| If you're anything like most aspiring fiction writers, | | | | I don't mean the kind of outline that you may |
| you've wondered: how do you begin writing a | | | | have done in school, with a descending list of |
| novel? It's an excellent question, with many | | | | Roman numerals. This one doesn't need to be |
| possible answers. And getting to the heart of the | | | | formal, because it's only for you at this point. |
| matter is key to your success as a novelist. | | | | In my outlines, I detail the cast of characters |
| In this article, I'll offer three tips for how you can | | | | (with basic info on each person), the setting, the |
| begin writing a novel. I've successfully used these | | | | time frame, and most of all, what happens in |
| techniques myself for many years. Perhaps they | | | | each chapter of the novel. |
| will work for you, too. | | | | Yours doesn't need to be this detailed. But if this |
| 1) Brainstorm plot and character ideas. | | | | is your first book-length manuscript, I suggest |
| So you know you want to create a story. Where | | | | fleshing all of this stuff out in advance, because it |
| do you start? With brainstorming ideas for the | | | | will help you pull your story into a cohesive |
| plot, and the characters. | | | | narrative structure. |
| I tend to begin with the plot. For me, that means | | | | 3) Start writing. |
| taking a basic situation and asking myself, "what's | | | | Ah, now the fun begins! With all of important |
| the worst thing that could possibly happen in this | | | | groundwork we've done with our brainstorming |
| scenario?" Imagine a conflict that could result, and | | | | and outlining, sitting down to write the novel |
| proceed from there. | | | | should be a breeze. |
| When brainstorming, start with a blank page, and | | | | Actually, that probably won't be the case at all. It |
| allow your creativity to roam. Don't judge the | | | | will still prove a challenge. But by now, you should |
| quality of your ideas at this point. Let your | | | | have a solid grasp of the plot, the characters, the |
| thoughts flow. | | | | setting, and many other elements of the story. |
| 2) Create an outline. | | | | The key, now, is to follow a regular writing |
| After several brainstorming sessions, you will | | | | routine--a page a day, or more--and bring your |
| probably find that you've hit upon some ideas that | | | | novel to life. You can do it. Just make a little |
| excite you. Maybe you've got a few characters in | | | | progress each day, and before you know it, you'll |
| mind. Perhaps some big, dramatic story events, | | | | be staring at a pile of manuscript pages and |
| too. | | | | marveling that you wrote all of that yourself! |
| Now it's time to shape those ideas into a more | | | | Want more fiction writing and publishing tips that |
| structured format. That's where outlining comes | | | | will help you succeed? Visit my web site now. |
| in. | | | | |