How to write a novel, and 5 novel writing tips you need to know before you write your novel.
Use these 5 novel writing tips before you type your first word.
5 things you need to know before writing your novel
One day you get hit with that Great Idea! And, you can’t wait to sit at your computer to bring your story to life. You just want to start typing.
Stop. Please, don’t start.
Instead, take a deep breath and read on.
Before you type your first word, there are writing tips you need to know for your novel writing effort to succeed.
I’m not gonna lie. I’ve done it too. But all too soon, I hit a wall. And, guess what? The writing goes no where.
Writing a novel can be an energizing experience, but it can also be overwhelming if you haven’t prepared before sitting down to write your story. In this blog post, I’ll share the five essential things you need to know before you embark on your novel-writing journey. These pre-writing tips will also prevent your story from stagnating in creative quicksand, and you from throwing your computer against the wall.
Trust me, I know. I’ve been there.
From outlining, structure, and character development to finding your writing routine, these are 5 novel writing tips you need to know that will help you set a solid story base before you start writing your great-idea novel.
Novel writing tip #1: You need to draft a Plan before you start writing your novel
The first of the 5 novel writing tips to know before writing your novel is planning out your writing.
Start with an Outline
What does that mean? It means sitting down and doing what may feel like boring, hard work. But, your story will thank you for it. It also means making sure you know and understand – on a deeper level – the craft of writing.
Please, don’t roll your eyes. I didn’t say this would be fun. But, it is important.
To continue, outlining is the process of figuring out what your idea is, and whether you can flesh it out into a story. It will also save you time and heartbreak if you discover that your idea just isn’t enough for a full novel. When you take the time to outline you’ll understand the complexities of your characters, plot ideas, sub-plots, and themes. By the time you begin your novel, your writing will flow with greater clarity and confidence.
And, you won’t want to pound your head against the wall.
NOTE: I do NOT make any money from links in my posts. These are just resources I like and hope they help you!
If you haven’t already done so, read books and resources on novel writing and outlining. There are about a bazillion books on pre-writing out there, but some of my favorites are by K.M. Weiland which include, Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success , also you can’t go wrong with Matt Bird’s, The Secret of Story.
Make sure you have a handle on structure
Many beginning writers aren’t even aware that stories have structure. Or, they think it’s just about having a beginning, middle, and end, which is not technically wrong, but it sure is incomplete. Most stories follow the basic 3 Act Structure. But it’s what goes inside each act that makes the difference in your story.
Writing your story without a basic structure, is like building a house without an architectural design and blueprint. Your house will fall apart. So will your story.
Structure is about following key plot points, moments, or events within the plot, that build on each other and that keep the story intriguing, surprising, and emotionally satisfying. Also, if you have a solid idea of your story’s structure, you will also have created a clear roadmap for yourself. This roadmap will help you feel more confident about where to take your writing – so your story doesn’t fizzle out.
Structure is a guide – not a formula
While some writers might shy away from what they see as “formulaic,” it’s the creative interpretation and inspired writing that makes your story shine. The combination of clear preparation combined with creative thinking leads to best-selling fiction.
Again, there are a lot of great books on structure out there but the ones I like (and refer to frequently) are Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need, by Jessica Brody, and Write Great Fiction – Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting and Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish by James Scott Bell. I also turn to K.M. Weiland’s Structuring Your Novel. .
2. Novel writing tip #2:You need to know your characters – better than you know yourself
This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many new and seasoned writers struggle with this. Apart from a weak plot, another major reason readers put down books is because they don’t connect with the main character, or they aren’t clear who the main character is. Building a complex, interesting character who makes sense to the reader, is hard. And, it takes time.
Characters can be round, dynamic, flat, and/or static. Sometimes they are a combination of these. What you do not want is a flat and static main character who can’t keep a reader’s attention.
Take the time to create character profiles.
These help you understand your character’s back story, motivations, frustrations, flaws, desires, and purpose. Even if you don’t include these in your actual writing, this will inform your character’s behavior and reactions in a way that feels authentic and relatable.
Conversely, you can have round and static secondary characters, or flat and static supporting characters. The point is, that you need to know which one is which. And why. And what role these characters have in pushing your story forward. For example, do you need the MC’s mom to be fully developed, complex, round, and dynamic? Does it matter that much to the story? Or, is it enough for her to fulfill the “mother” role (or bad mother role, as the case may be), to get your character moving on their journey?
You don’t need to have a full character write-up for every single character in your novel, but you should know at the very least, your protagonist and antagonist(s) well. And, if possible, have a clear idea of secondary characters.
Again, some wonderful books on characterization to help with your planning before writing your novel are Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author’s Guide to Uniting Story Structure, and The Only Character Workbook You’ll Ever Need: Your New Character Bible, by T.M. Holladay.
Novel writing tip #3: You need to research and show you know what you’re writing about
Research is not just for historical fiction. You need it also (maybe especially) for a sci-fi epic or contemporary romance. Research your genre, and be an expert on the time period, place, or driving event. Showing you’ve done your homework with accurate and specific details increases reader engagement and makes it easier to immerse readers in the world and story you’ve created.
Research can also hyper-charge your story’s creativity. Authors often make unexpected connections or come up with creative ideas while researching or looking for general information. Almost any author will tell you that a place, event, or story idea they came up with was influenced by their research, a fact, or a real place or event.
Novel writing tip #4: You need to embrace the craft and process of writing
5 things you need to know before writing your novel
Writing your novel is going to take time. Maybe a lot of time. You need to be okay with that. You also need to be okay with the possibility that you may re-write and re-write your novel again, and again. It’s part of the (maddening) process of great writing.
Set up a daily (or weekly) writing routine
This is hard if writing is not your day job. Life gets in the way of writing. But I tell my students that if you want to call yourself a writer, then you have to write. Period. Even if it’s only for five minutes. On the train back from work. On the notes app on your phone.
However, whenever, you manage to do some writing, counts as writing. And the reason it counts is because it’s progress that keeps your story moving forward.
Telling yourself that you’ll start your novel when you have two free hours next week (ha!), will get you nowhere, because those two free hours never materialize. And neither does your novel.
The more you write the better you write.
There’s a reason why writing is called a craft, because it’s a skill to develop and practice over and over. The more you do it, the better you get at the craft. Even if it’s five minutes at a time.
NOTE: If you need some help organizing your time to write, check out The Simple “How To Get Organized” Plan!!
Novel writing tip #5: You need to be ready to edit and revise – a lot.
Writing is rewriting. No one writes a brilliant story on their first try. Not even me, with this blog post. There are so many steps to this process that I don’t want to list them here for fear of disheartening the would-be writer. But be prepared to edit your own work, and seek out suggestions from others. And then go back to edit and revise for those changes.
Revisions can reflect a new idea, or a theme you want to develop further. Inserting small details that lead to significant changes in the plot. Or maybe, just adding rich details, or more clarity in story development.
Editing and revising is part of the game
Before you send your completed manuscript to an agent or publisher you want to ensure the writing is as strong and the presentation as professional as possible. Then, if the agent or publisher chooses to take you on, they’ll suggest even more changes and revisions.
Any published strong novel goes through several rounds of editing and revising, so be open to the possibilities and suggestions (yours and others) that will help make your story stronger, more engaging, and impossible to put down.
Great resources for this process are Writing The Breakout Novel, by Donal Maass (though written 20 years ago, I still find it relevant and helpful), and Refuse To Be Done, by Matt Bell.
Be open to feedback for stronger revisions
Also, join a critique group. This is not optional. You might have to go through several different groups before you find one that’s the right fit. Still, critique groups are essential for helping writers get out of their heads and avoid writing in a vacuum. Good groups will help aspiring writers become their best writing selves and guide them to publication.
How to write a novel, and 5 novel writing tips you need to know before you begin to write.
Writing a novel is an adventure. But if you don’t take the time to learn these 5 novel writing tips before you begin to type up your story, your adventure may end sooner than you want. By following these five essential tips, you’ll be better prepared for your writing journey. Craft a solid plan, breathe life into your characters, conduct thorough research, embrace the writing process, and revise and edit. Writing a story is a labor of love, and each tiny step brings you that much closer to creating the best-seller you see in your head.
Happy writing!
you write your novel.
