I never considered myself a writer. I was an English major in college and have always loved reading, but that doesn’t automatically make me a writer. I only really started writing when my friends encouraged me to write some short stories for them as gifts.
After doing this for several years, I decided to write a novel because it had been such a long time since I’d read one so long that it had been easier to write than read!
| Takeaways |
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| 1. Embrace the Learning Curve: Understand that writing your first novel is a journey of growth and learning. Don’t be discouraged by challenges; use them as opportunities to improve. |
| 2. Persistence Pays Off: Writing a novel takes time and dedication. Consistency in your writing routine, even when faced with difficulties, is key to progress. |
| 3. Characters Drive the Story: Develop well-rounded characters with distinct personalities, motivations, and arcs. They can shape the narrative and engage readers. |
| 4. Editing is Essential: The initial draft is just the beginning. Effective editing and revision processes are vital to refining your novel and making it shine. |
| 5. Seek Feedback: Sharing your work with others and receiving constructive feedback can provide valuable insights and help you identify areas for improvement. |
| 6. Emotionally Invest in Your Story: Pouring your emotions into your writing can create a more authentic and relatable narrative that resonates with readers. |
| 7. Embrace Creativity: Don’t shy away from trying new ideas, exploring different genres, or experimenting with narrative techniques to keep your writing fresh and engaging. |
| 8. Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate each milestone, whether it’s completing a chapter or reaching a word count goal. Recognizing progress boosts motivation. |
| 9. Learn from Setbacks: Facing setbacks or failures is normal; what matters is how you respond to them. Use setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow as a writer. |
| 10. Enjoy the Process: Writing a novel is a labor of love. Remember to enjoy the creative journey and take pride in your accomplishments along the way. |
Sit Down And Write
The first thing you need to do is sit down and write.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but there are lots of ways to avoid doing it.
For example, you might think that if you just have a few more conversations with friends about your novel idea, or if you just read one more article on novel writing (which in turn inspires another article), then the time will be right.
Or maybe instead of sitting down and writing the novel itself, you decide that all of your research should be done first so that when it comes time for actual writing, there will be no surprises waiting for us along the way.
Or perhaps even worse than all these things is waiting until some future date when everything has been planned out perfectly before sitting down and starting this project at all that way we can’t screw up too badly right away!
So let me put my experience into perspective: I had this idea nearly 10 years ago now…and still haven’t finished my first book! There are many reasons why: lack of discipline/motivation/time management skills (among others).
These days I am much better at being disciplined and motivated than I used to be back then: I know how important it is to get started every day with some form of daily writing practice;
However, having said that there was still plenty left over from those early years when it came time for putting fingers on keys rather than making excuses not to do so!
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Set A Goal
I would like to write a novel someday, but I’ve never done it before. I’m sure you’re aware of this fact and will forgive me for my ignorance when I say that it’s hard for me to know where to start. What is the first thing I should do? Is there an order in which these things need to be done? Should they all happen at once or take place over time? Can we even tell when they’re finished?
There are so many questions! But if you’ll bear with me and if you’re willing, then marvel at what follows you’ll learn something about novel writing from my first attempt at writing one (or trying).
Get A Pen
You can write your novel on a computer, or you can write it by hand. You can use fancy pens and notebooks that cost hundreds of dollars from Japan (I’ve seen them), or you can grab whatever’s in the drawer next to your bed and go for it. Just get writing!
No matter what kind of pen or paper you decide to use, there are a few things that will help make the process smoother:
Write in chunks: Instead of thinking about the entire 100K-word book as one thing, break down each chapter into smaller parts (usually around 5K words). That way if an idea doesn’t work out like you planned while writing one chapter, it won’t derail all of your progress.
Take breaks: Are you getting tired? Take a break! Writing is hard work it’s easy to get discouraged if something isn’t working out exactly right at first glance.
Taking breaks helps prevent burnout so that when inspiration strikes again later on down the road (and trust me it will), there will still be plenty left in reserve for another round at bat.
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Write Down What You Don’t Want To Happen, In The Form Of A Bullet Point List
Write down what you don’t want to happen, in the form of a bullet point list. Write down what you do want to happen, also in bullet points. Write down what you want to happen at the end of your novel, and also at the beginning.
Finally, write down things that will happen throughout the middle portion of your novel the meat of it! Again: bullet points!
I like using bullet points because they help me keep my writing from getting too scattered and chaotic; they’re like little time capsules that force me to think about each piece of my story before moving on to another section or scene.
You could consider this step as brainstorming without borders; after all, we’re focused on listing items here (as opposed to summarizing them).
Write Down The Story From A To Z Or From Z To A, In A Time-Line Style
This is my process for writing a book: I write down the story from start to finish, without worrying about how it will be organized. Then I go back and organize it at a later time once I have all of my notes written out.
By doing this, you can see how your novel flows as well as what needs more detail or development.
You can also make sure that each chapter has its purpose because they will be short enough so that no chapter goes on too long yet still detailed enough so that nothing is left out!
Write Down How You Will Get Your Characters To Interact With One Another
When you are writing a novel, it is helpful to know how your characters will interact with each other. You need to think about where they will be and what they will be doing. You can think about what they will be thinking, feeling, or saying as well.
If you write down how your characters are going to interact with one another early on in the process of writing a novel, then it makes sense that when you get to the point where these interactions start happening in the story itself – it’s a lot easier!
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Write Down What Each Character’s Motivation Will Be
Motivation is the reason behind a character’s actions. It’s the driving force that moves them forward, and it can make or break your novel. Your characters must be motivated for their actions to seem realistic and organic, while also giving the story structure.
In other words: If you know what makes your characters tick and what they want out of life then everything else will fall into place more easily.
This might mean that one character wants to get into medical school so he can become an OB/GYN (and also because he hates his parents), while another simply needs money for rent so she can escape her abusive boyfriend (and also because she loves her cat).
Each motivation is different and unique, but they all serve to drive each character forward toward his or her goal (which is usually saving their own lives).
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Write Down How You Want Them To Feel When They’re At The End Of The Novel
Feelings are important, and so is the way characters feel in general. I’ve written about this before: emotional reactions are a huge part of what makes fiction work. And that’s especially true for endings!
If your story has been moving along nicely, it can be easy for readers to start feeling complacent about where things seem headed and therefore miss out on some big surprises in store for them later on.
That’s why it’s so important that you take time to write down exactly how you want people to feel when they get to your ending (as well as throughout).
How characters will react when they reach their destination and even what those destinations might look like is an integral part of any novel worth writing (or reading).
It helps establish tone and keeps readers engaged until the very last page; but remember: whatever happens at those points where we find ourselves at our destinations…we must never forget how our characters got there!
For each person’s motivation, write down what positive change each will undergo as a result of their actions and/or thoughts.
Once you’ve figured out the relationships between your characters and the main goal of the book, it’s time to start thinking about what positive change each will undergo as a result of their actions and/or thoughts.
This should be fairly straightforward if you’re writing something with a strong plot (and it doesn’t have to be a big life-changing event). The character might decide that they want to quit their job at the end of chapter 7 because they’ve decided that it’s not where they belong in life anymore.
Or maybe he’ll realize throughout chapters 1-5 that his father was right when he said that there is always another way out of any situation, even if it seems impossible at first glance.
You can also look into what happens after this major decision has been made: what does this mean for our hero? What will happen next? How will his life change from here on out?
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You Can Write Without Putting Realism Into Your Story
Your novel doesn’t have to be realistic. This is something I learned when writing my first novel, and it’s a pretty big deal. When I started writing, I thought that making the story “realistic” was the key to success. So I worked hard to make sure every single detail was accurate.
But as it turns out, this isn’t necessary if you’re not writing nonfiction or memoirs (and even then…). You can go crazy with the realism if you want and get away with it because your characters are imaginary anyway!
And if they don’t seem real enough for you, there’s always plenty of room for improvement in future novels (and maybe even short stories).
Conclusion
Writing a novel has been one of the most challenging things I have ever done. It’s taken me two years to finish my first book, but it was worth it. I finally feel like I’ve accomplished something truly special and unique to me.
While writing my first novel wasn’t easy, many things helped me along the way and some didn’t! If you’re thinking about writing a book (or even just starting), here are some important lessons from my first attempt:
Take your time! Don’t worry about what other people think; write for yourself. Read as much as possible to get an idea of different styles of storytelling and characterization (but don’t copy anyone else’s work).
Find other writers who inspire you; don’t be afraid to ask them questions or ask for advice when needed Don’t get too attached to characters or plotlines; they’ll change along their journey through the story anyway!
Always keep a journal nearby so everything doesn’t get lost in your brain when ideas come up at random times during day-to-day activities (like driving!). Find others who share similar interests so you can bounce ideas off each other when needed 🙂
Don’t worry about grammar too much at first; focus on getting words down on paper instead so later edits will be easier (plus proofreaders are super helpful!).
Further Reading
The Write Practice: Tips for Writing Your First Novel Short Description: Explore essential tips and insights to guide you through the process of writing your very first novel.
MasterClass: How to Start Writing Your Novel Short Description: Gain expert advice and practical strategies to kick-start your journey into novel writing.
Writing Cooperative: 15 Things I Learned in My First Year of Writing Short Description: Discover valuable lessons and experiences from a writer’s first year, providing insights to help you on your writing journey.
FAQs
How do I begin writing my first novel?
Starting your first novel can be challenging. Consider outlining your plot, developing your characters, and setting a writing routine. Seek inspiration from successful authors and their strategies.
What are some tips for overcoming writer’s block?
Writer’s block can be frustrating, but various techniques can help. Try changing your environment, free writing, or outlining upcoming scenes to jumpstart your creativity.
How important is the editing process in novel writing?
Editing is crucial for refining your novel’s quality. It helps improve pacing, eliminate inconsistencies, and enhance overall readability. Consider seeking feedback from peers or hiring a professional editor.
What should I do if I’m not satisfied with my initial draft?
It’s normal for first drafts to be imperfect. Take a break before revising, then focus on refining your characters, plot, and dialogue. Remember that writing is a process, and multiple drafts are part of the journey.
How can I stay motivated throughout the novel-writing process?
Maintaining motivation can be tough, but setting achievable goals, celebrating small milestones, and reminding yourself of your passion for storytelling can help you stay focused and inspired.
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.