Some people say that everybody has a book in them. I doubt this is true. Even if it were so, I do not believe that everybody has the aptitude to write a book. It is definitely a marathon, not a sprint.
That being so, let's note the stages you may need to go through to take a book.
1) Generate Ideas for Your Story
Brainstorm: What this means is that you may want to jot down any ideas that come to mind, no matter how wild.
Research: Look into topics, characters and time periods that interest you to get new ideas.
Inspiration: Draw from personal experiences, family history, news stories, or even dreams.
2) Develop Characters Who Will Tell The Story
Character Profiles: Create detailed profiles for each of your main characters.
Backstories: Develop rich backstories to give depth to your characters. These may not go into the book but it is important that you know about your characters.
Motivations: Understand what drives each of your main characters and therefore how it influences their actions.
3) Choose a Point of View or Multiple Points of View
First Person: This is where a character narrates using “I,” offering a personal view. It can heighten emotional tension but limits what your character can be aware of.
Second Person: Uses “you,” which is rare but can be impactful for certain moments but quite confrontational too.
Third Person: A more detached perspective, either omniscient or limited, focusing on objective information or following the protagonist’s thoughts. It also allows you as the author to show more to the reader than first person.
4) Create a Well-Structured Outline
Summarise: Condense your story into one sentence. This can be used as your tag-line.
Basic Outline: Develop a basic outline with your story.
Acts: Divide the narrative into parts.
Tension: Include moments of tension which will keep your readers engaged.
Scene Ideas: Note down some scenes that will carry your story.
5) Consider a Captivating Conclusion
Reader’s Perspective: Consider how your readers should feel at the end of your story.
Resolution: Complete the story and ensure all your plots including sub-plots are resolved.
Foreshadowing: Use foreshadowing and your characters' personality traits to construct your ending.
6) Write a First Draft
Set Goals: Set yourself writing goals to keep yourself on track.
Stay Flexible: Allow your story to evolve as you write. Remember a first draft is only you telling yourself the story.
Ignore Perfection: Focus on getting words on the page rather than making them perfect. If you edit the first draft too much it will never be finished.
7) Take a Break
Rest: Put your manuscript aside for a month or so. This allows you to view it more objectively.
Fresh Perspective: Try to read that first draft as if you were a new reader.
Notes: Take your time when you read it through and make notes on each area that needs improvement.
8) Write Your Second Draft
Revisions: Focus on the specific scenes or chapters that need amending work.
Big Picture: Ensure the overall story arc is strong and the sub-plots are interesting.
Consistency: Check for consistency in your characters behaviour and your plot details.
9) Get Feedback
Beta Readers: Choose people whose opinions you trust and who read in your genre.
Constructive Criticism: You must be open to feedback. Do not take offence about observations your beta readers make but remember it is your story and you do not have to accept their advice.
Get Multiple Opinions: Consider and compare the feedback from your different readers to identify any common criticisms.
10) Additional Drafts
There is no set number of drafts that need to be completed for a successful novel. Some authors may need to complete only a few drafts and light editing. Others require many drafts and considerable revision with additional research. Bear in mind that each novel you write may pose different challenges and require their own number of drafts and different levels of editing.
Val Penny
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