Writing Tips for the Novelist

Writing Tips for the Novelist

BLOG SESSION

July 2017

It's a new day, and we are back to share more writing tips for all Writers who are working on their Novels for Camp NaNoWriMo during the month of July 2017.

You'll need to get your Journal to take notes because we have plenty to share with you today, and you'll treasure these notes whether you are working online in Camp or not . . .

WRITING TIPS for your Journal:

First, you'll definitely need to focus on writing the story that you'd most want to read yourself.  Your story should never be written just to please someone else in your family or a friend -- that would be too narrow of an audience, and your story is meant to reach a larger audience.   Your story should make you really want to read it, and furthermore, you should be proud of writing it because it is an interesting and fascinating story.  You should think about all of the books that you love, and take a moment to focus in on why you love the books that grab your attention.  Is it because you can identify with the subject matter?  Is it because you can't put the book down because it is so good?

Second, hone in on the genre that fits your writing style.  Do you gravitate to Mysteries?  Or do you prefer Fiction?  Does a Historical Romance fascinate you?  Or do you prefer a quiet literary novel?  Maybe it has more to do with a certain type of story, or a certain voice that pulls you into a book.  Maybe it is certain characters that fascinate you about the books that you love.  The bottom line is -- write what you love.  Think about the things that you have passion about, and those things that make your heart beat with joy, and those things that stay on your mind in the middle of the night.  Do you happen to be obsessed with a certain subject matter?  If so, then maybe that is the direction you should take your writing.

Thirdly,  Think about one character in your story.  Make that particular character slightly flawed and believable.  Let the character live and breathe and give your character the freedom to make mistakes, have issues, and do surprising things that take the reader on a journey.  Your character should be able to take the story in a totally unexpected direction.  If your character does not surprise the readers, then you can bet that your character will appear flat.  Ask your character to tell you his or her secrets.  Sit down with pen and paper and make a list of all the things that your character never took the time to tell to anyone.  And do remember to write in the voice of your character when you make your list of secrets.

Fourth,  Be sure to give your character a compelling problem.  Your character needs to have something that will challenge him or her.  There should be an element involved that possibly torments or causes your character to move forward with action.  Remember, at the heart of every story is some sort of conflict -- whether that conflict is external or internal makes no difference, as long as the conflict is energy driven.  Whatever the conflict is, your character will be shaped by it, changed by it, affected by it, and changed forever because of it.

Do your Research

Fifth, be sure to do your Research on your characters.  Where are they from?  Where did they grow up?  What types of medical problems or mental problems do they have?  Are your characters from another country?  If so, be sure to research the background of the particular country and bring the details to life as you introduce your characters into your story.  Does any of your characters have a conflict with friends or family members?  If they do, what is the reason for the conflict?

Sixth, make things happen!  This is a very important key to any good story.  You can have the greatest characters in the world in your story, but if nothing exciting is happening that moves your readers, then your story will fall flat on its face.  The key is to have something important to the plot happening in each scene.  And, if you have a scene in your story that is not helping to move the story along in some vital way, then don't be afraid to cut the scene out.  Some scenes can't be revived.  If you find that to be the case -- cut it.

Seventh, As you do your editing, be sure to go scene by scene and write a single sentence on an index card that describes the action in the scene.  Then you will be able to lay the index cards out and have the bare bones of your story.  In this way, you will be able to see if your story is moving forward or not.  You'll need to see if you are throwing in enough twists and turns to make your story hop and pop!  If any of your scenes are not pulling their weight, you'll be able to identify which scenes those are.

Next Blog Session:

We'll be back with more writing tips!

Until we meet again back here on the Blog,

 writing friends keep those stories going ~

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

© Copyright - René Allen - JULY 2017 - All Rights Reserved