As you probably know, writing a novel can be an incredibly grueling process. You must find the perfect balance of plot, character development, and word choice. And if you’re just starting out, that means discovering how to write a novel effectively. Luckily, there are plenty of tips and tricks available when it comes to writing your next great story. Keep reading for 8 helpful hints on how to write your next epic novel!
1. Define your story ideas
You can’t begin writing your novel without knowing what you’re writing about. At the very least, come up with an overarching story concept. When you don’t know where your story is going, you’re much less likely to find success.
2. Read similar novels
While brainstorming ideas, you might want to look at similar novels and see how they’re structured. This way, you can better understand what type of story you want to write. For example, look at other fantasy novels if you’re interested in writing a fantasy novel. You can use Goodreads to find similar books, or you can search for “similar novels” on Amazon.
3. Develop your characters
Once you’ve decided on your story concept, you should start thinking about your characters. To successfully write a novel, you need engaging characters. Ideally, these characters will endear themselves to the audience, making them feel something for the characters. Start by brainstorming who these characters are and why they are essential.
4. Select a story structure
As you’re thinking about your story and developing your characters, you should also think about the structure of your novel. There are a variety of story structures you can choose from. Some of the most popular include the: Plot Pyramid – This story structure is a pyramid, with the main events at the tip and the sub-events at the base. The Circular Structure – This novel structure is circular and follows a pattern of re-occurrence. For example, the setting of your novel might be a circular, cyclical path. Either way, deciding how you will write the story is a good idea.
5. Establish milestones
As you’re writing your novel, setting certain milestones is important. This will help you stay on track and complete each task on time. For example, you might want to set a goal of completing 5,000 words each day. This way, you’re not only writing, but you’re also achieving daily milestones. This will help keep you from falling behind. Don’t forget there are many other aspects of writing a novel, such as research, story editing, and marketing. Make sure you don’t forget any of these things when writing your book.
6. Write every day
You’ve probably heard this advice before, but it’s imperative. When it comes to writing, make sure you’re writing every day. This is essential to improving your writing skills and finding a writer’s success. Plenty of books will tell you that you need to “get in the zone” or “visualize” when it comes to writing. While these concepts are helpful, they’re not the most important aspects of writing. The most important aspect of writing is simply putting pen to paper. Make sure you have a notebook or journal handy when you’re writing. This is where you’ll be able to write down any ideas that come to mind.
7. Revise your story
After writing each day, you should also spend some time reviewing and editing your work. This is especially important when starting out, as you’re likely to catch many mistakes. You should have someone edit your work every couple of chapters to catch these mistakes as soon as possible. This way, you detect any errors before they go too far and become a more significant part of the novel.
8. Work with an editor
Finally, don’t forget to reach out to an editor. This is especially important if you are not a professional editor. A lot of writers will self-edit. However, this is not a good idea. If you want your work to be as good as possible, you need to work with an editor. This will ensure that you catch any mistakes with your manuscript and use the right words and grammar. If you want to put your novel in its best possible form, you should reach out to an editor. These tips and tricks for writing your next book will help you to write a great story.
