Starting the Journey: Finding Your Story and Starting the First Draft
So, you’ve got this itch to write a novel. Excellent! You’re not alone; many people dream of crafting a narrative so captivating that readers can’t put the book down. But dreaming and doing are two different things, aren’t they? In this realm, practicality reigns supreme. To embark on this journey, you need more than just a vibrant imagination—you need tools, techniques, and perhaps some writing tips to guide you.
The Dream and Challenge of Writing a Novel
Every novel starts as a nebulous idea, a cloud of possibilities that condenses into a narrative. Many factors fuel this process: your personal experiences, your favorite books and authors, and even current events. Maybe you’re inspired by the intricacies of human behavior, or perhaps you want to dive into the genre of speculative fiction to explore what-ifs of history or future. Whatever the case, the key is to find a theme or message that deeply resonates with you. If you’re passionate about the story, the chances are, your readers will be too.
How to Find the Story You Want to Tell
Finding your story is akin to falling in love—you’ll know it when you feel it. That said, you can’t just sit around and wait for inspiration to strike; you have to actively seek it. Look to your own life, experiences, and emotions. Have you ever read a news article and thought, “What if…?” That’s a story prompt, a kernel from which an entire world can sprout. Use these real-world inspirations to ignite your creative writing.
Don’t underestimate the power of writing prompts. They can serve as an excellent starting point. Set aside time each day to write something—anything—inspired by a prompt. The goal is to lubricate the gears of your creativity. Not every prompt will evolve into a novel, but it will teach you to think flexibly and imaginatively.
Why the First Draft Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect
It’s called a “first draft” for a reason—it’s your first go, not your last. The goal of your first draft isn’t to produce a masterpiece; it’s to put words on the page. Do you think Harper Lee nailed “To Kill a Mockingbird” in one go? No. It took revisions. Many of them. So, remind yourself that imperfection is not just okay—it’s necessary. The first draft is a skeleton, and skeletons aren’t pretty, but they provide the necessary structure upon which to build.
Writing Tips to Get You Through the First Draft
- Consistency Over Quantity: It’s better to write a small amount daily than to go on sporadic writing binges. This regularity keeps you in touch with your story and characters.
- Outline, but Flexibly: Some sort of screenplay structure or plot outline can act as your GPS, but remember, detours often lead to the most breathtaking views. So, don’t hesitate to stray from your initial plan.
- Kill Your Darlings: This advice is often attributed to William Faulkner, and it’s a must-follow. As you write, you’ll pen lines that you think are absolutely genius—but if they don’t serve the story, be prepared to kill them off in the name of better narrative flow.
- Read as You Write: The best way to improve writing skills is to read—read books in your genre, read books outside your genre. Reading exposes you to different styles, tones, and structures, enriching your own work by osmosis.
The Middle Ground: Developing Your Characters and Plot
Alright, so you have a first draft. It might be rough around the edges, but it’s there—congratulations! Now comes the fun part: breathing life into your skeletal outline, making your characters memorable, and weaving a plot so intricate that it keeps your readers glued to the page.
Characters: More Than Just Names
First and foremost, remember: Characters drive the plot, not the other way around. If your characters are lackluster, no amount of plot gymnastics can save your novel. It’s essential to imbue them with life, personality, and, most importantly, flaws. Perfect characters are as unreal as unicorns. They need to have a mix of strengths and weaknesses, just like real people. For instance, Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a beacon of moral clarity, but his idealism often blinds him to the harsh realities of the world he lives in.
When you think about your characters, think in terms of dimensionality. Are they flat or round? Are they static or dynamic? A three-dimensional character, one that shows complexity and growth, will always be more engaging.
Plot Development: It’s Not Just About What Happens
We’ve all heard the phrase “Show, don’t tell.” This is particularly crucial when you’re developing your plot. Rather than telling your readers that a character is nervous, show it through their actions or dialogue. Subtext is a powerful tool here; what characters don’t say often speaks louder than what they do. Consider the profound impact of silence in Quentin Tarantino’s films; sometimes, the absence of dialogue can say much more than words.
When weaving your plot, make sure each event logically leads to the next. This doesn’t mean your story has to follow a traditional three-act structure, but each event should be a consequence of the one that precedes it. Foreshadowing is a great technique for making sure your story elements coalesce. It can also add a layer of sophistication to your writing that seasoned readers will appreciate.
Writing Prompts for Character and Plot Development
Sometimes we hit a roadblock, creatively speaking. That’s when writing prompts can come in handy again. If you’re stuck on character development, try writing a side story where your character faces a completely unrelated challenge. How they react can offer incredible insights into their psyche. Likewise, you can also use prompts to explore potential plot turns you hadn’t considered.
Writing Tips to Keep Your Story Moving
- Dialogue Should Serve Multiple Purposes: Good dialogue not only propels the plot forward but also reveals something about the character. Be mindful of each line you write; it should be doing more than one job.
- Balance Description and Action: Long, flowery descriptions can be beautiful but not at the cost of pacing. Make sure your writing maintains a good balance between action and descriptive passages to keep the reader engaged.
- Embrace Conflict: This is the fuel that keeps your story engine running. Whether it’s internal or external, conflict generates tension and interest. Don’t shy away from it; embrace it.
- Write Scenes, Not Just Summaries: Especially for key moments in your story, you’ll want to slow down and write scenes, not just summarize what happens. This can make moments more impactful and emotionally resonant.
- Edit as You Go, but Don’t Get Stuck: It’s tempting to go back and perfect what you’ve already written, but don’t let this impede your progress. Make a note to come back to problematic sections during the editing phase but keep the momentum going.
The Final Lap: Revising, Editing, and Polishing Your Novel
So, you’ve developed compelling characters, built a twisty plot, and added layers to your story. While you might be tempted to think the hardest part is behind you, don’t pop the champagne just yet. The revision stage is where your novel goes from good to great.
Revising Like a Pro
To revise effectively, you need to look at your manuscript with fresh eyes. Consider taking a break after finishing your second draft. Stephen King, in his iconic craft manual “On Writing,” suggests letting your novel sit for at least six weeks before you start revising. This helps you approach the work as though someone else wrote it, providing you with the emotional distance needed to scrutinize your work effectively.
But how exactly do you revise? Well, this is where you’ll want to read through the entire manuscript and make large structural changes. Are all the subplots resolved? Do all the characters serve a purpose? If not, this is the time to tighten things up. It might feel like killing your darlings, but every word must serve the story.
Unleash the Power of Editing
After revising comes the nitty-gritty: editing. This is where you’ll fine-tune your language, fix grammatical errors, and eliminate any inconsistencies in your narrative. While software like Grammarly can catch basic errors, don’t underestimate the power of a professional editor. They not only help improve your manuscript but also teach you how to improve your writing skills. There’s a lot more to editing than most people realize, and having someone experienced by your side can make all the difference.
The Devil is in the Details
This is also the time to pay close attention to elements like pacing and rhythm in your sentences. A well-paced novel can make the difference between a page-turner and a snooze fest. Consider your sentence structures and word choices. For example, shorter sentences speed up the pace—ideal for action scenes—while longer, more complex sentences slow down the reader.
Feedback is Gold
Once you think you’ve gotten it just right, it’s time to seek feedback. Reach out to a writers’ group, or ask friends and family you trust to be objective. Their fresh perspectives can highlight blind spots you may have missed. Make use of their feedback to undergo another round of edits.
The Final Checklist
Before you declare your manuscript ready for publishing or submission, here are some writing tips to consider:
- Check for Consistency: Make sure that characters’ names, ages, and physical descriptions remain consistent throughout the novel.
- Kill Your Darlings: If a scene or dialogue doesn’t serve your story or characters, get rid of it, no matter how well-written it is.
- Dialogue Tags: Stick to simple dialogue tags like ‘said’. Fancy dialogue tags like ‘exclaimed’, ‘muttered’, can be distracting.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Revisit your manuscript and ensure you’re showing wherever possible, rather than telling.
- Punctuation and Grammar: Ensure there are no misplaced commas, semicolons, or—god forbid—misused apostrophes.
So there you have it, the nuts and bolts of taking your novel from its initial concept to a polished gem. Writing a novel is no small feat. It requires time, patience, and a willingness to dive into the gritty details. But with these creative writing approaches and tips in your arsenal, you’re not just writing—you’re crafting a work of art. Take pride in this incredible journey you’ve embarked upon. You’ve earned it.
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A.I. in Screen Trade 