Most of you are familiar with writing fiction and horror stories, but novel writing is also an exciting form of storytelling. It requires a passion for exploring human experiences, whether they are personal or fictional. Here, you just have to prioritize the theme you want to write a novel about.

While novel writing is challenging, as it requires a strong beginning, a captivating middle, and an exciting ending. This is a complete 15 steps guide that can make the novel writing process more easy for you.

With dedication, discipline, and consistency, you can successfully write a novel step by step. Here is a quick overview of this novel writing guide, what you are going to learn in it:

• What is novel writing?
• How to write a novel, step by step
• Relevant examples to write a novel
• Additional informational guides

So, let’s start reading this guide and make yourself capable of doing this challenge more easily!

Introduction to novel writing

What was the last time you heard about a novel? Or writing one by yourself? Novel writing is perhaps a challenging task - it isn’t as easy as writing your assignments or general articles.

A novel has detailed information of characters, human experiences and complex imaginative stories. It is just like a long narrative that explains the personal experience to an individual that can easily relate and become empathetic while reading. Once you think about writing your mind story, it makes you think more.

General form of writing doesn’t necessarily require a story or a plot or even characters. But, in novel writing you have to add these things.

Besides this, characters are the main entities of a novel with a strong plot that adds climax. Such as JK Rowling using fictional characters in game of thrones to make every sequel interesting. Moreover, the role of white walkers is the best example of thriller writing in the last seasons. 

If you’re not familiar with this type of writing and want to do something about it, I have detailed steps to writing a novel along with their examples. Stay connected and read till the end!

Some questions that already comes into your mind are:

• Where do you even start?
• What's the first step to start writing a novel?

Top 15 steps for novel writing along with their examples

Writing novels is a fun way to share real stories about people and their lives. I will show you how to make your own novel in 15 simple steps. Let's begin.

1. Choose an idea to start writing a novel

First of all, choose and then finalize the novel idea that you would love to write. Ask yourself what stories excites you to start the process of writing a novel. Here are some short pieces of information that will help you get to the final decision what your novel theme would be:

• Ask yourself what stories excite you and why.
• Think about "what if" type questions, like what if your personal thoughts get suddenly famous among people?
• Write all your thoughts down on a paper randomly.
• Find links between story ideas; they could form your story’s layout.

For example:

In the story of The Hobbit, Tolkien was inspired to write after doodling a map of Middle-earth during a boring meeting.

So, you also get motivated by a random situation and invest time, effort to start writing a compelling novel.

2. Research and study the idea before start writing

Once you finalized the main theme for the novel. The second step is to do research properly on a topic before starting. It is crucial to keep it clear in your mind for:

• Being clear about what you're going to write in a novel.
• Find good sources, research articles, books and reliable websites.
• Write information in points or make notes.
• Think about what you've learned and what you want to write in it.
• Clearly check on the correct information.
• Write down the resources or copy citations where you got the information.
• Finally, combine your information together with what you are going to write in your novel.

For example:

If you're researching Titanic for your novel writing, you might read books by authors, researchers, or check out reputable news bureaus for accurate information.

3. Create a clear plot for novel writing

While writing novels, think for a second if your character and story is clear. In novels, a character, its scenes, series and all conditions must come with rich details and information. Creating an outline plays a crucial role to give the plotter a kickstart for writing a novel. Here are some main points that help you how to write a novel step by step, such as:

• Lay out all the events and characters that are discussed in the novel.
• Make a list of all sequences from where the novel starts, the middle part, and will end.
• Write down the main points you want to discuss.
• How each event or novel connects to the next.
• Keep your outline flexible, so you can adjust it as you write.

For example:

To write a romance novel in the style of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," consider outlining the main characters, the romantic scenes, the misunderstandings that create tension, the sense of urgency surrounding the love story, and the moments of deep emotional connection between the two lovers.

4. Create an unforgettable main character of your novel

Just like Harry Potter is the main character in the drama, but all other characters also play a major role in it. Whereas, the main character is actually the hero or villain of the manuscript. It means the whole story is all about the main character and the ideas relevant to it. Here are some quick tips that are crucial in creating an unforgettable main character, such as:

• Find out each and everything about your main character of the novel.
• Check out the motivations, flaws and role of it.
• Think about what makes the character unique and relatable to your audience.
• Write down key elements in a story that define your novel in clear words.
• Look at the things that make characters grow and change throughout your story.

For example:

Get an idea from selecting a character like Frodo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," details his evolution from a simple hobbit to a selfless hero with a world-saving mission.

5. Write according to the point of view of your readers

Do you have any idea of different points of view of the writing that your reader can easily relate to? Point of view matters a lot to decide who will tell your story and how they will tell it.

Consider whether to use first-person “I”, second-person “you”, or third-person “he/she/they” perspective.

The use of a second person is a more valid option to share a story that relates to the reader. Some points that are crucial in selecting the point of view for novel writing are:

• Choose the viewpoint that best suits your narrative.
• Help your readers connect with your characters.

For example:

In “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, you could use a second-person perspective to make the reader feel like they're part of the glamorous world of the 1920s, experiencing the luxury and the problems along with the characters.

6. Make a schedule to write novel with consistency

Scheduling to write a daily chapter or an episode of a novel maintains the consistency. Whereas, practicing writing daily is also vital for a successful story. To make a schedule for regular writing, here are some additional tips:

• Set aside dedicated time each day or week for writing.
• Break down your writing process into manageable tasks, such as outlining, drafting, and revising.
• Allocate specific time slots for each task and stick to them consistently.
• Consider your own productivity peaks and plan your writing sessions accordingly.

For example:

Stephen King is the best example for learning consistency who often writes every morning and revises in the afternoon. He schedules the writing sessions to maintain a symmetrical rhythm that maximizes his creative output.

7. Add a central conflict, climactic moment and resolution

The Iron throne in Game of Thrones is the main conflict between noble families. The whole series revolves around a conflict of power and control over the thrones. So, add a central conflict, climactic moment and resolution that sparks a curiosity and entertaining elements for the reader. Additional points that can easily adds a central conflict and climax are:

• Build tension by introducing obstacles that challenge their goals.
• Plan a climactic moment where the conflict reaches its peak.
• Creating a turning point in the story.
• Finally, resolve the conflict in a satisfying way that ties up loose ends.

For example:

In “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare explains the central conflict between Montagues and Capulets. So, the lover's tragic death adds a climax and emotional scene that relates to the audience.

Also Read: Cute Short Love Stories That Will Make You Smile

8. Select the tone and voice of novel writing

Novel writing is one of the main types of story writing and each one has a specific tone and style. Therefore, selecting the tone and voice of a novel is crucial. Think critically and choose the mood, atmosphere and whole scene in which you want to write for your reader. Additional points for selecting the tone and voice of novel writing are:

• Formal, informal, humorous, serious or fictional writing.
• Style is emotional, fantastic and satirical comedy.

For example:

In “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. The tone of this story is of humor and in playful language. Otherwise, select the best tone according to your novel title and your targeted readers.

9. Start writing the first draft of your novel

Now it's time to start writing your first draft after the finalization of the main information. Start writing by using an online AI story generator tool by entering your main keyword or novel title. It offers multiple options for choosing a length and set creativity.

So, start it by putting your unique ideas into novel form. Don't worry about perfection, it becomes more accurate by adapting to write regularly by following these points:

• Write story ideas and scenes on a paper.
• Follow your outline or draft for best creativity.
• Write in a natural way that characters perform in front of the reader.

For example:

Ernest Hemingway, who said, “Write drunk, edit sober”. It means, write in a creative way without worrying about perfection. This helps in writing a best novel with a great story.

10. Maintain consistency in middle of the story

Try to maintain a relevancy and intent wise same information that interlinked all the scenes together. The middle is the main body of the novel. It is especially known as the part where climax arises. Follow some authentic tips when writing a middle part of the story:

• Maintain consistency in pacing, character development, and plot progression.
• Keep writing the same from start to end while introducing new challenges and conflicts.
• Ensure that your character's actions and decisions remain true to their personalities.

For example:

J.R.R. Tolkien did extraordinary work in “The Lord of the Rings”. His work is commendable as he tried to maintain consistency throughout his novel. He started slowly while gradually increasing the tension and complexity to keep readers hooked.

11. Bring the tension in your novel writing that reaches to the killer climax

A loss, breakup, blasting or robbery are the peak climaxes in some dramas. At this point, the story reaches extreme tension. The climax is the most exciting part, just like in horror writing where a ghost or any fictional character appears. When you reach this point, make sure to:

• Increase the tension and situations in a plot.
• Bring together all the conflicts and subplots to this important moment.
• Add a resolution that is both satisfying and surprising.

For example:

"Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn, reveals a shocking twist that changes everything, making readers eager to see what happens next. So, adding this type of climax brings interest in your novel writing and sticks your reader to read in a single sitting.

12. Redraft and start editing from the beginning

Writing is a good practice, but sometimes you realize redrafting plays a vital part. The suspense, tension, and satisfying climax you wrote in the middle and at the start might bring new ideas. It's crucial to start editing and make tweaks to enhance your story. Some quick tips for redrafting and editing your novel are:

• Review the opening chapters to ensure a strong start.
• Pay attention to pacing, clarity, and character introduction.
• Refine your prose, making sentences clearer and polishing the language for maximum impact.

For example:

Authors like Margaret Atwood emphasize the importance of revision for better writing. She approaches each draft with a critical eye, which helps elevate your writing more effectively.

13. Add final touch to your novel or conclude it

The concluding chapter is the crux of the novel. It states editing and reviewing the whole piece of information. At this part, try to focus on finishing your novel. Here are some points that help you to keep a checklist for finalizing your manuscript by:

• Checking each part to make sure it is completed and informative.
• Fix all the relevant things in your novel and make it more readable.
• Write inspirational words to attract your readers.
• Finally, end your story in a way that feels related to your readers.

14. Finally, publish your novel

After a critical review, editing and setting mistakes, the next step is to publish your well written novel. Make sure your book looks good and is ready to be read. There are two conditions: by following them you can easily publish your book, such as,

• Write a letter or proposal to tell publishers about your book. Think about what's best for your book and decide what to do.
• If you publish it yourself, learn about how to sell it and tell people about it. Be proud of your work and let others enjoy your story.

15. Get feedback of novel from your readers

I think feedback is also included in writing practices, because it makes you alert to edit your text. Once your novel is complete, seek feedback from others to enhance its quality.

Take into account the comments and suggestions from readers, like J.K. Rowling, who revised "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" based on feedback from publishers and friends.

You can make it happen

You can make it happen. Writing a novel plays a crucial role in expressing, explaining, and defining the human experience. It’s a long form of storytelling that attracts and inspires readers with its interesting characters, scenes, climax, and conflicts.

By following this guide and all the steps for writing a novel, you can become a successful novelist. So, believe in yourself and start writing your novel today.

More informational guides

• How To Explain a Moral In a Short Story
• 15 Pro Tips to Enhance Your Essay Writing Skills
• Best 9 Steps for Writing a Fantasy Story

External resources

1. How Long Does It Really Take To Write a Novel?
2. James Patterson's Books Checklist
3. How to write a book review
4. How to Write a Novel: 49 Rules for Writing a Stupendously