How to Write a Novel (tips, tools and help)

How to Write a Novel: Getting Started

Novel Writing

Admit it…
You think you can write the next classic novel? Or at least a novel that could be bought by a major studio, written into a screenplay, star your favorite movie stars and you get to accept that Oscar for Best Screen Adaptation of a novel?

Oh and don't forget… the book signings, adoring letters, your own chair on the set of the movie, mingling with A-list stars and …yes — the MONEY.

Almost everyone I have talked to about this subject has thought about writing a novel. It seems easy….but when faced with sitting down and doing it, it can seem overwhelming and the ideas and characters disappear.

I've been there. Trust me. My degree is in Radio-TV-Film and I had BIG aspirations at 24 to go to LA and become a gopher at a major studio. I was going to start at the bottom, learn the ropes, make connections and all the while be working on my own screenplay. Before I turned 30, I was going to be accepting MY Oscar for Best Screenplay. But… alas… I fell in love, got married, had kids and settled down. I became a local DJ on the radio — and I have NO regrets.

I guess in the back of my mind…I still feel the possibility of writing that screenplay. It takes my mind, a computer (or pen and paper) and time. What is stopping me? What is stopping you?

How To Write a Novel – Ya Gotta Start Somewhere

We complain we have no time to exercise, let alone sit and write. But if we really wanted to — couldn't we? Or at least –couldn't we try? Really, how to write a novel is… you guessed it, writing. That's it.

For those of us with no real schematic training on how a novel is laid out, character building and plot — do we dare jump in and try? Are we so bold as to butt into a profession that we have absolutely no practice or publications under our belts?

I dunno? I say…YES. Why not? Whose to say you aren't the next John Grisham or Stephen King? Not me. Look at J K Rowling….her Harry Potter series was/is a smashing hit. Do you think she had a How To Write a Novel guide she followed? Have you read how she started that series? Where she was living and her life at the time she began it all?  She began writing it at a cafe while her daughter napped. She was unmarried and living on public assistance.

We have no excuse for not writing that book in our head and our heart. It's waiting, patiently to escape the confines of a one person audience and wow thousands more. And even if we're never accepting that Oscar, or rubbing elbows with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Aniston — we CAN say that we've written a novel. That's worth a lot in my (unwritten) book! This is our opportunity to let the artist within us to express itself.

How to Write a Novel Tools to help us (yes, you and me!!!)  get started:

Here's where I think you and I can really get somewhere with our writing goals. We want to see progress. We want to “get started” and know that we're on a path with our writing. Even if we're totally new at it — we need structure. That's why I'm going to flat out recommend Kate Hall's, A Book A Week: How I Outline and Draft a Full Novel in Just A Week . Kate is a successful romance writer and illustrator. But it wasn't always that way for her. And she wants to share how she shifted a struggling writing career into a successful one.

Her guide is affordable and help you see structure and progress on your writing. That's priceless because it motivates. And motivation helps us finish our book! Win-win!

There are guides out there… TONS of them. Even kids on specific type books, like children's books.

How to Publish Books on Amazon – A Proven Step-By-Step System For Publishing Books On Amazon.

24 Hour Book System – A Proven, 10-Step Method For Writing A Book Fast.

Sqribble – Create an eBook in literally 5 minutes. You don't even have to type. Over 40,000 people are using Sqribble.

Maybe You Don't Start with a Novel…

So if a novel seems over-whelming for your fledgling writing dreams – you don't have to start with something so epic. You can, however, start smaller and maybe even earn enough cash to help pad that savings account for when you decide to take a month off work and just write! Yes.. you can write ebooks or even freelance write for others. I have done a lot of freelance writing and still do. Of course, I write on my blog almost every day. But I love the idea of earning extra cash writing something TINY. Like maybe a 15-page ebook? Yep — you can too.

I love Amy Harrop's story. She earns writing ebooks. Many of them are SHORT ebooks. I feel like for those of us getting our feet wet, maybe an ebook might be more appealing. You can read about Amy and her ebook guide here.

And for those of you wanting to earn doing freelance writing gigs here and there — you should know there is a lot of opportunities out there. I have a section on freelancing with a list of sites. And you might also be interest in Gina Horkey's guide, HORKEY HANDBOOK – 30 DAYS TO A NEW FREELANCE WRITING CAREER. Gina herself went from $0 to $4000 a month as a writer.

I actually took her self-guided course myself in 2015 and was amazed at what I learned. I felt like I was ahead of the curve on writing after all these years — but I learned a lot.

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