How to Write a Novel: Step by Step Novel Writing Tips & Best Practices 

"Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist." -Pablo Picasso

When your writing a story then all of a SUDDEN a new idea pops up in your mind and immediately you want to write it down.....

When i was younger, i thought novelists are like these writer gods who just decide to sit one night and start writing a novel and finish it without any preparations, like they just go build the plot, characters, and world and everything as they write. I never really thought it was something you can actually plan and study to do. This really helped me thank you so much

Has anybody ever changed the setting of their story a hundred times? I go from gothic steampunk to high fantasy to modern world to Victorian era to medieval.

My pen name is D.J. Montano and I am writing a horror/ thriller novel about a girl that is constantly plagued by a shadow person and keeps having dreams about a camp she has never been to but she is running for her life.

- who they are what they're about, what their everyday lives look like - their life is suddenly different, cannot go back to how it used to, the incident doesnt match well with what they usually are/who they are as a person - 1st slap: get the main character down, keep readers reading - 2nd slap: worst thing that can happen, breaking point, they can't see a way out, you have to make your characters down - climax: huge reveal, big conflict, fight scene, they have to face off in their quest, biggest event that can happen, full of excitement, people will recommend, plot twist happen here too - resolution: just to make sure all the dusts settled, hints of next book

I'm 10 and I've already written 10 books. I've dreamt of becoming a bestselling author one day. I may be young, but that doesn't mean I can't write a book.

This video is underrated. It definitely deserves more views.

6:16 1° The Setup 6:50 2° Inciting Incident 8:50 3° 1st Slap 9:50 4° 2nd Slap 10:33 5° The Climax

Hey there! I'm writing a novel where the reader takes the decisions for the main character, each decision takes you into a different part of the novel. I'm having some issues because I can't get the format right. And also I haven't found many novels that have this idea so I don't really have a guide. I would love some feedback if anyone has any!! Great video!

I’m writing a different perspective horror story series with my best friends. We finished the first book, here’s how it went. So we pretend we’re triplets in the story. Our parents win the BIGGO lottery and also happen to get a bonus at the same time so we pack our bags and move to a castle. It’s 13 stories. We claim a room on different floors. In the first book, we explore the castle and at different times find rooms on the top floor. My friend, Cassidy gets pushed on the stairs by an unknown thing. Invisible. Then she’s startled, confused, disgruntled. We’re on the climb. Then I explore up there the next day. I take a diary, and it’s knocked out of my hands “DON’T TAKE WHAT ISNT YOURS!” And it’s obviously a ghost, I can’t negative it, it’s cold, and most importantly, invisible. I run down the stairs, frightened out of my mind, complain to my mother who brushes it off not believing, and I tell Cassidy who had experienced it. Then all my sisters know. I rearrange my room (including the upstairs one, despite the fright) and then, feeling safe, Cassidy goes up there. But FIRST SLAP!!! She meets a ghost!! It’s frightening, descriptive, and totally unexpected. She screams and everyone comes upstairs. She’s stuttering and breathing rapidly, and we all sleep on the main floor. Safeness. Then Sophia, the other triplet rearranges her room (upstairs one too) and we all agree after nothing happens it’s probably gone now. We ALL sleep up there. SECOND SLAP!!! We find out there’s ghostS and slight backstory and run off to Cassidy’s room on the main floor. We’re freaked out, panicky, jumpy, confront our parents who walk in and then get ready for bed when Sophia wants more backstory. She drags us up there again!!! We look around and find the diary, but I don’t recognize it, and read it. We finish and are stunned. They died by falling down 13 floors of stairs (the stairs are spiral with a very clear and empty middle. We begin to take the diary downstairs when it gets knocked out of our hands and falls. Not wanting that to be us, we run back to Cassidy’s room. Chill, chill, chill. Then talk, and settle for bed. No one but Cassidy falls asleep. 30 minutes later, I come up with a plan and get up but Sophia says no so we quietly (it gets too loud) argue for a second and wake Cassidy. I explain my plan and we agree to go upstairs and do it. It works!!! Yay!!! End of story!!! Sorry this was so long 😬😅😳

Hey, I'm currently writing an Urban Fantasy. It's about two best friends; one had been bitten, the other is a seasoned hunter, and they basically going to destroy each other once they're real identities came to light.

I am in the middle of book 2 of a 3 book series. The story is about an early 20's male who while helping his dad build a deck on the back of the house, encounters the start of an infectious outbreak that makes people attack/kill/eat each other. Trying to avoid the term zombies. His dad and him try to escape the situation but very early on his dad is killed. His entire focus now shifts to his mom and two sisters. He knows he has to try and find them, but the world is falling apart around him. His family is well over an hour away on a good day let alone in an apocalypse. The initial story is his trials and tribulations while trying to track down his family while wrestling with the possibility that they probably aren't alive anymore.

I've been writing a story for almost a year and I'm on the 20th page (without the title pages, 18) I have probably spent more time on the background in the last month than I have spent on the story in the last 6 months (I usually work on it 2-3 days a month whereas recently I've spent around a week on the backgrounds this month).

I wish I could be a pantser, but try doing that with a 5 book series, that's not gonna work so well.

Me: *still a kid who wants to be an author when I grow up* Also me: *starts writing and watching novel vids at the age of 12*

I've already made a 100,000 words novel but decided i wanted to change it. Well, here i am back to chapter 1. Just finish the preface a while ago.

Wow, really useful. I was thinking of writing a book and was finding many videos on RU-vid to write and any of the videos are suitable for me to learn fast. Finally, I got this video and I had started to write. Thank u 🙏🏻

Thanks for this. I'm about to embark on my first short novel but want to bed myself in slowly to the world of creative writing, and this is a good start. Though I've already self published a book, this will be my first work of fiction, so requires a different approach altogether.

I read a lot of books, and in my opinion, the insiding incident is really predictable. Every book has one, so the more you read the less exiting they get. For a first timer, it does really hook them on, but it is really predictable

I'm writing a comedic book about a man who owns and operates a pest control business. It will have a narrator and will treat the MC as if he's one of those Film Noire detectives. One part of the idea is that the vermin he's called to exterminate are drawn to the people's houses by bad juju, as it were, spirits who are not evil, but they're closer to evil than good. The MC uses good spirits/magic to bring the bad spirits out. He also has to be a kind of therapist to the people in the house, to help them resolve their issues, so the bad spirits will be easier to draw out. He is a bit of a Pied Piper.

Thank you for your great advice. We are learning so much from you.

This video was so helpful thank you, I used to write a lot and I lost my sense of structure, but this really helped me. I'm trying to start a 4 book series thag follows the life of a young woman from adolescence to adulthood encountering different challenges which directly contribute to her potential downfall, but ultimately help to mold her into a stronger more resilient person. It's fiction but based on a true story of social survival

I am working on a novel for the first time. This is new territory for me. Someone smarter than me once said that you should be able to summarize the plot behind your novel in one sentence. Mine would be that it's a story someone trying to make sense of a senseless world where he feels like he doesn't belong. More to come at a later date. Probably much later. LOL.

The majority of Author tube or the authorities of writing and editing are from the West or Countries that treasures reading and the writing industry. Here in the region of Cordillera in the Philippines, it took me about 8 years to write and publish my book. The main reason is the Arts in general like writing, music, painting, sculpture, acting and the like are considered as "hobbies" and not a "real careers". People are focused on what they consider as "real careers" that are "paying jobs" like farming, carpentry, professions, businesses and the like. This is mainly due to the low standard of living or poverty that are prevalent here. It was difficult for me to find editors, beta readers, critic partners, support systems (family and friends who believed on my career choice), time to write (have to hustle in the real world to fulfill basic needs and to exhausted in my free time) and others. I end up skipping some steps and submitted my manuscript this year in a publishing company willing to help me publish as a novice writer. I don't know if this is necessary but it is my reality as a writer.

Great video (and post), Bella! Should be super helpful for our "fictioneers" :)

I get all my ideas from a dream, I dream a lot and there has been many ideas I want to write, so this really helps me thank you.

Listening to this video really got me curious into trying to write characters for a story! Thanks for it! And I checked the website. The material there is also very easy to understand and helpful!

Finally i can write my novels even better now thank you !

I came in not knowing how long my book was gonna be, thinking my rough draft would end up around 80 pages, (not sure how many words that would be). Now I'm getting nervous at having 150 pages and 75000 words and having a good deal to squeeze in.

With the novel I’m writing currently, it’s kind of a weird one on how I first thought of it. I thought of the character that Is the main reason for the way the world is set up. As in, he’s the reason why the antagonists and their armies has to get stronger and why most of them are hidden. Then after that, I thought of the main character who has a goal to reach the level of the aforementioned character.

Thank you and yes your video has more to it than people realise. Thank you

Just started writing a novel were a mysterious deadly fog surrounds a high school

Here's a blurb for my novel: Sally was just an ordinary blurbologist, until one day the blurb-writing AI she designed broke free and took over the World. Now, it's written blurbs for every person on the planet, which are mercilessly enforced by the dreaded Blurb Police (mostly former copy editors) with their deadly (but colorful) post-it guns. And YOU must read this novel, because it says so right here, and because this is not just Sally's blurb ... IT"S YOURS!

Love this! Great tips :)

"Mountain Town Tennis Story" A hyperrealism contemporary novel. Setting the creating process as of 11 June 2021.

I have read quite a few books many of the books features the writer acts like the character in the story For example The story goes like I decided to catch the train I woke up I looked around and found something suspicious This more feels like reading protagonist's journal I like this type of stories but what I want to really write is those types of stories where the writer acts like the narrator like this way Harry woke up John decided to catch the train Damian found something suspicious Where the writer acts like a third person narrating the already happened event I need some tips about writting such type of novel

What are you writing about? Drop your comments below! And if you want to learn how to write a high quality fiction novel more in-depth, check it out here: self-publishingschool.com/FictionClass?first_touch_channel=social&first_touch__site=sps&First_touch_medium=youtube_-_feed

I am writing a ligh novel where the mc gets transported to different world as he completes each worlds objective , he is accompanied by 2 other of his school friend . total of 7 worlds but i have written 3 ;)

I got about 40k words into my first novel, then stopped because I started taking night classes, now I’m too scared to continue writing, like I lost the momentum and it seems too daunting a task.

Im currently working on a parody story based on Stephen King's Carrie. Its about a boy named Christaphor. A high school bully who one day discovers he has telekonetic powers. I dont have a title for it though. I thought of calling it "Chris VS. Everything he HATES" but i dont think thats good enough

I wanna learn since I got motivated while watching an anime.

Hi guys! I'm planning to write a novel. But I can't choose for the title. The Blood Sovereign (Monarch of living things) Or The Blood Sovereign (Monarch of the living) You can suggest titles too. It's highly appreciated.

I have an amazing idea and I'm gonna name it "is this the future" Edit: This really help a lot

I'm writing a novel about an Acid Survivor ...... "The Lost Beauty",The Ugly Girl H20. A teenage orphan girl,purest as Water has been polluted by her crush during her high school life.And the boy has powerful and rich family which made her to ran away from their life. After years of sacrifices and struggles the girl finally meet the boy.But because of his guilt and act,he had already suffered mental illness causes him to lost his memory and became an evil character whom doesn't care anything and nor even left humanity in his heart (ruined by his parents)..... Genre:Office Romance,Thriller,Plots,Crimes Investigation. I hope my story gets some appreciation after publishing. 😂 Ending the boy will kill the girl.Because she choose someone who care about her and make him suffer more because of his act.

Really good video, but please try to add some more graphical elements to elevate the audience engagement

👍🏻 great

recommend me a video that talls about house to start writing the story which is in your mind

Beautiful explained! Oh, and you are beautiful too:))

Wow this is so helpful!

Your video is very useful it really helped me

I am writing a story that is a fanfiction but I don't know how to get many people to read it online, help?

Loved this!

I write two pages of a story, get bored, and start a new story. How do i stop doing that?

I started writting story about amateur salsa dancer, Chris, who has everything he wanted - friends, parties, loving family, rich night live. But one day, everything falls apart, when he found, during quarantine of Covid19, an old encrypted letter from his ex-GF... And by the way - thanks for the tips, I already used your five milestones story structure! :)

just started a pantser first page, hopefully fantasy, romance with suspense

I'm thinking of writing novel, but i don't know how to. I do poetry and stuff but writing novel feels overwhelming. I don't know if I have it in me to keep going with a novel. Writing long consistent stuff with a storyline doesn't come as naturally as writing poems to me. Do you have any tips for me? Any tutorial that teaches how to write? Thank you.

Deserves more views totally

I'm writing a book but i've got problems with naming my characters. I want help in finding some nice names.

Great Video

I don't know if it's only me, but I went to the Blog and tried to get some of the cheat sheets to start building my characters and storyline and every time I enter my information and clicked send it froze and I never received anything in my email. I don't know if it is just a marketing scheme to sign up for a news letter or if it comes later, please help me figure it out.

How would i know if the story i am writing isn't already been written by a writer i am confused..

Love this. Your video seems quite helpful. Thanks 😊😊😊

Writing a novel 101 course produces the same expected boring turn around of events...my advice: write without following any rules...in fact it is better to break them!

Really informative and great guide for beginner's!! Im a new writer and my first book is a young adult spy novel, its about female childhood friends, that one day spies and how their new life as spies test their friendship and whether or not they can keep their story bon through all the difficult challenges of being spies BTW, it would be rly helpful if anyone has any feedback on this, this is not the final thing I might change it as I start writing so any tips or feedback would be helpful 😅👍

Your slaps had me dead lmao 💀

What if I’m writing a series and I want to leave it off with a huge cliffhanger like one of them dies

Hello, can someone help me with my title? The idea i come up is about my self. I want to create books so when i dissappear from this world atleast one book so when someone misses me I'll still be with them through that book. I have been suffering of depression and anxiety for 2 years now and i tried to tell them my sickness but they don't understand at all. But the rest of the story will be on the book :'). Once I finished my book I'll try to post this on the twitter or google. So please help me with my title. I have two titles in my mind now: The person that cared about living or Life beyond control Please help me combine these two title.

Hello im trying to write my first novel. Its been really hard for me at times andwilling to go back to school for create writing can you give me so ideas

I see someone say "don't spend 2 years world building"... I can only look away having done 10 years...

I m Writing novel Name: Falling star (Sad Eye)

Couldn't access your templates. I kept getting error message trying to sign up with email.

That slapping was pretty aggressive XD

Hey I am 12 yr and I wanna write a fantasy novel ....... I do have a basic idea but I can't recognize if it's a plot or yet to be worked on Even if it is a plot and has a lots of plot holes I wanna share my idea if anyone of you might want to know about it , I don't have and other social media so if you can help me out to know I my plotline is good or not , plz reply and tell me and I will tell you my basic storyline...

I've written everything down, thank you for your tips, but one thing I struggle with is the set up, people often say you should write what you know and because I was born and raised in London I feel as though the set up (My novels) should always take place in London no matter the genre.However, I don't want it to be like that all the time, I want to be flexible and versatile but I feel as though if its set in another place like New york it will be very hard for me to write because I'm not used to the environment in real life....what are your suggestions.

I’ve been writing about a boy that has recently lost his father and has met a potential girlfriend but is still coping with loss and struggles to balance living without his dad while managing being bullied at school and this new love interest. The next time I write I plan on adding in a twist on his fathers death. The mom (owner and lead reporter of the local paper) will find out it wasn’t just an innocent on the job accident and the search for the truth will begin. Also not being able to afford the house they once lived in, the family will have to move. I have lots of ideas bouncing around in my head right now, and if it weren’t for sleep I’d still be working on it right now. Goodnight and good luck to whoever needs inspiration for their project!

The first thing you do is to hook the reader in , so they don't want to put the book down

I'm working on a novel it is a blend of law and order meets scream. So obviously this is a crime/horror type of genre.

Hello, I just found your video. Back in September I started writing my first real Novel but I've been writing stories since 1998 when I was 14 years old, I decided to destroy them all without showing them to anyone. Two months ago I decided to send a Chapter to my sister because I wanted her opinion and she told me that I need to improve the dialogues a little more to make them more appealing and interesting but my question is: how do I write great dialogues specially when there are children talking? I got stuck at Chapter 45 for two months but this week I grabbed my laptop and restarted writing and now I'm at Chapter 47. I'm still writing the 1st draft, I'm writing whatever comes to my mind and I have a feeling that it will be too long. I just reached 67 thousand words, last month I bought 3 small notebooks but I haven't used them yet, I will use them for the 2nd draft. Hopefully draft 2 will be better, faster and maybe a little bit shorter.

Hey can u put subtitles on your videos is kind of difficult to understand some point...

Do you, and if you do, how do you force yourself to not edit yourself as you write your first draft?

Really this video clear all my doubts ...now i can write more easily ... Thanks

My first book got a lot of character development, I probably have about 15 main characters. I can't write fiction without adding where the history of stuff comes from. I mean it is necessary. My characters even need to say what's on their mind. I want my readers to understand till the end of the last chapter. If its short it will never make sense.

what do you mean by choosing an audience??

I'm stuck establishing my character's voices.

I want to write my love story as novel so I want tips for writing my 1st e-book was girls power will be released on 24th december 2020 in kindle and Google Play

I'm writing a book about parrelel timelines an time travel I named it shattered fragments

Quarantine bought me here! Also can someone tell me should i narrate my story or let one of my characters narrate it Genre: horror, romance, mystery

Thanks.

Oh i'm trying to really love novel could you help me

A family of six each have their own story. The eldest Ford has been thrown into bringing up his brothers and sisters as his parents were killed. Issues arise for him, his fear of love and particularly marriage, as well as family members who seem to throw a spanned in the works. A woman comes along that seem to etch in his heart. Will they they be together. Shhh it’s a secret

World building is easy when it's set in a mostly IRL place

hii it helps me alot thank you

Thanks alot

Did they ever post that word count list for different genre types?

Okay, now I'm inspired to write a story

I'm writing.

I have no idea what my novel is about quite yet

Anybody tell me that where can I write a novel

i am planning to write a contemporary fiction novel about a young adult who is escaping her life in a war zone country and meets new people during her journey to seek refuge in a new country. my novel involves a lot of repressed thoughts, feelings and traumatic experiences appearing through the figment of imagination. any ideas I could jot down would be great!