Writing a Book for the First Time
Writing a Book for the First Time
Writing your first book can be a daunting prospect. With the task of writing between 16,000 and 100,000 words ahead of you, depending on the genre of your novel, where do you start? Your journey will inevitably be one of highs and lows, excitement and self-doubt. Many writers will say they have no choice but to write as they are compelled to do so by their passion for storytelling. If you have a story to tell then you are ready for the challenge and the sense of achievement at the end is worth every moment. Let us look at what you can expect to encounter while writing your first book and what you can do to make the experience more enjoyable.
Staring at a blank page is the fear of almost every first-time author. It is something every artist experiences whether you are a writer, artist or musician. There are likely to be one of two reasons why you cannot make a start writing something on the page. The first is because you do not have enough of a story idea to make a start. This is overcome by planning your novel before you start writing. We will cover this in more detail later.
The second and more common reason is that you are paralysed by perfectionism or fear. The pressure of ‘getting it right the first time’ or ‘will it be good enough’ can stop many first time authors in their tracks. Sadly, many writers never start their novels for this very reason. The reality is that your first novel (or at least its first draft) is not going to be perfect.
The most successful authors in the world will write multiple drafts of their novel as well as extensive editing along the way. The bottom line is that if you want to be a writer then simply start writing. Do not worry about it being perfect. Instead, think of it as getting your story onto the page as a starting point. Another thing to consider is that writing is a process of revision and elimination. My advice is to write first and do any revisions or editing afterwards.
Helpful Exercises
Here are two exercises that might help you:
1) Freewriting – Choose a topic and then set a timer for ten minutes. Your exercise is to keep writing for ten minutes, or whatever time you choose, without stopping. Keep going, even if you cannot think of anything relevant to write. Just write things like ‘I cannot think. My mind has gone blank’ or whatever comes to your mind at the time. This is a great exercise for first-time writers as it encourages you to let go of any self-doubt and enjoy writing.
2) Your ideal reader – Choose a topic and imagine your ideal reader is sitting opposite you. It could be someone you have a close emotional connection to or it could be someone imaginary. If you do not keep them captivated with your storytelling, they are going to get up and walk away. Your exercise is to tell them your story and get to the end without them leaving. Of course, you could do this with a real person but that might be a little too much pressure.
Using the Right Tools
The next challenge and is really a mixture of trying out different tools available and discovering your personal preferences. Some writers use only a pen/pencil and paper and then afterwards get their manuscript typed up by someone else. Most will complete final edits using the typed version. You may prefer typing straight into a word processing software and working entirely on computer. There are no right or wrong answers.
If you prefer to use computers, you primarily have three options available to you. You can type into a word processing software such as Word or Pages. Most word processing packages have a spell check facility and a basic grammar check. You can also find plug-ins that will give you extra functionality such as Grammarly.
The second option is to use a novel writing software such as Novel Suite.
Novel writing software has word processing functions but also has novel planning features. This enables you to write and plan your novel all in one place.
Some people prefer to use dictation to rather than writing or typing.
There are some great applications available including Dragon Naturally Speak (PC and Mac) and Dragon Anywhere (iOS and Android).
Going back to basics there are some tools that server every writer well. Keeping a notepad and pen on you at all times is a great idea. Inspiration can come from anywhere at any time so it is best to be prepared. It could be something you see, something you hear, even a smell that reminds you of something. If you have a notepad handy, you can jot it down as a reminder for later. Similarly, if you have a smartphone you might take photos of things you find inspiring. Just remember to get permission first if this is applicable. Finally, keeping everything in an ideas file is a great idea. When you need inspiration, it is helpful to have a file full of ideas to go through for inspiration.
Planning is the Key to Success
Planning is the key to success as it takes the stress out of the whole process. No more wondering what is going to happen next or running out of ideas of what to write next. The best way to achieve this is to spend time creating a comprehensive outline of your novel. This will take some time to do and many first time authors might be tempted to skip this step. Do this at your peril! In many ways, the outline is one of the most creative and fun parts of the whole process when done correctly.
Start your outline by writing down sketchy details of chapters or scenes that will happen at some point in the novel. Write out as many of these as you can without overthinking it too much. You can reorder these and flesh out the ideas later on but for now concentrate on getting the ideas written down. As you start to organise your chapters be thinking in terms of beginnings, middles and ends. Ideally, you should be able to summarise your plot in one or two sentences. Your finished outline should be organised chapter by chapter with details for each one. These chapter details should reflect the structure and content of the chapter. If there is some emotional impact or unwritten goal to the chapter then you should annotate the chapter accordingly. For example, the reader must love the puppy for this to work.
You might be better not planning some aspects of your writing. For example, some writers are more effective when they assign a word count to each chapter. For others this can lead to work that is inconsistent or full of filler material rather than valuable content. It is important to remember that every chapter should move your story forward. If it a chapter of material that you would skip then consider a rewrite or scrapping it altogether. In recent years, the trend in fiction has been to include a larger number of shorter chapters. This makes it much easier to chunk down your writing and avoid unnecessary content.
Support Groups
Support groups can be a great help to you when you first start out on your writing adventure. These exist in many forms. There are a number of very popular Facebook groups you might consider joining. There are some universal groups but also some very helpful national ones. You can find these by searching for writers or writing on Facebook group search. If your own posts or searches on Facebook are related to writing, the chances are that Facebook will display writing related adverts. If you already have an interest in writing magazines or writing services you can search for these and follow them. For example, Writing Magazine in the UK or The Writer in the United States.
There are other online communities you might want to join outside of Facebook. One of the most popular is NaNoWriMo, which is short for National Novel Writing Month and is available to writers around the world. This website encourages you to write you novel during the month of November. You earn badges throughout the challenge for participation, writing and personal achievements. There are many resources available on the website and you can chat with other participants. Another great place to find inspiration and support is the Reddit Writers Group. On Reddit, articles are submitted by writers and voted on by readers for popularity. You can be a reader, writer or both – maybe you can write about your experience of writing your first novel.
Once you are published, since this is a prerequisite in many cases, you might consider joining an Authors society. There are many societies around the world including the UK Society of Authors and the US Society of Authors. Benefits vary between organisations but typically include support services, legal advice and exclusive awards for members. It is definitely something worth considering in the future.
Writing Courses
Courses are a great way to meet other authors and help to keep you motivated while writing your first novel. You will also pick up some great tips and techniques along the way as well as getting constructive feedback from experienced tutors. The type, of course, you choose to attend will depend on your personal preferences and to a certain extent, the costs involved. If cost is a factor then why not start with a free online course. The Open University and Stanford University Adventures in Writing are two such courses. There are also lots of online courses including those at Faber Academy and Gotham Writers that cost. Udemy also has some affordable online courses written by contributors.
You might prefer to attend a day course where you can meet others face to face. You can enjoy an entire day being focussed, motivated and inspired by others while doing what you love. Writing can be a lonely pursuit and sometimes it is nice to talk to other like-minded people about your passion for writing. You will find details of many day courses in writing magazines and on websites. Magazines will often publish upcoming events and other writers might post about them on social media. Weekend writing courses are another option available to you and are often held in picturesque, relaxing venues giving you a real treat. Companies like Skyros even offer holidays for writers.
All of the courses mentioned so far are vocational but if you prefer there are academic options available to you. Courses in writing exist from undergraduate to doctorate levels including MPhil & PhD in Creative Writing qualifications. The academic study does not suit everyone but it does teach you valuable transferable skills and is ideal if you are looking to teach writing to others in the future.
Writing Skills
Writing is an art that takes time, patience and practice to perfect. By writing regularly, you can achieve great things in terms of making progress with your writing. Try to set aside a little time every day to undertake writing tasks. This might be researching, making notes, writing your outline or actually writing your novel. When choosing a time, try to make it one where you are unlikely to get disrupted – early morning is a popular time for many novelists. It will not always be easy to remain motivated but by sticking to a routine, you are more likely to be successful. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the writing experience, as this will reflect in your work.
In order to develop your writing skills, especially as a novelist, you must take time to enjoy and explore life. People, news events, current affairs, personal relationships and experiences all enrich your writing. Many writers are inspired by people watching when someone catches their eye and they create whole life stories from these encounters. Inspiration might come from an overheard conversation between strangers. Watching films and reading books is another potential source of inspiration. You can not only gain ideas but also analyse the style and structure of these forms.
It is important to be professional unless you are writing your novel for purely personal reasons. Set aside some time to research potential agents if you are looking to be published. Look at their submission requirements, follow them to the letter, and try to find a named person to contact. In all your communications be polite and professional and if talking to an agent, publisher or other professional ensure you are responsive. It is also useful to make yourself appealing to potential agents and publishers. For example, by demonstrating you understand the importance of building relationships with potential readers.
Writing your first book is no easy task and brings its own challenges and rewards. The most important thing to remember is that there are no right or wrong ways to write your first novel. It is about finding what works for you.