Dan’s Writing Blog

Writing a novel is a great undertaking. Many people will say sometime in their life that they want to write a novel. However, few have the drive and commitment to actually succeed. If you are ready to discover how to write a novel for the first time, this article can help you.

The first step in writing your novel is to design your plot, or what your story will actually be about. Your novel can be about whatever you want! Oftentimes, once you have your main concept, the rest can fall into place as you write. Don’t forget that you need an intriguing beginning, an exciting middle, and a sensational ending. There should also be conflict and resolution in your storyline.

Next, you need to create your characters. Most novels have a protagonist and an antagonist, the main hero and the main villain respectively. Flesh out your main and secondary characters; they are a vital driving force in your novel! Give them each a history, unique personality, likes and dislikes, etc. Remember to not create your protagonist as completely perfect. Your antagonist, as well, should also not be completely evil. Every character needs to have some kind of appeal to the reader.

Now, it’s time for the hardest part: the writing. This is where so many people fail or give up because it can often be a difficult process. You should create a relaxing writing space for yourself where there are no distractions. Definitely have a good chair that won’t hurt your back after hours and hours of writing! Make writing a habit. Write something every day, whether it is a sentence or a chapter. Getting into the habit of writing every day will make it more likely that you will actually finish your novel.

Now, once you have a few chapters, you need to start proofreading and revising. It is impossible to do too many rewrites! Revisions can make or break a novel, so make sure you actually do them. Another thing that helps is having a friend critique your work. A fresh pair of eyes can be invaluable to your writing.

When your novel is complete, revised, and rewritten for the last time, congratulations, you have written a novel. Aren’t you glad you learned how to write a novel and actually finished it? Now you can think about publishing!