where would i find help starting a fiction novel?

Question

I need some ideas on how to expand my ideas, keep the book going, and where to go with it once it is finished.

Answer 1

There are many books at Barnes and Noble, and if you have some time, they don't care if you show up, grab a book, and sit down in a chair to read.

A book I would suggest is Stephen King's "On Writing." I'm reading that right now, and it is definitely helping me out. Otherwise you can just browse what they have there.

If you don't have time to go to the bookstore, or even a library, google "writing tips" and you can usually find some good information.

I think right now, you shouldn't need to worry about where to go with your book once it is finished; just worry about finishing it at this point. Create a flow-chart and connect all your ideas and throw that you can flesh them out and expand. As far as keeping your book going, I suggest try to write 1000 words a day, or an hour a day (whatever you feel is best). Once you have reached your limit, you should stop, even if it leaves you in mid-sentence. That way you will leave knowing where you want to go next, and you will have all day to think about what you're writing.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Start right here! I have starred a lot of great Q and A's here on the subject of writing and publishing. You can access them on my profile under starred questions. Print a bunch of them out and read them. I add more when I see good ones that will help others.

Secondly - READ. In his masterwork ON WRITING, Stephen King says you cannot be a great writer unless you are a great reader. Read everything - good and bad. You will be surprised how much you can learn from reading a really awful book! When you are done reading something analyze it. Why did you like it? Why did you hate it? It will help you formulate your own style. ON WRITING is an excellent book and a great resource. So is The First Five Pages. I also recommend The Novelist by Angela Hunt. It is a novel about a famous author teaching a writing class in college. A good story and a great training tool.

Also, work hard on your grammar and sentence structure. Tell a teacher you are interested in writing or join a face to face writing group. You can also join Absolute Write Water Cooler online to share ideas on writing.

Lastly remember these quotes...

“The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean” Robert Louis Stephenson

“Write without pay until somebody offers to pay” Mark Twain

“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.” Winston Churchill

“Writing is thinking on paper.” William Zinsser

“Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.” Moliere

"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith

And my personal favorite...

"Proofread carefully to see if you any words out." Author Unknown (but pretty funny)

There are so many great ones. Pax - C

Answer 3

There are a number of writing books you can get. Your local library might have a few. A friend of mine raves about the "Elements of Fiction Writing" series. Their books include:
Beginnings, Middles, and Ends
Characters and Viewpoint
Scene and Structure
Conflict, Action, and Suspense
Setting
Plot
Dialogue
Description
Manuscript Submission

Personally, I have never read any of these books, but she wants to be a writer more than anything in the world.

You can also find books that would cover almost all those subjects in one book instead of several. My advice to you would be just write what comes naturally. You have to have an idea for a story before you start one. Try making an outline--what do you want to happen in each chapter, and so on. Or just start writing and see where it goes. You might be surprised at what develops in your head as you are putting it on the page. Good luck.

Answer 4

There are plenty of websites, but I always direct people to books (that's what you're writing, after all). I've listed some of the ones below that I really like, but you can always go to the library and look at the books on the shelf in the same area, or look at ones that deal specifically with different genres.

- "The Art of Fiction," John Gardner
- "Character and Viewpoint," Orson Scott Card
- "The First Five Pages," Noah Lukeman
- "Getting the Words Right," Theodore A. Rees Cheney (this one helps with revising and editing)
- "Writing Fiction," Janet Burroway
- "The Elements of Style," William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

An old one that I read recently that says a lot about being a writer:
- "Becoming a Writer," Dorothea Brande

One that could help you with freewriting (although it does talk about Zen meditation a lot):
- "Writing Down the Bones," Natalie Goldberg

And for knowing the market and submitting your work:
- the newest "Writer's Market"
- "Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript," Cynthia Laufenberg
- some books about query letters

I hope these books help you. But really, even after you read them, you just have to experiment and see what works for you. Good luck.

Answer 5

First and foremost, invest in the best dictionary and thesaurus you can afford. These tools are invaluable in the art of writing. Keep little note cards or index cards available at all times for writing down ideas, thoughts as they occur. Don't stop writing. If it means waking up in the middle of the night to write down a thought do it. I find that I am at my most creative at 2AM. That's okay. If that's when the muse strikes, then you my dear fellow writer must obey.
Practical help: Go to the website: about.com:fiction writing
There is an article on "How to find a literary agent"
The first rule is written in bold, black letters. Finish writing your novel BEFORE contacting literary agents. BEFORE contacting a literary agent, have another writer, or a professional editor go through your book. These will look for typos, misspellings, tightening up sentence structure, you want this to be the absolute best you have to offer. All of the rules of grammar MUST be followed.
Above all, remember that writing comes from within. It is a gift, it is a calling. Those who wield the written word hold within themselves the power to create worlds.
I wish you all the best in your endeavors.
Agape,
Rhonda

Answer 6

a million: Brianna or Kira 2: Chase or Lucas 3: Steve or Ryan 4: Riley or Adam 5: Harrison or Daniel 6: Genesia (rhymes with Vanessa) or Lexi want this helped and sturdy fulfillment along with your tale! :)

Answer 7

It sounds like you could benefit from outlining.

Just write down some sentences about where you want the story to go and try that.

Some people use index cards. Some just write it out like I mentioned.

God bless and get writing!

Answer 8

Well, expanding your ideas... hmm... my friends usually come to me when they need inspiration. They'll give me an idea, I give them my thoughts, and they run with it. Having someone to share ideas with, I would say, is the BEST way to expand. If you need help just email! :]

Answer 9

An outline would be useful--if you're a beginner.