Outlining and finishing a novel - One author's process
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To start off, let me say this: There is definitely no one way to write a book. I don't believe there is a "surefire" way to outline and complete a novel, but considering that I have written a book that has sold some copies, I am happy to detail the steps I took to finish mine.
- Passion and Inspiration - Starting my book happened by accident. There was a time when all that I read were classic, Old English stories such as Austen, Dickens, and Bronte. I wrapped myself up in that culture and style, and suddenly, lines and phrases came to me out of nowhere while I watched TV, went for a run, etc. I started writing them down, and I fell in love with them. They were genuine pieces of me and what I was interested in, so it seemed logical and natural for me to put them together. I started connecting them to one another, and then before I knew it, I had my first chapter. It wasn't THE first chapter, but it ended up being one of the middle ones, just prior to the climax of the novel.
- Plot - Before I did anything else, I worked to ensure that all of the pieces that I created had some common end with meaning. I considered what the point of the novel would be, what I wanted people to get from it, and what kind of story I wanted it to be. I didn't create a complete, moment-by-moment outline, per se; I wanted to allow myself plenty of room to be creative and flexible. However, I did want to set a goal for myself that I would be happy with and that I could achieve.
- Characters - I really wanted to start on characters early because I simply love imagining and developing people: their characteristics, features, tendencies, backgrounds, and so on. I started forming the characters around the lines that I already created and the plot that was made. I started drawing the characters out, which inspired me to add more depth and breadth to their parts in the story; it's easier for me when I can visualize them in their actions and presences.
- Writing - Once I had all of the elements I needed, I wrote the rest of the book. I made a foundation and filled in the rest from there, writing the beginning and end and then adding chapters in the middle to allow for the characters to flourish and the plot to come to fruition. Soon enough, I had a completed draft.
- Editing - I did a lot of editing, so much that it took four years to publish! I went through all of the chapters at least three times, making grammatical, spelling, and larger edits as I went through. I had others read it and give feedback. I wanted it to be perfect.
- Publishing - When the novel was completed to my satisfaction, it went through the publishing process. I did a lot of research on publishers, purchasing an ISBN number, marketing it, and so forth. You can read more about that process here.
And there you have it! A completed novel!
He looks like Santa!
Additional Resources
- Merciful by Sara Wright (Book) in Literature & Fiction
Merciful by Sara Wright (Book) in Literature & Fiction : With the arrival of Evalyn Harper, a wayward girl of outrageous tastes and startling secrets, peace in the small convent that young acolyte Lucas Mohr calls home is shattered. He finds his - How to Write a Book
How to Write a Book - Writing Tips - How to Write a Book - Writing a Book Guide
Discover how to write a book in less time than ever! Consultants, small business professionals and writers become experts with a book. Free articles on book writing, publishing and marketing. - How to Write a Book - wikiHow
wikiHow article about How to Write a Book. - How to Write and Publish Your Book
How to Write and Publish a Book - Free Articles, Tips, and Information - How to self-publish a book
Writing has always been something I have loved to do. It's gives me the chance to do what I want, put the things in my mind on paper, be creative and pretty, and change all the endings to the movies I hate. ... - How to Write a Book | eHow.com
How to Write a Book. Before you think about how to write a book, you should ask yourself why you are doing this. Writing a book is a time-consuming project that requires focus, discipline and planning to accomplish. The a...
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Comments
With my novels I had the general idea of what I wanted to write about - the problem as you have to have a problem or crisis or conflict, then I came up with a title. For me the title was so important as it gave my novel a life. I then came up with my main character. Then I wrote a prologue and an epilogue so I had an idea for a beginning and an end, which was a starting point for me. After that, I worked out what the main idea for each chapter would be and checked to see that it flowed and helped the plot to develop. The characters developed and grew as I took each chapter idea and worked it and fleshed it out. When I finished the book I rewrote my orginal prologue and epilogue. But as Glassvisage said, each author works differently.
Glassvisage, thanks for this hub. The process you describe is very familiar to me, though it takes me close to a decade to complete each novel. Every scene, every chapter has its emotional climax, and it sometimes shatters me, so that I can't go on for a while. The novel definitely writes itself -- at its own pace, and the process of putting it down in words is only a small part of the story.
I am really curious about your experience with LuLu.com. How is that working out? Would you recommend it to others?
I'm glad this worked for you, Pgrundy!
Cindy, you brought up a great point: titles DO add life and character to the book. With that said, I should add that I titled each chapter in order to help me complete each one, and organize how the flow of the book would go.
Aya, I like how you say that your books write themselves. My experience with Lulu was simple and satisfying. It was so easy to upload my book; they really helped me go through that, and since I don't really care about earning royalties, my book is only $7.
Glassvisage
I read about your novel writing process with interest. It has many similarities to mine. I’ve just completed the writing (it took 4 years) and am beginning the publication process.I know this is self-congratulatory but still I think anyone who finishes a novel deserves congratulations just for that. I’ve seen many begun with great energy and enthusiasm, then abandoned after a few chapters. And if you’ve also sold copies, you are really doing well.
You hit the nail on the head, IMO, when you put passion and inspiration as number one. This not only gives your novel form but also sees you through the huge amount of work that is involved. (I had no idea how much when I began.) Instead of plot, I would put theme as number two, although from how you define plot I think we’re talking about the same thing. If you can boil the theme of the novel down to a few words (some writers recommend three: subject, verb, object) that will keep you on track all the way through and your scenes will tie together as if by magic.
I also found it important to have readers, because once I formed the bare bones outline I didn’t feel confident about what would interest readers. I joined a wonderful Internet writing site (www.thewritingbridge.org) where I got lots of input as I flailed around, and have had several of those members reading with me all the way.
Barbara, your input is so valuable! Thank you for reading this Hub and for adding to it by including the link to The Writing Bridge!
pgrundy says:
8 months ago
This is excellent and very helpful. I've bookmarked it. It's exactly what I was looking for--advice from someone who has actually done it. I like your idea of getting a general plot, then writing the first and final chapters and fleshing out the middle. Thank you for answering my request! (And so quickly too!)