Novels are a popular and lucrative market for aspiring authors. To become a novelist, read extensively, create an outline, develop characters, rewrite, and seek publication. Business sense and talent are necessary for a writing career, but a love of writing and the genre are essential.
Novels are one of the most popular and best-selling genres of modern literature. This lucrative market, with a constant thirst for new material, is an excellent place for a budding author to try to break into the business. Writing is not always easy, and anyone trying to become a novelist would do well to prepare carefully before seeking publication.
Writers of any genre will tell you that one of the most important steps to becoming an author is reading. To become a romance novelist, reading many examples of the genre can help a new writer understand the style, themes, and format of a published novel. In addition to reading romance novels, try reading anything with a great love story. Games, biographies, and even classic literature can be a wonderful source of material and inspiration for anyone trying to become a novelist.
After sufficient study, a person trying to become a novelist must begin his own story. Instead of skipping to page one, consider writing an outline for the story. In a few pages or a list of key scenes, describe the introduction of characters, the story of the novel, the climax of the novel, and the ending. Some writers like to do detailed outlines that list every scene, so writing the novel is a matter of filling in the blanks. Others prefer to have a more open outline that achieves great stories but allows creativity and ideas to come through in the writing process.
Character biographies are another useful tool when trying to become a novelist. Understanding the characters, their backgrounds, flaws and abilities, can help them feel more like people and less like literary devices. A detailed character outline can also help when trying to sell a novel, as compelling characters will help separate an author from the pack.
After the novel is written, ask friends or family to read it. Take careful notes on all suggestions and start rewriting. Remember that the first draft is never perfect and that rewriting can help turn a diamond in the rough into a real diamond. When the rewrite is complete, have the script proofread for errors, either by a professional or a grammar- and spelling-conscious friend. A buggy script will tell editors and agents that they are dealing with an amateur.
Getting an agent or getting a manuscript published is the next important step in becoming a novelist. Check with friends if anyone knows someone in the post; a script is much more likely to be read and considered if there is a passenger acquaintance involved. If not, check online and at bookstores for lists of agencies that accept unsolicited material. Rather than submitting the entire manuscript, consider submitting a pitch pack. This should include a cover letter, resume and writing sample. Some people choose to submit just the first chapter, others include a chapter and plot outline. Try to make the agent or reader want to learn more about the script.
While selling a manuscript can help a person become a novelist, it can take years of patience and dedication to reach that level. Many aspiring writers have full-time jobs that allow them to work nights and weekends, even after selling a book or two. Turning writing into a lucrative career takes as much business sense as talent, but to become a novelist, published or unpublished, all that’s really needed is a love of writing and a passion for the genre.
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