How to Write a Novel: Principles to keep in mind as you create
In future chapters, we’ll explore the details of writing a novel, but first I want to walk you through five key principles I’ve learned in over a decade of being a full-time writer.
(1) Create in a way that works for your personality and lifestyle
I’m sure you’ve read many writing craft books. They all have great suggestions, but although you can pick up tips in all of them — including this one — it’s unlikely that you will write your novel in exactly the same way as anyone else.
It’s taken me more than a decade to embrace being an intuitive discovery writer. I have tried over and over again to outline and become more analytical in my process because that’s what ‘everyone’ says is the best way.
But every time I tried, I felt miserable because it was so hard and didn’t feel creative to me. I needed to find my own process to wrangle the chaos.
I’ve looked at authors who write a book a month with envy, and recommitted myself to spending more hours in the chair to be more like them.
But that made me miserable too.
I love writing fiction, but it’s not the only thing for me. I am a multi-passionate creative. I love writing nonfiction; I love podcasting and creating audio; I love researching futurist things; I love experimenting. I love traveling and (sometimes) speaking on different topics. I do not want to spend my whole working life in the fiction chair.
I’ve tried to write to market. I’ve tried to focus on one series. I’ve tried co-writing fiction. None of these things resonate with my creative soul.
You must find what’s right for your personality and your lifestyle.
Are you an outliner or a discovery writer?
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Do you love the routine of creating every day no matter what, or do you prefer binge writing?
Do you write messy first drafts or perfect every sentence from the beginning?
Part of the process of writing a novel is getting to know yourself and reflecting honestly about how things work for you as you try them out.
Of course, you have to give things a go in order to know whether they might work, but then tune into your feelings. Does it feel right for you? What other options could you try?
You might also find various personality tests useful. There are lots of them, but personally, I found the Myers-Briggs insightful because I didn’t know I was an introvert until my thirties. I just thought I was weird and didn’t really fit well into society. Once I discovered that I’m an INFJ, everything made sense!
I also found the CliftonStrengths Assessment useful. Becca Syme’s books explore how these strengths work for writers, in particular.
You can listen to or read an interview with Becca at www.TheCreativePenn.com/strengths
(2) Identify the books you love — not the ones you’ve been told to appreciate
I studied English literature at school and read the classics. I was educated to think that the only books worth reading were those that won prizes of some kind, and the only books worth writing were literary fiction.
But the books I loved as a teenager were the Hardy Boys’ adventures and Wilbur Smith’s African stories. I wanted to watch The A-Team at the weekend with all its explosive fun, and I always loved James Bond movies.
Many years later, when I worked as an IT consultant implementing accounts payable systems, I would read thrillers on the commuter train to work. I’d go to the bookshop at lunchtimes to buy more stories. Anything to escape the day job I hated and a life I didn’t know how I’d ended up living.
When The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown hit the bestseller charts, I saw the possibilities for writing fiction that would both interest me in the research process and also satisfy my love of thrillers.
I enjoy an introspective literary story now and then, but mostly, I want to escape into action adventure with monsters, good conquering evil, and conspiracies — everything that is not my life.
As a reader, I only read books I love.
As an author, I only write the books I love and want to read.
Identify the books you really love, not the ones that other people tell you are somehow more worthy than others.
Write a list of five to ten books you love and keep adding to it as you think of more. This will help in writing your novel, so be honest. No one needs to see it.
(3) Don’t overcomplicate the writing process
I spent many years reading books on the craft and doing courses before I wrote anything myself. But my writing life changed when I attended a workshop at the Sydney Writers’ Festival back when I lived in Australia.
I entered the workshop ready to listen, learn, and take notes. I’m a total geek and I like taking notes. It feels constructive and there are words on the page by the end of the session, even if they are not my own thoughts.
But the instructor didn’t start teaching.
He said, “Let’s start with a writing exercise.”
I sat there, my hand frozen over my notebook. What? You mean I actually have to make something up?!
He said, “Write about when you discovered something for real that you already knew in your heart to be true. You have ten minutes.”
He clicked a button on a timer.
There was quiet in the room — the scratching of pens on paper the only sound.
As the other students began writing, I didn’t want to look like I didn’t know what I was doing. So I started writing — and the words came.
That first timed session changed my life. It forced me to write my own words rather than taking notes on yet more information. It kicked me out of learning brain, and into a creative state where I produced my own work.
It doesn’t matter what I wrote that day, and I can’t remember anything else from that session. But my original words made sense on the page. They needed editing, for sure, but it was a start.
That first timed writing block made it possible for me to imagine doing it again, and again, and again.
That’s basically what you have to do to write a novel.
Write words from your mind onto a page repeatedly. You have to make the time for it, and then you have to show up and write the words.
Again and again and again.
Of course, there are many more aspects to the writing craft, but at heart, this is the action that will enable you to complete a novel.
If you already have a creative writing practice, this might be old news. But if you have never done a timed writing session before, then start now.
Open a blank page in your notebook or a new window on whatever device you write on.
Find a writing prompt, or just start with “I remember…”
Set a timer for ten minutes.
Write.
“Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started. It’s in the act of making things and doing our work that we figure out who we are.”
—Austin Kleon, Steal Like An Artist
(4) Keep your story simple
We’ve all spent a lifetime exploring worlds through books, films, audio, games, and life experience. When it comes to writing a novel, all those influences emerge and we can quickly become bogged down.
So many characters, so many plot possibilities, so many emotional dramas, so much everything… then we add to the mix all the writing craft books and workshops and podcasts and all the knowledge we’ve picked up along the way and want to incorporate.
It compounds into something gigantic that is so daunting we don’t even start, or we start and then fail at the first hurdle because it’s just too difficult.
So keep it simple. All you need for a story is:
• A character
• In a setting
• Who has a goal
• Who has to overcome all kinds of conflict on the way to achieving that goal while
• Someone or something tries to stop them along the way
• The character either achieves their goal or fails
• And along the way, they go through some kind of transformation
If you find yourself lost in too much detail at any point, return to this roadmap. Stop and simplify.
(5) Be patient — remember your writing age
Whatever your actual age, you also have a writing age.
This is true of anything you want to master. You need practice to improve.
Compare a martial artist in their first year to someone with twenty years’ experience. Or a painter, a business executive, a yoga practitioner.
Regardless of the profession or hobby, someone in year twenty will be better than someone in year one. If it’s a job, they will also be paid more because of their expertise.
The same is true with writing.
No one exits the womb knowing how to write a novel. You have to learn. Don’t compare yourself to someone whose writing age is greater than yours.
I love many of Stephen King’s books, and it’s daunting to compare my writing to his masterpieces. But he is almost thirty years older than me, and he started writing in his teens. At the time of writing, King’s fiction-writing age is around sixty, whereas my fiction-writing age is eleven. How can I compare myself to somebody who has had that much practice? It’s like someone who’s done a couple of violin lessons comparing themselves to the greatest violin player at Carnegie Hall.
Be patient and keep writing, keep reading, keep practicing. After all, you’re a writer. What else would you rather be doing?!
Questions:
• What do you already know about your personality and your lifestyle that might impact your writing craft?
• Have you tried different personality tests? If you haven’t, how might they help you?
• How can you remain aware of what creative practices work for you along the way?
• What are the books (and films) that you truly love, rather than the ones you have been told to value by others? Write your list of five to ten.
• Do you already have a timed writing practice? If not, do it now. Open a blank page. Find a writing prompt, or just start with “I remember…” Set a timer for ten minutes. Write.
• If you feel resistance to this practice, identify why and how you might overcome it.
• How can you keep your story simple?
• What is your writing age? What is the writing age of the author whose work you love the most?
Resources:
• Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative — Austin Kleon
• The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life — Twyla Tharp
• Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within — Natalie Goldberg
• Strengths for Writers. Interview with Becca Syme — www.TheCreativePenn.com/strengths
