Key Takeaways
1. Write Every Day: Establish a Consistent Writing Routine
"Writing is a serious enterprise that takes a certain amount of constancy and rigor."
Consistency is key. Set aside a specific time each day for writing, preferably when you're most productive. Aim for at least 1.5 hours of uninterrupted writing time. This daily practice helps you:
- Maintain momentum in your storytelling
- Connect with your unconscious mind, tapping into deeper creativity
- Develop discipline and commitment to your craft
Remember, even on days when inspiration is lacking, showing up to write is crucial. The act of sitting down and engaging with your work, even if you're not producing your best material, keeps you connected to your story and helps overcome writer's block.
2. Embrace Unconscious Creativity: Tap into Your Inner Writer
"The most important thing I've found about writing is that it is primarily an unconscious activity."
Trust your subconscious. Your unconscious mind is a powerful creative force that can generate ideas, connections, and insights beyond your conscious thinking. To harness this power:
- Allow yourself to write freely without judgment
- Pay attention to unexpected ideas or plot twists that emerge
- Embrace the "dream state" of your story, where characters and plot elements may surprise you
By writing regularly and trusting your intuition, you'll tap into a wellspring of creativity that can elevate your novel beyond what you consciously planned. This process often leads to more authentic and engaging storytelling.
3. Write Without Restraint: Break Free from Self-Censorship
"The writer, however, must loosen the bonds that have held her back all these years."
Embrace uncomfortable truths. To create authentic and compelling fiction, you must be willing to explore the full range of human experiences and emotions, even those that may be socially unacceptable or personally uncomfortable. This involves:
- Allowing your characters to have flaws, contradictions, and dark sides
- Exploring taboo subjects or controversial themes
- Writing without worrying about how others might judge your work
Remember that your characters' thoughts and actions don't necessarily reflect your own values. By giving yourself permission to write without restraint, you'll create more complex, realistic characters and narratives that resonate with readers on a deeper level.
4. Master the Narrative Voice: Choose Your Storytelling Perspective
"The voice that tells the story is the first thing the reader encounters. It carries us from the first page to the last."
Choose wisely. The narrative voice you select will shape how readers experience your story. Consider these main options:
- First-person: Intimate and personal, but limited to one character's perspective
- Third-person limited: Allows for multiple viewpoints while maintaining some intimacy
- Omniscient: Provides the most flexibility but can be challenging to execute effectively
Each narrative voice has its strengths and limitations. Experiment with different perspectives to find the one that best serves your story and characters. Remember that consistency in voice is crucial for maintaining reader engagement and believability.
5. Show, Don't Tell: Bring Your Story to Life with Vivid Details
"To be told that someone is violent or seems to be violent is too general; the reader is left to come up with their own notions of Piggott based upon their personal experience with violence."
Paint a picture. Instead of simply stating facts or emotions, use vivid sensory details and specific actions to immerse readers in your story. This technique:
- Engages readers' imaginations
- Creates a more memorable and impactful experience
- Allows readers to draw their own conclusions about characters and situations
Examples of showing vs. telling:
- Telling: "John was angry."
- Showing: "John's fists clenched, his jaw tightened, and a vein pulsed in his forehead as he glared at the offending letter."
Use metaphors, similes, and sensory language to create a rich, immersive world that readers can easily visualize and connect with emotionally.
6. Develop Complex Characters: Create Believable and Engaging Personalities
"All novels, short stories, and plays, and most poems, are about human transformation."
Focus on character growth. The heart of your novel lies in how your characters change and develop throughout the story. To create compelling characters:
- Give them clear goals, motivations, and conflicts
- Develop their backstories and personal histories
- Allow them to make mistakes and learn from their experiences
- Create complex relationships between characters
Character development techniques:
- Show how they react to different situations
- Reveal their thoughts and inner conflicts
- Demonstrate growth through their actions and decisions
Remember that even minor characters should have depth and purpose within your story. Each character should contribute to the overall narrative and themes of your novel.
7. Craft a Compelling Plot: Structure Your Story's Revelation
"Plot is the structure of revelation—that is to say, it is the method and timing with which you impart important details of the story so that the reader will know just enough to be engaged while still wanting to know more."
Create suspense and intrigue. A well-crafted plot keeps readers engaged by revealing information strategically. To develop an effective plot:
- Start with a hook that captures readers' attention
- Introduce conflicts and obstacles for your characters to overcome
- Build tension through a series of rising actions
- Create unexpected twists and turns
- Provide a satisfying resolution that ties up loose ends
Plot structure elements:
- Exposition: Introduce characters and setting
- Rising action: Develop conflicts and raise stakes
- Climax: Present the main confrontation or turning point
- Falling action: Show the consequences of the climax
- Resolution: Wrap up the story and provide closure
Remember to balance plot development with character growth, ensuring that each event in your story serves a purpose in advancing both the narrative and your characters' arcs.
8. Harness the Power of Poetry: Enhance Your Prose with Poetic Techniques
"Poetry is the fount of all writing. Without a deep understanding of poetry and its practices, any power the writer might have is greatly diminished."
Elevate your prose. Incorporating poetic techniques can enhance the beauty and impact of your writing. Key poetic elements to consider:
- Rhythm and cadence
- Imagery and sensory language
- Metaphors and similes
- Alliteration and assonance
- Concise and precise word choice
Benefits of poetic techniques in prose:
- Creates a more engaging and memorable reading experience
- Adds depth and layers of meaning to your writing
- Helps convey emotions and atmosphere more effectively
Study poetry and practice incorporating these techniques into your prose. However, be careful not to overuse poetic language, as it can become distracting if not balanced with more straightforward narrative writing.
9. Begin Your Novel: Overcome the First-Word Hurdle
"Probably the highest hurdle for the novice novelist (and many seasoned veterans) is writing the first few words."
Just start writing. The beginning of your novel is crucial, but don't let perfectionism paralyze you. Strategies to overcome writer's block:
- Start with a compelling scene or action
- Introduce an intriguing character or situation
- Begin with dialogue that raises questions
- Use a provocative statement or question
Remember that your first draft is just that—a draft. You can always revise and improve your opening later. The most important thing is to start putting words on the page and build momentum for your story.
10. Navigate the Middle: Maintain Momentum in Your Storytelling
"The midlands of your novel can be treacherous, but the map is in the beginning of your story, where the characters are introduced and the conflict occurs."
Keep the story moving. The middle of your novel is where many writers struggle to maintain momentum. To keep your story engaging:
- Develop subplots that intertwine with the main narrative
- Deepen character relationships and conflicts
- Raise the stakes for your protagonists
- Introduce new challenges or revelations
- Use pacing techniques to balance action and reflection
Remember that every scene should serve a purpose in advancing the plot or developing characters. If a section feels slow or unnecessary, consider cutting or revising it to maintain reader interest.
11. Rewrite and Edit: Transform Your First Draft into a Polished Novel
"The first draft is little more than an outline of the novel you wish to write. Rewriting is where you make the story into song."
Refine your work. The rewriting process is where your novel truly takes shape. Key aspects of effective editing:
- Read your entire draft before making major changes
- Focus on big-picture issues first (plot, character arcs, pacing)
- Refine language and style in later drafts
- Eliminate unnecessary repetition and tighten prose
- Ensure consistency in voice, tone, and characterization
Editing techniques:
- Cut unnecessary words, sentences, or even entire scenes
- Strengthen dialogue to reveal character and advance the plot
- Enhance descriptions using sensory details and vivid language
- Vary sentence structure and length for better flow
Remember that rewriting is an iterative process. Be prepared to go through multiple drafts, seeking feedback from trusted readers along the way. With each revision, your novel will become stronger and more polished.
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FAQ
What's "This Year You Write Your Novel" about?
- Guide for Aspiring Novelists: The book is a practical guide for anyone who wants to write and complete a novel within a year. It provides insights into the writing process from start to finish.
- Focus on Discipline: Walter Mosley emphasizes the importance of writing every day and developing a routine to connect with one's unconscious mind and creativity.
- Comprehensive Approach: It covers various aspects of novel writing, including character development, plot, narrative voice, and the importance of rewriting.
- Encouragement and Realism: Mosley offers encouragement while also being realistic about the challenges and potential outcomes of writing a novel.
Why should I read "This Year You Write Your Novel"?
- Practical Advice: The book offers practical, step-by-step advice for writing a novel, making it accessible for beginners and useful for experienced writers.
- Focus on Discipline: Mosley stresses the importance of discipline and routine, which is crucial for anyone serious about completing a novel.
- Comprehensive Coverage: It covers all essential elements of novel writing, from character development to narrative voice, providing a well-rounded understanding.
- Encouragement and Realism: The book balances encouragement with a realistic view of the writing process, helping writers manage expectations.
What are the key takeaways of "This Year You Write Your Novel"?
- Daily Writing Routine: Writing every day is crucial for connecting with your unconscious mind and making consistent progress.
- Character and Plot Development: Understanding and developing characters and plot are essential for creating a compelling story.
- Importance of Rewriting: Rewriting is where the real work begins, transforming a first draft into a polished novel.
- Role of Poetry: Understanding poetry can enhance a novelist's use of language, making their prose more powerful and precise.
How does Walter Mosley suggest starting a novel?
- Overcome Initial Hurdles: Mosley acknowledges the emotional challenge of starting a novel and suggests overcoming it by writing without self-criticism.
- Intuitive vs. Structured Approach: Writers can start intuitively by writing freely or use a structured approach by outlining the novel first.
- Focus on Routine: Establish a daily writing routine to maintain momentum and make consistent progress.
- First Draft as Exploration: The first draft is an exploration, and writers should not worry about perfection at this stage.
What does Walter Mosley say about rewriting in "This Year You Write Your Novel"?
- Rewriting is Essential: Rewriting is where the real work of crafting a novel happens, transforming the first draft into a polished piece.
- Multiple Drafts: Expect to go through multiple drafts, focusing on different aspects like character development, plot coherence, and language refinement.
- Reading Aloud: Mosley suggests reading the novel aloud or recording it to catch errors and improve the musicality of the prose.
- Know When to Stop: A novel is never perfect, but you know it's done when further changes don't improve it.
How does Walter Mosley define the narrative voice in a novel?
- Types of Narrative Voices: Mosley discusses first-person, third-person, and omniscient narrative voices, each with its own strengths and limitations.
- First-Person Intimacy: The first-person voice offers intimacy but is limited to the narrator's knowledge and perspective.
- Third-Person Flexibility: The third-person voice provides a balanced, impartial view and can shift between characters' perspectives.
- Omniscient Challenges: The omniscient voice knows all but can risk losing dramatic tension if not handled carefully.
What does Walter Mosley say about character development?
- Transformation is Key: Characters must undergo some form of transformation, which is central to the novel's narrative.
- Complex and Believable: Characters should be complex and believable, with traits that engage the reader's attention.
- Interplay of Relationships: Character development often occurs through relationships and interactions with other characters.
- Avoid Overloading Traits: Focus on a few defining traits to make characters memorable without overwhelming the reader.
How does Walter Mosley address the concept of plot in "This Year You Write Your Novel"?
- Structure of Revelation: Plot is the structure of revelation, determining how and when information is revealed to engage the reader.
- Element of Surprise: Effective plots often include surprises that are logical yet unexpected, maintaining reader interest.
- Interconnected Elements: Plot is closely tied to character development and story, requiring careful integration of all elements.
- Avoid Predictability: Keep the reader engaged by holding back essential information and creating suspense.
What role does poetry play in novel writing according to Walter Mosley?
- Foundation of Writing: Mosley views poetry as the foundation of all writing, emphasizing the importance of language precision and elegance.
- Music and Content: Poetry teaches writers to see language as both music and content, enhancing the novel's prose.
- Editing Skills: Poets' focus on editing and distilling language can greatly benefit novelists in refining their work.
- Symbolism and Metaphor: Understanding poetry helps novelists use symbolism and metaphor effectively in their storytelling.
What are Walter Mosley's views on genre in novel writing?
- All Novels Share Elements: Regardless of genre, all novels share elements like character development, plot, and narrative voice.
- Know the Conventions: While all novels are similar, understanding the conventions of a specific genre can enhance the storytelling.
- Balance Genre and Novel: Don't let genre conventions overshadow the novel's core elements; focus on character and story.
- Genres as Frameworks: Genres provide a framework but should not limit the creativity and depth of the novel.
What are the best quotes from "This Year You Write Your Novel" and what do they mean?
- "Writing is a serious enterprise": This quote emphasizes the importance of discipline and commitment in the writing process.
- "Rewriting is where you make the story into song": Mosley highlights the transformative power of rewriting in crafting a compelling narrative.
- "The novel is more experiential than it is informational": This underscores the importance of engaging the reader's emotions and senses rather than just conveying information.
- "A novel is both a larger story and an accumulation of many smaller stories": This reflects the complexity and interconnectedness of narratives within a novel.
How does Walter Mosley suggest dealing with procrastination in writing?
- Daily Routine: Establish a daily writing routine to combat procrastination and maintain momentum.
- Avoid Distractions: Turn off phones, avoid chores, and create a dedicated writing space to minimize distractions.
- Commitment to Time: Dedicate a specific amount of time each day to writing, even if no words come initially.
- Persistence Over Perfection: Focus on persistence rather than perfection, understanding that the first draft is just the beginning.
Review Summary
This Year You Write Your Novel receives mixed reviews. Many praise its concise, practical advice for aspiring writers, emphasizing daily writing and revision. Some find it basic but motivating, while others criticize its brevity and lack of depth. Readers appreciate Mosley's straightforward approach and encouragement, though some disagree with specific advice. The book is seen as a good starting point for beginners but may not offer much new information for experienced writers. Some reviewers note problematic content and examples.
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