6 Novel Writing Tips for New Writers

Every writer has their novel writing tips. While I think we have so much to learn from one another, I also think that every writer has to learn what works best for them. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing. So, if these best practices don't resonate with you, that's alright. Nothing hurts creativity more than trying to force yourself into a routine that doesn't work for you.

With that said, if you're just starting out and trying to tackle (and actually finish) your first novel, these six writing tips might help.

1. Read a lot of novels in your genre.

I really think that to be a good writer, you have to read a lot. And I think that's true for a few reasons:

• Reading teaches you what to do (and not do). Aside from learning about the tropes and expectations of your chosen genre, you can also learn what keeps you reading. For instance, you'll learn more about how to build suspense or how to use dialogue tags that aren't obnoxious. It'll also show you what turns you off when reading a book, which is just as valuable.

• You'll evolve your writing style. Aside from just putting in your 10,000 hours, reading can also help you become a better writer. I've learned a lot of tips to pace my novels better by reading authors who do this well.

• Why not? If you want to write a novel in a specific genre, I hope you enjoy that genre! You're going to have to read your work many times. Make sure you're working on a genre you really enjoy reading. This will help you not burn out during the editing process.

2. Create a good outline.

There's a lot of debate out there about whether or not you should outline your book.

Some say that "planning your novel ahead of time increases its likelihood of being dead on arrival." And others like Jane Friedman say "the hardest part of writing is starting. One thing that can mitigate this difficulty is planning ahead in the form of an outline."

The truth is, outlining is a personal decision. It should ultimately be about what helps you get started and actually finish writing your book. Personally, I like using an outline because:

• If I don't know where I'm ultimately going, I get lose. Despite Stephen King thinking "outlines are the last resource of bad fiction writers who wish to God they were writing masters' theses," he also has a reputation for having a "bad ending problem." No shame on King, but this is one reason why I think outlines are important. And I notice that I write more bad endings when I haven't outlined first.

• It helps me add more foreshadowing. Knowing the major plot points and twists ahead of time makes it easier to foreshadow and add details and character development throughout the book.

• If you have to take breaks between writing sessions, it prevents you from losing steam. If you're a student, parent, or generally just can't follow the "write every day" advice, that's okay! But an outline can help you remember where you left off and stay on track when you do carve out time to write.

Novel Outlining Tips:

If you're like me and want a little structure when you write, here's my advice: focus on the destination and the major plot points along the way. I like putting the scaffolding up and then filling in design details as I go.

This can help you avoid some of the pitfalls of outlining like stinting your creativity, having too rigid a story, or doing more telling than showing. But it also makes sure you know how your book is going to end and how you need to get there.

3. Consider novel-writing software.

This tip is definitely not necessary. I wrote using Microsoft Word/Google Docs for years!

But then another creative writer suggested Scrivener to me. While it's not free, it is affordable (~$60 to download). And it has a free trial so you can see if it's for you or not.

Now that I use Scrivener to write, I don't think I could go back. Although it's not perfect, it has some serious advantages over using Word:

• You can compile your manuscript in a variety of formats. I LOVE this feature. When I share my work with beta readers, I compile it in paperback format so it feels like a real book. But when I want a version that I can share with agents, I can compile it as a manuscript. It does ALL the formatting for you in seconds.

• Its easier to jump around. Unless you get clever with bookmarks in Word, it's hard to navigate between chapters, notes, and outline materials. Scrivener lets you keep everything in the same document, and it lets you organize your work by chapter or scene, so you can quickly find what you're looking for.

• Advanced stats. While Word will tell you how many words your book is, Scrivener will also tell you:

  • The estimated reading time.

  • Most used words.

  • Average sentence/paragraph length.

4. Create a writing schedule.

Every author has an opinion about how often to write. The most common I hear is that you should write every day. But I have a full-time job (where I write a lot), so that's not always possible. And I think a lot of people fall into the same camp as me.

The trick is to find some cadence that works for you or to set goals with flexibility for how you achieve them.

Over the years, this has looked very different for me. But one thing I try to never do is make myself write daily. If I don't have the creative energy, I don't force it. That's just a recipe for bad writing.

Instead, I might take that day or week to read instead. This can be inspiring and give you ideas for how to get past anything blocking your writing process.

But I do like to give myself deadlines for big milestones like finishing the first draft and when I want to complete each edit. I find that this prevents me from burning out while also keeping me motivated.

5. Learn how to be a great editor.

I spent a few years in college as a tutor at the Writing Center, and I learned a lot of great editing and revision skills. Of course, your book has to be proofread and technically correct, but you also need to zero in on plot holes, confusing prose, and places where you might need to "kill your darlings."

Here are a few tips that I use all the time when editing:

• Reading out loud. When you read your work out loud, you process it differently than when you read in your head. You'd be amazed at the errors you'll catch this way that you wouldn't otherwise. But it's also a good pressure-test for your dialogue and whether or not it sounds natural.

• Reverse outlining. Even if you don't like starting with an outline, doing a reverse outline can really help you. Basically, all you do for this is read each chapter and write a one sentence description (or two sentences if the chapter is very complex). Do this until you've created an outline based off of your entire finished manuscript. Then read the outline to learn where you might improve your work. Did you miss any important details? Is everything working together? Are all the major events in the right order? Is the pacing right?

6. Continue adapting your approach to writing novels.

I started writing books when I was in middle school. Needless to say, my approach has changed a lot over the years. But even book to book, I learn from what didn't work for me the last time.

When I wrote Darkling, I used Scrivener and created a good outline that gave me direction without being too structured. Now I'm working on a new project while I look for representation, and I'm borrowing what worked during that outlining process, but taking it to the next level. I'm now using Freeform to create a plot framework that also lets me add more visuals (like a rough world map).

So, whatever you try the first time you write a book, know that you can always pivot. If one approach doesn't work for you, don't despair! Just try something different until you find the right approach.

What Are Your Best Novel Writing Tips?

Like I said at the start of this blog, there is no one right way to write a novel. What has worked for me, might not be how your mind works. That said, even if you feel like you don't need some sort of structure or approach, I do encourage you to push yourself to create the discipline.

Writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to have a strategy or you might find yourself struggling to finish your stories.

That said, I'm always striving to improve my process, so please share in the comments what your best novel writing tips are!