Learning to write a novel can feel daunting or perhaps you don't even realize it is a skill you can learn. I always loved stories and had a lifelong aspiration of creating worlds people could get lost in but I also held the belief that writing a novel was a gift that only few were born with... I pictured the writer, the author, holing themselves up somewhere in a room and writing until they finished their novel- it was easy for them and came simply, they published and that was that.
It was 2020 when I realized craft books existed and that I could learn how to write a novel. Novel writing is a series of skills in combination with heart and imagination.
You can learn how to write a novel. Here are four tips to get started on your novel writing journey and how I got started.
1: Self Reflect
The story you’re meant to write is already speaking to you in the form of your favorite voices: the art you already love. Reflect on...
Your favorite:
Music artists
Childhood movies
Books
Authors
Characters that have stuck with you
2: Learn Plot Structure
Stories take common forms. Learn the basic “beats” of story structure in order to organize your writing.
I recommend starting with Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody.
3: Brainstorm & Explore: Character Mapping
Where does your main character live? What’s the weather like? Who do they meet in their day to day? How do they survive?
Side Characters:
Love Interest?
Allies?
Enemies?
What kind of World does your character live in? Fantasy? Sci-fi? Horror? Modern Day?
4: POV & Start Writing!
Experiment & play with different POV (first person vs third) and go from there! Drop into a moment in the life of your character and start writing what they notice, how they feel, what they are doing in that moment.
Just write 🙂 The story will unfold & you’ll begin to notice the plot beats come together naturally ❤️
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-Lindsay
