Be Heard: How to Write a Novel

If you want to try a change of pace in life, or just want to write a story for others to enjoy, here is a guide on how to write a novel. rnAre you among the 80% of Americans that dream of becoming an author? Some of us are natural born storytellers, while others write as a form of therapy. Whether you hope to strike it rich or you simply have a great tale to tell, writing a book is no easy task. How do you take on the monumental task of putting your thoughts on paper? In this post, we'll outline 4 tips for how to write a novel you can be proud of. Read on to learn how to tap into the writer in you.

1. Understand Your Genre

What type of novel do you hope to write? A modern thriller, a steamy romance, a work of historical fiction?rnYour first step is to learn as much as you can about your chosen genre. Read as many books as you can to see what other successful authors have done. This will give you an idea of what's already popular in the genre--and which storylines have been done to death. The more you learn what readers enjoy, the better you'll be able to craft a story they'll love too.

2. Develop Your Characters

You likely already have an idea for your main character(s). But to write a great novel, you need to know more about them than their name and physical appearance. What is your main character's goal? What motivates him or her? What do they desire most out of life, and what are they most afraid of? Superficial characters result in superficial storytelling. Dig deep here. Look into your character's past. What were their family and childhood like? What life events formed them into the person they are today? If you need some help getting started, try freewriting or other expressive writing ideas to get the creative juices flowing.

3. Create Conflict

A story is nothing without conflict. Your main character must have a clear goal as well as obstacles to overcome to achieve it. The best types of stories have both internal and external conflict. Internal conflict includes your character's flaws that make it challenging for him to attain his goal. Make sure there's something holding him back that he can gradually overcome by the story's end. External conflict comes from your antagonist (villain) or other outside forces. These are beyond your hero's control and create additional challenges for him to overcome.

4. Get Started

You can read posts on how to write a novel all day long. But at the end of the day, you simply have to take the plunge and get started. Before you pick out a book cover template, you first have to create a story to fill its pages. Brainstorm and do your research, but don't use it as an excuse to procrastinate. Remember--you can always edit and revise later (and you will). But for now, cast your fears aside and start writing!

How to Write a Novel: Now You Know

As any author will tell you, writing is an art you'll never fully master. The key is to believe in yourself and keep writing. Now that you know how to write a novel, what are you waiting for? Take these tips above and put them into practice today! Still working on your writing technique? That's okay too. Check out our recent post about ways to strengthen your writing skills.