Seven Steps to Write a Novel
Think of all the ways to spread an idea and you’ll probably get a consensus that one of the most difficult ways is to write a novel. To express through character, emotion, and story that big idea you have. So many people tell me they’ve always wanted to write a book. So few actually do.
The truth is, writing a novel is not that hard. In fact, putting your story–your big idea–into a 90,000 word narrative that’s actually good–can be done through these seven steps.
1 | Make your bed.
Every single morning. It’s a small thing, I know, but it’ll establish a little bit of momentum and accomplishment to start your day.
2 | Be curious.
I started writing out of the blue 20 years ago without any experience or aspirations to do so. I’ve since had eight books published and a ninth on the way. But it took writing that first book–a book that never sold, by the way–to force myself to be curious about the act of writing. Why am I doing this? Should I trust my instinct to continue? Without curiosity, you will never find the passion necessary to write a book.
3 | Write for yourself.
Tell the story that speaks to you, not necessarily the story you think others want to hear.
4 | Write every day.
This is critical. Build the muscle. I only write an hour a day, but I do it every day. That’s it. At that pace, you can write a novel in less than a year.
5 | Don’t chase perfection.
Your book will never be perfect, and the thing that stops most writers from finishing something is that never-ending feeling of it’s not good enough. Just get that first draft done, warts and all. And then as you edit that ugly, ugly first draft…
6 | Kill your darlings.
Be brutal with yourself as you edit. Challenge every sentence, every word. Delete anything that doesn’t serve your story, no matter how much you may love those words.
7 | Finally, embrace rejection.
The second hardest thing to do as a writer is to share their work. The hardest thing to do is embrace the rejection that will come, and I guarantee it will come. But within all that rejection lies immense opportunity.
There are seven steps to writing a novel, steps anyone can take. Writing a book isn’t hard. Trusting your instinct to write in the first place may be the toughest part of it all.