With many of us now working from home or stuck in isolation currently without work, it’s easy to fall into a trap of stagnating activities, watching TV, scrolling your social media and eating to pass the time. However, the best way to get through these difficult and unprecedented times might be to finally sit down and write the novel you’ve always wanted to create.
We all say we don’t have enough time to get creative and let our minds run free. So, what’s stopping you now? Don’t let that creativity go to waste – read on for 6 tips to get you started and writing that novel.
Make Sure You Have the Tools You Need
It’s easy to get distracted from the task in hand, especially if you find yourself stopping partway through to organise or attain something. So, when you sit down to write your novel, if you have everything you need already arranged and managed, you’re more likely to focus on the task in hand. Consider having the following:
- Spell checking software
- A plagiarism checker or software (see this website)
- Plenty of paper and pens so you can write down ideas
- A printer with plenty of ink
- Novels and other materials that inspire you
- Snacks/water
Eliminate Distractions
As mentioned above, it’s far too easy to become distracted from the task in hand. So, make sure you’re eliminating as many distractions as possible. Turn off the TV and the radio, only listen to music if it inspires you, find something quiet for the kids to do for a while, log out of your social media and leave your smartphone in another room.
Decide on a Theme
The theme of a book is where you can play with the key issues of society, from racism to gay rights, love and hate, family dynamics and everything in between so you must get to grips with the theme you’re contemplating of using and explore all the different avenues you could take your character down.
Get to Know Your Characters
Of course, you wouldn’t have much of a novel without a character or two, so you must get to know your characters so you can portray them well on the page. Consider their names, their backgrounds, their quirks or annoying habits, be specific and you’ll find that they take on your tale all by themselves. Writers with an artistic flair often draw their characters as a way to get to know them and visualise them better.
Maintain a Good Structure
Consider structuring your story into parts 1,2 and 3. Having a simple, straightforward plan will help you maintain your focus and help your story move along its natural arc. The last thing you want is to have written over 100,000 words and yet your characters haven’t gotten anywhere. A simple writing structure will help you.
Enjoy It
Writing is meant to be enjoyable, so avoid putting too much pressure on yourself, and enjoy your new creative freedom.
Nickida
Nickida is a first-generation Trinidadian American wife and mother of four. She enjoys sharing recipes from her childhood growing up in Trinidad with her readers. Nickida has a son with Autism and shares posts around traveling with a child with special needs to help other families like her own. She loves television, movies and is a true 80's baby.
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