How do you write a novel from start to finish?
Write a novel by choosing a premise, outlining the primary characters and key plot points, and committing to a regular writing schedule. Finish your first draft without worrying about making each sentence perfect. Edit the draft in sections, concentrating first on the story arc, conflicts, pacing, and character motivations, then move on to polishing the writing style. Finally, check the finished product for errors and get the book ready to submit to a publisher or agent.
How to write a novel from start to finish
When writing a novel, it is beneficial to split the process into smaller steps. First, outline the story, then draft the manuscript, edit and proofread, and finally get the book ready for publishing.
1. Start with the central idea
Start with a premise. This is the hook for your story. It's essentially a problem or question you want your story to answer, a desire you want your main character to have. Think about what your character wants, what is stopping them from achieving it, and the consequences if they fail. You need to know the setting, genre, target audience, and ending too.
2. Plan the story
Determine the plot points before writing. Some people write detailed outlines for each chapter; some only write a brief synopsis. As a bare minimum, you need to know how your story begins, where the major turning points are, what leads up to the climax, and how the story concludes. Plan the character arc as well as the external events, because your protagonist must react to and change because of those events.
3. Write the first draft
Establish a writing schedule that you can stick to, and focus on getting the story down. The first draft is largely about figuring out and finishing the novel. If you continually go back to fix up the initial chapters, it can become harder to see the story as a whole and you could easily stall.
4. Revise in stages
Start with big picture issues like plot logic, character motivation, structure, pacing and point of view. Then move down to scene, dialogue, description, continuity, and sentence style. Try reading your work out loud, and you'll spot repetitive words and clunky phrasing.
5. Prepare the manuscript for publication
After you finish revising the novel, ask a few select friends or an editor to provide helpful feedback on your work. Then proofread the manuscript one more time. Research what your publishing option requires in terms of submission. Prepare the necessary documents, perhaps a synopsis, a query letter, or a book description. Don't forget that publication has nothing to do with the process of writing a novel; thus it's also a completely different endeavor that requires its own research and patience.