I am currently working on writing my debut novel and have had so many questions.
How do I start? Where is the best place to keep up with everything? When is the right time to develop all the characters, story, world, etc?
Personally, I've been facing challenges. While I have what I consider a fantastic idea, I've been unsure how to put that idea onto the page.
So, I scoured the internet, consulted with fellow authors, and read Instagram posts to compile a list of 5 tips I will be using while writing my novel that will hopefully help you as well.
Tip #1 - Just Keep Writing
The first tip is the best piece of advice I have received, and it is the most simple: keep writing. Even if what you produce is not great, trust yourself and let your story flow. The more you initially write the more you have to work with. You will have plenty of time to edit and draft later, the first step in writing anything is getting your thoughts onto the page. Embrace the process of getting your first draft finished!
Tip #2 - Set a regular time to write.
Let's be honest, we all have a lot going on and a lot we constantly think about. Setting aside a specific time of day to write is a GREAT piece of advice I received from another aspiring author. It allowed me to focus on other things throughout the rest of the day and solely focus on my novel during my writing time.
Keep your commitment schedule in mind when setting your writing hours and remember. No matter what time you decide to write, choose a time and consistently write during those minutes or hours every day for this tip to be effective.
Tip #3 - Create a Storyboard
I am so glad I saw this piece of advice. After writing several chapters of my novel, I realized I wasn't sure EXACTLY what was going to happen or how events would unfold.
Creating a storyboard has helped me get my ideas in order and truly understand where my story was headed and what I needed to focus on while writing.
While there are several online storyboards that can be used, I opted to utilize Canva to generate AI images and integrate those in Google Slides. This allows me to view my entire storyboard and add notes to the side to associate each photo panel with a corresponding part of my story. Bonus? It's free!
Tip #4 - Keep Track of Your Characters
There is nothing readers, including myself, hate more than character discrepancies in a novel. It is very easy to make small mistakes when it comes to side characters, especially if you have a large world with many characters.
Creating a space where you keep track of character physical and emotional descriptions is important. This can be a document, a Google Slides, a Pinterest board, a physical cork board, etc. It doesn't matter how you choose to track your characters as long as you do so.
Tip #5 - Use a Model Text
We all have a favorite author and a favorite novel we go back to over and over again. Reread that novel and take notes. You don't want to copy anyone else's writing style or story, but look at how they build characters, the level of detail they incorporate, the balance between dialogue and description, etc. Look at what the greats have done before you and use their work to guide you in shaping your own.
I'm using Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas. I just happened to be rereading the series recently and noticed how she introduces Bryce, the setting, the world she created, and the other characters in the first chapter. I chose to look at other books in the romantacy, world-building genres (as my book falls into this category) and took notes on their world-building techniques. This has been SO helpful for me in understanding the balance between how much is too much vs too little in my own writing.
Try rereading your favorite novel and just see what you notice. It could be very helpful.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Forget to Take a Break
Feeling bogged down with writing or even facing writers block can be detrimental to the writing process. Writing should be fun! It should be a space for you to allow your creativity to flow, not something that makes you feel trapped.
My advice? Take a break! Yes, it is important to get your thoughts on paper, but if you are becoming frustrated with the process, do something else. Read a good book. Take a mini vacation. Go shopping. Do whatever makes you happy and THEN get back to the grind.
You cannot produce your best work while you are not feeling your best self.
Closing Thoughts
Hopefully something within this post has resonated with you and will help you while writing your novel. Just do what you can, when you can and try to enjoy the process!!
I would love it if you would leave any tips or advice you have in the comments. I can certainly use all the help I can get!!
Happy writing,
Elizabeth J. Ashe
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