Putting Together the Pieces of Your Novel
A project as large as a novel can seem intimidating. And it’s almost impossible to really tackle something that you see as intimidating. So, break down your novel into smaller pieces.
Start with your cast of characters. You’ll need to know your own characters before you begin writing. Tackle one character at a time. Develop him or her enough to start your book. You’ll want to draw up a profile, as complete as possible. Describe his (or her) past, address specific character flaws or strengths, and don’t forget to describe what he or she looks like. Do this for each of your main characters, including your villain.
You’ve probably already thought of your main plot, but take some time to address to specifics. Do this by breaking your plot into sections. How does your story start? Think about setting, characters, and don’t forget about conflict. You need to introduce some type of conflict early on, so think about how you’ll do that.
What will the climax of your plot look like? You’ll need to know how your characters can get to that climax. You’ll also need to decide how that climax will be resolved. It’s usually a good idea to have the end of your book in your mind. That way, you’ll be able to slowly guide your characters toward that end.
Setting Goals for Your Novel
A novel does not write itself. You’ll need to sit down and commit your story to paper. It’s best if you write every day, no exceptions, and you should commit yourself to writing a minimum of a half-hour at a time. Any less than this and it’s difficult to get anything accomplished.
If you can write more than that, then great. But be realistic. Don’t expect that you’ll work on your novel for six hours every day. It simply will not happen. Set a goal that you can stick to. If you set a goal that you will not be able to meet, you’ll soon find yourself discouraged and not writing at all. And if that happens … no book.
Finishing Your Novel
Did you really think that writing the novel was the end to it? It’s not. Personally, I don’t know anyone who writes a novel that’s ready to be published with the first draft. It takes time and effort to polish your manuscript.
Once you’ve finished that first draft, let it sit a while. At least a week, preferably. Once you’ve allowed the dust to settle, pick it up again. Read it over, or perhaps have a trusted friend or family member read it over for you. What didn’t make sense about that first draft? Go back and correct those elements of plot that need a little polishing. And don’t forget to check your spelling and grammar. No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes.
Now let the novel sit again. At least a week, as before. Then go back and check it again; you’ll almost certainly find something worth fixing. Writing a novel is no small task, and it isn’t an exaggeration to say that polishing a manuscript takes longer than writing it ever will. Only when you’ve revised your work at least twice are you ready to consider publication.
Writing your first novel is a lot of work. You’ll agonize over your characters, frustrate yourself with a convoluted plot, and inevitably encounter the dreaded writer’s block. But your finished product will be well worth the effort.
And what do you do after you’ve finished that first novel? Get started on the second one, of course.
