First of all, let’s talk about why you want to write a novel. Most people think they want to write a novel because they like to read them. And that’s okay!
But if you want your book to stand out in the sea of other novels out there, it needs more than just good storytelling: yours will need a compelling premise and this is where so many aspiring writers fall short.
So before we dive into how exactly one should go about getting their story down on paper (or screen), let’s get crystal clear about why we’re doing this in the first place.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Understand the basics of novel structure and storytelling. |
| 2. Choose a writing environment that enhances your focus and creativity. |
| 3. Develop a clear idea of your novel’s genre and target audience. |
| 4. Create well-defined characters with unique traits and motivations. |
| 5. Begin with a strong hook or opening that grabs readers’ attention. |
| 6. Don’t be afraid of imperfections; focus on getting your ideas down. |
| 7. Set realistic writing goals and establish a consistent writing routine. |
| 8. Explore different plotting methods and find what works for your story. |
| 9. Experiment with different writing techniques to find your writing style. |
| 10. Embrace the revision process and be open to refining your work. |
You Know You Have A Story You Want To Tell, Or At Least An Idea Of A Story, But Where Do You Start?
You know you have a story you want to tell or at least an idea of a story:
A character with a problem. This is where most of us start. If we’re lucky, this will be the easiest place to start because it’s familiar ground and gives us plenty of creative room for our imagination to work its magic.
An interesting setting like the Titanic crashing into an iceberg on its maiden voyage or a murder mystery in Paris during World War II that turns out not to be so murder after all (I made those up).
A theme such as love conquers all if two people are willing to fight for each other even when everything seems hopeless (that one also made up).
Now let me ask you: What do all these things have in common? They might sound like different starting points but they share many elements:
Looking to embark on your novel-writing journey? Our Top 10 Tips for the Aspiring Novel Writer provide valuable insights to kick-start your creative process.
Get The Idea Out Of Your Head
Get the idea out of your head. A lot of people think they have a good idea for a novel, but many of these ideas are not as great as they seem.
They often come from a personal experience or an observation about life that doesn’t translate well into something that someone would want to read about over and over again.
There are several ways to get an idea out of your head and into a form where you can start writing:
Write down the basic plot and key scenes in bullet points or on index cards. This is one method I use when I’m stuck on how to structure my story, which makes it easier for me when starting at square one!
Make up some characters who will be involved in this adventure (or mystery). What makes them tick? How do they interact with each other? Where do they live? Do they have any hobbies? And so on…
Make sure you have a good idea before going forward with writing anything else!
It’s easy for new writers like myself who don’t know much about storytelling yet sometimes fall into the trap where we just keep going because there might be something interesting somewhere down the line…
Write A One-Paragraph Summary Of Your Novel
Start with a sentence that describes the main character, preferably in the first person.
Follow with a sentence that describes the main conflict, which is usually external (something outside of the protagonist’s control).
End with a sentence that describes how the story ends, which is usually internal (a decision made by the protagonist).
The purpose of this exercise is to help you stay focused on what you want to tell and make sure it’s on track as you write.
It also helps keep your writing crisp and clean without wasting words or clogging up sentences with unnecessary “fluff” and extra details which will just confuse readers if they don’t have time to absorb them all during their first reading experience anyway!
Every writer dreads plot holes. Learn how to navigate them with our guide on How to Avoid the 9 Most Common Plot Holes in Your Novel, ensuring a smooth and engaging narrative.
Make An Outline
This step is similar to the outline for your average blog post or article. It’s a blueprint for what you want to say, a roadmap for how you want to say it, and a guide of sorts.
It’ll serve as a plan for how much time you should spend on each chapter, give you an idea of the overall pace of your story (fast or slow), and help keep things organized while writing.
The best way to get started with this step is by creating an index card with each main character’s name on it. If there are multiple characters in one section or chapter of your novel, add those names too!
Then draw lines connecting all the names (see example below). This will help when we get into outlining later on in this post – just keep track of who needs to do what!
Know Your Main Character
You’re a novelist, but your novel only has one character in it. That’s right you! You need to know all about yourself as the author, down to your deepest motivations and flaws. The first step is asking who this novel is for.
If you’re writing a book for young boys, know what it’s like being a young boy (or girl).
If you’re writing a romance novel for teens, think about what makes those characters tick; if they are just out of high school and looking for love (and maybe getting some sex), how do they feel about themselves? Do they feel like their life isn’t worth living?
Do they think no one understands them? Or do they have such high self-esteem that they don’t care what anyone thinks of them?
Know Your Villain
Now that you have a hero, it’s time to figure out who they’re going to be fighting. The easiest way of doing this is by creating a villain. Villains can come in many forms, from fearsome dragons and serial killers, all the way up to the Devil himself.
There are several things you should know about your villain before writing them into your story: what drives them? What weaknesses do they have? What strengths do they possess?
How does their backstory factor in? What does their appearance look like? How does their personality affect their actions and decisions? And finally, what do they want above all else (their goals)?
Ready to dive into novel writing? Check out our 17 Tips for Anyone Wanting to Write a Novel to equip yourself with the essential strategies for a successful writing journey.
Frame Your Story In The Opening Scene
The first five pages of your story will be crucial in determining whether or not the reader keeps reading. You need to grab their attention, establish the setting and characters, set the tone, and begin establishing the stakes.
What do I mean by stakes? The stakes are what readers care about in terms of how it affects them emotionally or intellectually.
(For example, a character might be facing death if they don’t get help.) Stakes are what make readers keep turning pages because they want to know what happens next.
Write Down The Three Main Plot Points
The First Plot Point
The first plot point is the moment in your story when everything changes. It’s a major event that will define what happens next and set up the second act.
For example, if you have a character who is an introvert and has always been shy, their first plot point might be them being forced to talk publicly for the first time because of an accident or emergency.
This would lead them on a journey where they learn how to overcome their fears and become more confident in themselves as they go on with their life.
The Second Plot Point
The second plot point is also known as “the midpoint” because it occurs halfway through your novel (or another narrative).
It’s another big turning point that causes characters to grow or change in some way and sets up the ending of your story! After this moment, things get even more intense for most characters until everything comes together at…
More Tips On Developing Plot Points
Plot points are the main events of your story, the ones that drive it forward and keep your readers interested. They should be logical progressions from what came before them either in terms of character development, subplots, themes, or setting.
Let’s look at each of these examples:
Character Development – If you’ve established a character as being kind and considerate, then it makes sense for them to continue being kind and considerate until they have to make a tough choice.
Subplots – If one subplot features an interesting relationship between two characters that end up going nowhere (for example), then another subplot featuring this same interesting relationship would probably end up going nowhere too.
That doesn’t mean you can’t throw some curveballs into any given plot point though! But when doing so with a plot point like this one where there’s already been some build-up behind it?
It helps if those new developments fit in with what we already know about both characters involved in this particular interaction as well as their personalities overall.”
Stuck in a writing rut? Find out how to keep going when your novel writing hits a wall and overcome obstacles with renewed inspiration and determination.
Subplots Are Secondary But Important To Tighten Up The Narrative Flow
Now that you have the basic plot, it’s time to make it pop. While subplots are not necessary for every story, they can make your narrative more interesting and cohesive by adding depth and breadth to your characters and setting.
A good way to think about a subplot is as a secondary story that intersects with your main plot even if only in small ways but isn’t integral enough to merit its chapter or scene within the novel.
Subplots should be related to the main plot in some way; they might offer an opposing viewpoint or serve as an example of what could happen if a certain character makes one choice over another (or vice versa).
This can help give readers insight into what kind of person this character is or whether they’re going down a certain path that leads them out of their comfort zone (or right where they want).
Subplots should also be interwoven with the main plot; while they may take place off-screen (as long as we’re aware that something happened at some point).
Each thread should come together at some point during both narratives so that things feel seamless when everything comes full circle at the end of both storylines.
Be Clear About What You Want To Accomplish With Each Chapter And Each Scene
To accomplish your goals, you will need to be clear about what each chapter and scene should accomplish. For example, if your goal is to get fit and healthy, then each chapter could include a specific fitness goal that you want to achieve in three months or less.
For example:
- In three months, I want to run 10 miles without stopping.
- In six months, I want to run a 5K race without stopping.
If you’re writing fiction or nonfiction for the first time (or even if it isn’t), it can be helpful for writers just starting like yourself who don’t have experience with structure and organizing their thoughts into coherent narrative arcs to work from a template structure called “the hero’s journey.”
Many successful books follow this same general arc including Star Wars!
Writing a novel involves surprises at every turn. Discover unexpected techniques with our 12 Novel Writing Tips & Tricks That Will Surprise You, and take your storytelling to new heights.
Conclusion
Writing a novel can be daunting, but it is not impossible. It takes a lot of work, but there are ways to make the process easier for yourself. The first step is knowing your characters and plot well enough that you can feel comfortable writing about them.
Then comes “Draft 1,” where you just let the words flow onto paper without much thought given to whether they’re good or bad. After that comes editing, which will help make your book much better than before!
Further Reading
Explore more resources to help you kick-start your novel-writing journey:
MasterClass: How to Start Writing Your Novel Short Description: Learn from renowned authors and discover expert insights on beginning your novel-writing process.
Writing Cooperative: How to Start Writing a Novel as a Beginner Short Description: Uncover tips and advice tailored to beginners, making the novel-writing process more approachable.
Curtis Brown Creative: Tips for Starting to Write a Novel Short Description: Gain valuable guidance and strategies from experienced authors to successfully initiate your novel-writing journey.
FAQs
Got questions about starting your novel-writing journey? Here are answers to some common queries:
How do I begin the process of writing a novel?
Starting a novel can be overwhelming, but breaking it down into smaller steps can help. Consider outlining your story, developing your characters, and setting a writing schedule to get started.
What’s the importance of creating a strong opening for my novel?
The opening of your novel sets the tone for the entire story. It should captivate readers’ attention, introduce key elements, and establish the story’s premise.
How can I overcome writer’s block when starting my novel?
Writer’s block is common, but trying different writing prompts, changing your environment, or simply writing freely without worrying about perfection can help overcome this obstacle.
Should I focus on plot or character development when starting a novel?
Both plot and character development are important. A compelling plot drives the story forward, while well-developed characters engage readers on an emotional level.
What should I do if I’m unsure about my novel’s genre or theme?
Exploring different genres and themes can help you find the right fit for your story. Consider what excites you as a writer and resonates with your intended audience.
How To Start Writing A Novel: A Guide For Newbies (Part 2)
How To Start Writing A Novel: A Guide For Newbies (Part 3)
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.