This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Earlier this year Caroline’s interactive novel, 99 Reasons Why, created media debate when she gave readers the opportunity to choose their own ending. Caroline’s fifth novel, ‘The Drowning of Arthur Braxton’ will be published by The Friday Project this month and has already been optioned for film. We will be reviewing The Drowning of Arthur Braxton soon.
1. Look at and consider your hero’s journey. Think about the beats in his/her experiences and show the reader their strengths and weaknesses through reaction. I don’t think that heroes need to be likeable, but I feel strongly that a writer should create characters that a reader will miss.
2. Only ever give an early draft to someone who you trust to tell you what is wrong with it. You want them to tell you what you already know, but are being too stubborn to face. The last thing you need is lots of people telling you that your writing is perfect. The best opinion is the one that wants to help you to make your writing even better.
3. Write from your heart, write those stories that make your stomach flip with emotion.
4. Always end one day’s writing knowing what you’ll begin writing the following day.
5. Cherish writing your first novel, it’s the freest piece of writing you’ll ever achieve. It’s when you should be writing for you, unaware of audience, negative reviews and sales figures. Enjoy!
Thanks, Caroline!