Continued from page 1
How do you eat an elephant, or write a novel? In small chunks. So set daily goals for yourself. If you write, say 500 words a day, a first draft of your manuscript will take 120 days or 4 months. If you write 1000 words a day, you will halve
time: it will then take only 60 days. So set daily goals - at least two hours writing. Then STICK TO IT.
PLAN THE NOVEL: Jot down plenty of notes. What characters do you want in it. Draw up a flow chart to help you develop a plot. Then draw up a chronology (big word) of
plot: eg. when were
characters born, where did they go to school, marry and other major events in their lives, etc? It's difficult to remember everything, when your mind is racing ahead. A chronology helps you to keep on track, like ensuring that
ages of
characters correspond with
events. Remember: It doesn't matter WHAT you write - just as long as you START WRITING. But first there are some decisions to be made: Whether to write in
first, second or third person? Also from whose perspective? What tense? What is
structure to be? There must be a strong foundation, so that your novel does not 'fall down'. What is
climax? Stretch significant events central to
story and shrink unimportant ones. Describe events significant to
main theme in detail. Don't have too much description of a character, who appears only once in
story. Sort out
plot as you go along. I go for walks along
deserted beautiful beaches here and I daydream. Ensure that your novel has a RHYTHM of it's own and events move forward steadily in a logical sequence.
Find a comfortable place to write, although I think that an inspired writer can write anywhere. Tolstoi apparently wrote in
village square; because
expressions on
faces of
passing parade inspired him to write.
Finally, I believe that nearly everyone can write their own book. If that's your dream, what's stopping you? Just go for it.
YOU CAN DO IT
HAPPY WRITING THAT NOVEL
"Whatever, you want to do or dream you can do,
hardest part is making a beginning. Once you take that first step in following your passion,
rest will follow naturally... and lead to who know's where."

Craig Lock is an author of numerous books and the creator of the ORIGINAL online creative writing cou He started the "ORIGINAL" (and still highly successful) online creative writing course. http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/creative.html Craig's various books are available from: http://www.novelty-gift.com/ebooks.htmlrse.