Those who have never experienced the process of writing a novel may find it challenging to write a great novel. However, experienced writers know that the process of writing a book is not particularly mysterious. You can simply search “Ghostwriting services near me” on Google and can hire any professional ghostwriting service. But you must know that writing a novel is a one-of-its-kind experience. So, you should make the most out of this experience.
Creativity and discipline are the two guiding ideas for writing fiction. Moreover, you are in for a lot of effort whether you are a best-selling author or a first-time author self-publishing your book. The outcomes can be extremely satisfying if you are committed to the process. So, without any further ado, let’s get straight to the ten golden rules of writing a great novel. So, let’s start:
The 10 Golden Rules Of Writing A Great Novel
Read Extensively
Popular writers influence almost all aspiring writers. The novels we read as kids shape our tastes, favorites and frequently affect how we write as adults. By reading extensively and attentively, aspiring writers can pick up writing skills from some of history’s most renowned and praised authors. These famous writers are just like unofficial mentors. So, gaining inspiration from their writings is a great idea!
Make Detail-Oriented Checklists
Make a list of the specifics you want to be sure your novel contains after considering your setting and writing goals. This checklist can take up one page or the entire notebook. However, it won’t always prevent you from writing poorly, but it’s still a really helpful tool. The last thing a writer wants is to finish a manuscript only to find that they have neglected to include half of the original inspiration for the work.
Develop Writing Habits
The majority of aspiring writers will need to juggle their writing with other obligations. The first step is to schedule regular chunks of time for writing. No matter what time you choose to write, early in the morning, late at night, or during your lunch break. You must remain consistent and insist on giving that time a top priority.
Another option is to try working exclusively in a designated writing room. You can use your dining room table for this or a home office if you have the space. Finding time and space in your own life is important, as even a great story concept won’t help you much if you don’t set aside time to work on it.
Utilize Your Time Wisely
Develop a strategy for what you want to accomplish during that writing session, or brainstorm ideas before you sit down to write. You can also remember where you left off in the novel and start developing ideas for there. Some authors aim to produce 1,500 – 2,000 words each day. Others don’t care about word counts and prefer to alternate days of reading, planning, or research. So, setting daily goals is an excellent idea, no matter what you decide. While there are practical techniques to get beyond writer’s block, doing so will save you from wasting valuable writing time.
Establish A Bond With An Editor
Editors play an important role in your publishing process. If your novel manages to gain recognition, you will want to take every precaution to ensure it’s flawless. A skilled editor will improve your writing, but a poor editor may stifle your creative vision. So, verify references for potential editors, examine their work experience, discuss expectations with them, and search for a personal relationship. Consider the qualities you look for when partnering with anyone. A strong working relationship between the writer and editor is important to the editing process.
Don’t Worry About The Initial Draft
Creating the first draft is a practice in writing down everything you can. Later, you can always go back and review what you have produced. So, avoid the temptation of repeatedly searching the thesaurus or frequently checking your word count. A ghost’s initial draft must be the result of inspiration. Later, you can second-guess your word choice and wonder if you overused exclamation points. However, you don’t need to do that kind of self-editing until you already have a fantastic story to convey.
Look For Surprises In Your Second Draft
Finding surprises and starting to build your story’s structure are the main goals of the second draft. What surprising themes or patterns have you noticed in your writing? Find a way to emphasize them throughout your writing if you like them. You might even need to cut some of your first draft’s beloved characters. So, don’t worry. Moreover, a few favorite storylines or ideas will unavoidably have to go while writing fiction, but your goal as a writer should be to serve the story, not your own feelings.
Create Relatable Characters
The purpose of reading is not to find a subject. Strong character development and an engaging plot are the foundations of good fiction. This means that in addition to supporting characters who can drive side storylines away from the main plot structure, you will also need a primary character who is sophisticated enough to support a meaningful character arc with a backstory.
Focus On The Artistic Aspect Of Your Book, Not On The Business Aspect!
Publishers and literary critics invented the idea of genre, although it isn’t always useful to writers. Being unaware of the genre to which your book belongs can be advantageous since it gives you more opportunity to deviate from expectations and experiment with form and subject. Therefore, it is your responsibility to create the strongest, most convincing version of your novel that is believable inside its own made-up world and set of rules.
So, let the genre be a concern for others. Even if you deliberately aim to write a horror book, you won’t inevitably become the next Stephen King. In other words, avoid incorporating genre analysis into your writing. Becoming a decent writer is challenging enough. So, don’t worry about commercial appeal.
Don’t Follow Other Writer’s Writing Guidelines
Every great author has a unique process for writing. Some authors complete their projects from start to finish. Some people work from sentence to sentence, while others work in bits that they assemble later. So, don’t be hesitant to experiment with various methods, voices, and styles. What works for you, keep and throw away the rest. You will develop your own set of guidelines based on the material you use and your creative process.
For example, you can switch between first-person and third-person voices. You might even challenge grammatical accuracy. However, this doesn’t mean that the rules are useless. It only means that fiction authors don’t have to adhere to each one of them exactly.
Conclusion
Remember that these guidelines for writing novels also apply to other types of literature, such as short stories and screenplays. They aren’t just applicable to fiction novels. Instead, you can also follow these guidelines to create an interesting nonfiction book.
So, if you keep these writing suggestions in mind before you start, you can maintain your personal voice and point of view while also exercising the discipline required of all writers to finish a fiction piece! Good Luck!