Writing your first novel is an adventure. It’s also a lot of work, and there’s nothing like the feeling of seeing your finished manuscript for the first time. Still, I wish I’d known some things before starting on this journey, so here are my best tips for anyone who’s about to start writing theirs:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Importance of planning and outlining. |
| 2. Embrace the rewriting process. |
| 3. Seek feedback and be open to criticism. |
| 4. Develop well-rounded and relatable characters. |
| 5. Find a writing routine that works for you. |
| 6. Don’t be afraid to make changes as the story evolves. |
| 7. Address plot holes and inconsistencies early. |
| 8. Balance showing and telling in your narrative. |
| 9. Research thoroughly to add depth to your story. |
| 10. Editing is just as crucial as writing. |
| 11. Connect with other writers for support and inspiration. |
| 12. Patience is key – writing a novel takes time. |
1. Use A Doorstop
You’re going to want a doorstop. I’m not sure if this is standard knowledge for writers, but it would have been helpful for me to know before I found myself crawling through the house at 2 AM, fumbling around in the dark, and bumping into furniture.
It’s also useful when you need a quick nap on the couch between writing sessions (which is pretty much every author’s life).
I’ve tried many different methods for keeping my door open while I write, from propping it open with a stack of books (not recommended) to sliding an old pair of shoes underneath (also not recommended). The best method by far was using an actual doorstop.
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2. Highlight The Best Books In Your Genre And Study Them
I used to be a bookworm. It wasn’t so much a hobby as an obsession for years, I could get lost in the worlds of my favorite authors for hours at a time, and I’d often spend more money on books than groceries.
But after writing my first novel, I realized that there is no better way to learn how to write than by reading other people’s work.
That said, it’s important to read the best books in your genre, not just any old thing that you find lying around or someone recommends without any real reason other than personal taste.
Study these books carefully: study their structure; study their style; study their marketing; study how they’re reviewed and sold; even watch videos of people talking about them!
3. Go To Bed Early, Get Up Early, And Save The Good Stuff For the Afternoon
I have found that the best time to write is in the morning. You will be more productive, and your ideas will be clearer if you work when you are fresh. The second best time to write is in the afternoon.
This is because your creativity tends to peak around 1 pm. Afternoons are also great for editing and revising your manuscript since you will have a fresh perspective on what needs improvement from working on it all day long.
The third best time to write is at night (especially around midnight). When I was younger I would stay up until 4 am just writing songs, poetry, and stories!
It was so much fun! I could come up with new ideas for my book because my mind was still awake even though my body wanted me dead from being up all night long!
And finally…the worst time of day to write anything is during lunch break or right after work because those hours are usually spent relaxing with family members or friends who want nothing more than an opportunity to talk about themselves all evening long.
Instead of listening attentively while others talk about themselves too much too quickly without their mouths full with pepperoni pizza slices.”
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4. Limit Your Screentime
It’s easy to get caught up in the world of social media, and your phone can be a great tool for research. But as you write, try limiting your screen time. You’ll have more energy to write if you’re not spending all day staring at a screen!
Turn off notifications. Put your phone away while writing (or put it on airplane mode). And if you’re feeling tempted by the siren call of Twitter or Instagram or Facebook, go outside and take a walk instead the fresh air will clear your mind!
Or read a book or play a game or do something creative with friends anything is better than being glued to digital devices all day long!
If that sounds like too much effort, try doing something relaxing: take a bath or go for an evening stroll through the park; whatever gets you fired up about life again after being cooped up inside all day will help with writing too.
5. Create A Novel Playlist
Here’s a tip: creating a novel playlist can help get you in the mood to write, and it will also make your life easier while you’re writing.
If you need to remember what happened in a scene that you wrote 2 weeks ago and can’t find the file on your computer, but have written it down somewhere else, all of those music cues are great ways of being reminded of what was going on on in that particular chapter.
I love listening to music when I’m writing it’s one thing that helps me concentrate (and keeps me from getting distracted).
As for how many hours per day, I should listen during my writing process? Well, as long as there’s not too much noise from outside (neighbors playing loud music) or from inside (TV), then I think it depends on each person individually!
6. Ditch Your Idea Of What A Writing Space Looks Like
I’m going to, to be honest: writing in a coffee shop is one of my favorite things. I love the hustle and bustle around me, the people-watching, and the general sense that I’m doing something productive by sitting there.
But it isn’t always feasible for me to get away from my home office for an afternoon and even when it is, there are times when I need that quiet space away from everything else.
My point here? You don’t have to limit yourself by thinking your writing space has to be one thing or another.
A good writing location may look different every day depending on what kind of mood you’re in, how much time you can afford to spend at a café (or if they have Wi-Fi), etc., so don’t worry too much about where your next chapter belongs!
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7. Don’t Edit As You Go
Don’t Worry About Spelling And Grammar
Allow your mind to wander, let it be free to create the world as you see fit. Trust yourself as a writer; if something doesn’t feel right, then fix it. If something feels great, don’t question it—just write more of it!
Don’t Worry About Word Count
Don’t feel like you have to get words down on paper every day in order for them all to count toward your novel’s final draft; this is especially true if your story is one that needs a lot of polishing or reworking before publication (and most do).
The point isn’t how long your book has been sitting around unfinished in progress the point is how much work went into making it what you wanted it to be when finished.
Writing can take anywhere from two hours up to weeks or months depending on how much time each author has available for writing during their daily lives:
Everyone writes at different paces based on their various responsibilities outside of fiction writing such as family commitments, jobs that require full-time attendance during regular business hours etcetera…
8. Avoid Writer’s Block By Reading And Researching Different Things
You can avoid writer’s block by reading and researching different things. Not only will this exercise your mind, but it will also give you ideas for your novel. To avoid writer’s block, read books in your genre, but also read books that are different from your genre.
Read books that are not in your genre, but are similar to your genre, and read books that are not similar to your genre at all!
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9. Start With An Outline If You’re A More Organized Person
If you’re more of an organized person, then outlining can be a great way to plan your novel. But it’s also important to remember that outlines are not the only way to plan a novel and that there is no one right way for every writer.
For example, some writers prefer to start writing their rough draft without even thinking about what will come next; they just start writing and see where it takes them.
Others may have some idea of what they want their story arc or plot line to look like, but they don’t know how everything will unfold until they sit down with pen in hand or fingers on the keyboard.
In other words: Your process matters! If you tend towards being less organized and more spontaneous when it comes time for writing your first draft (or any drafts), then an outline might not be right for you.
There are plenty of other creative ways we could use our time before we start planning out every single detail of our stories beforehand like reading through books about how other authors approach plotting (see section 3), for example!
10. Write In Sessions
Writing is a marathon, not a sprint. You’re going to have the best chance of finishing your novel if you write in sessions rather than one long session.
You might think that writing continuously for hours and hours on end will help you get more done than if you take breaks, but it’s not true.
Research shows that people are much more productive when they take regular breaks from writing. It makes sense: our brains need time away from the task at hand so they can process what we already worked on and come up with new ideas for what comes next!
If you want to write your novel quickly, establish goals for yourself (such as finishing 50 pages per week), then stick to this schedule religiously until your book is finished!
11. Take Breaks When You Need Them
When you’re writing a novel, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of creating your story. You might even find yourself thinking about the project all day long, and suddenly realize that you’ve been working for six hours straight without taking a break.
Before you know what’s happened, you’ll find yourself with a headache from staring at the screen too long or have to take an angry call from someone because your work was interrupted by something as simple as lunchtime.
If this happens to you—and it won’t be uncommon take a break! You can always go back and pick up where you left off later on when your mind is fresh again.
The creative process can be draining sometimes; if there’s no way around needing some down time in order to keep moving forward with your project, don’t feel guilty about leaving it alone for an hour or two.
12. Writing Isn’t About The First Draft, It’s About Revising
Writing is not a linear process, so don’t expect to write your story one scene at a time and then move on to the next scene. If you do, chances are that everything will fall apart at some point because your story won’t be cohesive or logical.
Write in blocks (or “chunks”) of scenes until you have all of them done. Then go back through and revise them all together before moving on to the next chunk of scenes.
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Conclusion
There’s a lot of work to be done before you can write your novel. You need an idea that is good enough to keep readers wanting more, characters who are interesting and relatable, and a plot that will surprise them.
It can take time to get all these things together, but once you do, it will feel so worth it!
Further Reading
For more insights and tips on novel writing, you might find these articles helpful:
What I Wish I Knew When I Started Writing Novels: Gain valuable insights from an author’s journey, including lessons learned and advice for new novelists.
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Writing My First Novel: Discover the top five crucial aspects an author wishes they had known before embarking on their inaugural novel-writing experience.
Seven Things I Wish I Knew Before Writing My Book: Explore the seven valuable insights that an author shares about their book-writing journey, offering valuable tips and lessons.
FAQs
What are some common challenges faced by novice novel writers?
Novice novel writers often struggle with finding their writing voice, creating well-rounded characters, and maintaining a consistent writing routine.
How can I overcome writer’s block while working on my novel?
To overcome writer’s block, try changing your writing environment, taking short breaks, or brainstorming with other writers.
What’s the importance of outlining a novel before writing?
Outlining helps you organize your thoughts, establish a clear plot structure, and reduce the likelihood of getting stuck in the middle of your novel.
How can I make my dialogue more engaging and realistic?
Focus on natural flow, use dialogue tags effectively, and ensure that each character has a distinct voice and manner of speaking.
What are some effective strategies for editing and revising my novel?
Give yourself time between writing and revising, seek feedback from beta readers, and consider hiring a professional editor for a comprehensive review.
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.