Before you dive into your novel, it helps to have a few things figured out. You don’t need a full blueprint or a 100-page outline, but having a basic plan can make your writing process a lot smoother and less stressful.
Think of this as your “get ready” checklist. It’s like making sure you’ve packed your bag before heading out on a road trip. Let’s break it down step by step.
1. The Main Idea
Start with your story’s core idea. What’s this book actually about?
Try to sum it up in one or two sentences. Keep it short and clear. This will help you stay focused while writing, and it’ll also make it easier to explain your book to someone else.
For example: A lonely boy finds a magical book that brings stories to life, but the monsters from the book start escaping into the real world.
That’s it. Just a simple summary that tells you what kind of story you’re about to tell.
2. Genre and Audience
Figure out what kind of story you’re writing and who it’s meant for.
Is it a fantasy story, a romance, a thriller, science fiction, a drama? That’s your genre.
And who are you writing it for? Are your readers kids, teenagers, adults? Are they casual readers or die-hard fans of a certain genre?
Knowing your genre and audience will help you make the right choices when it comes to tone, style, language, and even what kind of things your story focuses on.
3. Characters
Your characters are a huge part of what will make readers care about your story. Start with your main character. Who are they? What do they want? What’s their biggest problem?
Then think about a few other important characters. These could be friends, enemies, love interests, mentors, or rivals.
Give each one a little personality. Think about what drives them, what they’re scared of, what makes them interesting. You don’t have to know everything about them yet, but having a rough idea will make writing them a lot easier.
4. Setting
Now think about where and when your story happens. This is your setting.
Is it a real place or a made-up one? What time period is it? Are we in a city, a small town, a forest, a spaceship?
You don’t need to build an entire world right away, but adding a few specific details can really help bring your setting to life.
5. Plot Overview
You don’t have to outline every single chapter, but having a general idea of your story from start to finish can be a big help.
Ask yourself:
How does the story begin?
What kicks things off or changes everything?
What big stuff happens in the middle?
How do you think it might end?
Even a loose roadmap is better than going in completely blind.
6. Structure
This is optional, but if you like having a bit more direction, thinking about structure can keep you from getting stuck halfway through.
Most stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end. In the beginning, you introduce the characters and their world. In the middle, the big problems or conflicts happen. In the end, those problems are dealt with and things are resolved.
You can keep this super simple. Just sketch out what happens in each part so you don’t lose track of where the story is going.
7. Point of View and Tense
Decide how you’re going to tell your story. Will it be told from the main character’s point of view, using “I”? Or will it be in third person, using “he” or “she”?
Also think about whether you’re writing in the past tense or the present tense.
There’s no right or wrong choice here. Just go with what feels natural for your story.
8. Writing Plan
Let’s be honest. Writing a novel takes time. If you want to finish it, it helps to have a plan.
Ask yourself:
When will I write? Morning? Evenings? Weekends?
How much will I write? A certain number of words per day? Or maybe a time goal, like 30 minutes a session?
Where will I write? At home? At a café? In the library?
You don’t have to write every day, but writing regularly will make a big difference. Pick a plan that fits your life, and try to stick to it.
9. Tools and Notes
Before you start, make sure you’ve got your tools ready.
Are you writing in a notebook, on your phone, in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or something like Scrivener? Pick what works best for you.
Set up a place where you can keep track of your characters, plot ideas, random scenes, or cool lines you think of. And whatever you do, back up your work. Save it somewhere online or email it to yourself just in case.
10. Extra Stuff (If You Want)
You don’t need these to start, but they can add some nice depth to your story.
Theme: What’s your story really about underneath the surface? Is it about forgiveness, freedom, identity, family?
Subplots: Smaller storylines that happen alongside the main one. These can show different sides of your characters or add extra tension.
Character arcs: Think about how your characters change by the end of the story. What do they learn or overcome?
You can build these as you go, but it’s nice to have them in the back of your mind from the start.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need everything figured out before you start writing, but having a rough plan will make things so much easier. It’s like setting up a tent before the storm. You’ll be glad you did once the words start pouring in.
Take your time, play around with your ideas, and have fun with it. Writing a novel is a big project, but if you prepare well, it’s a lot more enjoyable and way less overwhelming.