How to Write a Novel
10 Steps to Start Writing Your Novel from New York Times bestselling author Michelle Richmond
So you want to write a novel. The first thing you need to know about writing a novel is that there are no easy answers. The second thing you need to know is that there is no magic formula. Every novel demands its own structure, its own pace, its own way of looking at the world. Although your first novel will certainly provide lessons you can carry into writing your second novel, that doesn’t mean the second novel will be easy. Nor will the third, fourth and so on.
A joyful adventure
Still with me? Good. Because, as it turns out, writing a novel isn’t just a head-banging exercise in utter frustration (although, trust me, sometimes it is that). It’s also a deep swim into your own head space and a joyful adventure. It’s your world. You get to make it, populate it, cultivate it, complicate it, put your characters through the paces, and bring all of the pieces together.
A learning curve…every time
Every novel presents a brand new learning curve. Trust me. I’ve published six novels with a major publisher, and I spend much of my time coaching aspiring writers through their first novels. Every single novel is a challenge. This is…
