How to Write a Novel: Crash Course
Jessica Minert
So, you’re here because you want to write a book… but you might not be an English or creative writing major (maybe you’re a STEM or business major), or you’re a serious rookie. Well, either way, you have an idea that you think would make a great book, and here are some tips on how to finally start writing it.
Understand That You Can Write a Book Just for You
Your book doesn’t have to be for anyone else. You can write something just because you love writing. (Even if you think you’re bad at it.) Writing is a great coping mechanism and a way to unwind from the stress of college life. Don’t worry about it being “good.” Have fun and write because you love it.
Start with a Thought Dump
When writing my book, I spent years (I cannot emphasize how many years… it was a lot) writing all of my ideas, random bursts of dialogue, character arcs, and scenes in a large Google Doc. The thought dump phase is great for when you are starting out with a small idea that you need to flesh out more. Don’t worry about writing in chronological order; just “dump” all of your creativity into a space that you can easily navigate later.
Watch YouTube Videos on Writing
For years, when I was in the thought dump process, I would watch YouTube videos on how to develop characters, how to avoid clichés in writing, how to write an outline, basically anything and everything I wanted to know about how to write. Degrees in writing are valuable (I should know, I’m spending a fortune on one), but if that’s not your major and you still want to write, know that you still can. You can watch these videos during study breaks, or while getting ready for school, or listen to them when driving. My favorite writing YouTuber is author Abbie Emmons. She also has a podcast on Spotify called The Kate and Abbie Show that is fantastic. (Link down below).
Making Time for Writing
People make time for things that are important to them, so if writing is important to you, making time for it will start to happen naturally with a little bit of effort. Once you are finished with your homework for the day or after you’re off work, put on some music (you can create a playlist specifically for your book) and dedicate some time to writing, even if it’s as small as ten minutes for yourself. Once you start to fall in love with your book, your problem won’t be making time for it, but having the willpower to stop writing and make time for homework.
Creating an Outline
For creating an outline for my book, I have personally chosen the Three-Act Story Structure that Abbie Emmons suggested. She has a form on her website that you can fill out according to your story, and a video explaining it in depth on her YouTube channel, but you can use any outline that works for you. (Or not use an outline at all and be a rebel). If there are a couple of things you don’t know about your story yet, don’t stress about it so much and give yourself permission to just start writing. I like to personally create an outline where I write one line about what is going to happen for each chapter. That’s right, one line only. An example would be “Character A and B meet.” Then, if there are multiple points of view in the book, I assign each character who has a point of view a color and color-code my outline. Meaning, if I gave Character A the color blue, and it was her perspective, I’d write “Character A and B meet” for that chapter. The short lines then make it super easy to reorganize while I’m figuring out what happens when.
Starting the First Rough Draft
The first draft is you telling yourself the story, so don’t worry about whether the first words you put on the page are perfect; their existence is enough. The first step I would suggest is organizing your thought dump in chronological order, seeing how it lines up with the outline, and starting at the beginning, filling in the necessary gaps, using the thought dump and outline as a guide.
Editing
Editing is re-reading your writing and making it better. I would start by re-reading your first draft and taking notes on what you want to change or plot holes you notice. Then, start implementing the changes one by one. This is when you can return to your thought dump page to brainstorm how to implement changes. YouTube and Abbie Emmons are also your best friends when it comes to any questions you have about doing a second, third, or fourth draft.
Publishing
If you want to self-publish, Abbie Emmons also has great videos and articles on the topic, so you can check them out if you’re interested. There are also various YouTube videos on marketing your book you can look into if you want. Also, remember that writing is for you before it is for anyone else. You don’t have to publish if you don’t want to. Your writing is important, no matter the audience it reaches. The one thing you have to remember about publishing is how important marketing your book is, even if you go the traditional route.
Remember to Have Fun
Writing is about enjoying the process, so if it’s too stressful or you don’t finish, that’s perfectly okay. You can take a break and come back later. You make your own rules. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to write the perfect novel. If it starts to feel like a chore or something you’re not enjoying, don’t be afraid to take a step back.
Works Cited
Emmons, Abbie. “Abbie Emmons – YouTube.” , www.youtube.com/@AbbieEmmons.
—. “How to Professionally Self-Publish a Novel in 7 Months.” Abbie Emmons, 10 July 2019, www.abbiee.com/2019/07/indie-pub-at-a-glance/.
—. “Structure My Novel with Me (+ 3-Act Story Structure Template).” Abbie Emmons, 16 Oct. 2019, www.abbiee.com/2019/10/structure-my-novel-with-me/.
Abbie Emmons Links
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AbbieEmmons
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/22dXp4IL4MYut743GQlCie
Publishing: https://www.abbiee.com/2019/07/indie-pub-at-a-glance/
Outline: https://www.abbiee.com/2019/10/structure-my-novel-with-me/
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