How do you go about writing a novel?
By Barb
@abbey19 (3106)
Gold Coast, Australia
6 responses
@allshookup (598)
• United States
7 Feb 07
You should just go with your ideas!!! I started three novels at writing.com. People there really read your stuff and give you feedback. I had some great reviewers. My weakness was character development. You really should develop your characters ahead of time, and then write the story around who they are.
2 people like this
@pearl1003 (668)
• Philippines
10 Feb 07
Beware! Professional writers might be viewing your stories from that website. And from there, they might get your ideas and make it as their own original story... What's so sad about it is that you might read a novel from someone famous with a story exactly as yours... You can't sue him for stealing because you have no proof he read your story from a certain website.
@mjgarcia (725)
• United States
7 Feb 07
http://absolutewrite.com http://filbertpublishing.com http://www.wvu.org (this one costs but has tons of information) there are a lot more, but these are the main three that I can think of. I used to get a lot of information from ivillage.com but I don't know how much is still there since they revamped it. The library has tons of books on all kinds of writing subjects. The first decision that you need to make is what sort of writing do you plan to do? Fiction? non-fiction? articles? screenplay? Each will have their own guidelines.
2 people like this
@spiritwolf52 (2300)
•
7 Feb 07
Glad you asked that question! I have made note of the websites that everyone listed. I have a few books floating around inside my head as well. I started out with a short story which is being published just not sure when. What type are you going to write? I wish you the best of luck. If I can help, let me know.
@mjgarcia (725)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Since its going to be a biography you will probably want to start with your character like Allshookup suggested. This is going to be a character driven novel (the main focus is more about the person than what is happening.) Also as you look into these sites and check out books try looking into memoir writing. Even though its not an autobiography, a memoir type writing will be closer to what you may be trying to acheive.
@pearl1003 (668)
• Philippines
10 Feb 07
Hi Abbey! You can start at the end of your story, A couple getting married or four girlfriends finally reunited from a war... And from there, you can start describing how the couple met and fell in love... Or follow the story of these four girls how they met and became good friends, with the signs of an upcoming war in a certain country. Something like that... From your imaginative brain, and creative writing, you'll be able to write a novel... Good luck!
1 person likes this
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
10 Feb 07
Thanks for your advice about the website Pearl - I will be diligent! Are you a writer? Have you had a bad experience with this site?
Thanks also for your second comment, and I like your idea of starting at the end first,it's a brilliant idea (why didn't I think of that?)
Do you know any other good sites to check out?
@obandeboy (6)
• Russian Federation
5 Mar 07
Writing a novel goes in a step by step manner.Quite often U dnt just come out wth a great novel overnight. Many great authors I know start by first writing say a one leaf poem, then a more voluminous one n later on a novella/novel. Some people, though, can write a novel without going through these stages.
