Write Your Novel

@wendytokunaga Writer / Developmental Editor / Teacher https://www.wendytokunaga.com/

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Are You Overlooking These Basics in Your Novel?

6 Novel Basics You May be Overlooking https://bit.ly/460N9U6

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Your Writer's Voice

"Your writing voice is the deepest possible reflection of who you are. Its job is not to seduce or flatter or make well-shaped sentences. In your voice, readers should hear the contents of your mind, heart and soul.” — Meg Rosoff

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What is a Story?

A story is an account. The plotting of a story reveals the causes and effects, the reversals, incentives, motivations and intrigues of the story.

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The Dictionary

The dictionary is your friend. In your novel, make sure you are using the meaning of particular words correctly.

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Act First, Explain Later

In your novel's beginning, it's wise to "Act first, explain later." Don't spend time "warming up." Get to the point; your readers will thank you.

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Common Words

“One should use common words to say uncommon things” ― Arthur Schopenhauer #amwriting

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Your Antagonist

An antagonist challenges your protagonist's wants and needs. It need not be a person. It can be society, a government, raging seas or even a new job.

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On Editing...

"There are 2 typos of people in this world: Those who can edit and those who can't." — Jarod Kintz

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Your Beginning

The primary goal of the first scene of your novel is to keep your reader interested and an effective initial conflict is that something isn’t going as expected or something is about to change.

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Creativity

"Creativity requires faith. Faith requires that we relinquish control." — Julia Cameron, "The Artist's Way"

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Your Audience

"When I teach writing, I always tell my students that you should assume the audience you're writing for is smarter than you." — Tony Kushner

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Building Tension and Suspense

Specific usage of commas to indicate a pause, how you arrange your text on the page, and placement of page and chapter breaks are all effective tools to help heighten tension and suspense in your novel.

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Your Writer's Voice

Your writer's voice is made up of the order in which you present events (structure) and your attitude toward your characters, subject, and events of your novel (tone).

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Seeing the World

“I do not see the world at all; I invent it.” — Franz Kafka

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Your Novel's Premise

Keep in mind that your novel's premise should have conflict, plausibility, originality and emotional resonance.

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It's All in the Details

“Good writing is remembering detail. Most people want to forget. Don’t forget things that were painful or embarrassing or silly. Turn them into a story that tells the truth.” — Paula Danziger

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On Writing Scenes...

Consider that each of your scenes reads like a mini-story, with a beginning, middle and end, which follows the basic structure of initial conflict, complication and resolution.