How To Find The Novel That Only You Can Write

Summary: Most people think writing a novel is just writing. I have lost count of the number of people who say "I want to write a novel" and think that they will just sit down, put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, and the whole thing will just unfold before them. I've read a few novels, they think, why can't I write one? If only it were that easy! The process of writing any story is exactly that, a process. And whether you are tackling a novel, a short story, an essay or a no...

Most people think writing a novel is just writing. I have lost count of the number of people who say "I want to write a novel" and think that they will just sit down, put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, and the whole thing will just unfold before them. I've read a few novels, they think, why can't I write one? If only it were that easy! The process of writing any story is exactly that, a process. And whether you are tackling a novel, a short story, an essay or a non-fiction book, you need to begin by planning your story. This is the most ignored stage in the writing process, and yet it is by far the most important. JK Rowling spent five years planning the Harry Potter novels. And that certainly paid off, didn't it? The key to writing any story well, is to find the story that only you can write. This story carries your own emotional truth, and as you progress through the story writing process, your character will take you on the journey of emotional growth just as they will your readers once it's published. The Deeper Character Journey The deeper character journey is the most important aspect of any story. It is what your readers will remember and it is what makes the process of writing a story so worthwhile for the writer. Every time you take your character on a journey, you go on that journey yourself. So how do we find that deeper character journey? Where do we begin? We begin with this simple exercise: Without thinking too much about it, finish this sentence: