Advice for novel

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Advice for novel

Advice for novel writing... tips? suggestions? 5 steps to good writing, best way to begin a story, etc.? I am starting my novel now and I want to see if any of you have advice. Thanks!

submitted by Emilie L., age 14, WA
(December 17, 2009 - 3:38 pm)

back to the Inkwell

Okay, here we go.

For me, the best and easiest way to start a story is to write a short prologue amidst the climax, but don't give anything away. But that might not work for all genres. It works but for mystery, drama, and realistic fiction.

 

Good Luck!

submitted by Katie, age 12, outside looking
(December 17, 2009 - 7:11 pm)

Mine is fantasy, set in a land without a name (which is really important to me, because a name changes the mood entirely) and I think I have a couple well-established non-mary-sue charries. It's about Faeries, (again) Light and Dark faeries.

submitted by Emilie L., age 14, WA
(December 18, 2009 - 12:05 am)

Write everyday. Try for at least, I dunno, 500+ words a day if you have to. But the point is to write everyday, even if you're comepletely blocked and have no idea what you're doing. Otherwise the story dies. You can worry about making it nice after you finishh the story

submitted by TNO, age 16, Deep Space
(December 18, 2009 - 11:37 am)

Faeries.  Ahhh  I'm not so much with with faeries I'm more for Elves and dragons, sorry.

submitted by Charlotte, age 11, Colorado
(December 18, 2009 - 11:41 am)

One word: CLIFFHANGERS.

At the end of chapters (if your novel has chapters) try to leave a bit of a cliffhanger. If it's a thriller, mystery, action, etc. etc. there should be a nail-biting cliffhanger. If it's something more general-interest (romance, drama, etc.) then don't leave too much of a cliffhanger, but more of a slight one that will just make the reader want to keep on reading. Some chapters don't really need cliffhangers at all. Hope this helps. Smile

submitted by Alexa and Olive, age 12, computer
(January 18, 2010 - 8:20 pm)

Well, it's kind of a fantasy/adventure/tidbit of mystery type thing. Hm... Good ideas everyone!

submitted by Emilie L.
(January 18, 2010 - 10:48 pm)

Chris D'lacey (an author) as some really good writing tips on a website.

Happy writing! 

submitted by Icepool, age 15 moons, Stormclan
(February 18, 2010 - 8:27 pm)