Hey guys, how would I go about writing a novel? I've wanted to for a while but don't know where to start :(
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Oops ... bad narrative focus: '...they can help you understand what's happening with a short story...' should be '...writers circles can help you understand what's happening with a short story...'.
There is a lot of very sage advice here, which is wonderful. And at 19 I think you are about to start on a fantastic journey.
A couple of pointers that I would like to add, if I may.
1. There's no need to rush. What makes a short story become a novel? Pace. You see, you can dictate the pace, you can take your time unfolding the flower petals of the plot to reveal the ending. If you do that too quickly you have a short story. So try and learn patience when plotting the story out. Explore the characters, delve into their lives, let them become real in your head so that you dream of them, just like you do when reading a good book written by someone else. Be coy with them, revealing a bit about them at a time, and with every jaw-dropping revelation switch your focus to another character and repeat the process, so that you keep the reader wanting to know more about who you are writing about. Think of the plot a bit like a butterfly, fluttering from flower to flower. You can return to a character as many times as you like if they are a rich source of narrative nectar until you have fulfilled what you are trying to achieve. This will help you get a short story and make it into a novel.
2. Join a writer's circle. I'm sure a quick Google will reveal some nearby. I live in Essex and go to two near me. They are invaluable in helping you develop style and substance, and will also help in giving you criticism on any work you put forward. You can ask parents or friends for reviews, but in my experience they can quite often just tell you 'nice' things where what you'll need is to know what's going wrong. Again, they can help you understand what's happening with a short story and may be able to offer hints and tips to expand the plot into something more substantial. And I know you will be welcomed with open arms.
So, as everyone has said so far, read, read read, then write, write write.
I think this is where getting a skeleton of your plot helps Victoria :)
I know for me the once upon a time this happened is the easy bit, but the 'and then what happened and then what happened AFTER THAT is the bit that takes the effort. I also find that I gain half the words again between first and second draft.
Oops ... bad narrative focus: '...they can help you understand what's happening with a short story...' should be '...writers circles can help you understand what's happening with a short story...'.
Duh.
D.
Hi Victoria,
There is a lot of very sage advice here, which is wonderful. And at 19 I think you are about to start on a fantastic journey.
A couple of pointers that I would like to add, if I may.
1. There's no need to rush. What makes a short story become a novel? Pace. You see, you can dictate the pace, you can take your time unfolding the flower petals of the plot to reveal the ending. If you do that too quickly you have a short story. So try and learn patience when plotting the story out. Explore the characters, delve into their lives, let them become real in your head so that you dream of them, just like you do when reading a good book written by someone else. Be coy with them, revealing a bit about them at a time, and with every jaw-dropping revelation switch your focus to another character and repeat the process, so that you keep the reader wanting to know more about who you are writing about. Think of the plot a bit like a butterfly, fluttering from flower to flower. You can return to a character as many times as you like if they are a rich source of narrative nectar until you have fulfilled what you are trying to achieve. This will help you get a short story and make it into a novel.
2. Join a writer's circle. I'm sure a quick Google will reveal some nearby. I live in Essex and go to two near me. They are invaluable in helping you develop style and substance, and will also help in giving you criticism on any work you put forward. You can ask parents or friends for reviews, but in my experience they can quite often just tell you 'nice' things where what you'll need is to know what's going wrong. Again, they can help you understand what's happening with a short story and may be able to offer hints and tips to expand the plot into something more substantial. And I know you will be welcomed with open arms.
So, as everyone has said so far, read, read read, then write, write write.
Good luck,
Dave.
I think this is where getting a skeleton of your plot helps Victoria :)
I know for me the once upon a time this happened is the easy bit, but the 'and then what happened and then what happened AFTER THAT is the bit that takes the effort. I also find that I gain half the words again between first and second draft.