Your Novel’s First Sentence
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s what happens (and I bet you do this too): a book jumps out at you at the bookstore. It might be the colors, an image on the spine, an author’s name, or the title, but something draws your attention and you single the book out of the masses. You glance at the cover, turn it over and read a few lines of the back cover copy. You open the book and read a little of the inside jacket copy, then turn to the first page, and …
You read the first line.
Which sucks, so you close the book and return it to the shelves.
That’s it. That’s how much time you have to hook the interest of readers today. If your first sentence doesn’t capture a reader’s imagination, that reader is off to the next novel.
Read More→
Writing Your First Novel – Story Concept
Posted by: | Comments
The idea of writing your first novel can be intimidating. This is why most people who have a desire to write a novel never actually take the plunge and do it … the effort simply appears too overwhelming.
However, it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. You just need to take it one step at a time. And the first step is agreeing to allow yourself to make mistakes and be imperfect. One of the great advantages of novel writing is that no one has to see it until you’re ready for them to see it. So begin your journey with the understanding that it’s going to be an adventure, that you’re going to make mistakes, and that it’s all right to make mistakes because you can always clean things up later.
So how do you get started?
Read More→
5 More Top Novel Writing Tips
Posted by: | CommentsLast time out, I offered my top five novel writing tips. In this article, we’ll explore five more top tips. I also want to reiterate upfront: A tip here or there will not provide you with enough information to help you get started writing a first a novel. You need more. Try an online course, for instance. Or seek out the guidance of a professional writer. Anything more substantial than a few quick tips.
Okay, no more lecturing. The truth is … a few solid novel writing tips can provide you with the motivation to get started and a rough idea of how to start. So here are some new ones for you …
Read More→
Top 5 Novel Writing Tips
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’re in search of tips for writing a novel, here’s your first tip: search for something more substantial. A tip here or there will not provide you with enough information to help you get started writing a first novel. You need more. Try an online course, for instance. Or seek out the guidance of a professional writer. Anything more substantial than a few quick tips.
With that said, a few solid novel writing tips can provide you with the motivation to get started and a rough idea of how to start. So here they are …
Read More→
Writing A Novel – A Beginner’s Guide
Posted by: | Comments
No one is born a novelist. But almost anyone who has the desire and passion can write a novel. As with any craft, writing a novel requires an understanding of the rules (which you’re free to break once you understand what you’re doing) and a good imagination. Think of drawing, or painting, even creative cooking. It’s an art. It should be enjoyed. It should be liberating.
What can make it difficult isn’t the writing but how the process of writing is perceived. If you see it as a difficult task requiring super human effort and secret knowledge … well, you’re going to find the process nearly impossible. If you relax, enjoy yourself and learn as you go, you’re not only going to have fun, you’re going to have a novel when you’re done.
Read More→
Write Your Novel Intuitively
Posted by: | CommentsThere is no secret method to writing a novel. Every author develops his or her own process based on personal preferences and work habits. Some writers are free and intuitive in their approach. Others are structured and organized. How you choose to attack the novel writing process is largely up to you.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at an intuitive approach.
Traditionally, when you prepare to write a novel you develop a synopsis, a thorough outline, a list of characters, and you have a fairly strong sense of how everything is going to unfold. When you write intuitively (and let me clarify here, all writers write intuitively to some degree, what we’re talking about here is really about making the entire process intuitive) you give away much of your control. You allow yourself to move somewhat blindly through the landscape or your story.
Read More→
Suspense In A Romance
Posted by: | CommentsWill the beautiful girl ever receive a kiss from that heartthrob who’s been keeping her at arm’s distance? Will the love-torn man ever get a glance from that girl he’s been pining over? Will the unrequited love of the couple we can’t help but root for ever be fulfilled?
Of course it will. That’s the whole point of a romance novel … to see a love story have a happy ending.
Every reader who picks up a good romance knows exactly how the story goes. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy slays the dragon, overcomes the wicked lord, and wins the heart of his sweetness all with one dashing wave of his sword, and they sweep off into the sunset to live happily ever after. Or, with today’s modern heroine taking the forefront of bravery and wits, the fair opposite sex might accomplish that same thing, winning the hand of her true love. She knew she would – modern heroines always get what they want.
Read More→
Struggling To Finish Your Novel?
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s believed that about 3% of those who start writing a novel will actually finish it.
If you’re struggling to finish your novel, here are some tips that may help:
1. Set a real deadline. One of the main reasons writers give up is because they begin to question whether anyone really cares. Pretend there’s an editor or agent waiting, drumming his or her fingers, eager for that completed manuscript to arrive. Set a deadline that you have to meet, and then meet it.
Read More→
Which Comes First – Short Story Or Novel?
Posted by: | Comments
A writer writes.
Bet you’ve heard that one before.
Or maybe this one: if you want to be a writer, first you write one word, then you write the next.
Both of these old clichés are true, of course. That’s how they turned into clichés. But there’s another dilemma a beginning creative writer often finds himself facing: do I write short stories or novels?
Writing novels is almost always the end goal. You’ll find exceptions – such as Ray Bradbury and Harlan Ellison, who primary built their careers writing short stories – but the vast majority of successful storytellers are novelists.
Read More→
Outline Your Next Novel
Posted by: | CommentsWhen you’re starting a new novel, there’s always a brainstorming stage. You toss some ideas up on a whiteboard or onto the computer, toy with them, decide if they’re a good fit or not, expand them, contract them, etc. At this stage, you’re still feeling your way around the story. Your vision is broad and fuzzy, maybe built around a character you have in mind, maybe built around a concept you find interesting.
At some point in this process, you have a decision to make: do you outline the story or do you start writing.
Read More→
