your characters their voice.
Write In First Person, From The Character’s Point Of View
When you write in first person, the reader is given access to the character’s thoughts and feelings. This makes a story feel more intimate and immediate. The reader feels as though they are right there with your characters, experiencing everything through their eyes.
Writing in first person has its drawbacks, however: there’s not much room for mystery or suspense if the reader knows what your characters are thinking at all times (unless you want them to be omniscient).
It also means that your point-of-view character can’t reveal anything they don’t know. If they don’t see something happen or hear it mentioned by someone else then we’ll never know about it either!
The solution? Write from multiple points of view! You can tell some parts of your story from one character’s perspective while others come from another’s.
And still, others could be shown through dialogue between two people talking about past events together (like having both sides say what happened when someone was arrested).
Figure Out Where You’re Going With Your Story Before You Begin
One of the best tips I can offer you is to figure out where you’re going with your story before you begin. You need to know what happens in the end before you start writing, otherwise it’s easy to get caught up in all the details and lose sight of your larger goals.
Also, knowing what your main character wants and why will help keep them driving forward towards that goal throughout their journey.
Lastly, if there are many problems facing your protagonist, consider how they will resolve each one as they come up.
This way they won’t feel like they leap from one problem to another without any resolution or growth taking place between them (which is an issue I often see when reading novels).
Starting the process of writing a novel can be overwhelming. Gain confidence and valuable insights with these 17 Tips for Anyone Wanting to Write a Novel that cover everything from idea generation to publication.
If You Want To Write A Thriller, Start With Thrillers (Horror, Mystery, And Thriller Books)
If you want to write a thriller, start with thrillers. This is common sense advice that applies to all genres, but it’s especially true for thrillers.
If you’ve never read a good thriller before, then your chances of writing one are pretty slim (unless you’re just really good at guessing and making things up).
So read as many thrillers as you can find until they start spilling out of your brain onto the page.
You’ll pick up all sorts of details about pacing and character development and plot twists and foreshadowing all those essential elements that make a book feel like a page-turner instead of another ho-hum read.
You can also learn from other types of books too: horror and mystery novels offer insight into building tension between characters;
Science fiction may have some useful concepts for worldbuilding; literary works might inspire metaphors or language choices; YA could provide emotional depth that isn’t present in adult novels…the possibilities are endless!
Make Sure Each Sentence Is Useful And Illuminating
If you can’t make your point in five words or less, cut it.
The first step to writing a great novel is to read other great novels good ones, not bad ones. If you’re struggling with a sentence or paragraph and can’t figure out why to take some time away from the story and read something else that’s well-written.
When I’m stuck on something that should be simple (like writing “She walked into the room”), I go back over one of my favorite books until I’ve exhausted all possible options for improvement.
If you find yourself writing something like this: “He ran down the street toward home,” think about cutting out any unnecessary words from this sentence especially adjectives and adverbs!
Just say what happened as simply and clearly as possible; don’t add anything unless it adds something important to your story (i.e., helps us understand character motivations).
Learning from others’ experiences can be a shortcut to improving your writing. Explore the 10 Things I’ve Learned About Novel Writing to gain valuable wisdom and avoid common pitfalls in your own novel-writing journey.
Conclusion
Our goal here is to help you channel your inner writer and get the ideas out onto paper. We’re not trying to make writing a chore for anyone; we want to make it fun and easy!
So keep in mind that these tips come from years of experience, so don’t be afraid to experiment with them. Just have fun with them and don’t get caught up on how they could be better than they already are.
Further Reading
Explore these resources to enhance your novel writing journey:
Jerry Jenkins’ Guide on How to Write a Novel: Gain insights from a seasoned author on the essential steps and strategies for crafting a compelling novel.
MasterClass: Rules for Writing a Good Novel: Learn valuable tips and techniques from renowned authors to elevate your novel-writing skills and storytelling.
Self-Publishing School: How to Write a Novel: Dive into a comprehensive guide that covers various aspects of novel writing, from idea development to publishing.
FAQs
How do I start writing my own novel?
Starting your own novel can be a thrilling endeavor. Begin by brainstorming ideas that inspire you and creating an outline to guide your story’s structure.
What are some key rules for writing a good novel?
Crafting a good novel requires attention to various elements such as plot, character development, and pacing. Consider learning from established authors’ experiences to gain valuable insights.
How can I self-publish my novel?
Self-publishing allows you to bring your novel to readers without traditional publishing routes. Research platforms and follow step-by-step guides to navigate the self-publishing process effectively.
What role does storytelling play in novel writing?
Storytelling is at the heart of any compelling novel. Focus on creating engaging characters, immersive settings, and a captivating plot to keep readers invested in your story.
How do I overcome writer’s block during novel writing?
Writer’s block can be frustrating, but there are strategies to overcome it. Take breaks, change your environment, and explore writing prompts to reignite your creativity.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.