How to Write a Novel - 01 - Preparation

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By rjspindle
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What Will You Write About?

In this first article on how to write a novel, you'll learn what you need to have to begin writing a novel. As we progress with further articles you'll get to polishing that novel and sending it out to publishers and agents.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Imagination, word processor, time, and a great idea

Step 1

I could go off rattling what kind of paper and fonts and writing programs you should use, but really, writing can be done with anything on anything. I once wrote an entire chapter on a roll of carbon cash-register tape with my finger nail. Sometimes you will be hit by the lovely muse while in the darnedest places. All you really need to start writing a novel is an idea. It can be any idea, great or small...you don't even need to think it worthy of being full novel size. You just need an idea.
Step 2

Got an idea? Good. Now we've got to test this idea out. The best way I've found to test an idea is to write with it. Not a lot mind you, just enough to get a feel for the idea. Take out your favorite writing utensils (be it by word processor or pen and paper) and write around 250 words (1 hand written page, or one double-spaces typed one). Don't worry about where to start. This can be a scene in the middle or the end of the story if that is what inspired you. All we need to know here is if the idea is writable. When you're done that, come back.
Step 3

How easy was that? Now, how to tell if it was any good? The first sign is the ease in which you wrote it in. Did you get to the end of your page and want to continue? Did you continue? Did images of scenes in the whole novel flood your mind? Even if they didn't, that doesn't mean it isn't a good idea. Did you even see a subtle potential in the idea? If you answered yes to any of these, then it's a good place to start writing a novel. The only bad idea in noveling is the unwritten one.
Step 4

What to do if you DO have a bad idea? Well, the only way I can see an idea being bad is if it took you hours to write that one page and you can't foresee the next sentence. And even then, it may not be a bad idea...it may be a bad time to write about that idea. NEVER THROW AWAY AN IDEA FOR A STORY! You never know when you'll be pressed for ideas, and then you can come back to some of your old ones and use them to tied you over until the muse visits you again. I keep several notebooks with story ideas and odd phrases to use for titles. Any idea of amusement to me goes in these books and they've come in handy on more than one occasion. So good, now we've got a place to start.
Step 5

Lastly, and most important, you'll need to dedicate a set of time each day for writing. It can be any amount of time. I suggest a minimum of one hour and maximum of three, but it needs to be the same time every day and reading these articles do NOT count as part of this time. Sorry, you want to write a novel, this will be your biggest investment - time. The hardest part of writing a novel is getting your butt in the chair and etching the words into the stone. There is no bad time for writing, but you need to set aside a time every day for it. The reason it needs to be the same time everyday is due to our brain's love for consistency. The length of time can vary. If you can only barely churn out a page in the first hour, call it a day. If the muse has walloped you with a baseball bat, then run on until you've reached three hours. DON'T go over three hours. Contrary to popular belief, you won't lose a good idea or flow if you stop writing in the middle. If you truly fear this happening, jot a few notes for yourself and walk away. Other than sitting down, once finally getting in the writing chair, the hardest part can be getting out of it.