Writing Your First Novel

Begin at the Beginning

Writers begin in many different ways. You may start with a concept, an idea. You may have one or two contrasting characters in mind. There may be a real or imaginary event that’s triggered you off. There’s no right or wrong way to begin, simply a diverse range of options.

At some point you’ll need to decide to make a start. Some aspects of your proposed novel may be crystal clear, others rather hazy. However, if you’ve decided on your genre and setting, read a selected number of books, and made some notes on style, plot, characters, length, and climax that’s enough to get you started.

You’ve allocated some time to make a start, checked your computer or collection of pens and paper.[1] So, what now?

The Inspirational Moment

You wait for the inspirational moment? Absolutely not! In order to undertake any form of writing, whether it’s a report, a letter to a friend or a chapter of a novel, you’ve simply got to sit down and get on with it.

The business of writing requires you to write – it’s as simple as that! So start writing. At the beginning? Probably, but if you’ve got an idea for an incident that will probably happen later in your story, that’s fine. Write it down. Your main aim should be to put plenty of words on your paper. Yes, of course you’ll revise and re-write them as part of the on-going process, but unless you’ve actually got something written, you’ve got nothing to work on.

Oh, and writer’s block. This is often an excuse by beginning writers for procrastination. If you are feeling jaded and lacking in ideas, take a break. Do something different; weed the garden, mow the lawn or clean the car – then return to your writing and … write!

How Long Should It Be?

Most novels are between 60,000 and 100,000 words. Of course the longer your novel the more expensive it is to print so a publisher is likely to be put off by a blockbuster from an unknown author because the financial risks will be higher. For your first novel you should certainly aim for fewer than 100,000 words. (Uncommon Enemy is 90,000; Robyn Hood Outlaw Princess is 22,000.)

Perhaps you’re thinking, “Sixty thousand to one hundred thousand words! I could never write that many.” You’ll be surprised how quickly your word count grows as you start to develop your plot and its characters, their adventures, encounters, challenges and relationships. Don’t be put off by the seemingly large number of words. Begin your novel and surprise yourself!

And, once you start writing you’ll set your subconscious mind in motion. You’ll find that there’ll be moments when a snatched conversation, a headline, a piece of film dialogue or a song lyric will trigger off the response of, “Hey, I could use that in my novel.” Great. Make a mental, written or recorded note of it.

Time Management

Have scheduled writing sessions – plan times when you will sit down and write new sections or revise what you’ve already written. And make every effort to stick to your schedule.

Try to average about 4 pages per day (300 words double spaced). During weekends or holidays you’ll be able to achieve more than this – setting yourself an average number of words will help keep you on task.

Double-space your typing. It’s easier to proof read particularly, if like me, you prefer to print the pages and go over them with pen in hand.

Pick a Place

Ideally you should have a place in your home where you do your writing, a place where, when you sit down, your brain says, “Oh, OK we’re going to start writing.”

Be Organised

I’m not the most organised person in the world but as I set about writing Uncommon Enemy I quickly realised the need to set up a system of writing and saving all that I’d written in recognisable and accessible files. These included research and reference material as well as my own writing because the sections and chapters were often completed and revised out of order.

The Opening Sentence

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

This is the first phrase in the opening sentence of Charles Dickens’ famous novel A Tale of Two Cities – simple, strong, effective and memorable.

What do you think of this opening sentence?

Bill Thompson was born to Tom and Mary Thompson on 14 February 1951 in a small town just south of New Plymouth.

Yes, it’s informative. Yes, it identifies the character and tells you where and when he was born. Yes, it tells you the name of his parents. But it’s dull and it’s boring. The circumstances of his birth have the potential to provide you with the chance to develop some dramatic circumstances. Perhaps his father had deserted his mother. Perhaps her pregnancy had forced them into a shotgun wedding (it is set in the 1950s after all). Perhaps the ‘small town just south of New Plymouth’ was facing a crisis. Yet the dull opening sentence has merely given the reader a list of facts that are as exciting as reading Bill Thompson’s birth certificate. You don’t really need to know all these facts at this very early stage in the story. They can be developed as the plot unfolds, but not in your opening sentence.

Your opening lines should arouse your reader’s curiosity, and draw them into your story. In Uncommon Enemy I began with an action sequence, designed to whet the reader’s appetite and cause them to wonder, “Who are these people?” “Where are they?” “What are they doing?” “How did they get into the situation?”

The pair lay perfectly still. The Teutonic commands drifting up the valley were coming closer.

“Dogs. I think they’ve got dogs?” she whispered.

“Maybe.” A distant growl supplied the answer.

The reader knows nothing about ‘the pair’ or why they have to lie ‘perfectly still’. Obviously they’re in some kind of danger – possibly from German soldiers (‘Teutonic commands’) and attacking dogs. How does the reader find out more? They keep reading.

Here’s the first page of Robyn Hood Outlaw Princess – set in a modern school playground.

“What are you girls doing?” The school principal was striding towards them.

“Smelly, just our luck,” whispered Janice.

Reaching the group he hunched his shoulders and glowered at each of the four in turn.

“Well?” he demanded.

“Er, hello, Mr Smallfield. We’re just on our way to History class,” said Sophie, striving to adopt an innocent expression.

“History.” His glare increased.

“Yes, History, Mr Smallfield. That’s what she said.”

The principal stared balefully at the tall girl at the back of the group. “Robyn Howard, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, that’s my name.”

The other three girls hurriedly stepped aside as the principal advanced towards Robyn.

This opening scene was designed to show the bullying nature of the principal and the rebellious nature Robyn Howard. What will be the principal’s response? Turn the next page and find out.

Check out some of the opening sentences from your favourite novels – particularly in the genre that you’ve chosen. Here’s a selection of opening sentences from a number of New Zealand novels. What do you think of them?

In the world of political theory he was well versed, a democratic revolutionary cradled in the war filth of a Flanders trench’.

John A. Lee, The Politician

Everything began from the moment I discovered the body on the beach.

Kevin Ireland, The Man Who Never Lived

The art salesman at the bar, plying my friend Moppy with Tequila Sunrise, could become her lover.

Diane Brown, If the Tongue Fits

Me and Fag was born on the double bed Mum and the old man slept in.

Stevan Eldreg-Gigg, Oracles and Miracles

My father is dead and it is raining.

Joy Cowley, Classical Music

January 1989. The passengers in the S-Bahn carriage seem inert from resignation. Riding a ghost train through a past they can never escape.

Philip Temple, To Each His Own

The first time I saw John Heke he was no disappointment. Heralded by hoof beats and baying dogs, he rose shadowy out of the New Zealand forest on a misty midwinter morning.

Maurice Shadbolt, The House of Strife

The opening lines from my two novels had more action than these extracts as I’d decided that an action sequence would immediately attract the reader’s attention and keep them reading. However other novelists begin their novels with leisurely, descriptive passages. Yet all are designed to encourage the reader to keep reading.

The Follow Up

Although I’ve quoted a number of effective opening sentences, they need to be followed with strong opening sections in order to sustain the reader’s interest. One excellent example is from the opening section of Irish writer Iris...