You Can Start Your Novel Today In Three Simple Steps

If you are really serious about wanting to write a compelling, well-written novel that will have the best chance of being published, there is one thing you must do before you even write one word.

Craft an Inspiring Blueprint To Guide You Every Step of The Way

You must first create a clear, step-by-step map for your journey through your story. It’s essential to go through the process of exploring and developing your initial ideas for character, setting, and plot. By clarifying these key elements of your novel before you begin writing, you will actually be able to finish it without getting lost somewhere in the vast middle section wondering where to go next. Everything will fit together in a unified vision that will inspire you to move forward and get your novel on paper.

Let Your Characters Introduce Themselves

To start with, you’ll want to really explore who your characters are and what is important to them. Starting from the seed of your initial ideas, you can give each character depth and dimension by asking yourself a series of key questions about their lives and motivations. As you go through this process, eventually your characters will come alive for you in your imagination. You will know them and feel for them and feel invested in where they are headed. To help you get there, explore the following questions for each character:

Who are the most important characters in your novel?

What do they look like, how old are they, what makes them unique?

What are their idiosyncrasies, habits, personality traits?

Where do they come from? i.e. family background, past experiences that made them who they are today.

What are their loves, hates, fears?

What are their heartfelt dreams for themselves and their lives? What obstacles are in the way of achieving them?

Use this time to really connect with your characters on a deep level. Once you feel invested in them and feel you understand the essence of who they are, you’re ready to go on to the next step.

Invent the World Of Your Novel

For the next step, take some time to explore the central locations and environments for your novel until you can really imagine yourself there. Here are some questions to get you started:

In which state, country, or region does your novel take place?

When does it take place: present, past, future?

Describe the key places that your novel takes place: how do they look and feel?

Describe the seasons that are experienced in your novel.

Are there key props/elements that are important to the story? i.e. a treasure map, a locket, an old tree.

Plot: Explore Where Your Novel Will Go

In this next step, you’re going to work out what happens in your novel step-by-step. You want to work it through until you have a storyline that feels interesting and compelling and culminates in a powerful climax. There are a variety of different methods for structuring your novel but at the most basic level, they all need you to answer the following essential questions:

Where are your main characters starting from?

What problem are they starting with and what do they want to change?

What is keeping them from having what they really want?

What strategies do your characters use to overcome these obstacles?

As to basic structure: Often your character will have some initial success about a third of the way through the story. Then, complications are introduced and things begin to fall apart about halfway through the novel. Next, your characters will have an experience of failure or loss about 2/3 of the way through your novel. This then leads to a deeper re-commitment to their goal and final push which eventually climaxes in the greatest effort and ultimate success.

It’s Really Worth Taking the Time To Know Where You’re Going

You are going to spend a lot of time writing your novel. Doesn’t it make sense to take the time to map out your journey beforehand so you know where you are going? By taking the time to really get to know your characters as well as clarify the details of setting and plot, you will be able to write your novel with ease and with the peace of mind that comes from clearly knowing how what you are writing each day contributes to the overall whole of your novel. Instead of wondering what to write about, you’ll feel inspired and excited to explore the next step on your journey. And that’s what makes this essential preparation ahead of time so very valuable.