Writing a novel can be daunting, but taking the first step is crucial. Plan or take a “see what happens” approach, or write the ending first. Develop a main character you care about and add a complication using a “What If” series. Care about your main character and keep asking questions.
Many writers never venture into the world of novel writing because of the daunting proposition of taking that impossibly difficult first step, and so their big idea remains just that: an idea. But writing a novel doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds, and many people find that once they get started on the novel, the rest comes a little easier with a combination of creativity and determination. Sure, writing a novel is a difficult process, but it gets a lot easier once a writer takes that extremely crucial first step.
There are two general schools of thought regarding writing a novel: many authors will meticulously plan and outline the novel, while others will simply write the beginning and take a “see what happens” approach. One process or the other will work for you, but if you’re having a hard time choosing, try this: Write the ending of your novel first. This way, you know where you need to finish once you start writing the beginning. This process of writing a novel is similar to getting directions to a new restaurant before leaving the house. You know where you need to end up – it’s just a matter of getting there now.
Another method to start writing a novel is to develop a main character that you care about. Don’t worry about the plot right off the bat; worry about writing a character you want to follow for three or four hundred pages, someone you wouldn’t mind meeting in real life. That way, you’ll be constantly interested in what happens to them throughout your novel. Where they live? How are they physically? What difficulties do they deal with in their daily life? If you care about your main character when writing a novel, the plot will start to develop.
Once you’ve started writing a novel and have a character you care about, it’s time to add a complication. The easiest way to achieve this is to think of your book as a “What If” series. What if this character met that character? What if my truck driver main character has an accident? What if my main characters get divorced? Many of the best novels out there were started with this premise, and if you’re having trouble getting started, this might be a good approach for you.
When writing a novel, make sure of two things: First, make sure you care about your main character. This will make it easier to write down what happens to them. Second, be sure to add a complication or “What If” scenario. Keep asking questions and your characters will keep answering.
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