How To Write A Novel: A Blueprint For Success

For me the fun part when writing a novel is creating difficult characters. I like to get them into situations in which I must struggle desperately to save them. The characters become so personal to me, I actually cry as I kill them. Yes, I actually feel sorrow over characters created in my mind when something bad happens to them because of my sick and twisted mind. :)

Good tips, Bill. *booked marked and shared.*

I didn't realise you also wrote fiction, Bill, until you mentioned your children's book (which I'm intrigued about!) but I've just been to your novel's website and read the synopsis, and it sounds fantastic - mysterious and strange - just how I like my fiction. Good advice here in your article - I look forward to using it if I ever take the plunge myself into long fiction :)

Very interesting and useful Hube for writers.

This is a very educative and interesting read; will help many a budding writer for sure. Voted up and useful and thanks for sharing this blueprint for novel writing. Have a nice day, my friend!

Well I doubt I'll ever be ready to write a book or even have the urge, but your tips are really helpful for people that do.

Hello, Bill.

I really like the idea of have a template, if you will, for writing. I employ it myself quite often. In theory it works well, in practice...not so much.

The problem starts when I actually utilize an outline. I begin nicely enough but soon feel restricted, rebel against the system and go my own way. Essentially, I wasted time doing an outline that I was goint to ignore anyway. But I do like the suggestions you've put forward. Any ideas how I can rein in the Rebel in me?

Have an enjoyable day. Did you get any snow out your way?

This is fantastic! How I wish I would have read this before I started writing my novel! I have just been going with the flow, writing, and then rewriting. I may just have to stop the process and take your advice =) Thanks for posting!

Great information, and thanks for the offer to help. That means so much, especially since right now, I consider HubPages a practice run for my material, sort of a learn-as-you-go-work.

Thanks for the tips, Bill. I write poetry and fiction as well as informational articles, so there may be a novel in my future. I prefer to write short stories at the moment, but that may change. I'll remember your suggestions if it does!

Another great hub to help people get started on writing a book. It's wonderful that you share your knowledge. Thank you Bill...

I firmly believe everyone has a story to tell, it's simply a matter of how they tell it. Nice hub.

Thank you for this. I should have my 5th book out this month.

This is a great resource for those who aspire for writing a novel. Selection of characters and the setting matters a lot as illustrated in this hub.

Voted up, useful, beautiful and interesting. Sharing too.

Hi Bill

As a writing teacher point by point we went through what you suggest. Over and over---every time we wrote. I have to read your book---I love to read and reading work by someone I know makes the material so much more interesting.

One day maybe things will settle down enough for me to publish one.

Have a lovely lovely day Sending Angels your way :) ps

Lots to think about when writing a novel and having this information will make the process a bit simpler. Your expertise is appreciated.

Very impressive billybuc! Writing a novel is a very big task. I'd stick with short contents for now.

I am one of those that never outlines. I usually get inspiration for a character, conflict within said character, and a very vague overall plot - and go! It's amazing how you can get into the "zone" where you write and write, without realizing you're actually typing, and suddenly a story unfolds. I believe characters are key, and if their story needs to be told then they will tell it through you.

However, never organizing outlines is probably also my downfall - because the hardest part for me is STARTING the story. I might think having this blueprint would make the opening easier to contrive. And once it begins, the journey just happens; it's taking the first step where I'll either stumble and recover, or collapse entirely.

Thanks for a clear and insightful hub! This will definitely help a lot of people.

Hi Bill. If there is a novel inside of me I have no idea where. I have never really given this much thought but it's good food for thought in the future. Who knows what lurks within. Thanks for the education.

Great tips, thanks for sharing. You make it sound easy!! You are so right there are no short cuts to writing a novel. Great write. Voted up.

I'll give it a shot, Bill. It'll be like writing left-handed for me, but you've written a nove and mine is still a dream, so I will see if I can re-direct my mindset.

I love you, my friend!!

Bill, novel writing is where I get stuck. Like you, I don't outline; my story develops as my mind delivers my fingers to the keyboard. I have a novel in mind, the introduction of which I've posted on HP as a short story called "How I Became Bravewarrior". I'm stuck as to how to proceed. I don't feel the average reader wants to read my life story, but may be interested in the point of view of the characters I became in the intro.

I seem to do better with short stories than the other types of hubs I post. At least, I am more pleased with my creativity in the short stories than topical hubs. My dilemma is my short stories are too short to publish outside HP and definitely not long enough to turn into novels.

Take, for instance, the short story I wrote in answer to your challenge. I think if I were to expound upon it, it would lose it's intrigue. The 1,000 word limitation was perfect for that story. And to be honest, I've very proud of that short story. I like it. I think all writers must keep working until they like what they put out. It motivates us to keep writing.

I agree with your brief touch on title. I usually change my title several times before I publish because my beginning thoughts rarely resemble the final draft. But the title does give the author direction, for sure.

I'm living two of my three dreams as a writer. The first was to quit my job and write for a living, which I've done. The second was to publish a poetry book, which I've done. The third is to publish a novel. I am grappling with my direction on this one. Perhaps I just need to do what I always do: pick it back up and let my mind be my guide.

I'm sure you'll be receiving phone calls and emails from me seeking your advice and direction. I can always count on you!

Stephen King wrote a great little book on writing called "On Writing." His main advice is sit down and write. Let it pour out of you. You'll edit and rewrite on your second and third drafts. This approach has been freeing for me and might alleviate some hubbers fears.

I'm always interested to hear about writing processes from different writers---it's great to have a range of choices (as you emphasized) to get the sense of what works for you. I am reminded of a friend in college who would outline her research papers so methodically that she would time her writing to a certain fraction per day---if she had 2 weeks for a 10-page paper, she'd write a specific number of paragraphs per day. I admired her self-discipline tremendously but was horrified by her process because it would never work for me!!

Great advice. If you are going with a traditional publisher, don't be married to your title. They have the right to change it and you have little to no say in it.

Bill, extremely well thought out sdvice for writing a novel. I have often started a great idea but have trouble keeping an organized flow. Will definitely be keeping this one book marked for future reference. Thankyou Billy!

Bill,

I have two manuscripts ready on my desk, one is a short story collection and another is a novel. Thanks for your lessons on publishing.

Your writing tutorials and publishing guides are wonderful.

When I took English classes in school back in the day we were told to write outlines for the story. I am actually against doing that because to me personally it is a waste of time. I'll be more focused on getting the outline right than on actually writing and developing my story. I just start with an idea and I let it flow out of me and develop into a complete story. I have actually written my first novel and it came about after a title came into my head. I do not think that initial title is the right one anymore but it did result in me writing my novel, which is a bit personal. I am happy that I accomplished my goal of writing the novel but must now focus on the editing process. I've actually been doing that a lot and I don't feel like everything is perfect. Can't seem to find anyone who can help me perfect my story though and find myself stuck. I really want to publish it someday soon and am not sure what to do as far as the editing goes.

Another wonderfully interesting and useful hub Billy.I am saving this one too for easy future referance and voted up.

Have a great day.

Eddy.

Excellent outline for writing a book, Bill. I know I have at least one good novel inside me, I just need to make time to decide what it is and start writing. I think following the process you outlined will help greatly. What is the word count for a young adult novel? Is it also 100,000?

My thoughts flow out when I am having a not so good days and you always manage to add more information on writing in showing us the helpful ways. I do have a book in mind.

Fine tuning a book for two years is a lot of energy and passion.

I love the first comment, my novel is buried very deep inside too! Pinning this hub for the future though. I would love to write a novel someday. I'm working on an e-book set for my kindergarten son right now that I am going to try to market and sell (if he likes it). Thanks for the tips! :)

This definitely helps if you want to be a novelist. Great article as always.

This is a very useful hub that I'll pin as I may need it soon.

I am still very afraid to begin a novel. The fear is the abyss I will go into once started. Perhaps these tips will provide me a lifeline, to allow resurfacing at proper intervals.

Thank you

Thanks Billybuc this is one of the most informative hubs about creating a manuscript I have come across. I am at the 50k word stage of my first manuscript and your hubs outlines will be used in my proofreading and editing stage!

Hi Bill, your Hubs are always so meaningful in a writer's daily life, and that is a blessing for many people. I am one of those who does not really have an outline on paper, but somehow it seems to flow when I really get down to it. So great that we can have these discussions, and kudos to you for starting them!

I have ideas floating all the time but never could land this. I admire writers more than artists as they have to control your interest for many pages. Art is about the moment. Great ideas here Bill as always.

Wonderful Bill and after writing my first novel and still editing some of your tips really are a huge help to me, because sometimes I do wonder if I may be missing something and am going to use your guide here to help me out before hitting that old publish button. Thanks again and have voted and shared, too!! :)

I may not be writing a novel, but I always feel free to contact you. :D

I don't plan on writing any fiction, which means I probably will someday. This guide will help to keep things interesting and to the point. Perhaps I will refer to it for my comments.

Hmm, I would have said that I was one of those writers who never outline before starting the first draft, but now I think about it that's not entirely true. Before I began my first novel I spent time getting the characters clear in my mind - and on paper - and only after I'd done that did I start writing. I also had a rough outline and knew where the story would finish up, but did not outline chapters - though while writing the first draft I did stop every now and then to outline the next few chapters.

I think how much you outline probably depends to some extent on the type of novel - the more plot driven in is, the more it will need an outline. With character-driven novels this is not so crucial (probably!)

This hub is interesting will be useful for budding authors, I think.