Are You Brave Enough To Start A Novel?

If you’ve ever considered writing a novel, you’re probably wondering if you should do it. The simple answer is yes. Novels are amazing; they can transport us to another world and make us feel things we never thought we could feel. 

They can also be long, difficult, and lonely; novels take an enormous amount of effort to write well and many authors never finish their books at all! If that sounds like something you’d be interested in doing then read on: I have some tips on how to get started on your first novel!

Takeaways
Starting a novel requires bravery and overcoming uncertainty.
Embrace the fear of failure and use it as a driving force.
Break down the process into manageable steps to ease anxiety.
Connect with writing communities for support and motivation.
Remember that every writer starts somewhere – just begin.

Find Your Subject

As with any work of fiction, a novel starts with an idea. But what kind of idea? You must find your subject.

The first thing you need to do is determine who or what will be the main focus of your story. What are you writing about?

This might seem like an easy question to answer you want to write a book about zombies and they’re going to be in it.

But before you start brainstorming ideas for how all those undead creatures can cause havoc and eat people’s brains, ask yourself: what makes these monsters interesting? What is their main characteristic? Zombies are dead! 

That’s creepy as hell! So why do we love them so much? Is it their mindless hunger for flesh or their ability to walk around during the daytime hours?

Despite having no eyesockets in which one might see their surroundings enough that they wouldn’t bump into trees every time they leave the house (this applies only if said house happens to have those pesky things called windows)? 

Perhaps it’s because zombies have little personality compared with other monsters like vampires and werewolves who are generally kinder people who have been cursed against their will.

By some witch/warlock named Dracula/Wolfman/Dracula Wolfman (I would love nothing more than seeing a crossover movie where Dracula fights Werewolf).

No matter which characteristic stands out most prominently in your mind when thinking about zombies (or maybe even non-zombies) keep that detail close by while continuing on step 2: 

Determining another important part of your novel’s framework called conflict resolution theory which states that conflict occurs between two opposing forces battling over something either tangible such as land ownership rights or intangible such as personal beliefs regarding social status within society today.

Embarking on a creative journey requires courage and a solid plan. Discover actionable steps in our article on getting your creative plunge off the ground that will guide you from ideation to execution.

Find Your Story

One of the biggest mistakes new writers make is trying to force a story into being that is not there. Instead of thinking of your novel as a blank slate, think of it as a canvas you are painting on top of. 

Let’s say you want to paint a picture of your favorite place in nature a waterfall where you enjoy hiking near your hometown. 

But today, all you have is an empty canvas and some paintbrushes and canvases. You don’t have any ideas for what this painting might look like and so you set about trying to come up with some ideas for what this painting will be when it’s finished.

But let’s say that instead, instead of starting with an idea for something brand new (your favorite place in nature), maybe start with something already existing? Maybe start by taking photos or video footage from previous hikes? 

Or maybe even just start by making sketches from different angles? Then use these other materials as inspiration for where or how things should go when they get added onto this canvas later on down the road!

Find Your Character

When you think about the most important thing in a story, what comes to mind? For me, it’s the character. The character is who we find ourselves rooting for, who we feel connected to, and whose journey (whether physical or emotional) we identify with. It’s all about them.

It’s no surprise that this makes sense: your main characters are the ones whose actions and reactions drive a narrative forward. They go on adventures, overcome obstacles, and grow as people and so do their audiences!

Whether they’re protagonists or antagonists depends on whether they’re good or evil, but either way, they’ll have an impact on your audience whether they mean to or not. 

And while some may argue that other aspects of a story are more important than its main character(s), such as plot twists and setting details…

Crafting micro fiction that captivates readers involves a delicate balance. Learn how to create impactful micro stories with our tips for writing micro fiction that resonates, and make every word count.

Find Your Time And Place

The time of your story can be just as important as the place. The period can give the characters, and sometimes the readers, a sense of consistency and comfort.

If you are writing a historical novel, make sure that your characters are behaving and acting in ways appropriate to their period. If they’re too modern, people won’t believe in them or relate to them.

If you’re writing a contemporary novel set in New York City, people will expect certain things from your characters: 

They’ll expect them to talk fast with lots of slang; they’ll expect them not to use any kind of profanity; they’ll expect them not to have cell phones because cell phones hadn’t been invented yet!

Find Your Conclusion

Your first chapter is the most important part of your book. It’s the reader’s first impression, and it’s what they’ll remember when they shut the book and walk away, never to pick it up again. That may seem like a lot of pressure to put on one chapter, but you can do it!

You’ve already done all the hard work: writing an outline with all your scenes in order and working out your plot; writing character sheets and descriptions; creating perfect character hook sentences… 

So now all you have to do is figure out how to start with a bang! We have some tips for you that might help you get started:

Don’t start with:

• a hook (you don’t want people reading just for curiosity)
• a description (you don’t want people thinking about anything but your story)
• weather (this will just make them bored)
• character names (they won’t care yet) -setting descriptions (they’ll be too busy trying to figure out who everyone is) -dialogue lines (“He said…” “She replied…” etc.) These are all boring ways of starting a novel!

Writer’s block is a challenge every writer faces, but it can be turned into a creative opportunity. Explore strategies and insights in our guide on using writer’s block as an opportunity to improvise to keep your creative momentum flowing.

Find Your Main Characteristic

The next step is to find your main characteristic. This is a trait that sets your character apart from everyone else, and it’s usually an important part of who they are. 

You’ve probably seen this concept in action when reading novels or watching movies: the protagonist has one or two qualities that are key to him or her, and his/her life revolves around them. 

For example, Harry Potter has a scar on his forehead that signifies he is special; Jack Sparrow can talk to trees; Ron Weasley has red hair (and gets made fun of for it).

The question now becomes: what makes your character unique? Is he/she particularly brave? Or intelligent? 

Or generous? Is there some kind of tragic backstory? What about their appearance is he short with big ears? Does she have freckles across her nose in an adorable way?

It’s important not just because it helps define who they are but also because these attributes will help you create conflict later on in other words, something bad happens to make things interesting!

Create A Cast List

It’s easy to get lost in the weeds when you’re writing a novel. You’ll need to keep track of all your characters, their relationships with one another, and what’s happening to them as the story progresses. 

This can be especially difficult if your novel has a large cast or is told from multiple perspectives.

A cast list is a document where you list out all the characters in your novel (as many as possible), including basic information like name, age, occupation/role in the story; and more detailed information like appearance and personality traits (if relevant).

You may already have created a cast list when you were developing your plot or brainstorming ways to introduce new characters into the story later on. If so, that’s great! You may also want to consider adding more detail at this point for example: 

What does this character look like? How does he/she feel about other people? Why does he/she act this way or think these things? 

What caused him/her to become how they are now? These are all questions that will help shape how readers perceive your characters as well as how they relate with one another throughout reading about them in their journey through life.

Draw Up A Family Tree Of Your Characters; Perhaps A Map Of Their Relationships

After you have decided upon a story, it’s time to start building your characters. To keep them straight, I recommend drawing up a family tree of your characters; perhaps even a map of their relationships. 

This will help you remember who is related to whom, as well as who has had interactions with whom in the past that might influence their actions in the future (a great way for authors like me to inject complexity into their stories).

Starting a novel without a fully formed idea can be intimidating, but it’s entirely possible to make progress. Find inspiration and practical advice in our post on writing a novel even with limited ideas to turn your imagination into a compelling story.

Sort Out The Factions

In the world of your novel, there are two types of people: those who belong to a faction, and those who don’t. That doesn’t mean that you need to have every character in your story be part of a faction some people might prefer not to join one. 

But if they don’t choose a side, or if they change their mind later on (and yes, this happens), then they won’t be considered part of any major conflict unless you make it so.

Here’s how you can sort out the factions:

Who are the main characters? These should be in at least two different factions each. If none of them has ties with other groups outside his/her group, then try adding more characters until you have enough connections between them all for it not to seem forced or unrealistic. 

And remember that these aren’t necessarily “good” guys versus “bad” guys; some might just be indifferent toward everyone else’s goals and interests because they’re focused on their pursuits!

Decide On The Structure Of Your Novel

In the end, you need to choose the story structure that works best for you and your story. Whether you go with the three-act structure, five-act structure, seven-act structure, or nine-act structure (or any other number of acts), remember that there’s no right or wrong way to write a novel.

• The three-act structure is very popular because it helps writers focus on their main plot points and character arcs while keeping them from being too confusing.
• The five-act structure is another common approach because it allows writers to focus on both their characters and plot at the same time while still being able to see what kind of story they want to tell.
• The seven-act structure gives writers even more freedom when writing their novels they can focus on their characters as much or as little as they want without worrying about whether their story will be confusing later on down the line!

Write About What You Love

I’m going to start by saying that I don’t think you need to be a writer to write a novel. You don’t have to take any writing classes, or even read books on the subject. All you need is passion (and maybe some talent).

Writing should be fun! It should make you happy, and it should motivate you to do things in life that might otherwise seem impossible. 

Writing about what we love can help us achieve new levels of understanding about those things, which may not exist if we didn’t have them at our fingertips all the time.

So why not try writing about something that excites you? Why not write about something that makes your heart race with excitement? 

Why not take hold of this opportunity and put everything else aside for a while: family obligations, work responsibilities…even video games? 

If there’s one thing I know for sure about being an avid gamer like myself it’s that nothing can distract me from my game except another game! So why not use this time-wasting hobby to improve your skills as an aspiring novelist?

Drafting a novel that stands out requires a blend of skill and strategy. Unlock the essential elements in our exploration of the keys to drafting a note-worthy novel that will help you craft a narrative that resonates with readers.

Begin With An Image

To start your novel, think of an image that is memorable and surprising, and symbolic.

Perhaps it’s a woman walking down a street in New York City wearing a black dress, with her hair tied up in a bun, not caring about the rain that falls upon her shoulders. She’s got big earrings on and she’s talking to herself! 

Or maybe you see an old man sitting on his lawn chair reading the newspaper while birds fly around his head and peck at his bald spot. Maybe he has a face like yours, or maybe he has some other feature that reminds you of yourself (and gives you hope). 

Whatever form this image takes for you, let it inspire something creative: Write down any thoughts or feelings as fast as they come to mind; 

Don’t worry if they seem bizarre at first glance; just keep writing until all those feelings are out there in front of you in black ink on white paper.

Begin With A Line Of Dialogue That Contains The Hook, Or Inciting Incident

We’ve all heard the advice to write a short, engaging line of dialogue. It’s meant to capture the reader’s attention and lure them into the story, but what if you’re not sure what to write? 

Or worse, it seems like no matter how many times you try and revise your hook, nothing sticks. Why does this happen?

The problem is not that there isn’t an exciting sentence for your book; rather, it’s that you’re approaching writing from the wrong angle. Instead of thinking about how to get people interested in reading your book (a task that can be frustrating).

Focus on why they should care about any specific scene or character. When we shift our perspective away from writing something “good” and toward creating something meaningful.

And therefore meaningful enough for people who want more the questions become less complicated: What needs do these people have? What obstacles stand between them and their goals? How will they overcome these obstacles?

Never Begin With A Weather

So what’s the best way to begin a novel? The answer is: Don’t start with the weather.

Weather is boring, and it’s hard to write about. It’s not a good hook (most people don’t care about the weather), and it doesn’t provide much of an image or sense of place. You might think that you could use weather as a starting point.

For example, by writing about how this particular summer was hotter than usual, but then again that isn’t an interesting observation either; 

Even if it were true for your local area at this time of year, everyone knows that summers in different parts of the world vary from year to year depending on factors such as El Nino patterns and climate change.

So what should you do instead? If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for your first paragraph or two (or even more!), try starting with something like “It was morning” or “The day was bright”. This technique also helps avoid beginning too abruptly; 

If every other sentence begins with “it”, then readers may feel overwhelmed by all those little words coming at them so quickly! This can make them feel uncomfortable reading further into your story because all they see are strings like these: “it”.

Never Use “I” Or Other Pronouns To Open A Narrative

The first rule of writing a novel is to never use “I” or other pronouns to open a narrative. It’s not that hard, and it makes your writing so much better!

Instead, use the third person. That way you can write about yourself in indirect speech: “He said he was going out for milk. She told him she needed more time before she could leave her house again. 

They both ate cereal for dinner because they were too exhausted from their jobs at 9 am meetings with their bosses who were not satisfied with anything about them at all.

Except maybe how much money they made each year selling expensive products to people who couldn’t afford what they sold them if only because those people would rather buy cheaper products that didn’t work nearly as well as theirs did.

But there was no way around this problem since those same customers only wanted something cheap enough that they could afford it.

Without making sacrifices like renting out their basements as storage space or eating ramen noodles every night instead of buying healthy food items like milk & eggs which cost less per ounce than ramen does per cup.”

Now look at what happened there: We’ve got three different characters’ perspectives (he/she), some action verbs (said/told), and lots of descriptions about what’s going on around these characters without ever having used “I” once! 

This kind of writing technique allows us, writers, freedom while still maintaining strong character development; something very few writers understand how important this is until later on down the road.

When we’re trying desperately just keep our heads above water amidst waves crashing over our heads threatening to drown us into oblivion–and quite frankly that doesn’t sound like fun either way…

Conclusion

So, are you brave enough to start a novel? Our answer is yes! And we hope that by reading this article you’ve discovered some of your strengths and weaknesses as writers. 

The most important thing is that you keep writing and don’t let anything stop you from creating your own stories. Writing can be a tough journey but if you follow these tips and tricks along the way, we guarantee an enjoyable ride!

Further Reading

You Can, You Should, and If You’re Brave Enough to Short Description: Explore an inspiring quote about bravery and taking action from Goodreads.

Thoughts on Being Brave Enough to Write a Novel Short Description: Gain insights into the courage required to begin writing a novel, shared by Caleb and Linda Pirtle.

Can You Be Brave Enough to Start? Short Description: Delve into the question of whether you have the bravery to start, from the perspective of Nexus CPP.

FAQs

What does it mean to be brave enough to start writing a novel?

Starting to write a novel requires overcoming uncertainty and fear of failure. Being brave enough to start means pushing through these doubts and embarking on the writing journey.

How can I gather the courage to begin my novel-writing journey?

Finding the courage to start writing a novel involves acknowledging your fears, setting achievable goals, and focusing on your passion for storytelling.

What if I don’t feel confident in my writing skills to begin a novel?

It’s natural to have doubts about your writing skills, but remember that improvement comes with practice. Starting your novel with an open mind and a willingness to learn can lead to growth.

How do quotes about bravery relate to starting a novel?

Quotes about bravery often resonate with writers because they highlight the courage needed to embark on creative endeavors. These quotes can serve as motivational reminders during the novel-writing process.

What can I do to maintain momentum once I’ve started my novel?

To sustain momentum, set a writing routine, celebrate small achievements, and seek support from writing communities or mentors. Consistency and determination will help you stay on track.