How to Write a Novel: A Step-by-Step Guide for Aspiring Authors

The process of writing a novel can create a feeling that one is on the bottom of the mountain and the top is exciting and puzzling. Each narrative starts with a seed; a thought, a character or even a simple what-if - but bringing that seed to bloom into a complete novel is a process which is time-consuming, organised and creative. The problem with many aspiring writers is that they get stuck at the first line not knowing how to transition between inspiration and execution without losing it.

The positive thing is that the knowledge of how to write a novel does not necessarily have to be a mystery. Dealing with the process step-by-step lets you proceed with full confidence and slowly construct your story base to the top. Whether it is brainstorming and planning, drafting and revising every step is critical to developing your narrative and actualizing your vision. It doesn’t matter if you are writing your first time manuscript or you are seeking to perfect your style, this guide will help you to kickstart your writing process step-by-step providing you with the tools and strategies necessary to transform your idea into a beautiful piece of fiction that readers will be proud to read.

Finding Your Novel Idea & Nurturing It

All novels start with an idea but not all ideas are so robust to support a full length novel. Finding, experimenting, and developing your idea at the very beginning will provide you with that base to build an excellent story. The seed of a novel comes easily at times and sometimes you have to really dig deep to find it. With the ability to know where to find the inspiration, evaluate the strength of your idea, and use the mighty power of the what if tool, you will be in a position to build a tent of your novel out of a thought that comes to mind.

Where to Find Inspiration

New ideas may originate anywhere as long as you are open minded. Listening to experiences in everyday life, the bits of overheard conversations, personal recollections, or historical events or even newspaper headlines. Inspiration is usually found in the most unexpected places, in a phobia that you had as a child, as a problem in a relationship or an unresolved question that has remained in your mind. Carry a notebook or digital journal to write down these sparks before they die.

Testing Your Idea's Strength

Ideas are not born equal and prior to putting down the pen on the paper, you should consider how deep your idea is and whether it can hold a whole novel. Question: Does this idea have enough complexity to look at it in alternative ways? Are there enough spaces to develop the characters, the themes, and the conflicts in hundreds of pages?

One of the options to test this is to compose a short synopsis or elevator pitch. When you can recap your novel in a few sentences and also get excited about the possibilities of the story, then you have the right track. In case you cannot find content or richness in your idea, it can be worth revising it further before engaging in the entire journey of the novel.

The Power of "What If..."

The best way to extend your new idea is by posing yourself the question of What if. What if your protagonist made a different choice? What would have happened had they lived in a different time or in a different universe? Suppose that they were keeping a secret? These imaginary questions can open new horizons of your story, bringing new twists, surprises in the conflicts, and new character lines. "What if..." questions will allow you to go beyond the first idea and see the potential of your story in its entirety. Be curious and test out new situations; you can simply happen upon the next big thing that can make your idea great instead of good.

The Essential Pre-Writing Phase: Plotting vs. Pantsing

It is imperative to answer a great question before getting into your manuscript; will you outline your story or write by the seat of your pants? There are two main types of writers: plotters and pantsers, and even though each type has its advantages, knowing them will allow you to find the middle ground that will fit your writing style. You can be a person who likes to plan everything beforehand or revel in the process of learning the story in the process, pre-writing phase enables you to avoid stumbling blocks and build a solid base on your novel.

What is a Plotter? What is a Pantser?

A plotter is an author who pre-plots the story before writing it. They frequently rely on outlines, division into chapters, or a list of scenes to maintain their story pattern and meaning.

A pantser, however, writes by the seat of his pants. They do not map out the whole novel but through drafting, they use intuition, inspiration, and discovery. This technique usually leaves both the author and the audience in surprise and in some cases this may pose structural problems.

Most authors are between and do what is sometimes known as plantser, which places freedom and structure alike in equal parts.

The Benefits of a Basic Outline

Although you are inclined to pantsing, you can save time and frustration by creating the loose outline. A basic framework helps you:

• Avoid major plot holes.
• Maintain consistent pacing.
• Monitor character development.
• Get a roadmap when you are not inspired.

An outline does not have to be strict. Even a mere list of turning points, climaxes, or character arcs can give enough guidelines and still allow spontaneity.

How to Write a Novel Outline

In outlining, a number of methods are available, and each method has its benefits. The following are some of the common methods that one must consider when thinking about how to write a novel outline effectively :

The 3-Act Structure Simplified

One of the most popular structures of creating a novel is the 3-Act Structure. It sub-divides the story into three separate parts:

• Act 1: The Setup - The Main Character, The World and the Main conflict. This is where the catalyst of the incident happens, and the character is hurled into the main plot of the story.

• Act 2: The Confrontation - The protagonist encounters challenges and battles the key conflict. It is normally the most protracted scene, with builds-up tension and character growth.
• Act 3: The Resolution - This is the peak of the story after which the issues are resolved. Here the whole comes to a last confrontation or turning point and the story comes to a satisfactory ending.

The Hero's Journey simplified

The other famous structure is the Hero’s Journey, which is a narrative template that appears in myths and most classical stories. It is usually the cyclic development, challenge and transformation of the protagonist. It can be broken down as follows:

• The Call to Adventure: The protagonist is sucked into a new world or circumstance.

• Trials and Allies: The hero encounters difficulties on his/her way and acquires allies.

• The Ordeal and Return: Once the hero is tested to their utmost trial, they come home changed and in many cases, with some new knowledge or understanding.

Although these types are proven, there is no need to limit yourself to them. You are able to combine, create or change elements to fit your story.

Developing Compelling Characters

Now, you have your outline and it is time to get down to character development. Good characters are the avenue of any novel, and the more developed your characters the more the readers will relate with them. Begin by making character descriptions. This may involve simplistic details such as age, looks, and history, but it may also involve more in-depth details such as what they believe and hold to, as well as what inner struggles they may possess.

Creating character profiles

A character profile is a character help to enable you become familiar with your characters both inside and outside. It should include:

• Backstory: What was their history?
• Personality traits: Introverted/outgoing/insecure/confident?
• Appearance: What do they appear like? What is their style of presentation?
• Relationships: With whom are they concerned? Who do they struggle with?

Defining core motivation and flaws

All powerful characters must have a driving force, something which may move them through the story. What is the main driving force behind them? It may be a love, power, justice, or even revenge. Characters must also possess imperfections, at the same time, they must be imperfect to make them human and relatable. Such weaknesses will internalize discord and hiccups on their way, giving them the emotional depth which is desired by the readers.

Building Your World: Setting & Context

The world of a novel is not merely a setting, but it helps to create a specific atmosphere and impacts the choice of characters as well as enriches the general story. This is crucial when one is considering how to write a fantasy novel, where the worldbuilding can be multiple and complex. Whether you are writing a detailed fantasy world or a simple romance in the small town, the setting gives you the platform that your story will happen on. Creating a sense of immersion enables readers to put their disbeliefs on hold and to literally enter your world, as they become emotionally invested in the experiences of your characters.

Worldbuilding for Fiction Novels

Worldbuilding is required in various forms of novel genres such as fantasy, science fiction, or historical fiction. Readers want characters that are appealing as well as setting which is realistic and full-bodied. To achieve this:

• Explain the physical world with its landscapes, climate, geographical location, and the various cultures.
• Create a set of society, politics, technology or magic systems that determine the way the world operates.
• Look at history and mythology; what did the past bring about the current reality?
• Show, not tell; make things come alive with interactions of characters, dialogue and sensory description.

Worldbuilding is about a balance between details and narration. Do not include exposition dumps, but rather incorporate the information into the story in a way that lets your readers get to know the world of your characters in a way that feels natural.

Creating Authentic Settings for Romance & Thrillers

Romance and thriller novels do not depend on grand worldbuilding and more on natural settings that are more real and bring mood and tension.

• Romance: When thinking about how to write a romance novel then you should keep in mind that the environment is to facilitate close relationship and emotion. Consider cosy cafes, bustling cities or peaceful seaside resorts. Minor details such as the smell of fresh coffee or the light of streetlights increase the level of emotional echo between the characters.

• Thrillers: It is the setting that can be used as the cause of suspense. City streets, empty factories, or other cities may form the atmosphere of threat and emergency. Be sensitive to detail of the senses as sound, shadow, or enclosed areas and enhance tension.

In both genres, the authenticity is important. Study the real world, whether your location is modern-day or base your imaginary ones on realities. A realistic setting enables the reader to experience the story as being part of it and not as a spectator.

Writing Your First Draft: The Art of Getting It Done

The first draft may seem quite daunting, though the trick is not to worry about perfection, but to simply move forward. The majority of aspiring writers become confused over how to begin a novel, but the reality is that the best way to begin is simply to write words on the paper. Your initial draft does not have to be perfect, it just has to be there. Routines, progress monitoring and silencing self doubt can help you turn that blank page into a finished manuscript.

Setting a Sustainable Writing Routine

A novel is a marathon and not a sprint. Giving a realistic and achievable timeframe also aids in ensuring that you are not tired of doing it. It seems that whether it is writing 30 minutes a day, sprinting on weekends, or spending early mornings before work, it is better to be consistent than focusing on long, intermittent bursts. Consider writing as part of your life that cannot be negotiated on, such as a serious meeting with yourself.

How to Hit Your Daily Word Count Goal

You can subdivide your novel in word counts making it not so daunting. Assuming you want to write 80,000 words, it will not take long to hit 500-1000 words per day. Use techniques like:

• Sprint writing (bursts of writing on a time frame).
• Make use of progress tracking sheets or spreadsheets.
• Incentives on meeting targets.

Even simple daily word counts accumulate to big achievements when done on a regular basis.

Silencing Your Inner Editor

Constant self-criticism is even more likely to stall a first draft. Your internal critic wants you to rewrite, edit or second guess each sentence, but the first draft is not about writing the story correctly, the first draft is the one about telling the story. Allow yourself to write badly, and then you will revise it in the future. One mindset that comes in handy is that you cannot edit a blank page, but you can edit a rough one.

How Long Does It Take to Write a Novel?

The most asked question among any aspiring author would be, how long does it take to write a novel? This is dependent on your everyday schedule, the number of words you have to write and your pace of writing. There are writers that complete a draft in three months and there are those who may take a year or more. An approximate time of first draft of 70,000 - 90,000 words is between 4 to 12 months with consistent practice. You should not have to compare yourself with other people, instead, you should have realistic expectations. Keep up a gradual pace, and do not forget: it is better to complete than complete quickly.

Overcoming the Mid-Novel Slump & Writer's Block

It is natural that authors usually begin a novel with a lot of energy but then hit a wall in the middle of it. The first spark can be exhausted, the characters one-dimensional, or the storyline unexpectedly lacks any direction. It is an ordinary part of the creative process, not an indication of failure, and this mid-novel slump is accompanied by the feared writer’s block. The positive thing is that you will be able to jumpstart your writing engine with the right strategies and get your draft across the finish line.

Why You Stalled and How to Restart

Writers freeze mid-way through a manuscript because of a number of reasons:

• The conflict in the story is no longer as strong and it does not move on much.
• You have put yourself in a corner of a plot and do not know what to do.
• The thrill of a new thought was removed and the task became a burden.
• You are dragged behind by perfectionism or self-doubt.

To get going again, go round and come back to the gist of your story. Ask yourself: What is really needed by my characters? What are the challenges they are facing? By refocusing on motivation and conflict, it is commonly seen that the next step is identified. It is also possible to go through your outline again (or draw up another one) to find the bigger track of your story.

Practical Tips for Regaining Momentum

This is the point of persistence and strategy. Some of the established strategies to overcome the slump are:

• Move on: When you are not feeling the energy on one of the scenes, skip ahead and work on one that you are eager to write. You can always return later.
• Change Perspectives: Compose a scene as a different character to explore fresh dynamics and conflicts.
• Take Little Steps: Do not write 1,000 words, write one page or one paragraph. Small wins build momentum.
• Time Writing Sprints: Set a timer (15-25 minutes) and write continuously. The words flow due to the pressure of a deadline.
• Reintroduce Conflict: Infuse some shock, challenge, or revelation in to you and your characters to rejuvenate them.
• Take a Creative Break: A creative break is a technique that involves taking a break and doing anything like reading, walking or journaling to get your imagination going and generating new ideas.

The solution to the mid-novel slump does not lie in trying to create perfection but in trying to keep your story moving. Momentum is usually regained as soon as you grant yourself the right to write, to explore and to get back to the sense of fun that made you initiate the writing of the novel in the first place.

Revising and Editing: Transforming Your Draft

Getting a first draft done is a good reason to celebrate, but it is just the start. The magic of storytelling tends to occur when you are revising and editing, when you are working in your rough draft and making it into a novel that is smooth and readable. It is a time of patience, objectivity and a desire to redefine what you do to make it clear and effective. Being aware of the distinction between the revision and editing process and completing it step-by-step will make sure that the final piece of writing is refined and robust enough.

The Difference Between Revising and Editing

After the initial draft has been written then it is time to consider one of the most important phases in the writing process. Revising is however a different process, which is mixed up with editing by many new writers.

• Revising: It is the work of the big picture. It means reconsidering and reorganizing your paper- work; moving plot twists, rearranging scenes and making the character growth appear smooth. In effect, you are seeing the novel in a macro view and make amendments that enhance the story in the entirety.

• Editing: Editing is the more detailed work, however. It is more about perfecting your language, rectifying the grammatical mistakes and polishing the sentence structure. Where revision is concerned with large-scale swings in plot and form, editing is concerned with accuracy and smoothness. Knowing this difference will assist you to face every stage with the correct attitude.

The Macro Edit: Fixing Plot, Structure, and Character Arcs

The macro edit is whereby you take a step back and evaluation of the larger picture of your story. Ask yourself:

• Does the plot flow logically?
• Are there missing or unresolved subplots?
• Does the pacing make the reader interested?
• Is the motivation and the character development understandable?

During this phase, you might have to include and delete some scenes or rephrase them to enhance the storyline. Look at the structural question as a whole; be sure that the pacing creates tension and each character arc works in support of the themes of the story. Find areas when the story is weak or vague and edit them. On character arcs, ensure your lead character develops in a purposeful way, grows as a result of his or her experiences and has inner struggles that lead to development.

The Micro Edit: Polishing Language, Grammar, and Style

After you feel more content with the bigger story elements, then there is the micro edit. This is where you perfect your language and ensure that your writing is as clear, brief and interesting as possible. At this stage, you are concerned with:

• Grammar and punctuation: Make sure that the sentences are grammatically right, and a punctuation is applied properly.

• Sentence structure and clarity: Find clumsy phrases, run on sentences and anything that may make the reader confused.

• Consistency in tone and style: Does the tone remain the same in the whole book, or is the voice of the author and the subject matter appropriate? Do you find the writing easy to follow?

• Word choice and style: Find sections where you can make the prose leaner; do you have any unnecessary words or phrases? Is it possible to describe things in a more vivid and specific way?

This stage involves being keen and being patient. It is all about singing in prose, making sure that each sentencing is adding experience to the reader.

Working with Beta Readers and Editors

Blind spots are hard to detect even by the most attentive self-editor, and thus the external feedback is invaluable. Beta readers are individuals whom you trust to read through your work before publishing it, beta readers assist in identifying areas in which the reader may become perplexed, too bored or too interested. Professional editors, however, offer professional advice on both structural and sentence level enhancements. Accept criticism, but keep in mind that criticism is not a reflection of your talent, but it is an instrument to improve the story.

Beautiful with the patience and persistence, you will eventually be able to change your sketch into a manuscript that you can be proud of. You have to get into the process, and keep in mind, every edit will move you one step closer to your completed novel.

Next Steps: What to Do After Your Novel is Finished

It is a big achievement to complete your novel, take time to celebrate it. However, when the final sentence is done and the last editing stage is through, most writers say: What now? You want to see your book on shelves or just have your book available to the readers, this is where the post-writing stage comes in where you need to make the transition of being a storyteller to a strategist. Starting with query letters to deciding between the publishing paths, here is what to do when you are done with your novel.

Writing a Query Letter and Synopsis

When submitting your work to a conventional publishing house, the initial move would be to write the effective query letter and synopsis. These are your calling cards; brief compelling documents that are used to present your novel to literary agents or publishers.

The Query Letter

A query letter is a letter of one page that aims at catching the attention of an agent. It typically includes:

• Short introduction (say what the title is, what the genre is and how many words)
• A brief description (a sort of back-cover copy, specific to the lead character, conflict, and interest)
• Your bio (demonstrate any pertinent writing experience or qualification)

Make it professional, interesting and straight to the point. Consider it the resume of your novel, your task is to get the reader interested to the point that he/she wants to see more.

The Synopsis

The synopsis, unlike the query letter, narrates the entire story, i.e. the beginning, middle and end. It must be concise and easy to understand and emphasizing:

• The main character and his or her story.
• The most important plot, twists, and climaxes.
• The character development and the resolution.

Aim for one to two pages. Be straightforward, not flashy; agents will desire to know that your story has a solid foundation and that there is effectiveness in character development.

Exploring Traditional vs. Self-Publishing

Completing a novel also entails making a choice on how you want it to get to readers. There are two primary paths and these include traditional publishing and self-publishing. There are advantages and challenges that come with each of them and the correct decision depends on your personal objectives.

Traditional Publishing

Under this pathway, you normally present your manuscript to literary agents or publishers themselves. In case of a book acceptance, editing, cover designing, distribution, and marketing are taken care of by the publisher. The benefits include credibility, professional resources and broader access of the bookstore. The process may however be competitive and slow and lots of rejections can be experienced before acceptance. Publishers also take a huge share of royalty at the expense of investing in authors.

Self-Publishing

With self-publishing, you will have the complete authority over production and distribution of your book. You decide on the cover, format, the price, and the date of release. Global publishing is easy through online. Increased royalty and creative control is the primary advantage. But all the work is done by the authors, including editing, design, marketing, which demands additional effort and in some cases monetary expense.

Whether you are sending out query letters or you are about to start self-publishing, the next steps involve a great deal of resilience and adaptability, similar to how you are writing the novel.

Free Resources for Novelists

We are of the opinion at StudyUnicorn that every writer should be given the resources needed to give life to their stories. We have developed free downloadable materials that aspiring novelists can use to make the process of writing novels easier. These materials will provide you with brainstorming, planning, and structuring of your novel with ease.

• Downloadable Novel Outline Template: This is an outline template ready to use when creating your own story. It will help you organize everything that will make up your story. Be it the 3-Act Structure that you are using to put together the plot of your novel or playing around with the Hero’s Journey, this novel outline template provides a solid direction to take but also allows the creative freedom that is required.

Download our Free Novel Outline Template: Downloadable Novel Outline Template

• Character Development Worksheet: A Character Development Worksheet is a valuable tool to use in writing a novel because it helps a novelist to create memorable and believable characters that a reader can identify with. With our practice sheet for characters, authors have the ability to store all the significant information in a single location so that there is uniformity throughout the manuscript.

Download our Character Development Worksheet: Character Sheet For Practice

• Milestone Checklist: Milestone Checklist is an effective resource to make the novelists monitor their progress and remain on track during the novel-writing process. Our checklist divides the whole writing process into simple steps that are not difficult to complete; idea to final manuscript.

Download the Milestone Checklist to track your progress: Milestone Checklist 

Conclusion

Creating a novel is a risky and enriching task- one, which brings into being a mere concept into a full-grown world with living and breathing characters. It is possible to have a long and difficult way, but once one divides it into small reasonable steps, the process becomes much more attainable. Whether it is coming up with your idea and creating good characters or going through the first draft and then going through the revision, each stage is crucial. It doesn’t matter whether you go conventional or self-publish, the main point is that you have created something that belongs to yourself. Be curious, be dedicated and most importantly, write. Your story matters.