So many people get inspired for a cool character, scene, twist, or other element of a story, and with that they declare "I'm going to make this into a book!" That's great! But the problems arise when they write out the scene and then are slammed with major writer's block. They didn't think past that amazing scene, and assumed inspiration would "come to them." Maybe they get inspired a little more, but after a while they run out of ideas and don't know where the story is going, so they give up, dramatically throwing their manuscript across the room and declaring they are not a true author shall never write again!
The problem is not that these people are not born authors, but they simply don't know the steps to writing a novel, nor do they even know there are steps. Since I will be taking you readers with me in my journey through writing the third novel in my series, it's important for you to understand the steps. And hopefully I can help other writers understand where they are going wrong, and why they cannot seem to finish a book, or even a story.
Step 1: BRAINSTORM
Brainstorming is the fun, inspiration filled part, where you plan your characters, plot, and setting. Brainstorming is intrinsically linked to the second step, outlining. If you can't just sit down and have ideas flow to you, don't throw your manuscript across the room just yet! There is a formula for brainstorming.
Decide on a word, something that has to do with your story, and write it on a piece of paper and circle it. Then draw five lines off the circle, and make five bubbles at the end of each line. Within each bubble write down the first five words that come to your mind from the word. (You don't have to use exactly five. If you can think of more relevant words, write them down as well. Or if you can't think of five, at least try to have three.) From those five words, write the first three words that come to your mind from each of those, and so on.
While you are doing this exercise, it will help open your mind to new ideas. Even if you think something is silly, don't push it away. It may lead you to something else. It's a good idea to go somewhere that you can relax; take a walk, go for a swim, or just sit some place that you feel comfortable while you mull over your ideas.
Get to know your characters, setting, and plot. How old are your characters? What do they like to do? What do they not like to do? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What is their name? What is their quest? What is their favorite color? (Ten points to any who can tell me what that quote is from.) Draw pictures. Get to know everything about your characters and your world, even if the readers never know. It will help you out.
It's good to have a buffer, or a person who you can throw ideas at and get a response. Even if they know nothing of writing, another person still has a different point of view, and can throw an idea your way that you can turn into something else, but never would have had if they hadn't suggested it. I use my husband, and my book would be very bland if it weren't for his sudden inspiration moments. Okay, maybe not VERY bland... but it wouldn't be as good!
Step 2: OUTLINE
While all the steps are important, if I had to choose which step was the most important in ensuring the success of your novel, it would be outlining! I grew up writing stories, and never finished a single one until I decided to outline it. I thought you were suppose to be inspired along the way, but then I'd get stumped and not know what to do. Some people think it's fun to be "surprised" while they are writing, so they don't want to write an outline. You can still be surprised while you are outlining, and sometimes you will find that your characters decide they want a scene to go a certain way, even though you've planned otherwise!
I developed my own style of outlining while writing my first book, The Synija. After you know who your characters are, and have a good idea of where your story is going, you can begin to outline. Write your book start to finish. Start with writing out the main goals. "Jack and Jill went to fetch some water, and Jack breaks his crown." These are the main highlights. Then you can go back and fill in the gaps.
"Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch some water, and then Jack falls down the hill and breaks his crown." You may not know starting off how Jack breaks his crown, or where they go to fetch the water, but once you write out the main goals do some more brainstorming until you can fill in the gaps.
Make your outline as detailed as possible. I have gone so far as to write out how many chapters there will be and what each is about. Of course, things sometimes change when you start writing your first draft, but you have to learn to be flexible.
Step 3. First Draft
Now you're ready to start writing! It's a marvelous feeling the first time your touch pen to page for the very first word of your new book! (Or touch fingers to keys for those of us who use computers!) You may find that you have a favorite way of writing, and you cannot write any other way! For instance, I have to write on my laptop, or else I absolutely don't know what to do. There have been times that the power has gone out, or I'm out of town, and people tell me to grab a notebook and a pen, but there's no way I can do that! For some authors, they have to write with a quill pen and ink bottle under candle light. Find what works for you and stick with it.
WRITE OUT YOUR ENTIRE STORY BEFORE YOU EDIT IT! This is the mistake I made when I began writing my second book. I wrote the first chapter, then went back and read it, then re-wrote it, then went back. I have about ten first chapters, and they are all trash! Now what do you suppose happened with the rest of my book while I was writing these first chapters? Absolutely nothing. If I had left chapter one alone, and written the rest of the book, THEN went back, it may not have taken me a decade to finish! You can't carve a statue and polish it at the same time.
Step 4. SECOND DRAFT
This is the part after you've finished the meat of your story, and you have something to work with. Here you go back and read your book, make the changes you want, and refine it to where you want it to be. Polish it as much as possible. Change that first chapter ten times if you need to, but I'll bet that if you have left it alone and have reached the end of your first draft, by the time you get back to it you will have decided on what you want. This is the add/delete/change phase.
Step 5. EDIT
My least favorite step, but still very necessary. Read your book again, and again. Use spell and grammar check. Have family members and friends read your book and give you feedback. Listen to them with an open mind, but if they tell you to change something that you don't want to change, then don't. Learn to take criticism, but stand up for your story, too. Your book will be better for it. And if someone flat out says "it sucks" add them as a character in your next book and have them brutally murdered with a wet noodle.
Once you've finished the steps, move on to your next work of art. Accept that your book will never be perfect, but it is still great. And pat yourself on the back! You just wrote a book!
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