Writing a novel is not for the faint-hearted. It is a mammoth undertaking which consumes a lot of time and mental energy. You need determination and an active imagination to complete a story that the public will want to read. Your tale needs to interest you. If you are not absorbed in the plot or characters, you will find it difficult to keep up the necessary momentum to write your novel.
For a first novel, you need to write about familiar places and times. The writing will then sound authentic. If you want to include information on subjects not familiar to you, research the area thoroughly or have a knowledgeable friend give their opinion of how you have dealt with a subject.
Writing a detective story will require a different approach to a romance. Decide on the genre then keep to it. While some authors let the writing take them where it will, a beginner novelist is probably well advised to plan out the plot and subplots. If you don't keep the reader interested throughout the story, they will close the book and go on to something else.
An interesting book is a complex piece of work. It is useful to have a plan, even if it is rough, of what is happening in the story. Aim to write so many words or pages a day. Perhaps you are able to set aside several hours either in the mornings or evenings. Perhaps you can only write at the weekends. Whatever the circumstances, try to set aside a definite time for writing when you can expect to be free of interruption.
Plot and characters are both important. The people in a story should be credible. Avoid stereotyping characters. Pay attention to the public as you go about your daily tasks. You may see some interesting facets that you can add to the characters. Names are important. Some writers go so far as to write out as much detail as possible about their characters before even attempting to write about them.
A universal rule is 'show, don't tell'. Try to impart information by the actions, dialogue and stance of your characters. Instead of telling the reader a person is angry, show it by having him/her slam down a book or stamp out of a room. Dialogue is a very strong tool. Mix speech and narrative to keep the interest alive.
Read drafts through carefully. It is important to pick up spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. Check time-lines and look for discrepancies in facts. It is difficult to proof-read your own work and you may want to ask a knowledgeable friend to check the story for errors. You can always hire a professional for the task too. If there are passages that don't move the story forward, then delete them.
Many people like to write their first draft without too much editing. Stopping to correct every small detail interrupts the creative process. If you get in a good zone, keep writing as long as possible. You can always edit later. When you think you have finished your novel, it should be put aside for a month or two. When you bring it out again, you will be able to look at it with fresh eyes. To write your novel is only the beginning. It will probably take nearly as long to edit and correct as it did to create it.
For a first novel, you need to write about familiar places and times. The writing will then sound authentic. If you want to include information on subjects not familiar to you, research the area thoroughly or have a knowledgeable friend give their opinion of how you have dealt with a subject.
Writing a detective story will require a different approach to a romance. Decide on the genre then keep to it. While some authors let the writing take them where it will, a beginner novelist is probably well advised to plan out the plot and subplots. If you don't keep the reader interested throughout the story, they will close the book and go on to something else.
An interesting book is a complex piece of work. It is useful to have a plan, even if it is rough, of what is happening in the story. Aim to write so many words or pages a day. Perhaps you are able to set aside several hours either in the mornings or evenings. Perhaps you can only write at the weekends. Whatever the circumstances, try to set aside a definite time for writing when you can expect to be free of interruption.
Plot and characters are both important. The people in a story should be credible. Avoid stereotyping characters. Pay attention to the public as you go about your daily tasks. You may see some interesting facets that you can add to the characters. Names are important. Some writers go so far as to write out as much detail as possible about their characters before even attempting to write about them.
A universal rule is 'show, don't tell'. Try to impart information by the actions, dialogue and stance of your characters. Instead of telling the reader a person is angry, show it by having him/her slam down a book or stamp out of a room. Dialogue is a very strong tool. Mix speech and narrative to keep the interest alive.
Read drafts through carefully. It is important to pick up spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. Check time-lines and look for discrepancies in facts. It is difficult to proof-read your own work and you may want to ask a knowledgeable friend to check the story for errors. You can always hire a professional for the task too. If there are passages that don't move the story forward, then delete them.
Many people like to write their first draft without too much editing. Stopping to correct every small detail interrupts the creative process. If you get in a good zone, keep writing as long as possible. You can always edit later. When you think you have finished your novel, it should be put aside for a month or two. When you bring it out again, you will be able to look at it with fresh eyes. To write your novel is only the beginning. It will probably take nearly as long to edit and correct as it did to create it.
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