Ten Steps to Write a Novel

Everyone has a different method when it comes to writing. We are either plotters or pantsers, either figuring it out before we write, or as we go. At least, this is what I am told.

There is no right way to write. It all depends on how our brain works. But no matter which method you use, you need to be able to figure out how the world and the people in it work. You need to track your characters, so that they do not randomly change personality or characteristics. You need continuity in your plot, in your story itself. It is a lot of WORK, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I’ve read just about every “How to” book for writing a novel. I take every piece of advice into account. I am neither plotter, nor pantser, but something in between. I need the discovery of seat-of-your-pants writing so that my story doesn’t fall flat, but I also need the structure of plotting so that I don’t get stuck in the weeds.

I am not published, no one of note. I may never be a great author. But I do know what the trenches of writing are like. I have been writing for many years. Teaching myself. Failing and trying again.

You don’t need to listen to me, because I am a success. But maybe you can learn from me because I am a failure. I have the rejection letters to prove it. Each failure teaches you something. With each rejection, I looked at my book and saw something missing. Each draft I added something new: world building nuances, emotional depth to my characters, adding description to my action scenes and action to my descriptive scenes... I definitely learned the hard way the areas where I was failing.

And while this is not the only way, I did come up with one way to write a novel, boiled down into ten steps, to help you get from start to finish. If you are a plotter, you may do most of they steps before you write a single word of story, but it you are a pantser, I would recommend updating the steps as you go. You can use the questions on character and world building to help you get unstuck. This is my variation on the Snowflake Method, combining the step by step expanding with world building and character charts.

If even one person is helped, I will consider it a success!

Happy writing!

Ten steps to write a novel:

1.) What is the story about? Write one sentence that will summarize what the story is about (your logline, big idea, premise, whatever you want to call it, it is fundamentally what your story is about). It does not have to be original, but originality may help you stand out when it comes to the selling part. It matters more how you tell the story than what you actually write about.

2.) Expand the above sentence into a paragraph with the basic plot arc. Depending on how many acts you plan to include, make sure you break it into the beginning, however many disasters (each act needs a major plot point or disaster) you plan to include, and the ending.

3.) Character Summary. Now think about your characters. Who is going to matter in this story? For each character include:

Who they are to the story (protagonist, antagonist, best friend, love interest, etc)

What is their goal and motivation? (Goal is what they are trying to achieve and motivation is why they are trying to achieve the goal)

Conflict (external and internal)

Epiphany

Basic storyline (in a sentence or two)

4.) Expand the basic 1 paragraph of plot into a synopsis (1-2 pages) on how the story will go. You don’t need to know everything. Just an overall big picture view. Having a synopsis is handy when it comes to writing queries. Many agents request this!

5.) World building. Here take a moment to create the world in which the story will take place. The deeper you go here, the more real your story will feel. Try to limit yourself so that you don't spend months or years on this part, but make sure to include:

Is this earth or an alternate place? If earth, is it earth as we know it, or is it an alternate version of earth? If it is not earth, how is it alike or different from earth?

Does your world have a history? Who inhabited it before? Are there ruins? Is it an uninhabited world? Is it inhabited by something else? What is the origin of this world?

What is the current state of the world? Include politics and economics here. Include weather and geology. Money? Religion? What do they eat?

What technology, if any, exists here? What education? What occupations?

What creatures or animals inhabit this world?

How is death treated?

Is there art? Culture? Fashion?

Are there celebrations? Festivals? Anniversaries?

Anything new or unique? Are the physics the same as we know them?

What language anomalies will this world include? Different curses?

What races? Does their race matter? Or is it insubstantial in this world? What are the class systems in place?

What sort or defense or military exists?

If magic exists, what are the rules? Limitations (ex: Years of study, knowledge of magical language, affinity/capacity, age, etc)? What is the cost (energy, life force, blood, etc)? What supplies are needed (ex: potions, wands, etc)? Are there side effects? Are there levels of experience (a master vs an apprentice vs an ordinary user)? What fears are associated with magic use? How much is known about the magic? Is magic easier or harder to use than more conventional methods (ex: if you can teleport, is the cost worth the time saved or is it not worth the cost and it is better to use more conventional transportation such as walking or riding)?

6.) Character charts. Expand what you know of your characters. Include:

Physical description. If it helps, find a stock character picture that you can use and refer back to. This is important so that your character does not randomly change eye color or hair color or height or face shape or age. Keep to refer back to for consistency as you write

What is their backstory or history? How does this affect who they are. If they visited a psychologist, what would they talk about? What has shaped them into the person that they are?

What are their current circumstances? What is “normal” for them? What is their occupation?

What are their hopes and dreams?

What are their emotional wounds? What are their flaws?

What is their role to the story: teacher, friend, support, comedic relief, villain, sidekick, etc?

What is their internal conflict? How does this actualize into an external conflict?

What is their personality?

For character goals, are they seeking basic needs (food, shelter, survival) or psychological (acceptance, love, belonging, intimacy) or self-fulfillment? To make a story stronger, do they have more than one type of goal?

7.) Expand your plot into a detailed outline. There are two ways to do this: Linear thinker or thematic thinker (the Sanderson way-- Google his youtube videos on plotting for more in-depth description).

Linear plot outline should include:

All major plot points (determined in step 2) in chronological order.

Each plot point needs a beginning, middle and end. The beginning is the hook and reaction. The middle is committing to a goal. The end is whether or not the goal succeeds

Other things that each plot point should include are: hook, disaster, conflict, character, etc.

Don’t forget to include sub-plots, not just main plot points

Thematic outline would be to create certain themes and then outline the points that would fall under each theme. Once you have all themes fleshed out, you can determine how all the pieces fit together. Weave or puzzle-piece the themes together into a coherent story. Some people use index cards so that you can move the pieces around easily.

Example, under a friendship theme, you would include the nature of the friendship, how it is tested, whether it strengthens or falls apart

Under a major conflict, you would show all the points that build up to that conflict, including how it starts and the set backs along the way, and how conflict is or isn’t resolved.

Each theme or concept still needs a beginning, middle and end.

8.) Keep expanding the points on your outline until you have scenes. Each scene needs:

A beginning, middle and end

Conflict

A character goal and whether or not they achieve that goal

Action

All elements of fiction: character, setting, theme, plot, etc.

9.) Write first draft. OR if pantser and have been writing the first draft as you figured all this out about character and plot, write your next draft. As you make changes to the world or characters or plot, make sure you update your character charts or world building so that you can reference later and keep consistency.

10.) Edit, edit, edit.

Make sure that all scenes have a purpose and advance the plot, reveal character, and are grounded in setting.

Make sure all scenes include a character goal and whether or not the character obtains that goal.

Make sure that each goal is grounded in solid motivation

Fix grammar and consistency errors

What do you want your characters to feel in each scene? What do you want your readers to feel?

Does each scene end with a story question or cliffhanger? This can keep the reader turning the page.

Is it clear what type of story you are telling? This is important to sell your story.

Have you avoided the cliche?

Is your dialogue properly tagged? Is it clear with all dialogue who is speaking? Are there appropriate actions interspersed with the dialogue?