“How to Write a Novel” by Joanna Penn gives us an in-depth look at the fiction writing process. I am not a fiction writer yet, but it’s good for me to understand the differences between fiction and non-fiction writing.
To create a successful story, you need a character, in a setting, with a goal that has to overcome something to achieve a result. These are the primary building blocks of a fiction story.
Writing, in general, can be challenging, but building a world and characters can add to the complexity. Writing can be your passion but also your job. So the best way to finish your novel is to give yourself a deadline and take it seriously.
1) Some writers are plotters (they write out their outline), and others are discovery writers (they create a plan as they write). You can try both, but you will naturally settle on one style over time.
2) Fill your creative bucket by taking an artistic date. You can visit a museum or gallery, or go to a different setting. The idea is to ensure you keep your creative well full of material to write and build your world.
3) There are multiple points of view you can write from; they are first, second, and third person. You can write from multiple perspectives inside a book, usually under different chapters. An editor can help ensure your readers will understand the POV shifts.
4) Researching and creating a world can be fun and exciting to you; however, don’t go overboard with world-building. You can spend months and years creating backstories and planets and never complete your novel. Set a deadline for putting words on paper.
5) Writers who outline spend more time upfront getting their story ready for creation. Thus, they can spend much less time during the writing and editing process. Discovery writers will have to spend more time editing and moving scenes around, often creating an outline after writing.
Finishing your first draft is the most difficult part of writing a novel. Then you can spend time self-editing before turning it over to various editors.
You can screen your manuscript for sensitivity, diversity, and cultural awareness. Don’t get caught in the minutiae of book marketing, social media, and advertising—without a book, you won’t need any of this. Focus on completing your book.
Writing a novel is different than writing non-fiction and may take longer. Building multiple stories under one series makes sense because you can reuse settings and characters.
It could be a good idea to start with shorter stories. You can learn the ropes without building a sprawling world of planets, characters, and backstories.
I would like to write fiction one day. It is where the majority of readers spend their time and money. Maybe I can write a daily short story inside a bigger universe.
“How to Write a Novel” is a book I will return to as I begin writing fiction stories. There is tons of great information for anyone seeking to turn words into books. I highly recommend this book to future authors and current writers.
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