by Chris Owen

Created on: January 17, 2011

Imagine rolling out of bed without an alarm clock, putting on that first pot of coffee and rolling up your sleeves ready to scribble down the next greatest novel – ah, the writer’s dream!

*Warning: this article may shatter images of creative bliss.* 

Before we go any further, I feel I must tell you that (unless you’re rich) you’re still going to need a regular income before, during and after the writing process. That’s right, creating novels for money can be a long, thankless journey that requires not only creativity but also cash for food, drink and shelter.

Once you begin to approach novel writing in a practical frame of mind then you’re ready to start getting stuff down on paper.

Get yourself a pen, a jotter and an A4 pad.

(I recommend writing on paper before even touching a lap-top or PC.)

Now you have your tools you need a nice place to sit and a regular time of day in which to dedicate to writing.

If you have an hour for lunch then, find a pub or a coffee shop and get comfortable – you’ll be amazed how much you can accomplish in 40 minute chunks.

If you don’t have an hour for lunch, then find an hour somewhere in the day – before, after or during work if you can get away with it!

Basically, find some writing time on a daily or regular basis.

Getting down to business

So, to start with, use your jotter to plot out a rough storyline from beginning to end. Include key characters and a guide to the events or chapters that are going to lead to the eventual conclusion.

 - Create manageable chunks that will eventually become one huge chunk of book.
 - Make sure you write about something that you’re already familiar with.
 - Don’t procrastinate – do it today!

Keep your jotter and plot structure by your side so you can refer to what’s going on as you write the actual text - don’t be afraid to stray from the plot as the storyline develops but remember to update your jotter so you know where you’re going.

So, you have your plot simmering away - the next step is to write! That’s it, put pen to paper and go for it. Keep at it, don’t stop! The only way to become a writer is to actually write something!

What you write about, and your style, is up to you. Sometimes it helps to have a person in mind who you are writing for; someone that you think will appreciate your jokes or the content matter however, ultimately, this is for you and whatever you

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