Fragile Lies
I can’t give you a sure fire recipe for writing the perfect novel – no one can – that’s the journey you must make yourself. Before even trying to get a publisher, put the time into becoming the best writer you can be. This means writing regularly, learning techniques of self-assessment and editing, reading broadly and being willing to learn from your mistakes.
If you have a strong idea for a novel don’t talk to others about it - write it down. I always prefer a pen and paper at the beginning stage. Don’t worry if your writing seems clichéd or your characters one-dimensional. That’s work for the future. Just capture that initial rush of creativity. More than likely a lot of what you’ve written will be discarded but you’ll have mapped out the bones of your story.
Be disciplined. It’s easy to make excuses but important that you find space for yourself amidst the clutter of your life. There’ll never be a perfect time for you to begin your writing career (unless you’re one of the very fortunate) so you need to establish a routine. Even if it’s only three hours on a Saturday morning stick to it. Once you’re focused, it’s amazing what can be achieved in a short space of time.
Never underestimate the value of your thought process. You can still be working productively on your novel when you’re staring out the window, taking a walk, or just drifting off to sleep. That’s when your mind is free and has space for ideas to flow. A notebook is always a good idea –sleep is a thief when it comes to stealing away our best ideas.
Believe in yourself. That belief will take you over the down times when everything you write seems flat and uninteresting. Be prepared to ruthlessly edit…edit…edit, especially the passages you love but are actually clogging up your narrative. I save such passages and give them a title in the hope that, later on in the narrative, I’ll find a place for them. But, usually, I forget them and get on with the story.
Begin with a hook that fills your reader with an immediate sense of anticipation. But don’t spend time working on the perfect opening paragraphs. Sometimes, that perfect opening is only revealed towards the end – and time is wasted if you keep tweaking in the initial stages.
Plan your novel. Will you have one narrator? If so, be aware that he/she can’t see around corners so that may limit the scope of your story. If using two or more POV make sure that each narrator has a distinctive voice that stays in keeping with their personalities. Decide which tense you’ll use and make sure you don’t drift from past to present – unless you have a stylistic reason for doing so. Make sure your time span is accurate, your setting, if a real location, is factually correct and that your flashbacks have a link to bring them in and out of the main narrative. No matter whether you’re writing the most extraordinary fantasy or a domestic family story – the plot must be credible. Readers will allow a suspension of disbelief as long as you don’t insult their intelligence.
Allow your characters free rein but always remain in control. No matter how dark their lives, or how far removed their situations are from your own, you can still relate to them by drawing on your own life experiences. We’re capable of a broad span of emotions – from fury to overwhelming passion and blind fear. Fortunately, we can control such feelings but remember how they made us feel, heart palpitations, trembling hands, melting heart –infuse those sensations into our characters. Keep a file on their appearance, personality, hobbies, idiosyncrasies, background, location, and anything else that will be useful. Avoid stereotypes. Like all of us, they consist of many parts.
Dialogue is a powerful medium for moving your story along. It should sound natural but use the ums and ahs sparingly. Speak your dialogue aloud, even record it to hear if it sounds convincing. If a boring conversation is taking place, use your skill as a writer not to bore the reader. Quips and smart remarks should not dominate – no one is a joker all the time. Avoid putting your own views into your character’s mouth. It will always be obvious. Keep conversations short and informative– long blocks of text are off-putting. Keep speech tags simple. He said/she said is the most practical. Listen, always listen. Use your notebook to jot down exclamations, funny comments, certain ways of speaking. It all adds authenticity to your dialogue
Can you sum up your novel in a sentence? Try it. Most publishers like a concept, a plotline that is easily grasped – and it also clarifies the core of your story in your own mind. Give your book a working title. This may change so don’t get hung up on it. It’s purely a psychological tool to help shape your initial ungainly idea. If you want to write in a certain genre, study it and obey the rules – but develop your own distinctive style to your writing. If your book doesn’t slot into a specific genre don’t let that influence you. Obey the rules of good writing and if your book is good enough, it will find a home.
It’s essential to have a passion for writing. Why else would you consider chaining yourself to a computer for a year or more? Follow the publisher’s guidelines before you submit. You will probably need an agent. That’s not easy but agents are always looking for the next new voice. If you submit a manuscript to a publisher or agent, wait about two months to hear back and if you don’t then contact them. Too much time is wasted while you hang on waiting for that essential phone call. Don’t view a rejection as a negative reflection on your work. Try again…and again. Pay attention if you receive a rejection with advice from an editor. Most editors have such a heavy work load that if they take time to address issues in your book, that advice should be valued.