How to START writing a novel

You know that old saying – everyone’s got a book in them? So many people want to write a book, but never will, and if you’re a writer then I’m sure you’ve had someone tell you that they would LOVE to write a book too, but they just don’t have time. So, what makes the different between wanting to write a book, and actually starting to write that book (and then finishing it)?

While there is a lot of advice out there for when you start to write the book, there’s less about how you even begin to formulate the idea for novels and what this process looks like. Granted, it’s likely different for every writer. But if you have the urge to write a novel and just don’t know where to start – well, here are some approaches that I’ve had success with over the years.

Before I share those, a word of advice: don’t doubt yourself or pre-judge your story ideas. This is often the very first hurdle in becoming a writer, especially with novels. Don’t start from the position that you can’t write a novel just because you haven’t done it before. Instead, count up all the ‘first time’ successes you’ve already had in your life – from learning to walk and talk, to that new skill you acquired through some recent training. Just because you haven’t YET done it, doesn’t mean you can’t.

Trust me, it you begin this process assuming you aren’t capable of it, then you’ll likely never get very far. So take a deep breath, accept that writing is a craft and takes practice and enjoy the exploration and discovery that comes with creating your book.

Many a writer has had to listen to the brilliant idea of another non-writer telling them about this amazing idea for a novel they have but just don’t have time to write. Usually it’s a good start but then veers off into something entirely different with plenty of plot-holes and questionable characters. A bit like listening to the four-year-old version of ‘This happened, then this happened, then this happened’ – where you start off in space with a heroine and end up in a dumpster behind a club in Soho with a cute guy holding back your hair…

So how do you come up with an idea that has never been done before?

Well, the secret is – you don’t have to.

There’s that whole theory about there only being seven stories in the world to contend with, and if you examine your bookshelves carefully you’ll probably see why that holds some truth. There’s a reason for this – because as human beings we naturally gravitate toward certain stories and we’re happy to see them repeated in different circumstances, with different people. We’re a curious species and if there’s a possibility that hasn’t quite been explored we’re likely going to want to dig in and find out how it all works out.

My best advice to form an idea you care about – which, in the end, will be crucial to your commitment to write it – is to start with a series of ‘What If’ questions. [You can learn more about this with my free Idea Generator resource if you sign up to my Enewsletter]. Let your mind explore possibilities and fall down the rabbit hole for a while. Not only is it fun, but soon you’ll come up with a scenario that you just have to know the answer to.

Of course, then you have the challenge of how to take this simple idea, and develop it into a fully-fledged story that a reader not only wants to read, but has to read…Again, this can be super-intimidating if you start worrying too much about what other people think. The reason I love first drafts so much is because this is the opportunity for you to tell the story to yourself – it’s all about possibilities, and you have the option to go anywhere you like with it. Almost.

The thing to remember about turning an idea from a premise (what if…) to a plot, is causality. As a writer you’ve likely seen the ‘The King died and then the Queen died example’ (see pic). Either you can start with story and plot out the idea using the ‘Then this happened’ format – where, crucially (unlike the four-year-old version) one event is connected to another: so this happens, BECAUSE this happens, which causes this…

Or you can choose your characters and, based on their choices, see where the plot leads. Key here is the ability to make your character’s choices linked so they still follow the causality train. One of the ways to do this is to understand WHY your character makes certain decisions, and the impact that will have on them through the story.

Try both ways, play around with the idea, and have fun with it. Then, once you’ve hit on something you are intrigued by – chances are future-readers will also be wondering exactly what happens next!

Personally, I find this to be the biggest barrier. I can have a great idea, map out the story, interrogate my characters and get really excited about it – but when it comes to putting my butt in the chair and actually getting that first sentence on the screen…wowsers. It’s tough.

As a coach I see this a lot, with many writers over-complicating the process and beginning with the self-doubt before they’ve even written a word. They worry their idea isn’t original enough, or their characters one-dimensional

I think it comes with the fear of trying to write a novel. It’s a huge undertaking, and not really one for the faint hearted. It takes time, hard work, and perseverance and while many people say they want to write a book, most people just don’t have it in them: they have other, bigger dreams to contend with, and priorities that are higher on the list than writing a book.

The only way to get over this fear is to face it head on. Question why, all of a sudden, you are afraid of a white space and these squiggly lines we call letters that we have been using all our lives. Your draft doesn’t have to perfect – in fact, no one but you has to even know it exists. Remember, if you never write a single word of the novel, it’s never going to get written. So, take the plunge, set a timer and sit down to it.

What’s the worst that could happen? You write something terrible..?
Ah, but what’s the best that could happen? You write something amazing…and that would be something to tell those wannabe writers at the next party.