How to Write a Novel #1: Get inspired
Since you are here on this page, something pushed you to look for this kind of article. Ask yourself, what is your inspiration to write a novel? It could be anything and everything: a song you heard on the radio last night, a book you loved reading, a character from your favorite TV show, or a painting in a museum that you saw last weekend. Anything can spark an inspiration to work on such a big project as a novel. Take a look inside and see what that is for you.
How to Write a Novel #2: Brainstorm
The next step is to take the things that inspired you to look up these tips and gather them in one place. When you do that, brainstorm further ideas for your novel: write down anything that comes to mind, at this stage don’t dismiss any small or big ideas. You can never know when such ideas can come in handy later. For your novel, you’ll need characters, some setting ideas, and plot points. When you’re done brainstorming all the possibilities, make a categorized list of things to see what you have so far.
How to Write a Novel #3: Outline (or not)
Once you have all the ideas brainstormed and ready, you can make a chapter-by-chapter outline of what happens in your novel. To be fair, not all writers do this step and you can skip it if you’d like. Sometimes writing as you go without a solid plan can be very fun.
How to Write a Novel #4: Choose your tools of trade
After you’ve done all the planning there is to do, you need to decide how you’ll write. Most writers choose to write on their computers, but some do it by hand as well. There is no right way, so feel free to try out both ways and see what works best for you.
How to Write a Novel #5: Procrastinate
Once you’re fully ready to write, sometimes the easiest thing to do is… not to write. That’s okay, it happens to every writer. Don’t beat yourself up if this happened to you too. Brainstorming, planning, and outlining your novel is a big chunk of the work, so it’s okay to take a break and allow yourself to procrastinate on starting your project a bit. But after some of that, take a deep breath and get to writing.
How to Write a Novel #6: Write your first sentence
There is no escaping the actual start of your project. There is no magic trick for this, no magic pill. All you need to do is pick up your pen or put your fingers down on the keyboard – and write. No need to make the first sentence perfect, either. You can always revise and edit your work after it’s finished, so take that deep breath and write your novel.
How to Write a Novel #7: Build a writing routine
Writing a full-length novel is quite the feat. In order to not only start but also finish your novel, you will need to be consistent with sitting down and actually doing the work for it. To make that happen, building a writing routine can help you tremendously. Your routine of choice doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. It can be as simple as lighting a candle before you start writing, or having a cup of hot tea by your side at all times as you type.
How to Write a Novel #8: Get an Accountability Partner
Another fun way to help you make your novel progress is having someone check in with you at the end of every week or month. Ask a friend to text you about your progress at your chosen time and let them know about your progress (or lack thereof). Such accountability will urge you to have something to share with your partner every week or month. If you want to know why accountability really works, check this interesting article.
How to Write a Novel #9: Keep a Writing Journal
Starting a physical journal to write down any new ideas or note down the next plot points for your story can be a real lifesaver. It can be a small notebook you can carry around with you at all times, so no ideas will be lost to the void of our bad memory. In this journal you can also note down what is currently happening in the story as well, in order to later help you fix any continuity errors or other small (or big) plot problems. This journal is your best friend, so even during writer’s block, you can write in it and find the solution you need for your story. Read more about the benefits of journaling here.
How to Write a Novel #10: Continue writing consistently
All in all, you can do all the brainstorming, research, and try all the tricks, but in the end, what you need to do is to sit down and write your novel. Sadly, nobody can do this part for you. So, take a deep breath, and write it.
Did you find this post interesting? Check out our guide to help you increase your daily writing count.
