How to Write Novels:
Choosing a Method That Works For You

Each individual author has her (or his) own best way for how to write novels.

Figuring the best scheme out can take some time and experimenting, but it's definitely worth trying several methods, especially if you're having trouble completing a project.

Here are some novel writing techniques I've used, and other authors have used. One of them is bound to suit you, too.


A Method To Your Madness

Since some people think I'm crazy to write novels at all, I guess you could call it a madness.

I'd clarify that as a methodical madness.

While I'm not always one to plot an entire novel ahead of time, I've done it that way, too. And I can't sneer at those who work well with a planned approach. For some, it's the only way they'll reach the end goal.

For others, it's the only way they won't get confused about where they're going along the way.

An excellent resource for how to write novels step by step is a book I recently found. It's called, The Marshall Plan For Novel Writing by Evan Marshall.

He takes you one step at a time, from choosing exactly the sub-genre you should be writing in, to figuring out your entire cast of characters, plotting each step of your novel and bringing it to a close.

He also touches briefly on all things to do with novel writing: dialogue, background, setting. And talks about editing and marketing, too.

His logical plan is the perfect match for those who need a firm structure to keep them moving ahead and getting the novel done. If this is a good fit for you, his book will teach you how to write novels, beginning to end.

I've got a copy I refer to for parts of my own books.

However, I'm usually not quite so logical.


When Madness Takes Over

Many authors write great books without ever outlining or plotting the whole thing out. Novels pour from them (in my case without my meaning them to), and once their first draft is done, they go back and shore up the missing or weak plot points.

This is me. More often than not.

I get story ideas in my sleep. In the shower. While driving in rush-hour traffic.

Three places I really can't jot notes.

But the moment I can, I do. Usually on my laptop, as I tend to lose notes hither an yon.

This can be a very disorganized way to write. Okay, it is a very disorganized way to write. And I can teach you how to write novels, you ask?

Deep down, I like to be organized. So while my method sometimes clashes with my need to keep things in order, it doesn't stop me from producing complete novels. I just have to organize a bit after the fact.

Once I have a story idea, and I've written the parts that won't leave me alone till I have them down, I go back and make sure I know where I'm going. (If not, I have plenty of friends who'll help me with that...)

Then I finish the rough draft with the parts I didn't write immediately. (I tend to write action scenes first, and description and detail after the fact.)

This is when Evan Marshall's book helps me more. I can see where I've "missed a spot", and where I've confused things. I can see I left out an important clue that needs to be stuck in subtly in chapter five.

And I go back and fix those areas.

If you're a more free-spirited writer, and constraints make you crazy, this might be a better method for how to write novels. Get your main story down, then go back and fill in or change spots that need it.

Some would argue this wastes time.

Yes, and no. I can write first drafts a lot faster if I don't have to keep referring to a plot I've hammered out, scene by scene. And I've been writing long enough (and with the same characters enough), my first drafts are no longer all garbage. So I spend less time fixing things, too.

But it depends on the novel. Some I've outlined top to bottom before writing, some have poured from my fingers (in rough form) in a matter of two weeks (while I obviously was not working 40 hours a week!). So I use a bit of both those methods.


I Challenge You To A Race

Another method for how to write novels that might just do the trick is to set a deadline. A very short deadline.

You may have read my page about National Novel Writing Month . If not, feel free to go check it out and come back here. I'll wait.

Good. So you know what it is now.

While the official National Novel Writing Month is November, don't feel you can't challenge yourself to doing the same thing any month during the year.

For me, November's too busy. January, on the other hand, might be a gold mine of opportunity for such a challenge. Write 50,000 words (or more - I always like to push myself) in 30 days. A complete novel (rough draft, remember) in one month.

Plenty of the people who've gone through the National Novel Writing Month challenge have gone on to edit and sell their work.

By the way, if you don't think you can do this because you don't even have a glimmer of a plot, try Chris Baty's book (written for the 30-day challenge, but useful in other ways), No Plot? No Problem: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days

So if a deadline is what will make you get it done, create a deadline, by all means. (And make it two months, if you need to.)

Then keep creating deadlines for each editing step and marketing step until you've finished and sold that novel!


Making Time For Your Madness

I can not stress enough how important it is to write every day. Or nearly every day. At least some. If you don't make regular time for your "madness", you'll never learn how to write novels.

If you feel like you don't have time, take a long hard look at your daily schedule. For one week, write down everything (I mean everything) you do every day. And how long you do it.

Then, break this list into "have to", "want to", "can delegate", and "time waster" categories.

Obviously, you can't jettison the "have to" items. But you can delegate. Make your kids wash the dishes (or your spouse!). Make your husband take the kids to a few appointments (or your wife, if you're the Mr. Dad who normally does those things). Hire it done, if you can afford it: things like lawn care, shoveling snow, basic house cleaning.

Next, ditch the time wasters entirely for five days of your week, and if you can't stand to lose them entirely, keep them for a "day off" treat. These may overlap with your "want to" list. Things like watching TV (see my writers block page for what this can do to your brain!), surfing the internet, checking e-mail more than once or twice a day.

You'll be amazed how many hours you waste doing things that you don't need to be doing. These hours can be GOLD!

Finally, address the "want to" list. Are there any activities there you only think you want to do? If so, out they go. More time for what you really "want to", which is learning how to write novels!

Once you've organized yourself this way, pick a time of day when your brain is not sluggish and you aren't immersed in "have to" activities, and make that your novel writing time. Try to find at least half hour every day. An hour is better, if you can spare it.

And I know sometimes you can't. Been there, done that. Thankfully I'm past that stage with my kids and no longer run my husband's office at home!

This is now sacred time. Learn how to write novels time. Writing is tons of fun time.

Don't let anyone steal it from you. Except in an emergency.

This is the only way you're going to figure out how to write novels. When to write novels. Seriously. So stick to it like a job.

Because if you're like me, that's what you want your full-time job to be!