If you're in search of tips for writing a novel, here's your first tip: search for something more
substantial. A tip here or there will not provide you with enough information to help you get
started writing a first novel. You need more. Try an online course, for instance. Or seek out the
guidance of a professional writer. Anything more substantial than a few quick tips.
With that said, a few solid tips can provide you with the motivation to get started and a rough idea
of how to start. So here they are ...
1: Don't Start Until You Know These
Some writers love to outline the novel in its entirety before they write a single word. Other
writers prefer to sketch out a few notes and jump right in. Either way you choose to approach
writing your novel, before a single word goes on paper, you need to know these:
- Who the story is about
- The primary driving conflict of the story
- Who or what opposes the story's main character
- How it all turns out
If, at a minimum, these four issues are clear in your mind, then you can feel somewhat comfortable
in getting started on your novel.
2. Save Your Research For Later
It's easy to get caught up in researching every little aspect of your story, from settings to
careers to how things work. Don't get bogged down in research. When you come to a section that
requires research, mark it as such and keep writing. You can come back later and fill in the blanks.
Research can be a novel killer if you let it consume you.
3: Don't Write A Novel, Write A Scene
The idea of writing a novel can be overwhelming. Don't let it overwhelm you. A novel isn't written
all at once. It's written scene by scene. So approach it that way. Write one scene at a time. Don't
worry about the rest of the story, just focus on getting that one scene completed.
4: Plan On Writing More Than A Single Draft
If you want to free yourself to write faster and better, then face the fact early on that you'll be
doing several drafts. There's the first draft, written as fast as possible. There's the second
draft, here you focus on the plot, making sure that everything works, tossing out extra scenes,
adding in scenes that are missing. There's the third draft, in which you clean up your punctuation,
make sure your sentences make sense, etc. Finally, there's the optional four draft, when you give
the novel one more run through. Accept that you'll be writing more than a single draft and a huge
load will come off your shoulders. Suddenly, you don't have to be perfect. You can write with joy
and freedom!
5: Write
Out of all the
tips for writing a novel that I could offer, this is the only one
that truly matters. If you want to write a novel, you have to write. Not occasionally. Not only when
the muse strikes you. Not only when the rest of the family is out of the house. No, you have to
write everyday. Even if it's only for fifteen minutes. You must sit down and apply words to paper
each and every day. Write!
