Dohertys Publishing

Fiction writing. Is there anything more fulfilling and frustrating than writing a fiction novel? It can be a drawn out and long process, but these 5 tips on fiction writing can make it a little less painful.

1. Get Ideas-Creative ideas may come from anywhere. Do not caught up in the belief that your ideas must shape a entire novel right away. It can be a conversation you want your characters to have or just a spot you want your main character to visit. One way of producing some new ideas is to make use of a group of five to ten random phrases and then producing a passage utilizing all of those words. You may be amazed where it leads you!

2. Outline-This is a method that I’m going back to with my present project. There are several definite positive aspects to outlining your fiction story. Most apparent, you know what comes next every stage of the way. By building an outline, you can resolve plot issues before you even get to the writing stage. Another great thing about outlining your story is that this isn’t high school. You can outline your story in the proper way of headings and sub headings, you could just make a simple checklist, you can use index cards (one for each scene), or even post-its. It doesn’t matter how you do it, get it all layed out so that you will have a specific plan to follow.

3. Find Problems and Fix Them-Step away from your project for a few days. When you come back, examine your outline. Take off your “writer” hat and put on you “reader” hat. Read over your outline and ensure you have addressed any queries that a reader could possibly have about a story. Why is this happening? Why does the character react this way? Once you find the holes, think of ways to fill them.

4. Think Outside the Box-Frequently the most challenging chapter to write is that first one. You know so many other elements of your project backwards and forwards, but that first chapter has you stumped. You could waste days looking at a blank page fighting to find the “perfect” opening. Well stop! One of the benefits to outlining is that you don’t have to write in order. Pick whatever part you want and write it. Don’t get caught up on order. The first chapter will be easier to write once you have a few others under your belt and have expertise with the tone and voice of the novel. Don’t think it’s feasible to write a book this way? Gone with the Wind was written this way with the author finishing the last chapter first.

5. Write Everyday-To be a writer, you have to write. To be a productive writer, you have to write everyday. Create some time each day to write. It can be challenging with your “real job”, loved ones, and other responsibilities, but you can’t be a writer if you don’t write. Shield your writing time and explain to your loved ones that your writing time is yours. By writing every day, you will find that your brain is creating ideas in your “off time” so that when you sit down at your selected time you are able to be more productive.

Now that you have a few tips on fiction writing, why not begin writing that great book that you have inside of you?

Dana Michelle Burnett is the best selling Kindle author of Home Decorating for the Real World. Her first project, Ghost Country: A Novel, became available on Kindle in December 2010 and in paperback in January of 2011. She also maintains a blog the Indie Author Guide where she shares her tips on fiction writing and Publishing.