Whether you're writing for fun, or hope to get published, the entire writing process might seem overwhelming. If you are feeling discouraged, or don't know where to start, here are a few tips that might help your dream story get out onto paper.
1. Get Inspired
This is assuming you aren't already. But one tip I can give you, is write the book YOU want to write. Not what you THINK other people want to read, but something you are truly passionate writing (and reading) about. The more love you pour into your work, the better your story is going to come out.
2. Figure out Pacing/Structure
Pacing is huge. This will determine whether the reader gets drawn in, or thrown out. I think of this, basically, like eating a bowl of salty peanuts mixed with chocolate. You want a few salty peanuts then some sweet chocolate. What I mean by this is (using an outline to stay organized) stagger your events.
Maybe you bring the reader really low on the roller coaster of emotions . . . well bring them back up with a funnier, more light-hearted scene. You can't have drama without something to laugh about and you can't have humor without at least some heart. Pacing your novel this way will ensure your writing doesn't come off as flat, but will be sure to elicit more of "the feels."
After all, everyone loves a roller coaster.
Maybe you bring the reader really low on the roller coaster of emotions . . . well bring them back up with a funnier, more light-hearted scene. You can't have drama without something to laugh about and you can't have humor without at least some heart. Pacing your novel this way will ensure your writing doesn't come off as flat, but will be sure to elicit more of "the feels."
After all, everyone loves a roller coaster.
3. Develop Your Characters
For example, it's very tough to write a thriller about some crazy disease if you don't at least have some medical background. Even with more neutral genres you still need to know some stuff in order to ground your work. (Geography of your setting, local events/customs, etc)
Say it's a historical zombie thriller set in the late 1700's! Read books about weapons (such as how to load and fire a flintlock musket), take a tour through an old historic town, or even read an old book to get a better grasp on how the old-timey people spoke (which I can assure you . . . they spoke weird.)
Either through your real life experiences or research, your knowledge can turn an average novel into an in-depth saga that readers can actually get immersed in. After all, the whole point of reading a book is to get lost in a world. So be sure to build that world as detailed and believable as possible.
4. Take What you Know
Characters are going to be the driving force of your novel. Without them, there really is no story at all. One thing I find helpful is to sketch your characters (if you draw) so you know what they look like. Also, try basing them off of someone you either know in real life, or possibly even a movie character you admire. I don't mean copy these people completely (because that's usually not cool/illegal) but use them as a frame of reference so that you can close your eyes and be like "well . . . what would Captain Kirk do in this situation?" or "well . . . how would Uncle Charlie react if he had only till midnight to reclaim the Infinity Sword?"
Either way, you get it. These guys are going to be the heart and soul of your book, therefore you need to give THEM a heart and soul.
Sell them. Make them believable. And if you do it right, they will start to write their own paths.
Either way, you get it. These guys are going to be the heart and soul of your book, therefore you need to give THEM a heart and soul.
Sell them. Make them believable. And if you do it right, they will start to write their own paths.
5. Start the Book!
Last, but not least, this is the most obvious yet IMPORTANT part of writing a novel.
But there is a reason we don't start things, and it is not because we are lazy. If anything, I think, the majority of us do not start things (whatever type of project it may be) because we are perfectionists.
That might sound strange, but I think we can all agree we do not start a novel because we are waiting for "the perfect moment," or for when "the time is right," or "after we have gathered enough research." But the truth is, the perfect moment is, almost always, NOW.
Literally. If you started writing this instant you'd be doing yourself a huge favor.
Just think of how long you've been sitting on that idea in your head, and that it could be done in less than a year's time if you just put a few words on paper. And don't just write a few chapters then go back and edit it. No! That's for the editing process. Just write gibberish, idc, literally just write your entire story, get it out THEN edit it.
But, honestly, out of all the advice I've written in this blog, starting it is the hardest, yet most detrimental thing you can do in order to write and finish your novel. Yes, keep in mind the things above, but don't get wrapped up in waiting for "the perfect moment."
Start writing your dream book today.
But there is a reason we don't start things, and it is not because we are lazy. If anything, I think, the majority of us do not start things (whatever type of project it may be) because we are perfectionists.
That might sound strange, but I think we can all agree we do not start a novel because we are waiting for "the perfect moment," or for when "the time is right," or "after we have gathered enough research." But the truth is, the perfect moment is, almost always, NOW.
Literally. If you started writing this instant you'd be doing yourself a huge favor.
Just think of how long you've been sitting on that idea in your head, and that it could be done in less than a year's time if you just put a few words on paper. And don't just write a few chapters then go back and edit it. No! That's for the editing process. Just write gibberish, idc, literally just write your entire story, get it out THEN edit it.
But, honestly, out of all the advice I've written in this blog, starting it is the hardest, yet most detrimental thing you can do in order to write and finish your novel. Yes, keep in mind the things above, but don't get wrapped up in waiting for "the perfect moment."
Start writing your dream book today.