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Read. A lot. -

If you want to write, you need to read first. Authors are influenced and shaped by other authors. Get inspired by your favorite writers.

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Set daily goals -

Some authors like to go with the flow, but daily goals are a good thing to have, especially if you’re starting out. For example, you can aim to write 2,000 words a day. Considering how many words your novel will have, this is not such a crazy number.

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Make a list -

Why do you want to write? Write down a list of your motivations for writing and refer back when you have doubts. It can be great to motivate you.

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Good habits -

You’re likely not going to be writing your first novel full time, so it’s important to manage time around your other responsibilities. The key is to develop good habits when it comes to writing. Set aside blocks of time to do so, in a specific place. Make it a habit, and it will stick.

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Think ahead -

Before you sit down to write, think about it. Where is that storyline taking you? Do you need to do some research first? It’s best to think ahead so you can make the most of your time writing.

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Save your work -

If you write on a computer, make sure you have security copies in a cloud and maybe even in a physical device such as a USB pen. If you’re more into pen and paper, don’t worry: taking pictures with your phone will ensure your words are quickly safe.

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A thesaurus can be your best friend -

You will likely need one, and you will need it quite a few times. Just find one you like to use and embrace it.

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Write anything -

Action precedes inspiration, not the other way round. Many times you just need to start writing to then start thinking. It’s the opposite of the romanticized version of creativity.

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Write about what you know -

E.g. if you’re a musician, it will be easier for you to tell a story involving musicians, right? You know how it is, how it feels, how things go. Writing about what you know not only makes the story more believable, it also makes it easier to write.

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Your story should move you -

If you’re writing an emotional story and it doesn’t move you, don’t expect the reader to feel differently. Conversely, if you shed a tear or two during the process, readers might just share the same feeling when they read your words.

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Read it out loud -

This is the best way to ensure the pace of the sentences is good. Rhythm is very important when it comes to writing. Listening to yourself reading aloud can really help.

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Who’s telling the story? -

Choose a point of view to tell the story. Is there a narrator? Is the story told in the first or second person?

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Show (but don’t tell) -

Think of writing fiction in these terms. You want to show the story to the reader. You want them to imagine and be enriched by the experience.

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Characters, characters, characters -

Sure, a good plot is very important, but it has to be based on good characters first. Think about a main character strong enough to carry the story, and things will flow more easily.

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Don’t make your characters sound cliché -

Creating multi-dimensional characters is a good thing. Say you’re writing about a Parisian woman; maybe a beret will just be too stereotypical. Why not give her other particular characteristics? Make her a competent employee, or passionate about a specific music genre, for instance.

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Motivation of characters -

Your characters need some sort of motivation. This is especially important when you’re struggling to give a character a direction. Just ask yourself: “What does this character want?”

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Don’t go overboard with detailed descriptions of characters -

It is true that some authors manage to pull it off, and of course you can give physical descriptions of the characters. Just avoid doing so in a manner that the reader will switch off and want to skip the paragraph.

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Don’t open the novel with weather -

Unless it has a direct effect on a person, e.g. a character’s reaction to the weather. If it’s just to set the atmosphere, then be brief and move on to people, which is what most readers will be looking for in the opening lines.

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Skip the prologue -

Prologues kind of work in non-fiction, but when it comes to novels they don’t make much sense. Unless you really need to establish a backstory right there and then, a prologue can just be slightly annoying. Whatever you were meant to write in the prologue can, most times, be included elsewhere in the book.

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Control the use of regional dialects and patois -

These can give character to your novel, but they can also be somewhat distracting, with all the sounds described using apostrophes.

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Keep your exclamation points in check -

A good rule of thumb is to use two or three per 100,000 words.

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Stick to "said" to carry dialogue -

There is no need to get fancy when it comes to carrying dialogue. It will only deviate the reader’s attention from the dialogue itself. Any other words, such as "grumbled" or "cautioned," can be intrusive and distracting.

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And don’t use an adverb to modify the verb "said" -

Elmore Leonard’s '10 Rules of Good Writing' tells us to “Never use an adverb to modify the verb 'said.'" This will break the rhythm and indeed be distracting for the reader.

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Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose" -

Leonard reminds us that these are no-nos when it comes to writing a novel. Those who do use the word “suddenly” also seem to have a tendency to use more exclamation marks than they should.

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Don’t play book critic -

The analysis of the text is better left out for later. The last thing you want is to be worried about labeling the genre of your book. Leave it for critics.

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Your first draft is just...your first draft -

There is no need to stress over it. It’s a first draft, with mistakes, with lots of words that need to be edited and proofread. Don't try to make it perfect straight away. Let the first draft be the first draft.

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Find a good editor -

Working with a good editor is key. A good partnership can make a huge difference in how your book turns out.

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Believe in yourself -

Yes, doubt is a pain. You’ll go through it many times. Ultimately, you should just trust your gut and go with it when it comes to your novel. It’s your novel, after all, not someone else’s!

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Allow yourself to change your mind -

Reading back the first 50 pages and are not sure about something? Go back, rewrite, and change the story if need be. It’s yours, and you can do whatever you want with it.

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Rules are meant to be broken -

Yes, everyone is different and we work in different ways. These are guidelines at most. Many authors will tell you they do the exact opposite and are successful!

Sources: (MasterClass) (The New Yorker) (The Guardian) (The New York Times)

See also: The most influential authors of the 20th century

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