Advice On Starting A Novel

by hanamigo

posted on 07/01/2009

Beginning a novel is a big project to take on for anyone. It's important for the author to get a good start on the novel and maintain his or her story while having a good momentum. Here are a few things to help make sure that writing your novel from start to end is the most enjoyable for you.

Know What You Want to Write
Writing a novel can be difficult enough knowing what you want to write. The writing process becomes even more complicated when you suddenly decide that you want to write a novel without having a story in mind. It's okay if you decide to freewrite until you produce something that really piques your interest, but remember that you need to have a sense of direction for your story and something that will grab your readers' attention.

Do Your Research First
Several novels require lots of research, and sometimes you may have to look up something that's essential to the development of the story. Writers often wonder if they should stop writing to do research, get it done before starting the story, or leave research for the end.

It's best if you research first. If you unexpectedly need to look up information, don't cease productivity just for fact-checking. Make a note by the part that you need to do research for. Come back to it after you've finished writing for the day or after you've finished writing the entire novel.

Set a Routine
Writing is best if it's done on a regular basis. Decide how many pages you want to write per day, not setting your goal too high or too low. If you maintain this routine, you'll be able to get over the first big obstacle of beginning your novel. Plan out your novel over a certain period of time and try to get it finished within a set period of time.

Write in a Style that's Comfortable
Writers work best when they're comfortable, and it shows in their stories. If you write better following a logical flow, write that way. If you work better not following the logical sequence of events, but out of order, then do it. Your stories will be a lot better if you write in a way that makes you feel the most confident.

Starting a novel can be scary, but it's not something that you should allow to stop you from ever starting. Prepare and get confident about your story. Put something on the page--you can always revise in the next draft.

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