TIPS ON WRITING A NOVEL
1 Develop a plot line, at least a paragraph for each chapter so you know where the story is headed. Know your ending, so you have something to work toward.
2 Start in the Middle of the Action.
3 Don’t include too much about the physical aspects or personality trait of the character in the first part of your story.
(A Character dossier gives writers access to all a characters traits but they are only used when necessary to accentuate something about them that is relevant to the story.)
4 Create questions.
e.g. ‘You want to tell me what happened ? asked Jess.
‘No,’ Dan replied.
By refraining from answering the question immediately it makes the READER want to find out more.
Give out the answers slowly: Through some action / circumstances where the character is compelled to / or wants to talk about their experience.
5 The last sentence or paragraph of each chapter should hold a HOOK that makes the reader want to get to the next chapter
6 Readers want to believe that the writer is an authority on the information contained on a
novel - so research and make sure your facts are correct.
7 Ask these questions about what is happening in your novel
What if ? - the character meets another person, moves, acts out of character.
What next ? - How does the character react to the above situations ( and many others you can think of.)
What now? - What does their reaction LEAD them to do
8 Who is your target audience ? Different age groups often have a diffrent language., themes of interest.
Go with what you Know Best or interact and observe the age group you intend to write about.
9 Readers of Popular fiction invariably like an optimistic ending.
After a struggle, the character survives and has learnt a valuable lesson and is better for it.
10 Tension can be created in a story by - introducing another character who immediately has an impact on the main character.
- through the actions of the character and dialogue.
- a change of scene .
1 Develop a plot line, at least a paragraph for each chapter so you know where the story is headed. Know your ending, so you have something to work toward.
2 Start in the Middle of the Action.
3 Don’t include too much about the physical aspects or personality trait of the character in the first part of your story.
(A Character dossier gives writers access to all a characters traits but they are only used when necessary to accentuate something about them that is relevant to the story.)
4 Create questions.
e.g. ‘You want to tell me what happened ? asked Jess.
‘No,’ Dan replied.
By refraining from answering the question immediately it makes the READER want to find out more.
Give out the answers slowly: Through some action / circumstances where the character is compelled to / or wants to talk about their experience.
5 The last sentence or paragraph of each chapter should hold a HOOK that makes the reader want to get to the next chapter
6 Readers want to believe that the writer is an authority on the information contained on a
novel - so research and make sure your facts are correct.
7 Ask these questions about what is happening in your novel
What if ? - the character meets another person, moves, acts out of character.
What next ? - How does the character react to the above situations ( and many others you can think of.)
What now? - What does their reaction LEAD them to do
8 Who is your target audience ? Different age groups often have a diffrent language., themes of interest.
Go with what you Know Best or interact and observe the age group you intend to write about.
9 Readers of Popular fiction invariably like an optimistic ending.
After a struggle, the character survives and has learnt a valuable lesson and is better for it.
10 Tension can be created in a story by - introducing another character who immediately has an impact on the main character.
- through the actions of the character and dialogue.
- a change of scene .