How to Write a Novel: Writing an AMAZING Book in 15 Steps

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Just like learning to ride a bike, the best way to learn how to write a novel is simply by doing it. However, unlike riding a Schwinn for the first time, writing a novel cannot be accomplished on a hot summer day. It requires a good dose of commitment and perseverance. as octavia butler said: “you don’t start by writing good things. you start writing crap and thinking it’s a good thing, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say that one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”

This post will break down the 15 main steps to writing a novel into bite-sized parts, organized into three categories: before, during, and after writing your manuscript. this is how you can write a novel:

You are reading: How to write story books

define the story idea
read books in your genre
choose the point of view of your book
set the scene
develop your main characters
set the conflict and stakes
create an outline
choose the structure of your story
decide how to write your novel
write to market
establish a writing routine
after you finish your first draft…
consider literary devices and techniques
revise your story
work with beta readers
hire a professional editor

before you start writing a novel…

This is a good cliché: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. The more you can prepare before you start writing a novel, the better your chances of finishing it. the following steps will help you build your signature armor; they will help you avoid sudden bouts of writer’s block and give you a solid foundation for the story. By the time you finish this first section, planning your novel, you should be able to write the following statement:

my story is a [genre] novel about [topic]. is told from [perspective] and is set in [place and time period]. follows [protagonist], who wants [target] because [motivation]. but [conflict] does not make it easy, putting [stake] at risk.

Let’s get started!

Pro Tip: Want to know which famous author you write for? Take our 1 minute quiz below!

1. define the story idea

an obvious step, but not an easy one to cross off. in fact, you may find yourself inventing other initial tasks to avoid coming up with this one: like finding the perfect place to write, buying the perfect stationery set, and doing other shorter forms of creative writing. While all of these things can help you on your way to writing a novel, without taking the time to really solidify what you want to write, this upcoming novel just won’t come to fruition.

If you’re having trouble thinking of the seed of an idea, don’t worry. there’s literally an endless supply of novel topics, and you can start perusing hundreds of them in our list of 300+ writing suggestions, our directory of 200+ short story ideas, or even our plot generator.

If you’ve been thinking of a story idea, but are having trouble developing it, try writing a line or two about the subject of your book. If you’re wondering how to write a novel, chances are there’s a message you want to convey to the world. the message behind your book is your theme, and it will underline the whole story. for example, 1984 follows a man who yearns for love in a world where individuality and original thought are not just a sin but a crime. but what the book is really about is the human right to freedom of privacy.

2. read books of your genre

“I can’t write without a reader. It’s just like a kiss, you can’t do it alone,” wrote American author John Cheever. if he wants his novel to be attractive to potential readers, he must first understand how to think like a reader. and the way to do it is, let’s all say it together, read!

There are many reasons why the time spent reading is worthwhile for an aspiring author:

you’ll understand what’s been done ad nauseam and can focus on creating something new.
on the other hand, you’ll also understand what’s proven popular in a given genre, you’ll know what expectations readers have, and you’ll be able to figure out how to write a story that meets them.
it’s fun! after all, if you don’t like reading books, why would you want to write them?

3. choose your book’s point of view

Do you know that when gossip is spread by rumours, they tend to get further and further from the truth as they pass from person to person? This is because every time a person tells a story, they inevitably add their own unique biases, thoughts, and perspectives. for this reason, choosing the point of view from which the novel will be narrated is an extremely important step in starting the novel and will have a great impact on the story itself.

These are the different viewpoints you might consider:

first person: the story is told from the perspective of the fictional writer or narrator. the main pronoun used is “i”. learn more here.
second person: addresses the reader directly and asks them to put themselves in the shoes of a character. the main pronoun used is “you”. learn more here.
third person limited: the narrator only has an idea of the thoughts and feelings of a single character at a time. the pronouns associated with this point of view are: he, theirs, he, she, her, they, they and them. learn more here.
third person omniscient: the narrator knows everything and can reveal everything that happens to any character at any time in the story. the pronouns used are the same as for third person limited. learn more here.

4. set the stage

Consider this line of pride and prejudice:

“What are men to rocks and mountains?”

This line glides smoothly from the page as Elizabeth Bennett takes a trip to the Peak District in Georgian-era England. If, on the other hand, the book were to take place in modern day Texas and a 20-year-old Elizabeth Bennett were to say those words, they would stick out like a sore thumb.

The key here is context, and the context or setting of a story will dictate everything about it, from character to plot to conflict and beyond.

If you plan to write about a setting outside of your own immediate knowledge, be sure to do proper research. consider working with sensitive readers if you’re writing about a place or culture outside your own.

5. develop your main characters

If you’ve ever eaten a multi-course dinner (or seen a pretty woman), you’ll know to start with the knives and forks on the outside and work your way in.

This is not the case with your character development. while it’s definitely important for an author to imagine what their characters look like, starting from the inside and working outward is a better approach. this is where you can start:

the goal: what does your character want? For example, the goal of Harry Potter is to defeat Lord Voldemort.
motivation: why does your character have this goal? Harry must defeat Lord Voldemort to ensure the safety of the wizarding world and avenge his murdered parents. learn more here.
Dynamic or Static: Will your character undergo fundamental changes throughout the story, or will it remain largely the same? learn more here.

Once you’ve established these core elements, you can begin to explore other aspects of your characters using these resources:

Create a character profile that covers everything from appearance to family using this handy template.
Look into your character’s past using these character development exercises.
Give your character the perfect name using this character name generator.

6. establish conflict and stakes

kurt vonnegut once said that one of the most universal types of stories is the “man in the hole” story: someone gets into trouble and then tries to get out of it. a close second was the “boy loses girl” story: someone has something, loses it, and then tries to get it back.

In both examples, there is a conflict driving the story, and in fact a novel is really just a long report if there is no conflict.

Conflict is what will make your character’s path to achieving (or not achieving) their goal interesting to readers: it’s the sum total of the obstacles the protagonist encounters along the way. In novels, there are two broad categories of conflict, and for a truly compelling read, it’s a good idea to include both:

inner conflict: what kind of character flaws will hinder the protagonist as he strives to achieve his goal? for example, frodo’s internal conflict in the lord of the rings is not to let the ring corrupt him.
External Conflict: What kinds of circumstances and obstacles outside of the protagonist’s control will prevent him from achieving his goal? sauron has made the path to mount doom (and the destruction of the ring) nearly impossible.

once you’ve resolved the major conflicts in your novel, you need to pinpoint the stakes: what happens if the conflict overwhelms the character and they don’t achieve their goals? for example, it’s all very well that frodo wants to destroy the ring, but why should we care? Well, because the fate of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.

7. create an outline

In the world of fiction writing, it’s often said that there are two types of writers: conspirators and gangsters. Conspirators, as you may have guessed, plan where their novel will go before they start writing. pantsers will usually have a general idea of how their story will unfold, but will just sit down and write without doing any initial outlines.

If your ultimate goal is to write and publish a novel, we suggest you follow the paths of the plotter and create an outline. When you inevitably hit the writer’s block that almost all writers face, your outline will act like a “get out of jail free” card: you can use it to remind yourself of what needs to come next. in any case, it will save you a lot of time.

There are countless ways to outline a novel, but here are some tried and true methods to consider:

mind map: Create a chart or some sort of visual representation of your plot points, characters, themes, conflicts, and chapters.
synopsis : a more detailed outline that briefly covers all the main elements of the story in two or three pages: plot, characters, conflicts, and themes.
the pace sheet: document history beats in abbreviated form. each individual “beat” should have a bullet point or number.
the skeleton: just take notes of key plot points. think of it as a roadmap with only big-name destinations marked off—how you get there is up to you.
characters first: let your characters drive the scheme by mapping character development , character arcs, and character rhythms over plot planning. for tips on plotting out a character arc, check out our post on the topic.
scenes and sequences: simply write down the main scenes that need to happen and the order in which they unfold .

For more information on how to create an outline, or for help determining which technique is best for you, head over to our author’s guide to creating outlines.

8. choose the structure of your story

While it’s true that all stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end, you can drastically change the way readers perceive your novel by altering the way it structures your story.

for example, you can use…

the Fichtean curve, which skips the exposition and starts right on the rising action. or…
in medias res, which begins with what would be classified as the “middle of the story” in the traditional three-act structure. finally, there is…
the seven point story structure, which, like the hero’s journey monomyth, presents the story as a series of ups and downs.

To see all of these structures in action, check out our story structure post showcasing three best-selling novels using the above techniques.

while you write your novel…

If you can accomplish the eight steps above, you’re well on your way to a completed novel. With all that foundation laid for your story, all that’s left is to start writing! And the following four tips will help you do just that. (although if you want more, you can always check out our list of 20 essential writing tips for first-time authors).

9. decide how to write your novel

no, not like if you’re going to be a conspirator or a gangbanger, or how to increase motivation to keep going. but literally: how are you going to write your novel? with pencil and paper? in word? with the help of a novel writing software or formatting tool? Gone are the days when dipping your pen in ink was the only option, so do your research and choose the one that’s best for you. here’s a couple to get you started:

focuswriter. Don’t look for bells and whistles here (although there are some great features like themes and timers). the goal of this app is to give you a blank page and a healthy dose of concentration.
writemonkey. a spartan interface, except for a word counter and a clock. if your writing relies on a distraction-free environment, check writemonkey out.
calm writer. has a bad habit of jumping from scene to scene so much that he never quite gets around to it. finish one? You’ll probably benefit from this app’s “focus mode” which only shows you the current paragraph you’re writing.
750 words. If you need a little motivation and accountability, the program could be your friend. encourages you to write 3 pages (or 750 words) every day and offers features to help you do so, including a statistics dashboard that reveals your average typing speed.
longbook editor. fake it until you make it, right? reedsy book editor formats your book as you write, so even your drafts will look like a professionally formatted manuscript.

10. write to the market

Who is going to want to read your book? no no all. if you look at your own bookshelf, you can find a variety of literature, but there is probably one type of book that is there more than others. think about the type of person who will buy your book and write with them in mind.

If you’re having trouble identifying your book’s target market, ask your ideal reader these questions:

how old are they?
what genres do they read?
what are their hobbies?
who are some of their favorite authors ?
what are some of your favorite movies?
do you live in a specific place?

continue until you feel you have a sense of the “proto-persona” for your book. learn more about how to find your target market here.

Pro Tip: Depending on your target audience and topic, your novel may even be eligible for any number of writing grants. If you’re a student, check out our directory of writing scholarships right here.

11. set a write routine

We won’t talk about the importance of this step any further: we all know that to make progress on any kind of goal, working on it must become part of our regular routine. Since we’re all on the same page here, we’ll jump right into our tips for making that happen:

set a non-negotiable write time. or, as kevin johns calls it, nnwt. the keywords here are “non-negotiable”. this is a period of time, either once a day or once a week, where you commit to writing, and only writing. unless there is an emergency, don’t schedule anything else during your nnwt.
quantify your progress. set realistic goals (perhaps a word count or number of pages to reach ) that you can accomplish and then celebrate those “small wins.” Breaking the task of writing a novel into small steps, and then recognizing when those steps are taken, will not only make the process more manageable, but also more fun. of course, if you’re pressed for time, you may be more concerned with typing fast, in which case, check out this article for tips.
brag. if you’ve gotten a promotion at work, he would celebrate, or at least share the good news with others. As you go through your novel, talk about it with others. this will help you stay accountable: if you share with others, they are more likely to ask for updates.

after finishing your first draft…

If you’ve just finished your first draft, your next step should absolutely include party poppers and cakes, or some sort of celebration favor, because that’s quite an accomplishment. but of course, the work is far from over.

Writing the first iteration of your manuscript is simply about getting the words down on paper. now is the time to start turning those words into a memorable story.

12. consider literary resources and techniques

Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint why a certain novel sticks with you, there’s just something about it. You can add a certain je ne sais quoi to your own writing by employing literary devices such as Chekhov’s weapon, irony, and foreshadowing, which serve to build tension throughout your story.

There are countless other literary devices that authors use to add creative depth to their writing. find a list of some of our favorites here.

13. check your story

editing your own story is not a one time deal. every time you read your story, you’ll likely end up rewriting parts of it, which will require another full read, which could lead to more rewrites, and so on. To make sure you don’t get stuck in an endless loop of editing, don’t edit everything at once. check your novel for a specific problem and only fix those. if you spot other things in the meantime, make a note of them to come back and fix later, but stay focused on the task at hand. here are a few things you might want to keep an eye out for:

show, don’t tell. sometimes, you just need to say something naturally in your novel, that’s fine. but, as much as you can, try to illustrate a point instead of just saying it. keep in mind the words of anton chekhov: “don’t tell me the moon is shining. show me the flash of light on broken glass”. learn more here.
“said” is your friend. when it comes to dialogue, there can be a temptation to spice up things get a little better by using tags like “exclaimed” “affirmed” or “commented” and while there may be a time and a place for these, 90% of the time “said” is the best tag to use because any anything else may seem distracting or forced.learn more here.
stay away from violet prose. violet prose is overly embellished language that doesn’t add much to the story .confuses the intended message and can be a real turn off for readers.learn more here.

To become a true desktop publishing expert, check out our collection of free online courses: all about editing, written by professional editors.

14. work with beta readers

A beta reader is someone who reads a manuscript before it is published, for the sole purpose of providing feedback to the author from the reader’s point of view. A beta reader is usually a friend, family member, or perhaps someone you met through the writing community.

Working with readers is important because, during the writing process, authors can often become blind to certain issues, such as plot gaps, lack of continuity, exposition dumps, etc. beta readers can help you fix these issues before publishing your novel. and you get the exact same feedback, only in a negative user review on amazon that everyone can see.

For more information on where to find beta readers and tips for getting the most out of working with them, head here. and if you’re curious about sensitivity readers and what they do, go here.

15. hire a professional editor

One of the most important parts of preparing a novel for publication is hiring an editor. It may not be the cheapest investment, but when you think about the many hours you’ve spent bringing your novel to this point, the cost of hiring an expert to fine-tune and polish your story is probably worth it.

here are some types of editors you might consider working with:

development editor. If you plan to hire multiple editors once your manuscript is complete, it’s best to start with a development editor. they will give you a holistic and in-depth review of your novel, providing feedback on everything from problematic characterization to sentence structure.
copyediting. a copyeditor has a clearer idea -in approach than development editor. they’ll make sure the “copy” (the actual language used in your novel) is perfect, and they’ll be on the lookout for things like bad grammar, repetition of certain words, or spelling errors.
Proofreading. Usually the last stage of editing, proofreading gives your manuscript a final polish, making sure it’s at its best when it hits the press. A proofreader will make sure every word of your novel is spelled correctly and every sentence is grammatically correct, clearly marking any mistakes they find.

learn more about what each type of edition consists of here.

now, how about that price we mentioned? Well, the cost of professional publishing will depend on a number of variables: the type of editing you need, the specific publisher you hire, and the length of your book, for starters.

But to give you a general idea, here are the potential costs of editing a 60,000-word manuscript:

development edit: $1440
style edit: $1020
proofreading: $600

Check out our post for more information on editing costs, and even try our price calculator by entering the word count for your novel and genre.

And there you have it, 15 steps that will take you from “one day I’ll write a novel” to “I finished writing my first novel today.” During the process, you may have come up with the perfect title for your book. if not, finding the perfect nickname for your story will probably be the last, and important one! – step. But don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you hanging. check out our book title generator and generate titles based on your genre until you find the one.

What step of the process do you usually get stuck on? What advice could you have for other writers currently struggling to get their novel off the ground? Leave your thoughts or questions in the comments below!

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