I’ve been writing for years, but I’ve still never written a novel. After all the articles and blog posts I’ve read on the subject, though, I’m almost ready to give it a shot. Almost!
But before you start writing your first novel or even your tenth novel (and yes, some people have written ten novels), you need to know how to plan your story out by creating an outline.
There are many different types of outlines out there, but here are some tips that can help guide you in creating one:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Start with a clear and compelling idea for your story. |
| 2. Set realistic writing goals to maintain consistent progress. |
| 3. Create well-developed characters that resonate with readers. |
| 4. Outline your plot to maintain a structured and engaging storyline. |
| 5. Embrace the editing and revising process to polish your work. |
| 6. Find a writing routine that suits your schedule and preferences. |
| 7. Seek feedback from others to gain valuable insights. |
| 8. Read widely in your genre to expand your creative horizons. |
| 9. Emphasize showing emotions through actions and dialogue. |
| 10. Keep track of your ideas and inspirations to avoid forgetting them. |
| 11. Embrace failure as a part of the learning and growth process. |
| 12. Experiment with different writing styles and techniques. |
| 13. Balance dialogue and description to create dynamic scenes. |
| 14. Revise your opening lines to hook readers from the start. |
| 15. Build tension and conflict to keep readers engaged. |
| 16. Allow your characters to evolve and change throughout the story. |
| 17. Celebrate your accomplishments and milestones along the way. |
1. Figure Out What You’re Going To Write About
Before you start writing, it’s important to figure out what you’re going to write about. You can’t just decide that one day and start writing a novel; there are other steps in between.
You see, a lot of people think it’s enough just to sit down and start typing away at their computer or typewriter or whatever they use these days for typing stuff onto paper in front of them.
But the truth is that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to creating stories you need to know what direction your story will take before getting started on actually creating it!
And so how do you go about figuring this out? Well, there are many different ways that writers choose their subject matter. Some choose topics based on personal experience; others research current events or historical facts;
Some even look into things like science fiction and fantasy worlds (which aren’t real). But whatever method(s) works best for you should be used whenever possible before deciding on anything else related specifically to your story idea itself (such as plot points).
Crafting a compelling narrative is essential for any novel writer. Our guide on Top 10 Tips for the Aspiring Novel Writer offers valuable insights to help you master the art of storytelling and create captivating plots.
2. Write About Something You Care About
The first step to writing your novel is to write about something that you care about. The more you care, the more time and energy you will put into writing your book.
Writing a novel is hard work, so you must pick something that excites and motivates you enough to keep going through all the challenges of writing such an epic piece of literature.
If there are things in life that make you feel sad or angry or frustrated (or any other emotion), then those could be great topics for your story!
For example: If someone has hurt my feelings in some way, I might write about them getting what’s coming to them; or if I’m really curious about something like how our bodies work (for example), then maybe I’d want to write about how cells interact with each other;
Or perhaps there’s an issue I feel strongly about like animal rights in which case it might make sense for me to write from the perspective of an animal who was treated poorly by humans but who finds freedom thanks to one brave person standing up for justice on their behalf.
3. Just Start Writing. Don’t Worry About The Plot So Much Yet
You can’t plot your novel to save your life. Not yet, anyway. You don’t know what’s going to happen in the story until you write it, and that is why it’s so important to just start writing.
Write your first draft as quickly as you can, without worrying about the plot. If you think about it too much, you’ll end up getting stuck or frustrated and give up before even starting!
The best way to get past this mental block is by taking a deep breath and reminding yourself that writing a novel isn’t an overnight process it takes time! It took me three years of working on my book.
Before I was ready for publication (and another three years after that until I saw it published), so keep in mind that there will be plenty of time later on where we do focus on polishing things up; right now.
All we need is just enough structure to keep our stories moving forward smoothly while still allowing them room for exploration along their paths (more on this later).
Are you ready to embark on your journey to write the next great American novel? Our article on Step-by-Step Advice for Writing the Next Great American Novel provides a roadmap to guide you through the process of turning your ideas into a literary masterpiece.
4. It’s Ok To Let Your Characters Lead You
One of the most important things to remember when writing a novel is that you are not your characters, and they are not you. So don’t try to control them or their actions.
Don’t try to make them fit into your story as tightly as possible. Let them take the lead, let them surprise you, and let go of any plot points that don’t work out in the end!
If your character wants something different than what you had planned for her well then change it! If she gets upset at one thing or another then change it! If she wants something completely different from what’s been happening so far change it!
Do you see where I’m going with this? The best part about being an author is that we get to create worlds entirely our own; we get to make decisions for our characters; we get to write our own stories however we want (within reason).
And there’s absolutely nothing stopping us from changing those decisions or re-writing portions of our novels later on if need be.”
5. Make Sure Each Scene Has Stakes
A scene without stakes is a boring scene. If your protagonist does not have something to lose or gain, then there is no motivation for him or her to act in the story.
Stakes should be tied to:
- The character’s emotional journey (i.e., what will happen if they fail?)
- The story’s theme (i.e., what will happen if they fail?)
- The plot (i.e., what will happen if they fail?)
In other words, stakes should relate to how the protagonist feels about something and/or how his decisions affect others around him and/or what happens as a result of his actions and whether any of these things bring him closer.
Or further away from achieving his goal at that moment in time and all this should tie back into the setting too!
Staying inspired throughout your writing journey can be challenging, but it’s crucial for producing your best work. Discover effective techniques in our post on How to Stay Inspired as a Writer and keep your creative flame burning brightly.
6. Find A Writing Ritual That Works For You
The best way to do this is to find a time and place that are free from distractions, where you can be comfortable, and conducive to your particular writing style. Some people like to write at night while others prefer the morning hours.
Some people like coffee shops or libraries; others prefer staying at home with their own space. Find a quiet spot that doesn’t give you anxiety when you sit down at it this may require some trial-and-error before finding the perfect place!
7. You Will Have Doubts, But Persevere
Doubts are normal. If you’re serious about writing a novel, doubts will come up.
They may make you worry about whether or not your book is good enough to be published, or if publishing it will result in failure for your career as an author. It’s okay to feel this way; however, it isn’t helpful to dwell on those thoughts for too long.
You should also know that everyone else has doubts at some point during the writing process too even the most successful authors have their doubts! You aren’t alone if doubt creeps up on you, so don’t let it get the best of you and stop with all of your hard work just yet!
8. Start With A Short Outline Of the Plot And Character Arcs
The key to writing a novel is understanding the story you’re telling. Aspects of this include:
- Plot: The main events that make up the story and how they occur.
- Character arcs: How each character changes in response to those events, and what they learn along the way.
- Scenes: A series of related events that move your plot forward or reveal character development, such as an argument between two characters or an exciting car chase through downtown Dallas.
- Chapters: A collection of scenes that tell a part of your story from beginning to end (for example, chapter one might introduce three characters who will become love interests for each other).
Some chapters may be more successful than others at telling this part of your tale; some may be too long or too short–or just not fun enough!
This is why outlining is so critical; it helps you identify where there might be trouble spots before you sit down to write them out on paper–or worse yet–in your head!
Avoiding plot holes is vital to maintaining a seamless and engaging storyline in your novel. Learn how to identify and eliminate common plot holes with our tips from How to Avoid the 9 Most Common Plot Holes in Your Novel, ensuring your readers stay immersed in your fictional world.
9. Get Feedback Along The Way
You’ll want to gather feedback from as many sources as possible. The more opinions you get, the better your work will be. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
This list includes:
Friends and family – Your loved ones will always have an opinion, so it’s important to know whether or not they like what you are writing before sending it out into the world of publishing.
Not everyone has a book inside them waiting to be told, but if you do, it could save years of heartache and tears if they tell you before sending off your manuscript! Plus, they can help out with proofreading too!
Other writers – If other writers in your life have published books before (or even written some), don’t be afraid to ask them for advice on how best to sell yourself as an author through social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.
These sites often provide tons useful information about how others have achieved success thus far which may also apply towards yours (if any).
10. Read Books On Craft And Technique
You don’t have to spend hours each day reading, but if you do, make sure that you are reading books on writing. Read books on your genre (by authors who have written similar things).
Make sure that the book is written by an author who knows something about writing fiction and has published novels themselves. And don’t just read one or two you should be reading at least five books in three months so that you can get a variety of different viewpoints and advice from multiple sources.
11. Work With Other Writers, If Possible
If you’re able to, find a group of people who are interested in writing. Whether it’s a class or workshop, a local group meeting at the library once a week, or an online community, finding other writers can be incredibly helpful and supportive.
You’ll have someone with whom to discuss your latest projects and bounce ideas off without having to worry about them trying to steal any of your ideas (which happens).
They may even be able to give some advice about how best to move forward and make changes so that the story will flow better for readers later on down the road.
It may also help if there is someone who has already been published who is willing to offer feedback on what needs improvement or where there might be plot holes that need filling for everything else within this draft not only make sense but also seem believable as well!
Overcoming obstacles in your writing journey is part of the process. When you hit a wall, remember that perseverance is key. Explore strategies to keep moving forward in our article on How I Keep Going When My Novel Writing Hits a Wall, and discover how successful authors overcome challenges.
12. Focus On The Stories That Matter To You And Keep Writing!
Whether you are just starting or have been writing for decades, it’s important to remember that this is your story and it should be something that matters to you. Why? Because if there’s no passion behind the words on the page, the reader will see right through them.
It’s also not enough to just write what you know. You must also write what you care about. And yes, I said it: care. If a book doesn’t touch your heart or soul in some way then why would anyone else read it?
The answer is simple: they won’t. When I was writing my first novel (which I would go on to self-publish), I knew that my story would resonate with others because of how much research I had done into education reform and how much time I had spent working with children who were struggling academically.
The fact that these kids were real people who came from similar families as mine made me want them all to succeed–and this inspired me! It motivated me while writing every day until finally finished my manuscript.
13. Be Patient With The Process
Writing a novel can be a long process. Don’t expect to get it all done in one day, or even one week. It’s easy to get frustrated and say things like, “I’m not making any progress on my novel.” Or “This is taking too long.”
And while these are normal thoughts that every writer has at some point (trust me!), they’re also prime opportunities for self-sabotage.
Don’t worry if your first draft takes three months or even six months that’s normal! Writing requires time and patience, so don’t allow yourself to be discouraged by the slow pace of your project.
Making large blocks of time available will help with this; try scheduling out several hours each week where you have nothing else planned but writing and then stick to those hours!
This is key: don’t let other people trip up your plans by offering invitations or needing help from them (especially if those offers come with strings attached).
It’s also important not to give up when things aren’t going well; keep going past the point where most people would call it quits simply because there were obstacles along the way that were difficult but not insurmountable.
There may be times when inspiration doesn’t strike or motivation isn’t high enough; during these times, take a break from writing for a while so that fresh ideas can come back into focus later on down the line!
14. Use All That You Know About Your Setting
This is essential for creating a work of fiction. You can’t just make up details about the place where your story takes place–people will notice, and it’ll take them out of the story.
It’s important to research this aspect of writing because it will help you create a believable setting for readers to enter into and believe in. Know what kind of terrain is there, what kinds of buildings or structures exist, what kind of weather typically occurs there, etc., etc., etc…
15. Use All That You Know About Your Character
We all have a certain way of speaking, acting, and looking. If you want to write dialogue that is authentic and makes sense for your character, then use all those details. Your character might not be able to read or write.
Or they might hate people who are mean to animals and love dogs unconditionally (no matter how much they bark). Or your character could be an avid reader of history books who never misses a day at the library because she loves learning about the past so much!
16. Use “Active Listening”
Active listening means that you are not only paying attention to what the other person is saying but also asking questions that show you are interested in understanding the other person’s ideas.
It’s a skill that helps you understand your characters and their motivations better, which in turn makes your writing more compelling.
Here are some examples of active listening:
When someone tells you about their day at work, ask them what they liked or didn’t like about it.
Then ask follow-up questions based on their answers (e.g., “What was the best part?”, “When did something go wrong?”). This will encourage them to share more details about their day and help you understand how certain events affected them emotionally and psychologically.
If someone starts talking about an intense experience they had recently like breaking up with a significant other or getting fired from a job ask them if there were any positive aspects of these situations (e.g., “That must have been difficult…but do think it’s possible that having some time off to relax might be good for you right now?”)
17. Establish A Writing Routine
Establishing a writing routine is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure you are writing regularly and consistently. A writing routine is simply a way for you to get into the habit of writing regularly and consistently.
It can be as simple as sitting down at your desk every evening at 6 pm, or it could be as elaborate as creating a detailed plan for your daily schedule that includes time slots for everything from exercise to showering.
Writing routines come in all shapes and sizes, but they tend to work best when they fit into your lifestyle rather than disrupting it too much. The key is finding something that works well with how YOU want to live YOUR life and then sticking with it!
Conclusion
If you’re ready to take on the challenge of writing a novel, we hope this list has given you some ideas and inspiration.
If you need more help with any of these tips or just want to get in touch with someone who understands what it’s like to be an aspiring writer, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out via email ([email protected]) or Twitter (@WriterHacker). Good luck!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to enhance your novel-writing skills:
Career Advice: Writing a Novel Tips: Learn valuable tips and strategies to kickstart your novel-writing journey and develop your storytelling abilities.
17 Ways to Make Your Novel More Memorable: Discover techniques to create a lasting impact on readers with your novel by incorporating memorable elements and storytelling techniques.
Writing Tips from Self-Publishing School: Explore a collection of writing tips that cover various aspects of the writing process, helping you refine your craft and produce high-quality work.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about novel writing:
How do I overcome writer’s block while working on my novel?
Writer’s block is a common challenge. To overcome it, try changing your writing environment, setting smaller goals, or exploring writing prompts to spark creativity.
What’s the importance of creating well-developed characters in a novel?
Well-developed characters drive the heart of your story. They make the narrative relatable and engaging, allowing readers to form emotional connections with your work.
What are some effective ways to outline and structure a novel?
Outlining helps organize your thoughts. Consider using methods like the three-act structure, character arcs, and chapter summaries to create a solid framework for your novel.
How can I maintain a consistent writing schedule amidst a busy life?
Prioritize your writing time and set achievable goals. Even dedicating a small amount of time each day can accumulate into significant progress over time.
What are some techniques to edit and revise my novel effectively?
Editing is crucial for refining your work. Consider taking breaks between drafts, seeking feedback from peers, and reading your manuscript aloud to identify areas that need improvement.
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.
