How do I write a novel?
Welcome to the 'cheat sheet' of "How do I write a novel? " Yeah, you've come to the RIGHT section if you eager to learn some INSIDER info of how a novel is written. I know, some authors won't like this page but heck what is wisdom if it can't be shared hey! So, let's go!
I know some will even claim that you CAN NOT learn or even teach someone to write! Well, my humble opinion on it is IF you're reading this.. .it means you are already 'drawn' to writing and you just want to 'sharpen' your skills and that is what this page is all about. Are you ready? Scroll down... |
So, You wanna write a Novel, hey? Does it seem like a 'daunting' task ONLY meant for PRO's? Nah, even YOU can WRITE one if you 'realize' that writing a novel comes in just 3 'acts' :
Act 1: Prepare
1. You always HIT OFF with an IDEA that doesn't seem to leave you alone LOL ! It can be one SCENE that 'flashes' before you or even a 'vivid' DREAM you had but a STORY always starts with it...
Then comes the RESEARCH. Get to know as much as possible about the IDEA you wanna write about either research 'online' ; watching series or even reading books or articles on the subject. That is IMPORTANT to have a 'plausible' one that your readers will 'accept'. The 3rd part in 'Prepare' is obviously jotting down the INSPIRING IDEA that will get your 'novel' on the road. Mind you, this is just RANTING on paper everything that comes to mind. Pay no attention to Grammar or Lay out yet! Just scribble it all on paper. You can of course already use 'divisions' as "Spoilers" or "Plotting" but TRY not to be too ANALYTIC here or it'll stifle your 'imagination' somehow. This is ONLY the first 'attempt' to breathe life into your story and 'feel' if it has life in it or not! Once all the 'inspiration' is drained from you and 'lives' on paper now, it's time to deepen the plot and move on to Part two "Act". |
Act 2: Plot
2. Get to know your characters inside and out BEFORE you even START writing your FIRST DRAFT
by "PROFILING" each character. You can use the many questionnaires you can just find 'online'. Another way of 'Profiling' is the POINT OF VIEW method. You take the 'hook' scene or the 'incident' and you write down HOW it affects every IMPORTANT character in your story from their 'point of view'. In that way, you can learn to know your characters and explore your story! This 'inspiration' will be useful for your first draft and as a 'hidden bonus' will reveal the 'roles' they all play as 'protagonist' - 'antagonist' and 'life saver' . Now it's time to PLOT. You can use SCENE CARDS that will 'structure' your story or you can stick with the 3 ACT STRUCTURE if you prefer 'minimal' plotting. I usually do the '3 act' thingy as too much 'outlining' simply 'stifles' the characters and they just 'run off' which is not what you wanna achieve, right? |
Act 3 : Write
3. HIT OFF with your first draft! READY... SET ... WRITE
If the BLANK page is staring at you and threatens to swallow you whole ARGHHH?!? What Now?!?
That is WHY the 'snowflake' method can 'save' you. 4 EASY steps to get that 'first draft' on paper or on screen these days. Well, the choice is yours really scribbling or typing! Whatever gets you writing!
If the BLANK page is staring at you and threatens to swallow you whole ARGHHH?!? What Now?!?
That is WHY the 'snowflake' method can 'save' you. 4 EASY steps to get that 'first draft' on paper or on screen these days. Well, the choice is yours really scribbling or typing! Whatever gets you writing!
At first, it seems like a 'silly' method but really TRY IT and you'll see the beauty of it. It's especially useful IF you have a 'babbling' Muse and you simply can't type or write fast enough lol as with that method you 'structure' your draft more and reveal more and more with each step you take. Yeash, it takes a lot more 'rewriting' but believe me... The first draft is NOT a novel yet! It's just a baby that needs lots of TLC as in rewriting and editing.
IF you have reached this stage in your novel?
CONGRATS! Now, you can exactly WRITE that story... Have Fun writing!
Okay, no worries if your 'actual' story is somehow 'different' from your first draft lol. Remember, first drafts is just 'feeling' the story and the ACTUAL WRITING makes you 'Captain' of the ship so you steer it in the destination you want!
Some authors just WRITE and EDIT the first draft but I'm hooked to the 3 ACT STRUCTURE as this is what makes the 'story' flow from my fingers really! It's like an 'invisible' tread to hang to.
IF you have reached this stage in your novel?
CONGRATS! Now, you can exactly WRITE that story... Have Fun writing!
Okay, no worries if your 'actual' story is somehow 'different' from your first draft lol. Remember, first drafts is just 'feeling' the story and the ACTUAL WRITING makes you 'Captain' of the ship so you steer it in the destination you want!
Some authors just WRITE and EDIT the first draft but I'm hooked to the 3 ACT STRUCTURE as this is what makes the 'story' flow from my fingers really! It's like an 'invisible' tread to hang to.
So last but not least, once you've written your novel in blood sweat and tears lol, you still need to check your GRAMMAR and sort out your LAY - OUT. Then, comes the hardest part... you have to let your story go into the BIG Bad World. Scary but exciting! GO FOR IT!