Tips for starting a novel?

Question

I really would like to start writing a novel. Can anyone throw me some tips how how to start? I really don't know how to start.

Also, is there any type of programs that make writing a book easier? all I really have is microsoft word/notebook. I guess my grammar and punctuation isn't too well, so something that might give me some help in that department.
Then any tips on once your book is complete what to do with it? Get it proof read or something? I would really like to become an author but I don't really know the journey to do it at.

Thank you for all your great advice.

I have a basic plot I would like to write about, except I don't think it will be a very long story. I want it to be detailed, but not "overdetailed" if that makes any sense, something to expand on my idea. I guess another question I have is when writing a novel do writers have the whole story pretty much word for word or action for action played out in their minds before hand? or do they just go in writing with their basic ideas and then add on them on the spot to create a great story?

Answer 1

Word is all you need, kiddo. If you know how to do it, there are excellent advanced settings for spell and grammar check. I have written 4 novels in Word plus a ton of short stories, academic papers, articles etc. No complaints here.

As for how to start, I suggest you start here in this forum. If you go to my profile you will see I have starred many great Q and A regarding writing and publishing. Skim through them and find some that seem to relate to you. Print them out and study them. There are many great answers from authors posted here. Pax - C

Answer 2

Mark, I haven't published a book yet but I write all of the time. I started with a weekly news letter and from it I have two Children's books in the works. I think that most writers would tell you to start with it helps to have an out line. Decide what it is that you are wanting to convey. It helps to make a list of your characters, and places (even if it is fictional). Even with a good outline and a few lists of persons and places you are not going to tell the same story as you start out to tell. Your story will take on a life of it's own. It will also be to your advantage to research some about important things in your story. An example would be to talk about a 1965 Mustang and tell everyone that it came stock with a 327 cubic inch motor, this is incorrect it didn't come with a 327 CI, a 327 motor is a GM motor and not a motor from Ford, so you will loss credibility if you don't research some. Another example would be to say we sat in a road side park under a big Maple tree in Uvalde TX. There is no maple trees growing in Uvalde TX.
I will also make the suggestion that you attend some classes in English and English Literature, and add to that journalism. Don't give up your idea, you just have to work on it some. When it is edited they will correct a lot of your mistakes, but remember that they are editing and not writing the story, The better that you write it the better that it will come out. Work on it.

Answer 3

By the way, before I answer your question, do you have any plot readied? Yes? No?(Cuz if you don't any plot of the story readied, how can I help you?)

First, you try to think of the plot of your story(Plan it carefully if you wanna be a good author). Example: A girl's life filled with envy and pain, a billionaire's desire/journey to be a normal person... etc.

If you have a plot readied, if it's about people, you should write about someone's life using a normal point of view or the person's point of view...

if you feel uneasy using someone's pov (point of view), I suggest you use a normal POV and try to write about someone's life first (maybe your main character's life first)...

Then write about the person(main character) situation at school/work etc.

By the way, you don't need to use a different program just to write a book/novel easier.... you can use microsoft word, just in case you use wrong grammar or wrong punctuation....

If you want to know how is your book (interesting, bad or etc.) I suggest you join this website, www.fictionpress.com. Why? the readers who read your story, they'll send reviews to you...

Reviews, example: 'Your story was great but you should...(blah, blah, blah!) They'll will tell you about why that like your story or maybe, they'll send you ideas!

I hope the tips are useful!

Answer 4

Reading really strengthens your grasp of the English language--spelling and all that fun stuff. That hasn't been an issue for me but there are books out there to help specifically with vocabulary, spelling, grammar, etc.

To start a novel you first need a good, solid idea. It helps to develop characters and write an outline so you can develop the plot from start to finish. The second book of my trilogy was the hardest to get going on because I didn't have a solid outline. I knew how I wanted it to start and end, but the middle was fuzzy until I itemized it out.

Proofreading for me has been invaluable. I have had other, trusted individuals read my work for their opinions--and to catch typos or punctuation errors. With my first I worked on it for so long it became a blur and I was more of a liability trying to proofread myself than a help.

I have only ever used my computer's word program (currently microsoft word) to write my stories and novels. I'm sure there are other software programs out there you can buy to help with novel writing specifically, but I find the more we rely on the technology to get the "feel" of a story right the less we use our brains to do. I guess I'm old school that way...

Answer 5

Read alot of books. This will help strengthen your word vocabulary. In becoming an author, this venue is one of your best strengths.

It will also help determine which genre you will be most likely to write about.

For me, it's sci-fi/fantasy--because it's what I read most often.

Book-writing programs are a waste of time. They actually hold you back than propel you forward. It would be best if you saved your money and invested in some self-help guides on writing.

Robert Kernen's "Building Better Plots" is a great source of information and will help you get things started on your writing.

A lot of people will suggest Stephen King's "On Writing" piece as the Holy Grail--but all it's written on is from King's POV on how he started writing.

It's not only out of date, but it doesn't really reflect on today's changing world in writing and publishing.

How to strengthen your grammar and punctuation is to simply *read*. If you study the books you're reading, you'll be able to see the flow and change in words easily and be able to apply those lessons to your writing.

Naturally, people will be telling you to take courses on writing, but I would advise against that--unless you have the money to burn and if you have no choice in the matter.

Books by themselves are your better teacher than some structured class environment.

Once you complete your book, you're going to want to get a writer's market guide, or log onto the internet to search for agents and publishers.

But while you're doing that, you might want to have a professional editor take a crack at your novel. Since I would advise going with an "in-house" editor conected to the industry. Instead, try searching for indie editors with at least 15-20 years of experience.

These people are outside of the mainstream, and would be better suited for your needs.

They aren't cheap, but the money spent will be well worth it.

The journey to becoming a published author isn't going to be easy. You have a lot going against you and you're not just competing with just one agent here.

But tens of thousands of other writers and only 100-200 agencies in North America.

So your chances of getting in the door isn't that good. It's worth a shot, but keep in mind--it's a long road.

It could take years--even *decades*--to get published. And even when you get there, there's no guarantee that you will succeed.

The world of publishing has changed so much in the last 20 years, you'll be hard-pressed to get yourself out of a crowded marketplace that has at least 200K titles a year competing for the average consumer's attention.

It would be best if you spent some time learning the market before jumping in head first without a clue as to what's beneath you.

Also, work on your craft as much as possible. Learn it from the inside out, backwards and forwards, up and down--the works.

This will make you a more credible and competent writer. People will pay more attention to you if you have a solid grasp on what you're doing.

Answer 6

at the beginning, do no longer sit down in front of a working laptop or computer waiting for an thought to come back. enable the belief come to you evidently. provide your recommendations the liberty to conceive some thing which will carry your interest for the completed 4 hundred or so pages you would be writing. In easy of this, you may evaluate matters or thoughts which you're captivated with. it rather is sturdy to start with a depiction because of the fact it helps to establish your thoughts. generally, as quickly as you have a depiction, even a loose one, the unconventional will start to place in writing itself around it. Characters could be imagined on your head - what they appear like, what they sound like, their mannerisms - you are able to write some communicate between characters to furnish you a miles better experience of who they are and what you choose them to specific for you. you do no longer even could use the communicate you write - do purely it to get familiar inclusive of your characters. don't be afraid to re-write some thing dozens of cases with the intention to get it to experience actual. don't be afraid to edit out stuff while it rather is too lots. Be sparkling and concise yet no longer flat. study your artwork out loud your self to work out the way it flows - it rather is an exceptionally sturdy one. there are various different issues too multiple to show. There are books with regard to the paintings of novel-writing you are able to study. additionally, take a number of your in demand novels and learn them heavily, how characters and plots are more desirable, how the author makes use of dynamics of hysteria to hold your interest, and so on. Writing a different could be some thing of a complicated undertaking, besides the shown fact that this is rather well worth it because of the fact it takes you on a journey by way of your self. this is complicated, besides the shown fact that it will be helpful in case you persist with it and unquestionably prepare your self. appreciate!

Answer 7

Wow, you really got some great responses to your question.
I have just one thing to add.

Practice.

The first thing you write isn't going to be brilliant. That's okay.
Just keep going.
Read a lot and write a lot.

Practice.

If you are meant to be a writer, you will discover that you not only enjoy it, you need it.

Best wishes

Answer 8

Taken from Elments of Fiction: Plot by Ansen Dibell

First, you have to figure out your plot. That it, what happens in your story. Before you get going ask yourself the following questions to see if the idea you've thought of might make a good novel:

1. Is it your story to tell? You may have a good idea, but if it's something that isn't profound to you or you don't have a passion about, how will you get your readers to feel something for it?

2. Is it too personal for readers to become involved with? Is your story idea something very personal to you, but might bore someone else. Kind of like waving around pictures of youor kids or having people go through hundreds of snapshots from your summer vacation.

3. Is it going somewhere? Does your idea have a vivid opening, several specific developments/changes, and a solid ending? Remember PLOT is a VERB: It's what happens.

4. What's at stake? Is there something vital at stake, not just to you, but to one or more characters involved?

Yes to all 4? Great!

Now, next step is to figure out who's eyes you want the story to be told through...

Single viewpoint vs Multiple viewpoints: Most people who use single viewpoint tell the story from the chief character's eyes (the protagonist). There are deviations. If you decide to use multiple viewpoints, make sure you shift viewpoints well or your readers will become confused. Shift scene by scene, chapter by chapter, or part by part. To figure out whether to use single or multiple, figure out who's at the heart of the story. If it's more than one person, no problem.

Get that book. It's got lots more to help you.

Now, from what i've learned.....

You need to do a character questionnaire of sorts to develop real and believable characters the readers will care about. You can google character profile or questionnaire for fiction and you should get some nice templates to use. They include fields for name, place of birth, age, religious affiliations, education, job, family background, likes, dislikes, fears, goals, etc. Do this for your MAIN characters. Your minors don't need this much fleshing out. RULE: You shouldn't really introduce new characters by name into your story unless they will play some role in the plot. If Jack pops up at the beginning of the story and has a conversation with your protagonist, we'll be wondering where the hell Jack went midway, expecting him to pop up later only to be confused when he doesn't.

Now.....

Dramatic situations......

You have to throw a bunch of situations in your story to build up the conflict and to make the story entertaining...These conflicts can be subplots, or merely incidents that can allow the reader to learn more about the character's character/morals, or lack thereof. For instance, if the plot's about a killer, you could show he has some sort of a conscience by showing an incident where he changes someone's tire or gives a homeless person a few bucks. Maybe that will make him seem more psychopathic. Who knows.

Buy the STORY STRUCTURE ARCHITECT by VICTORIA LYNN SCHMIDT, PH.D. for more info on these situations. She breaks down over 50 standard dramatic situations ( and details beginning, middle and end of these situations to help you out)

Main conflict(s) of story:

Figure out what's going to be the main conflicts of you story. Story Structure Architect gives this example to understand:

Perhaps a young man wants to move away from his family and they are very upset with him about it (Relational Conflict). He is torn by feelings of guilt about his decision (Inner Conflict). He wants to move in with his girlfriend but the society he lives in frowns upon this sort of thing (Soceital Conflict) and so does his religion (Cosmic Conflict).

Once you figure out the main conflict(s) in your story, you can better thrown situations to aggravate these conflicts. After all, a good story is one where things just get worse and worse, and when you think they can't get any better, they do until a light shines at the end of the tunnel and you think all is well....then the crap hits the fan again...

There's way too much to actually write about the process. As you can see, it's a formula to be learned and mastered, not just merely a gift. You can be a really good writer, but if you don't follow certain formulas, your story will fail.

Other subjects to look up and understand before you get going:

Show vs. Tell
Exposition vs. Dialogue
Active Voice (i'm still learing this one myself)
Avoiding melodrama
Setting
Description
Characterization (If your character is mentally ill, his narrative will be different than another character's narrative. You will be able to get a feel that he is mentally ill just by reading the story from his POV)

There are tons more.

Email me and i'll give you a list of really good books.

This is probably overwhelming, but it's a craft. Very few people can just sit down and write a masterpeice. Luckily, we have experts that write books to show us how to avoid the rejection pile.