This Year You Write Your Novel

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.

Last updated: October 6, 2024