Ever since you can remember, you’ve wanted to write a book based on some imaginary characters you think about frequently. You think about their background story, the plot, the suspense, the twist, and the ending. However, when you sit down on your PC to type it all out, you may feel lost, not knowing how to start or from where to begin.
If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the pointers you can use when writing your first novel.
1. Pick a Specific Time Slot for Writing
If you want to write a masterpiece, you need the proper environment to think. Therefore, pick a time slot where you can be in your space with minimal or no distractions that would hamper your thoughts and ideas.
In addition, figure out which schedule you can be most productive. It can be challenging to schedule your day, but once you set a specific time for writing, try to implement it every day, so it starts to become a habit. Even if it is just one word, it’ll still be counted as progress.
2. Set Deadlines
Before starting to write, set your goals and deadlines. That’ll make it easier for you to get motivated to write as it’ll push you to get out of your comfort zone.
You can set it according to the number of words you can write per day or month, or you can set a goal of finishing your first chapter by the end of the month. Whichever strategy you choose, make sure you can meet your goals.
3. Organize Your Thoughts
This is the most crucial step in the book writing process. When you decide to write a book, you should organize your characters, plot, mystery, and most importantly, the beginning, middle, and end of your story. You can add in the details later, as ideas will start springing upon you as soon as you begin developing a credible story.
Another great idea to help you keep track of your characters and your story is to use large, mounted whiteboards or bulletin boards. You can jot down pointers on a sticky note and place them strategically in an appropriate place to connect and bring your story together. Once you have an outline, you can start writing your book, taking references from the board now and then.
4. Invest in Proper Tools
Tools such as an office desk and an ergonomic chair go a long way in making you feel comfortable when writing. This list also includes a good notebook and a comfortable pencil to jot down ideas that you’re going to use later.
Apart from the hardware tools, the software you use to write your book is essential. If you’re not comfortable with the software you have, you can switch to the more familiar one. If you are a technology newbie, you can look at more options for writing on a notepad or smartphone without turning on your computer.
5. Keep Editing for Later
Write whatever comes to your mind instantly when an idea strikes you. Don’t worry about grammatical or punctuation mistakes or even sentence correction. You’ll get a lot of time to fix it later but just one chance to narrate your story before you forget.
6. Take Short Breaks
Take your notebook or laptop outdoors, either in front of or to a park or coffee shop, where you can sit back and relax. This will help you to write even if it is just one word.
7. Do Your Research
Do your research beforehand regarding the topic you want to write, no matter the genre of your book, whether it is fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, biography, documentary, or even children’s book. Follow the guidelines and look at some tips that would ensure your book would be worth publishing in the UK and worldwide.
8. Be Familiar With Your Characters
You’ll have a central and side characters in any book that you write to make the story more interesting. Therefore, before beginning to write a book, elaborate on your character’s personality and spend a reasonable amount of time understanding your character’s temperament. That’ll make it easier for you when narrating the story.
9. Have Patience
Book writing is all about having patience and being persistent. Don’t quit when you don’t feel like writing. Just take short breaks and start fresh.
After finishing off the first draft of your book, next comes publishing. Don’t get disheartened if the publishing companies don’t agree to publish your book right away. Keep trying and hand off your manuscript to the publishers you know. Rowling’s Harry Potter series was rejected by 12 publishing companies before being accepted.
Final Thoughts
Book or novel writing might seem complicated and daunting, but it doesn’t have to be if you remain persistent and have patience. Your head is swirling with ideas that you can represent as a perfect story, so don’t think twice; sit down on your computer and start jotting down all the essential aspects that should be included in your book. And who knows, your book may well be on its way to becoming the next masterpiece!