I believe that writing is the best and most beatiful invention mankind has created. I believe the pen (or, in my case, the computer key) is one of our greatest weapons. I believe that writing a novel is one of the most excellent ways by which to contribute usefully to the society.
I do not believe your name has to be Billy Shakespeare or Charley Dickens to do it.
All you need to write a novel is imagination, creativity and determination to put your name among those who created people without, er, biological activity.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
1. Name Your Game
You must know what novel to write before you start considering how to write it. We'd all be surprised if John Grisham started writing eroticas, or if Ludlum's next book was for children aged 8-12.
To decide your genre, you must consider the type of novels you most enjoy. Whichever it is, it is the type of novel you would be best at, because you would understand the general storyline, what makes the novel enjoyable, all the pros and cons.
Generally, there are two types of novels;
The Reflective: where there is less emphasis on the stroryline. This type of novel is centered mostly on the characters themselves; their fears, their weaknesses, their unusualities. The prevailing mood is usually somber and philosophical.
This is not to say there will be no action whatsoever; there will be the usual problems to solve. However, the novel's chief aim is to bring out the characters in all intensity through their dialogues and thoughts and descriptions and histories. An example of this type of novel is The Horse Whisperer.
The Active: this kind of novel centers on the storyline. This is not to insinuate that the characters are shallow. It only leans more toward pace, movement, action without much time for chit-chat and speculations. The James Bond series is a typical example.
Most novels are usually a mixture of both broad categories. However, a well-written novel will usually lean toward one or the other of these extremes.
To decide your genre, you must consider the type of novels you most enjoy. Whichever it is, it is the type of novel you would be best at, because you would understand the general storyline, what makes the novel enjoyable, all the pros and cons.
Generally, there are two types of novels;
The Reflective: where there is less emphasis on the stroryline. This type of novel is centered mostly on the characters themselves; their fears, their weaknesses, their unusualities. The prevailing mood is usually somber and philosophical.
This is not to say there will be no action whatsoever; there will be the usual problems to solve. However, the novel's chief aim is to bring out the characters in all intensity through their dialogues and thoughts and descriptions and histories. An example of this type of novel is The Horse Whisperer.
The Active: this kind of novel centers on the storyline. This is not to insinuate that the characters are shallow. It only leans more toward pace, movement, action without much time for chit-chat and speculations. The James Bond series is a typical example.
Most novels are usually a mixture of both broad categories. However, a well-written novel will usually lean toward one or the other of these extremes.
2. The Mind Set
Most people jump into writing a novel without realizing it will probably be the biggest project they have ever undertaken. To write a novel, one must first understand that it is not a quick way to make money and fame. Approaching your novel with the fundamental purpose of finishing it quickly and inflating your bank account is not a very good mindset; sooner or later your enthusiasm dies off and you start considering other options, like bank robbery.
When you have decided on the type of novel you want to work on, you must begin detailed research and planning. You must construct every aspect of your story, fully conceive and understand your characters or the personality you intend to portrait.
The end of the road for many is their first writer's block. I have written many novels (under pseudonyms, of course) and I know what it feels like when your brain refures to produce the next paragraph, to give the next word. I shall go into a bit of detail on how to prevent it later, but the best answer to writer's block is raw determination.
When you have decided on the type of novel you want to work on, you must begin detailed research and planning. You must construct every aspect of your story, fully conceive and understand your characters or the personality you intend to portrait.
The end of the road for many is their first writer's block. I have written many novels (under pseudonyms, of course) and I know what it feels like when your brain refures to produce the next paragraph, to give the next word. I shall go into a bit of detail on how to prevent it later, but the best answer to writer's block is raw determination.
3. Know Your Market
What type of people read the type of novel you are writing? Teens? Housewives? Grannies? What type of story does your target audience most enjoy?
You should understand the wants of your readers before you supply them with a storyline.
Most novels are about 75,000 to 90,000 words in the average, but family sagas and horrors may be much longer, sometimes up to 120,000 words apeice.
On the other hand, some genres would look ridiculous in two thousand word stretches. Traditional romances are usually about fifty to fifity-five thousand, while children's books hover about the 45,000-word mark.
4. Knowing Your Subject
A writer should have knowledge and some technical know-how on the subject he's dealing with in his novel. There are some writers who prefer to dream up the whole peice, without bothering to do any groundwork or research whatsoever.To those I wish good luck.
For a writer who is planning to write a peice on crime, for instance, or a historical saga or a spy thriller or just about any type of novel for that matter, there should be at least a little research and development from the original facts. Detailed discoursing on the topic of research will give way to a whole new blog.
In writing a novel, the writer must consider;
The Period of History in which the novel is birthed: is it a modern crime or a World War II spy story?
The Prevalent Setting: a dusty alien planet ar the sinful backdrop of the inner city?
The Character Profile: know your hero as much as you know your close friends. How would she react in a particular situation? What is her main character trait?
The scenario moulds character who moulds the prevalent mood of the novel you are writing, and vice cersa.
There is an Internet webpage to every subject under the sun, so research shouldn't be a hard thing these days.
For a writer who is planning to write a peice on crime, for instance, or a historical saga or a spy thriller or just about any type of novel for that matter, there should be at least a little research and development from the original facts. Detailed discoursing on the topic of research will give way to a whole new blog.
In writing a novel, the writer must consider;
The Period of History in which the novel is birthed: is it a modern crime or a World War II spy story?
The Prevalent Setting: a dusty alien planet ar the sinful backdrop of the inner city?
The Character Profile: know your hero as much as you know your close friends. How would she react in a particular situation? What is her main character trait?
The scenario moulds character who moulds the prevalent mood of the novel you are writing, and vice cersa.
There is an Internet webpage to every subject under the sun, so research shouldn't be a hard thing these days.
5. Day-To-Day
Some people propogate that each writer has a specific time frame in which he or she is most effective. Others think that writers should be able to write at any time and in any environment, that they should be able to retreat into their imaginaton at will, regardless of their surroundings.
Whichever category you fall under, you would agree that there is a time of the day in which you are most creative. Early morning? Late afternoons? Dead of night when everyone else is asleep?
Once you have determined this time frame, you should stick to it, writing a little everyday instead of abandoning your novel for weeks and suddenly snatching up a pen and attempting to write a few dozen pages because you think you have been 'inspired'.
Keep in mind that writing too much and squeezing your brain for every last imaginative drop could bring about a writer's block. A good way to dodge this syndrome would be to stop your narrative just as an action part 'comes on'. Picking up the storyline will be much easier then, as opposed to the when you get back to your novel only to find you hero is about to take a nap.
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