How Do I Get Started on My Novel?

Writing a novel can seem like a monumental task, filled with uncertainty and self-doubt, especially when you’re faced with the blank page. Whether you're a first-time writer or a seasoned author with multiple projects under your belt, one question lingers: how do I get started on my novel? Here’s how.

A Strong Concept

Your novel should begin with a clear concept that excites you, one that holds the potential for deep exploration. This concept could be a what if question that intrigues you or a theme you want to explore. A concept is this broad central idea rather than the plot. The plot is how your story unfolds, the sequence of events that will drive the narrative forward. Develop your concept. Boil it down to one sentence, or perhaps two. Then ask yourself: What will happen in your story? How will your characters navigate the world you’ve created?

A Strong Character

When Flaubert wrote Madame Bovary, he came up with a character in Emma Bovary the likes of which had not quite appeared in European literature: she is physically beautiful but morally empty, she is idealistic yet self-indulgent, she thinks only of herself and does not regret it much. She sounds terrible, right? And that’s why she is so extraordinary. As with the concept idea, develop your character. Make them awful or brilliant or revolutionary or sinister. Then ask: what journey would they go on, what path will they tread, with whom will they fall in love, what good or bad things would they do?

A Strong Theme

Consider the themes you want to explore. Themes will ground your novel in something larger than just a series of events, and they will provide emotional depth. Options for themes are literally endless, and once you have decided what you want to write about, think about what situations or characters will allow you to explore your ideas, and how.

Commit to a Writing Routine

Once you have an idea, work out a consistent, realistic writing routine. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by writing a novel, but breaking it down into some achievable goals and a schedule helps a lot. Start by setting aside a small amount of time each day or an afternoon or morning a week to write. If you’ve never written a novel before, think about realistic goals, like 500 or 1,000 words per day. I can work anywhere, but having a dedicated space might help you focus. This doesn't have to be a dedicated office—just a quiet café or library where you can write is fine. Consistency is key. Don’t worry about it being perfect. Start and get some words down.

Plotting Vs Pantsing

If you prefer structure or a clear outcome, or just to be able to see the whole shape of the book before you start (frankly, me), outlining is a brilliant tool. It can help you keep track of your plot, pacing, and character arcs. Work up the main events of your story and then apply the broad rules of Classic Novel Structure (covered in my book, below), in creating a quest, an inciting incident, a midpoint, a climax, etc. Build up as much as you can, until you feel ready to start. There is no perfect jump-off point. Just keep going until you feel ready. It will come.

Outlining provides clarity, acts as a roadmap and helps you stay on track but it’s not for everyone. Some writers prefer to dive straight into writing without a detailed outline. They come up with that concept or character and just go and see what they have, letting the novel grow organically. This method, known as "pantsing" (writing by the seat of your pants), might start with the vaguest idea, and grow from there. Here, editing and reviewing what you have written is essential.

You can also adopt a hybrid method where you create a very loose outline or just plot a few chapters ahead at once. Again, understanding Classic Novel Structure will help you here.

Flesh Out Your Characters

Once you have your central character, your protagonist, and a plot, secondary characters will follow. Each major character should serve a purpose—whether to further the plot, provide the romantic interest or illuminate themes. Every major character should undergo some sort of transformation throughout the story and have a motivation. Work this up, though not in as much detail as the central character. How do secondary characters influence or change as the story progresses? How do they help or hinder the protagonist and their quest?

Research As Much As You Need (But Not Too Much)

If your novel requires research, dive in. Wikipedia is a great starting point, but then after that, go to libraries or bookstores to build it out. Accurate research will add authenticity to your novel, especially if you're weaving historical or scientific events into the narrative. It's important to research the culture, politics, social issues, and historical context if you need to.

I will give you one piece of advice and one word of warning. When doing your research, don’t just use it as a way of adding that authenticity (as important that is), use it to think of scenes and characters. Real events or real facts are treasure troves of ideas for scenes, whether to provide the drama or just the backdrop for it. This is great novel-writing, to do your research, once, to build your world, and twice, to steal ideas! But remember there is a time to stop researching, and start writing. Research can be a form of procrastination and avoidance. Also, don’t be too tied to research, either in your planning or your writing. If we are writing fiction, that is what we are writing. We are not historians but historical novelists.

Find Your Narrative Voice

You can progress quickly once you understand the voice and style in which you are writing. This may be determined by your genre or market, but there is always room to work up an interesting voice. It will shape the effect of your writing further. For example, a first-person POV could provide an intimate feel. Alternatively, a third-person omniscient narrator could allow for a broader exploration of your world and its characters.

Consider the mood you want to convey. Is it humorous, ironic, tragic? Getting the voice right will make your novel feel integrated, but it is also just a great way to really get started. Try to speak in the voice in your head for a while. Imagine opening passages, and say them aloud, without committing to writing them down. Speak in the voice of someone you know or have heard on TV or in a movie. Brainstorm and test voices, and see what comes.

And Now Start!

Once you have some of these elements in place, and some voice is suggesting itself to you that you should start now, it’s almost certainly time to start. Be aware of procrastination and avoidance, as mentioned before. Not writing is the quickest way to not publishing. Your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. The goal is to get the words down, let the story take its shape. Editing can come later. You might feel afraid. That’s okay. As the title of the self-help classic goes: Feel the fear, and do it anyway.

How To Write A Novel Chapter By Chapter available here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Novel-Chapter-Outlining-ebook/dp/B0DJ8TMVWL?ref_=ast_author_mpb