How to Start a Novel (pt. 1)
Okay, this one's for those of us who haven't yet started writing our novels, but want to. And also for those who want some assurance they're starting out right.
Maybe you've been into writing and reading since you were a wee little thing, or maybe the inspiration only struck you recently. Maybe you love reading novels now, and know a bit about how it's done, or maybe you don't have a clue. I can tell you, I was (and still am, sort of) a little bit of both.
Either way, wherever you're coming from, and whatever age you may be, these rules apply to everyone.
This is Part 1 because there is so much to building a novel that I've decided to take it step by step.
There will be 3 parts:
-Part 1: Creating a plot
-Part 2: Creating your characters
-Part 3: Other tips and tricks
I'm getting my information from a kazzilion different sources including Positive Writer ( http://positivewriter.com/ ), theWritePractice ( http://thewritepractice.com/ ), and Reedsy ( https://blog.reedsy.com/ ), which I consider to be the three best blogs for writers ever, definitely deserving to be checked out. Especially theWritePractice. They helped me out the most, and if you're looking for only one blog (other than mine *wink*) to subscribe to, it should be them.
So anyways! Without further ado.....
PT.1: CREATING A PLOT
Your story's plot is the BOOM--the action. It's the one thing you absolutely cannot go without, because without action your story isn't a story, it's a bunch of words hanging on a string.
Keep in mind that a novel's plot is divided into lots of different scenes, all of which have the purpose of moving the plot forward. More on that later.
Plot consists of 7 steps (weaved into scenes) that make up the entirety of your novel, in this order:
1: Characters Introduced
2: Setting
3: Problem is presented
4: Character(s) Take Action
5: Crisis
6: Resolution to problem
7: Physical/Emotional end
You will see this pattern in every single novel out there, and it's something that must be understood before you start writing yours.
But anyone can make up some sort of plot, even in that order. The tricky part is adding different things INTO your plot. And if you do it right, your novel will stand out.
I'm about to explain each step to you, and tell you how you can add different things into each step to make YOUR book too good to put down.
STEP ONE
Characters are so important to your book that readers won't want to read on if you don't make them the right way, even if the novel's plot is awesome.
If you like to read books, you might understand this. The Harry Potter books wouldn't be the same if their main character was just some ordinary kid with no personality, watching other people become wizards. And the Hunger Games trilogy wouldn't be so awesome, either, if Katniss was a coward and a whiner who would rather hide under a bed than fight for her life.
So as you can imagine, there is a lot of pressure when it comes to this first step.
But this post won't be about characters, so stay tuned for Part Two, and I'll go into creating lovable characters in more detail.
STEP TWO
Once your characters are properly introduced, the next thing the readers will have to know is where in the world (or out of it!) these characters are. And don't start thinking that it doesn't matter, because setting plays a major part in the novel's plot, or even who your character is. I'll talk more about how setting can affect your character's personality in the next post.
Setting depends a lot on your story's genre. If you're writing fantasy, for example, the setting should be entirely in another world that you made up. Or maybe it just starts out in the normal world but your characters are transported to the main setting, like in the Chronicles of Narnia series.
And if you'll be writing Sci-Fi, the setting would usually be our world, but in the distant future, with unknown technology and culture.
But often times, the world as it normally is--just a normal, everyday town--works just fine. Maybe your novel is a romance or a drama, so the town your character lives in doesn't make too much of a difference. But, especially if your character is young, they spend most of their day in school, so that could be the story's main setting.
Finding a setting is fun because it can completely change the outcome of your novel's plot. The novel can't be about your character making new friends if you've placed him/her on an island, all alone.
For even more advice on choosing setting:
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/choose-right-story-setting/
STEP THREE
Next step: presenting the problem. This is where things get interesting.
Again, here the plot ties in completely with the making of your character. The conflict you present has to be something personal to the character, something that effects him either emotionally or physically. It has to be something that needs to be dealt with right away.
If you're not careful to, simply put, make your main characters suffer because of this problem, readers could lose interest.
For example, the character falls in love. The problem presented is, she already has a boyfriend she also loves. What should she do?
Or maybe the problem is less personal--like in the anime, Attack on Titan, where the main issue is protecting humanity from the titans without being eaten.
The trick is, you don't stop with one problem. In the best books, the main characters are presented with problem after problem after problem, their situation getting progressively worse. But that comes later throughout your novel.
For now, present a problem that must be dealt with right away, or has a huge impact on the main characters' lives.
Check this out for a few more tips:
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/748723506772689868/ (tips for conflict)
STEP FOUR
Once the first problem has been presented, your character(s) should be forced to take action. Something terrible will happen--or at least they think something terrible will happen--if your character doesn't do something soon. But their decision doesn't have to be perfect or completely right. Either way, the stakes will rise.
The girl who finds herself loving another guy while she already has a boyfriend might at first try to ignore her feelings, but then the guy ends up sitting beside her in History class.
Another way to worsen problems is to give your characters a background, or past experience (like childhood trauma) that affects the way they react to different situations.
In a novel where the main character is a detective asked to investigate a local serial killer, the character might choose to accept the case once he sees the culprit has murdered children--because back in the detective's childhood, a young friend of his was murdered the same way. The problem wouldn't be personal enough for interest otherwise.
This way, tension builds. Tension is very important to have in any story.
I've been told to follow the 'Four-Step Rule' when making your characters take action. It means that your character should do more than one thing, but no more than four, to try and solve their problem. The ideal number would be four.
Each time there should be results, and each action should backfire in the worst way imaginable.
A very important rule to remember when creating plot: MAKE YOUR CHARACTERS SUFFER.
There is, of course, an exception to this (a grandma can't die right after aliens destroy the orphanage, someone flunks a tryout, and the American stock market crashes), but it's still something useful to keep in mind when keeping conflict close to home.
STEP FIVE
Things can't continue getting worse and worse forever. Eventually, the conflict reaches its highest point. And like all things, what goes up must come down.
The character breaks, emotionally or physically.
Everything seems hopeless.
The reader is sure everyone will die, or that the relationship will never work, or that the serial killer will never be caught for his crimes.
This is the highest action, the most tension, to be seen in your story--the absolute worst it can get.
But then the protagonist makes one more desperate move that changes everything.
You can have more than one crisis in your plot, but there must always be that one, highest, absolute-worst-most-desperate crisis. Any crisis's coming before that should be weaker and shorter, with less on the line. Your main character will grow as she tackles the smaller, easier crisis's, but the problem will never truly leave.
Just keep in mind that having three crisis's in your story (the third being the highest) is really pushing it.
STEP SIX
Now, about your main character's final desperate attempt. This one will be the one that works.
The problem has been resolved!
The girl has chosen which boy to stay loyal to, all the Titans have been slain (we'll see in season 2...), the serial killer has been confronted and jailed.
There is a difference between 'internal' and 'external' resolution, however. The best stories tie the two together. Often, the internal resolution comes soon after the external, and the novel won't end until it does. Everyone gets their happy ending, so the reader is happy.
Your main character is the hero! Congratulations!
Check this article out and learn how to write an ending your readers won't forget:
http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/how-to-end-a-novel-with-a-strong-closer
STEP SEVEN
The last few pages, or paragraphs, or sentences, show emotional and physical resolution for all the good guys.
It's important to show how your main character has changed for the better. A childhood trauma has been faced, a longing has been fulfilled. The world, or even just the main character's corner of the world, is now a better place.
A normal was shown in the beginning of the story, and now, in the end, a different normal is shown. It should be this way for all your main characters, the plot's conflict coming to a complete stop--unless you plan to write a sequel.
And, finally, you have come to your novel's 'THE END'.
If you follow all these rules (and others soon to be posted), your readers will put down your book feeling like they've just said goodbye to a good friend.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where I will go into creating characters.
Your characters are a part of everything existing in your novel. Make them write, and they'll never be forgotten. Fail to make a connection between your characters and the reader, and there won't be much of a point for them to read on.
Thanks for reading!
*As you can see, I've included lots of links in this post so you can get as much information and help as possible. TheTeenageWriter isn't the only writing blog out there that can help you, so make sure to check out different sites and learn for yourself. :D
