Writing a fiction novel can seem like an overwhelming prospect when you sit down in front of that blank page for the first time. There are so many pieces to the puzzle that you have to figure out: writing believable and compelling characters, developing the plot, managing multiple points of view, writing dialog, and on and on.
First Things First
In order to write a great novel, it's important that you start things off right so you create a strong foundation for the rest of your novel to be built upon. Once you have the basics covered, the rest of your novel will flow naturally from that. With a good initial idea for your novel that really intrigues you, you will feel enthusiastic about writing each day and that's what will keep you moving forward until you reach the end.
Step 1: Decide on Your Kind of Novel
Many people who want to write a novel struggle with the question of what they should write. The answer is actually right in front of their noses, however. You should write the kind of novel that you love to read. Why?
1. If you've read a lot of books of a particular type or genre, you'll naturally have a good feel for how this type of book should be written. As you've read, you've absorbed the typical way these novels are structured, what the lead characters are like, what they want, and what they tend to go through before they get it. This puts you way ahead of others who are not familiar with this genre.
2. If you love reading this kind of novel, then you will love writing this kind of novel as well. Plus, your enthusiasm and genuine interest will be reflected in your writing, not to mention that it will help keep you motivated to finish your novel, just because you're having so much fun with your story.
Step 2: Deciding On Your Lead Character
Now that you know your genre, it's time to choose your Lead. Decide on their name, age, and gender. That's enough to get started and give you a feel for who they are. Make sure that your Lead matches the general tendencies within your chosen genre: i.e. young adult fiction typically has a young adult as the Lead character and that's what readers will expect.
Step 3: Decide on the Big Crisis
Early on in your novel, your Lead will be confronted with a major crisis that throws everything in their lives out of order. Evan Marshall, the author and literary agent, gives this advice to writers about devising the crisis:
It should fit the genre that you're writing within
It should throw your Lead's life into a state of chaos and confusion
It should really interest you and make you feel compelled to write more in order to see what happens
Step 4: Your Lead Decides to Take Action
The crisis forces your Lead to figure out how to solve this crisis and bring their life back into order. As a result, they set the Story Goal that they will strive to achieve throughout the novel.
Evan Marshall also suggests some great criteria that will help you heighten the intensity of your Lead's goal. The goal should be about:
Seeking relief from something bad (i.e. pain, sadness, oppression) or seeking possession of something good (i.e. a lover, an object, a secret).
A lot at stake: if they fail at their goal, there will be dire consequences.
Your Lead must be motivated by positive intentions that make your readers admire and like them.
Your Lead's chances of success must seem virtually impossible.
Using these simple guidelines to develop your story idea will give you a powerful, dynamic starting place for your novel. At the outset of your novel, your task is to find an idea that really inspires you and these steps will help you to do that. As I said before, everything else will flow from this idea so it's really worth it to take the time to find one that you love.
First Things First
In order to write a great novel, it's important that you start things off right so you create a strong foundation for the rest of your novel to be built upon. Once you have the basics covered, the rest of your novel will flow naturally from that. With a good initial idea for your novel that really intrigues you, you will feel enthusiastic about writing each day and that's what will keep you moving forward until you reach the end.
Step 1: Decide on Your Kind of Novel
Many people who want to write a novel struggle with the question of what they should write. The answer is actually right in front of their noses, however. You should write the kind of novel that you love to read. Why?
1. If you've read a lot of books of a particular type or genre, you'll naturally have a good feel for how this type of book should be written. As you've read, you've absorbed the typical way these novels are structured, what the lead characters are like, what they want, and what they tend to go through before they get it. This puts you way ahead of others who are not familiar with this genre.
2. If you love reading this kind of novel, then you will love writing this kind of novel as well. Plus, your enthusiasm and genuine interest will be reflected in your writing, not to mention that it will help keep you motivated to finish your novel, just because you're having so much fun with your story.
Step 2: Deciding On Your Lead Character
Now that you know your genre, it's time to choose your Lead. Decide on their name, age, and gender. That's enough to get started and give you a feel for who they are. Make sure that your Lead matches the general tendencies within your chosen genre: i.e. young adult fiction typically has a young adult as the Lead character and that's what readers will expect.
Step 3: Decide on the Big Crisis
Early on in your novel, your Lead will be confronted with a major crisis that throws everything in their lives out of order. Evan Marshall, the author and literary agent, gives this advice to writers about devising the crisis:
It should fit the genre that you're writing within
It should throw your Lead's life into a state of chaos and confusion
It should really interest you and make you feel compelled to write more in order to see what happens
Step 4: Your Lead Decides to Take Action
The crisis forces your Lead to figure out how to solve this crisis and bring their life back into order. As a result, they set the Story Goal that they will strive to achieve throughout the novel.
Evan Marshall also suggests some great criteria that will help you heighten the intensity of your Lead's goal. The goal should be about:
Seeking relief from something bad (i.e. pain, sadness, oppression) or seeking possession of something good (i.e. a lover, an object, a secret).
A lot at stake: if they fail at their goal, there will be dire consequences.
Your Lead must be motivated by positive intentions that make your readers admire and like them.
Your Lead's chances of success must seem virtually impossible.
Using these simple guidelines to develop your story idea will give you a powerful, dynamic starting place for your novel. At the outset of your novel, your task is to find an idea that really inspires you and these steps will help you to do that. As I said before, everything else will flow from this idea so it's really worth it to take the time to find one that you love.
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