Revision: first draft vs. final draft
No one writes a perfect story, essay, or novel the first time around. That’s where revision comes in. The first draft contains everything you wanted… Read More »Revision: first draft vs. final draft
Novel writing
Writers on Writing – Willa Cather on “Making It an Adventure”
In 1921, Willa Cather told an editor for the magazine Bookman that she only worked for two and a half to three hours each day.… Read More »Writers on Writing – Willa Cather on “Making It an Adventure”
Before You Begin: (or How to Get Past Fear & Procrastination and Write Your Novel)
Anyone who tells you that writing a novel is easy has probably never written one. Here are the five most common statements I hear from… Read More »Before You Begin: (or How to Get Past Fear & Procrastination and Write Your Novel)
How To Write a Novel: 10 Steps to Get You Started
The first thing you need to know about writing a novel is that there’s no magic formula. Every novel demands its own structure, its own… Read More »How To Write a Novel: 10 Steps to Get You Started
5 Great Tools for Writers
The only way to be a writer is to sit down and write. It doesn’t matter how many terrific notebooks and apps you have, or… Read More »5 Great Tools for Writers
10 Steps to Writing a Novel
The first thing you need to know about writing a novel is that there are no easy answers. There’s no magic formula for novel-writing. Every novel demands its own structure, its own pace, its own way of looking at the world.
Still with me? Good. Because, as it turns out, novel writing isn’t just a head-banging exercise in utter frustration and despair (although, trust me, sometimes it is just that). It’s also a deep swim into your own head space, a really fun adventure, and one of the most thrillingly creative things a person can do. It’s your world; you get to make it, populate it, cultivate it, and bring all of the pieces together.
If you’re ready to take on the challenge of writing a novel, continue reading for 10 steps to get your started.
1. Consider the setting.
Setting encompasses not only place, but also time. Where does your novel happen, and when?
2. Consider the point of view.
Who is telling the story, from what distance? Do you have a first-person narrator who is at the center of the action, an omniscient narrator who is able to go into the thoughts of any character at any time, a limited third person narration that sticks closely to one character?Read More »10 Steps to Writing a Novel
How to Write a Novel: 10 Steps to Get You Started
The first thing you need to know about writing a novel is that there’s no magic formula. Every novel demands its own structure, its own… Read More »How to Write a Novel: 10 Steps to Get You Started