If you are at the stage where you are looking for an idea you can develop into a novel, I have a post on How to Generate Ideas. But what does a writer do once they have a kernel of an idea? How does a one-sentence seed grow into an 80,000 word novel? If you have a concept for a novel—a premise or a “hook”—how do you start to expand that and take the first steps to writing your book?
Read MoreWhere do great ideas come from? What idea generation techniques work best? This can be a difficult question to answer, since usually, an idea for a novel seems to come out of nowhere. One day you're driving in your car or washing dishes and an idea starts to glow in your mind like the sun coming up, or maybe it glares down on you all at once, as if dark clouds were suddenly blown away and there it is – hot and bright and obvious.
Read MoreAn idea for a novel is the first building block to writing a book. But while a great idea is an important component to a great novel, a great idea alone won’t guarantee a successful book. So what does it take to shepherd that great idea through to a successfully executed story?
Read MoreWe’ve all heard the old adage, “Write what you know.” I’m not here today to debate this advice. In fact, I agree with it to the extent that I believe it is helpful to ground the emotions and feelings of your characters in emotions and feelings you know well, even if your characters’ experiences vary widely from your own. But the wisdom of “Write what you know” isn’t what I want to discuss today. I want to discuss the wisdom of “Write what you love.”
Read MoreIt happens to every writer. An idea comes to you, and you are floating around the ceiling with inspiration. For a day or two, or maybe even a week, you’re ecstatic with the beauty of this concept. You write with an enthusiasm you rarely feel, until… the good feeling is gone. You fall out of love with your novel idea, and abandon the book.
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