There are a lot of would-be authors in the world who want to know how to write a novel, especially now that the goal of publishing has become so attainable. Many will start writing, but far fewer actually complete the process, or even the first draft, because what may seem initially like a simple matter of coming up with a story and writing a couple hundred pages is in fact an enormously challenging task that requires a level of time and effort most are not dedicated enough to commit.
It’s a lot of fun too. But it isn’t easy. Don’t worry though—we’re going to review some time-tested novel writing tips in this article.
Planner or Pantser?
You may want to start writing a novel by considering whether you’re a planner or a pantser.
A planner is someone who devotes a lot of attention toward crafting their story before they ever actually begin writing it. This work is focused on developing all the basic components of an effective novel:
- Plot (beginning, middle, and end)
- Characters (protagonist, antagonist, supporting characters, character arcs)
- Setting (present-day Chicago, ancient Mars, or anything in-between)
- Conflict and Tension (created by obstacles in the way of your characters achieving what they want and need)
Some writers prefer to develop and organize these components by hand, whether in a notebook or journal or on note cards that can be shuffled and redistributed as the story develops. Others write outlines on Microsoft Word or use writing software like Scrivener. But whatever the means, they determine what they want to write before they start writing.
By contrast, a pantser, as they’ve come to be called, is one who writes by the seat of their pants—without planning. Of course, they have a general sense of what they want their story to be, but many of the details are discovered in the course of the writing process. Pantsers generally advocate against editing as you go, focusing instead on completing the first draft.
Think being a pantser sounds like less work? Think again. You’re still going to have to craft your plot and develop your characters—the difference is whether you do it before your first draft or after. And don’t think this means that being a planner is the right option either. In this area, there is no right or wrong. Every writer is different, utilizing their individual writer-brains to approach the process their own way. But all writers developing a novel face the same challenges.
Revision
One of the most frequent misconceptions of first-time novelists learning how to write a novel is that a completed draft is the same as a completed novel. But a major component of the writing process is revision. If you’re a pantser, your first draft may have come quickly, but it probably has deep and significant structural and character issues you’ll need to resolve in developing the second draft. If you’re a planner, your first draft most likely took more time, and odds are it’s in better shape, but it’s impossible to plan for all the issues that emerge in the course of writing a novel, and a first draft is still a first draft. However much time you spent planning and writing it, you should expect to spend at least as much time on revision.
There are a number of tools that can help in the course of the revision process:
- Even if you wrote that first draft by the seat of your pants, when it comes to the revision process it’s definitely good to have a plan.
- No writer can see their own work with the objective eyes of readers, so it’s important to receive feedback on your work. Ultimately you may want to seek the guidance of a professional editor.
- There are times in the revision process where the task ahead seems impossible, and that’s when a lot of writers quit. And obviously, those who quit never complete a novel.
But no matter what sort of writer you are, there’s one factor without which writing a novel is absolutely impossible.
Time
In order to learn how to write a novel, you need time—not to have it, but to make it.
Almost no one writing a first novel is being paid to do it, and almost all would-be novelists have other obligations and priorities in their lives. There is always a reason not to write. What distinguishes those who succeed in writing a novel and those who fail is that those who succeed make the time, placing the writing process ahead of other activities.
Make a schedule—and stick to it. Whether it’s an hour of writing every day or several hours of writing once a week—whatever fits your schedule and your personality—you need to be sure that writing is a habit you maintain no matter what else life throws at you. If writing your novel is something you do only in whatever free time you’re left with after all the activities you deem more necessary or more fun, you will never finish.
4 Tips for Writing a Novel
- Don’t worry if your first draft is terrible. Because guess what? It probably will be. Part of the process of writing your first novel is learning how to write a novel. That means there’s a lot you don’t know, and can’t know, until you actually take the time to do it. Don’t be embarrassed, because every writer experiences the same problems and the same doubt. Your first draft stands apart not by being great, but by being completed.
- Don’t be afraid to try new things. You may think you’re most productive in a quiet room all by yourself, but it may turn out you get a lot more done in a group of fellow writers in a coffee shop. You may think an hour of writing every day is best for you, but maybe you don’t hit your groove until hour two and need a larger block of time. Part of the writing process is trying different approaches and seeing what works best for you.
- Seek outside help. This doesn’t just mean readers, but also resources to help you develop the skills you need to write fiction effectively. Read writing blogs, and maybe buy or borrow some books on the craft. Remember that you’re not alone in your dreams of writing a novel, and this means that the world is full of advice from those who have been where you are now.
- Have fun! In the midst of the writing process, and all the struggles it entails, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that the reason you’ve chosen to write a novel—the reason you’ve devoted yourself to this task—is that you have a story to tell, and it’s worth it to you to spend time developing the concepts and characters that live inside your head. This is supposed to be fun. It won’t be fun in every moment, but sometimes it’s a good idea to stop, take a deep breath, and remember why you decided to sit down with your notebook or laptop and start writing.
For more, check out these five great tips on how to start writing a novel and this cool Wiki with yet more novel writing tips. You can even grab some “cheat sheets” on how to plot out certain types of novels at The Novel Factory website.
