Book Novel
Fiction Writers : What are some helpful steps to take to start writing a small book or novel?
I have had a few very bad attempts at starting a book or novel that always end with me giving up. It seems that I soon lose grip of my original outline or that I sum up the entire book in a few paragraphs/chapters. So what are some simple tips that will make it easier to begin and actually carry out a concept so that it actually becomes an small book or novel instead of a short story? Any and all suggestions are apprieciated.
Oh boy, I could write a book about this!
…okay, so the joke was lame, it’s two A.M. here!
IMHO, you can’t ever force a story, remember that first. My wife has a book that she’s been working on for over ten years, I’ve got one almost as old. We both have a few published books we finished in months. Sometimes you just need to step away.
Take lots of notes. I like using notecards or some similar tool so that I can move them around… change the order till everything fits. Use that to build an outline, or even several outlines till you find one you like.
Write down every half formed idea. Look back at them often. Most of my completed work comes from ideas that were totally unrelated.
Find a style that is comfortable and stick with it. My strength is in characterization and every time I try something I’m not so good with, I usually have the same problem you do with finishing a story in a few paragraphs.
Know when to quit. Does the novel work better as a novella? Or even a short story? Short stories are much easier to publish for a new writer, and they are great for giving the new writer experience and a resume for when they do complete the great novel.
Finally, just keep writing. For most of my life I wanted to write, but for years I kept failing to finish that novel. Eventually, without even noticing it happen, my skill as a writer grew and by the time I made my first sale, I realized I had a whole slew of finished work that I could follow up with. Sometimes, it just takes time and patience.
I hope this helps!
UPDATE:
Wireman, excellent suggestion! I completely forgot that one! I never went to a “group” like many writers, but I did hang out with friends who wrote and we did much the same thing.
SLWrites, point for you too. That’s also an actor trick for really getting into a role. Even if most of the background is never even used, things like a characters favorite ice cream can influence the way they react to a situation and add an incredible amount of depth to a story.
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This entry was posted on Thursday, November 29th, 2007 at 12:56 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.