Perhaps your new year’s resolution is to write a novel – great! But where do you go from here? Let us introduce you to a few of our top tips and considerations for kicking off this stage of your writing journey:
Consider Your Novel’s Structure
When you’re first starting to craft your novel, one of the primary concerns you’ll have is how your novel will be structured. For example, will your chapters be long or short? (This can affect the flow of your novel and how easy it is to keep your reader’s attention.) Will your chapters all follow one point-of-view, or will they switch up between different characters? It’s also a good idea to consider laying out your novel in an outline – this can help keep your structure cohesive while reminding you of important details and plot points. Most importantly, make sure you’re considering your reader when deciding on structural details – are you making your story easy to follow and comprehend? If so, you’re on the right track!
Next Up: Plot
Planning out your plot in advance can not only support your novel’s structure, but it can also ensure that your storyline remains balanced. Start by asking yourself what the key plot points of your story are. Next, where will those plot points happen? If they take place too close together, readers might feel rushed or confused. If they take place too far apart, readers might loose interest. “Plot” your plot points out so that they make sense within your story’s structure and within your overall storyline, and don’t feel like you have to make things complicated to keep them interesting – try focusing on one main character’s plot points at a time, and expand from there if necessary.
Building Your World and Your Characters
Your setting and the personality of your characters can have major effects on driving your story forward. Before starting your novel, it’s a good idea to sketch out an idea of both. Maybe drawing out a map of the town or region your story takes place in can help you visualize the action better. Or perhaps creating a list of bullet points of defining characteristics of your main characters can help you keep track of their motivations and backstory. By having these initial plans mapped out on paper, it will make it easier for you to keep your characters and setting consistent throughout your novel.
Last But Not Least, Some Tips to Carry You Through
- As you write, don’t reveal everything at once. By showing details about your characters, setting, and plot as you go, you’ll keep your readers’ interest while also preventing them from being overwhelmed by information.
- Find a writing routine that works for you. That might mean writing daily, or taking longer periods less often to write as much as you can. Whatever the routine is, just make sure it works best with your schedule so it stays sustainable.
- If you get stuck, don’t be afraid to take breaks. Inspiration can come by doing research on your novel’s topic or reading similar books, instead of writing all the time.
Are you thinking of writing a novel, but need some accountability to get you started? Consider our Novel Writing Package!
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