Novel Writing Help: User's Guide & Sitemap
If you think Novel Writing Help contains a huge amount of information, you aren't wrong.
There is no need to feel daunted, though. It is very easy to find your way around using the sitemap below. And you don't have to take everything in straight away.
In fact, the best way to think of this website is like a giant novel writing manual - one you'll keep returning to again and again as you plan, write, and revise your novel.
This sitemap is just like the contents page at the front of this "how to build a novel" manual. Work through the chapters one by one and you will learn everything you need to know to write a successful novel, in the order you need to know it.
But, like I said, don't feel like you have to learn everything about your craft before you are ready to start writing. Skip through the site to get a broad overview of the subject, then study each article in more depth as you tackle each stage of the novel writing process.
Getting Started in Novel Writing
How to Write a Novel Step by Step
- Prepare For Becoming a Writer
- Think About the Different Types of Fiction
- Brainstorm For Fiction Ideas
- Planning vs. Writing a Novel
- Sow the Seeds of Theme and Symbolism
- Make Viewpoint Choices
- Create Your Fictional Characters
- Construct the Novel's Setting
- Write Your Novel's Central Plot
- Combine Story Elements Into a "Master Plan"
- Anatomy of a Novel: Chapters & Parts
- Finding Novel Titles
- Beyond the Writing Process
- How to Write Novels by Reading Novels
- How Long Does Writing a Book Take?
- What Is the Ideal Novel Length?
- Outline For Writing a Novel In One Year
- Breaking the Writing Rules
Writing a Novel: Myths & Secrets
Thoughts On Becoming a Writer
- Why Write a Novel?
- Can You Make Money Writing Novels?
- Writing Novels with Honesty
- Harness Your Writing Creativity
- Overcoming Writer's Block
- Be the Best Novel Writer You Can Be
- Tools To Become a Writer
- How To Write Fiction the Smart Way
- Becoming a Writer Takes Time
- Final Tips On Being a Writer
Types of Novels
- What Is Genre Fiction?
- What Is Literary Fiction?
- What Is Mainstream Fiction?
- Which of the 3 Types of Books Is Best?
- What Is A Novel's Purpose?
- A Guide to the Fiction Genres
- Crime and Mystery Writing
- Writing Suspense Novels & Thrillers
- Writing Horror Novels
- Writing Romance
- Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy
- Writing Other Genres of Fiction
- Book Genres and Conventions
- The Fiction Genres - a Reading List
Planning a Novel
The Fuel of Creative Writing: Ideas
- What Are Novel Ideas?
- Where Do Novel Ideas Come From?
- Writing Autobiographical Fiction
- Write What You Know
- A Top Tip For Writing a First Novel
- Finding Writing Ideas in 2 Easy Steps
- Are Your Ideas For Writing Any Good?
- How to Road-Test a Novel Idea
Theme & Symbolism In Literature
- What Is Theme?
- Why the Theme of a Story Matters
- Theme in Fiction - An Important Caveat
- What Is Literary Symbolism?
- More On Using Literary Symbols
- Where to Use Literary Symbolism
- Sowing the Seeds of Theme and Symbolism
Point of View
- Why Narrative Point of View Matters
- Understanding Third Person Narrative POV
- Writing In the Third Person
- Understanding First Person Narrative POV
- Writing In the First Person
- Choosing a Viewpoint Character
- Writing A Multiple Viewpoint Novel
- When and How to Switch Viewpoints
- Multiple Viewpoint Novels and Subplots
- Advantages of First Person Point Of View
- First Person POV Is More Intimate
- Advantages of Third Person Point Of View
- Third Person Is More Immediate
- Third Person POV Gives More Freedom
- 3rd Person vs. 1st Person - Which Is Best?
- Third Person Omniscient Point of View
- Second Person Point of View
- 3rd Person Point of View In 2 Varieties
- First Person Narration Using an "Observer"
- Literary Point of View: Mixing It Up
- Past Tense or Present Tense?
Creating Characters
- Characterization vs. Plotting
- The First Rule of Creating Fictional Characters
- Creating a Character Readers Love or Hate
- Minor Characters and Major Characters
- Creating Round Characters
- Creating Flat Characters
- Choosing a Novel's Protagonist
- Getting To Know Fictional Characters
- How to Create Character Profiles 1
- Naming Characters in Novels
- How to Create Character Profiles 2
- Bringing Fictional Characters To Life
- Writing Characters into the Story
- Create a Character the Readers Won't Forget
Setting: Writing a Story with Atmosphere
Plotting a Novel
- What Is A Plot?
- Three Act Plot Structure
- How to Write a Gripping Plot Line
- Writing a Plot Your Own Way
- Introduction to Plotting the Novel's Beginning
- Steps 1-3: Rising Action - Disrupting the Status Quo
- Beginning a Middle In Media Res
- Introduction to Plotting the Novel's Middle
- Steps 4-6: Plot Development - The Tricky Middle
- Introduction to Plotting the Novel's Ending
- Steps 7-8: Character Transformation - Reaction & Rebirth
- Step 9: The Denouement - Seizing the Prize
- Step 10: Falling Action - The New Status Quo
- Plotting a Novel In 10 Steps - A Recap
- Plot Diagram
Adding Subplots to a Novel
Advanced Elements of Plot
- Foreshadowing In Fiction
- Nine Examples of Foreshadowing
- Handling the Exposition of a Story
- Using Flashbacks In Writing
- Story Plots & Chronology
Narrative Structure
- Writing a Narrative By Showing & Telling
- More On Showing and Telling
- How To Write a Narrative With Pace
- Writing Your First Novel to the Right Length
Writing a Novel
Two Ways of Writing Fiction
Narrative Writing & Descriptive Writing
- The Elements of Fiction
- Finding Your Writing Voice
- Avoiding Purple Prose - The Importance of Writing Simply
- Prose Writing 101
- Writing Prose with Variety
- Using Details in Writing
- Writing Details - A Worked Example
- Descriptive Writing Engages the Senses
- How To Write Prose Like a Poet
- Simile and Metaphor Examples
- Using Other Figures of Speech
Writing Dialogue
- The King of Dialogue Rules
- Writing Good Dialogue 1: Give It a Purpose
- Writing Good Dialogue 2: Keep It Concise
- Writing Good Dialogue 3: Make It Flow
- How to Write Dialogue with Distinction
- Writing Authentic Dialogue
- Punctuating Dialogue
Writing Interior Monologue
Advanced Creative Writing
Novel Writing Unleashed
- Keeping a Writing Journal
- Using Multiple Themes in a Novel
- On Character Change In Plots
- The Unreliable Narrator
- Character Creation: Realistic vs. Romantic Characters
- Letting Go of Novel Characters
- Fictional Settings vs. Real Settings
- Does Your Novel's Setting Inspire You?
- Avoid a "Deus ex Machina" Ending
- How to Handle the Passage of Time in Fiction
- Writing Dialogue Indirectly
- Writing Opening Lines
- Writing Closing Lines
- Writing About the Weather
Writing Resources
Publishing a Novel Traditionally
- Finding a Publisher vs. Finding an Agent
- A Plan For Finding a Literary Agent
- Submitting a Manuscript
- Self Publishing a Novel
- Vanity Publishing
Online Publishing: Getting a Book Published in the 21st Century
- Is Traditional Publishing Dead?
- Is Online Book Publishing a Smart Choice?
- The Complete Guide to Online Self Publishing
- A Closer Look at Print on Demand Publishers
- Self Publishing Books Is Easy! (It's Selling Them That's Tough)
The Complete Novel Writing Software Guide
The Ultimate Novel Writing Guide (downloadable e-book)
Classic Writing Guides
- The Elements of Style, Strunk & White
- On Writing, Stephen King
- Aspects of the Novel, E. M. Forster
- The Art of Fiction, David Lodge
Online Writing Workshop & Community (The Next Big Writer)
Other Great Writing Websites
"Out of Date" Articles (To be re-written)
- Fiction Writing Q&A
- 1st Person Point of View and Description
- Overwhelmed By the Writing Process?
- Creating Character Profiles
- Books For Writers - Any Recommendations?
- The Value of Learning Literary Techniques?
- Should You Show Your Creative Writing to Others?
- Writing a Plot Outline
- The Writing Process and Creativity
- A Question About Metafiction
- More On "Deus Ex Machina" Endings
- More On "In Medias Res"
- Writing a Novel Synopsis
- Can You Write Fiction In a Strange Setting?
- Voice In Writing
- The Importance of Sub Plot
- Other Books On Writing
- Character Emotions and Character Thoughts
- Fiction Writing and Reality
- Avoiding Plagiarism In Your Writing
- Writing Novels While Reading Novels
- Plot Structure and Percentages
- Are Novel Themes Like Novel Blurbs?
- Having Confidence In Your Fiction
- More On Writing Novels Successfully
- Which Is Best - Narrative or Dialogue?
- Continuity When Creating Characters
- More On Foreshadowing
- Should You Pay For Writing Research?
- My Top Writing Tips?
- The Writing Process
- Point of View
- Creating Novel Characters
- Building a Novel's Setting
- Plot and Structure.
- Writing With Style.
- Final Thoughts on Becoming an Author
- Writing Quotes
- Creative Writing Tips
- Writing an Epistolary Novel
- Writing About Sex
- Setting and Description - Who Is Doing the Describing?
- Should Novel Plots Have a Happy Ending?
