I want to write a novel soon. Do you have any tips?

[ginalangridge]

•  Jot down ideas whenever you can. You think you’ll remember them but you won’t!


• Get an idea of the characters and plot. Some people like to know the whole arc of the plot in advance, others let it unfold as they write. The second method usually leads to more rewriting, and possibly discarding chunks of writing, but you need to find which way works for you. Some people can’t write to a plan, others need to.


• If you have a scene in mind, write it. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t end up in the finished product, it’s all good practice.


• Immerse yourself in your chosen world and characters. Let them become real in your mind. Try to see them acting and reacting and get a feel for who they are. You’ll want to make notes on all these points. (Trust me, you will. What seems so vivid now will have faded in a few weeks time if you don’t write anything down.)


• When you feel like you’re bursting with the story, start to write and don’t be put off that the wonderful pictures in your head don’t seem to be coming through on the page. Just get the story down. You can revise later but you can’t revise what you haven’t written.


• Good luck!