How to Start Writing a Novella

Novellas are a time-honored literary form, and they’re making a comeback. Longer than a story, shorter than a novel, the novella allows for a complete narrative arc but is also a perfect form for narrative experimentation. If you want to write a novella but aren’t sure how to begin, open a notebook and quickly sketch out these ten elements of your story:

1. When and where does your novella take place?

2. Who is the most important character in your story?

3. What are a few scenes you’d like to include?

4. What problem does your protagonist face?

5. Why should a reader care about this protagonist and this problem? What is your protagonist risking?

6. Who is telling the story? How far removed in time are they from the events that took/are taking place?

7. Write one paragraph. Add a few white spaces. Write another little paragraph. You don’t have to write in order.

8. Give yourself a soft deadline. When will you finish writing 20,000 words? Work toward that deadline every week.

If you liked this quick post, get a deeper dive on writing a novel or novella at The Caffeinated Writer: How to Write a Novel