8 Novel Writing Tips for Beginners
Penning down an entire novel is even challenging for experienced and regular writers. So, for those who have just started to write or are thinking of becoming a full-time writer, this can turn out to be a bottleneck. Where there is no hard and fast rule of writing a novel successfully, we have sought out 8 proven ways that will enhance your writing and thinking ability manifolds and thereby enabling you to record your observation and experiences more effectively and distinctively, as one may find in any popular book.
- Nail down a proper story idea– The idea or basic theme of your novel is the primordial element that will drive the entire plot of your novel. You have to think whether the idea has the potential to drive a 75000-100000 word book. Also, whether it will be able to capture the readers for a substantial length of 6 hrs. At this stage, choose your genre wisely, the niche area where your novel will be; the subject will decide your genre and sub-genre, i.e. whether it is a fiction, literary fiction or non-fiction. If fiction, then whether it is a romantic, horror, thriller, suspense, fantasy, sci-fi or mythological work.
- Read more and more books in your genre to identify the ongoing trends. Writing is not an easy task. The basic thing is to read and read more, and if you do it within your genre, that helps you identify the literary trends, writing styles, metaphors, characters, and plots being used often. You can either go by the trend or beyond it by doing something different. However, reading will always inspire and develop new ideas.
- Choose your novel’s point of view, i.e. whether it should be in the first-person narrative as if you are a character in the story or third-person narrative who will just narrate the story from a vantage point of view. It depends on your topic and how you decide your plot to be.
- Develop your plot wisely. Before starting with the main writing, construct your plot with the chapters and chapter summary for each chapter. For any novel writing, the author often goes with the flow as ideas and subplots strike his imagination, but it is always advisable to have basic structure in hand, to avoid meandering completely from the path, i.e. how many chapters will the book have, what will be in each chapter, how the story will develop and move further with addition of some subplots.
- Establish a setting. Usually, the first couple of chapters should have a basic setting, the backdrop on which the story takes place. The place name, the details, and descriptions of the area where the characters act, are important. In most Victorian novels, especially the novels by Emily Bronte went in length in describing the setting. For her, the place was not just a place, it acted as an overseer observing the rights and wrongs of the character, the Fate in disguise which is eventually responsible for rewarding or punishing the characters accordingly. Hence setting can be used as one of the moving factors in the novel to create a sense of horror, suspense, impending danger or peace, happiness and romantic bliss for the readers.
- Develop your characters well. Jane Austen’s novels can be studied for its multifarious characters from a stoic individualistic Elizabeth to a romantic Jane, to a vulnerable Mary to panic-stricken crazy mother trying to get daughters married, to a righteous, introvert but proud Darcy, to a deceptive yet funny and amorous villain Wickham. Again, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre gives us some very complex characters which eventually intrigue the psyche of the readers. Hence before starting with the actual novel, write out your characters, name them and give each one a unique characteristic.
- Establish conflicts and stakes. A flat plot will never make your novel readable for a long time. There need to be problems, highs and lows, in other words, undulations and disturbances which will keep readers on the edge of their seats, and they will be moved to read further to know what happens next. Such conflicts will help your novel gain pace and move towards the denouement or untangling of hassles such that the novel can have its well-breathed climax.
- Keep in mind the literary devices and techniques that you use in the novel. That also depends on the subject you are writing on. The literary techniques show your mastery in the work that you do, shows your personal brilliance as a writer and readers take you more seriously when it is proven that you aren’t any banker who started writing one fine morning.
Now some technical things to remember-
- Use proper writing software which can detect your grammar and point it out on the way.
- Know your audience, the readers for whom you are writing.
- Do a statistical study on the genre, know how many books are actually selling in this.
- Do your thorough proofread.
- Hire a professional for editing your work.
- Set up a writing schedule. Writing is a daily process, so you cannot write a chapter and then go for a month’s break. You need to write every day, even if it is a paragraph. Otherwise, you will never finish.
- Set your motivation factors before beginning the project.
- Read and read on even as you are writing, because reading will give ideas and better vocabulary.
Hi Mrs/Mr?my name is Felicien Rubanguka. I email to ask you if you can give advices on how to write good story books? Therefore I have more stories to develop but I don’t how any skills on how to develop story. So I need your ideas.Thank you!
This is a very informative article for a beginning author
Very nice article about novel writing
Pls how do I discuss with you on how to publish my stories and how I will be making my money?
I have 3 already written stories which I intends to publish and sell globally for the purpose of making money, pls kindly give me clue on how to get them published with your company..
Thank you…
Thanks for showing interest in us. To start the publication process, please share your complete manuscript with us at publication@excellerbooks.com.
Thank you Anita. It’s a great experience reading your guide. I’m finishing a novel and
will like to work with you
Wonderful beat !
Brilliant clear idea concept.
Thanks for taking time to read our blog and appreciate our work.
Thanks a lot for the blog.Really thank you!
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