There is no surefire method of writing a novel that every writer can simply implement. In fact, a method that has worked for one successful author will not work for anybody else. Each writer has different strengths, and they develop their own, personal method that takes said strengths into account. However, each writer has weaknesses as well – ways of putting thoughts on paper that simply don’t work for them. That is why every writer needs to find and develop their own writing method, because if you are using a creative paradigm that doesn’t work for you, not only will you find the act of writing to be a chore, you might even abandon writing altogether. Below are 4 methods to help you find you own way.
1. Creating an outline
Creating an outline means planning the whole story in advance, before you sit down and start writing. It is the creative process behind the scenes of the novel – the writer plans all major events, plot twists and resolutions before writing down a single word. Backstories, maps, and chronological events are planned out, and when you begin writing, you will never get lost. But, outlines tend to be more plot-oriented, and sometimes, character arcs fall in the background, and you might find yourself writing a story where the characters don’t fit – they don’t have the right mindset and motivation for the things that they do, and you might need to tweak the character’s backstories in order to ensure that both the character arc and the plot work in harmony.
2. Partially planning and writing
Partially planning is a combination of outlining beforehand and just writing. Basically, you want the excitement of not knowing where your story will take you, but you also want to be sure that your story is going somewhere. Using this method means planning a part, or most of the story ahead – but without creating a detailed outline. You might create the general synopsis, a chain of events, and characters’ backstories before you sit down and write, but the actual detailing of the story happens as you write. This method is good for keeping up the excitement of the unknown in your story without getting lost. However, just as your story is fuzzy on the details, in the same manner the plan you have is not a detailed outline, and it needs to be perfected as you go along. You should always check the plan to see whether your story is on track, and tweak both the initial incomplete design of the story and the story itself as you go along.
3. Edit as you write
This essentially means writing a scene you have in mind, and then edit it, as many times as necessary until it’s been polished to perfection and you’re happy with it. And then move onto the next scene, and the next, until you’ve finished your novel. Using this method ensures that you always know what you story is about, and with each edit – you delve deeper into it and know the story better. However, you might get discouraged, because you don’t have a planned outline and it will seem as if the story isn’t going anywhere. However, if this method is the right one for you, that moment of doubt might slow you down – but it will not stop you writing. Instead, when things seem dire, you will manage to find a breakthrough in your story, which in turn will propel you forward.
4. The SOTP method
The commonly called seat-of-the-pants (SOTP) method is basically just writing, without planning, or editing as you write. You have an idea, an interesting character, or a scene in your mind, and you just sit down, start typing away and see where your story goes. It is probably the most exciting method – because you don’t know what will happen until it does. It is common for your characters to surprise you, and it will seem as if the story is just writing itself through you.
But, at the end, what you hold in your hand is a first draft that will need a lot of polishing and editing, because, since the story was not planned – it needs tweaking: of the characters, events in the plot and backstory. You will probably infuse many ideas into one story and that will riddle it with inconsistencies, and loose ends. That’s why when it comes to this method, the editing is really important, because you have to be merciless to your own work and make sure all loose ends are tied, all plot holes filled, and you might end up reworking the whole structure of the novel.
Image credit: Steve Snodgrass on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0
Georgina Roy wants to live in a world filled with magic. As a 22-year-old art student, she’s moonlighting as a writer and is content to fill notebooks and sketchbooks with magical creatures and amazing new worlds. When she is not at school, or scribbling away in a notebook, you can usually find her curled up, reading a good urban fantasy novel, or writing on her laptop, trying to create her own.