by nissa_amas_katoj

Created on: December 15, 2008   Last Updated: December 31, 2008

Writing a novel is a massive project that can frighten the beginning writer. But by following certain steps you can break down this massive project into something you can manage.

1. Prepare write a novel by preparing to be a writer. This means reading widely in all sorts of topics. You also need to brush up on basic skills like typing, spelling and grammar. Keeping a journal or notebook is also a good writerly habit.

2. Start with an idea. Most published writers mull an idea around in their head for a while before starting to work on it. You might also at this stage start reading some books that may give you background to go with the writing idea.

3. After you have mentally worked the idea for a while, write down what you know about the story. Do you like it enough to work it into a novel? If so, you are ready to begin the writing process.

4. The next step may be writing an outline of the novel as a whole, if you find that writing such an outline is a technique that works for you. But not all published writers use an outline. If you find that outlining is a chore that drains all your interest in writing the actual novel, you may be best off skipping this step.

5. Start the first draft by writing chapter one. Or chapter two, for that matter. The first draft is when you can be wild and crazy and imaginative. If you get stuck, introduce a man with a gun, or a space alien with a blowtorch. One thing to remember though is that as a beginning writer you are best off writing a novel that sticks closely to the fate of one central character rather than writing something with many groups of unrelated characters, as writer Harry Turtledove does in his Worldwar series and others like it. A skilled writer can learn to do this, but it's a lot harder to do well and the beginning writer is better off writing a less difficult story.

6. After you've finished the first draft, set it aside for awhile and write something else. Then come back to your first draft, read it through, and begin the second draft. During the second draft you are looking to correct everything from spelling mistakes to plot loopholes. You will also make improvements as you go along.

7. Set the novel aside again after the second draft is finished. When you come back to it, you will read it and decide how much work it still needs- a third draft, or perhaps just a little polishing here and there. Make sure that your novel is the best work that you can do before you decide it's finished.

8. Research the writing markets to find publishers that publish in your novel's genre. You will need a copy of the current year of Writer's Market, a book which lists all the markets for writing. You might also buy an up-to-date book on getting your novel published, and/or one on getting an agent. Make a list of possible publishers- make sure they accept manuscripts from writers without an agent- and look at what they want from you, which may be a query letter, the first three chapters, or the whole manuscript. Send the manuscript to the best fit on the list, and then wait for the rejection. Go through the rest of the list, and through a list of legitimate author's agents that work with your genre and are accepting new clients.

9. Don't wait til your first novel sells to write your second. Get right to work on your second novel, and your third. Remember that writer Stephen King could not get his first four novels published. But after that, he wrote 'Carrie', and we all know how that came out.

Writing a novel is not an impossible dream- many others have written a novel. You can, too, with the right preparation and a willingness to work.

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