Professional Documents
Culture Documents
How To Write A Novel Step-by-Step - A Proven Roadmap
How To Write A Novel Step-by-Step - A Proven Roadmap
If you like this, then you'll LOVE the Novel Factory app. It
contains Character Builders, Plot Templates, Writing
Guides and so much more.
Click here to claim your FREE 30 Day Trial.
Before we get to the steps, we'll explain a little about how the Roadmap is intended to be
used. If you don't want to read the introduction you can jump straight to the descriptions
of the steps.
What is the novel writing roadmap?
The Roadmap is a step-by-step guide to writing a novel, which takes you from initial
idea all the way to seeking publication with your completed manuscript.
It’s based on established theory relating to:
key story elements
plot structure
character development
effective pacing
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 2/15
03/01/2024, 11:52 How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step: A Proven Roadmap
subplots
drafting
editing
the current landscape for publication
Each of the steps builds on the previous one and it works by starting with your basic
story idea, then building on it in a systematic way by developing plot, characters, settings
and more, until you have a complete, polished manuscript.
Each step is explained in an article which includes:
Theory and background
Description
Examples
A clear, manageable task
Skip straight to the Roadmap steps, or read on.
Who is the roadmap for?
New writers
The primary intended audience for the Roadmap is new writers, who have a hunger to
write a book, but find the idea daunting and bewildering.
We’ve been there, and that’s exactly why we created the Roadmap. To try to create some
order from the chaos of creativity.
There are an overwhelming number of resources available on the art of writing a novel,
including books, blogs, online courses, magazines, local courses, writing groups and
more. It can be confusing for a new writer to know where to start, and you might
accidentally end up learning all about dialogue but not having a clue about structure. Or
you might become a master prose writer, but not know how to move a plot along.
The Roadmap attempts to distil and order all of this information into a manageable
process that gives you exactly the right information at exactly the right time.
Pantsers
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 3/15
03/01/2024, 11:52 How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step: A Proven Roadmap
Pantsers (people who prefer to write a book without doing any planning) have been in
touch with us in the past to let us know that despite their preference for complete
inspiration, they too have found value in the Roadmap.
Some enjoy just taking a few of the steps to ensure their first draft is a little more
structured. Others turn to the Roadmap after writing their first draft to retroactively
strengthen the key novel elements and discover where there may be weaknesses in the
manuscript.
Planners
Established Planners (novelists who like to meticulously plan their novel before beginning
to write) have a natural affinity with the Roadmap.
Planners are more likely to have already established their own personal writing process,
but many find steps and techniques of the Roadmap useful in supplementing and
enhancing their own practices.
What are the limitations of using a step-by-step guide to
write a novel?
Using a formula stifles creativity (or does it?)
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 4/15
03/01/2024, 11:52 How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step: A Proven Roadmap
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 5/15
03/01/2024, 11:52 How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step: A Proven Roadmap
The Roadmap should never be slavishly followed at the expense of your inspiration.
It provides a framework to help you harness and guide your creativity, but at the end of
the day writing is an art, and if your heart or gut is begging you to do something, then set
aside the steps and follow your instinct.
Conciseness and comprehensiveness must be balanced
In order to create a guide that is useful in a meaningful, practical way, it is not possible to
include every piece of useful writing advice and guidance that could benefit a new writer.
The Roadmap is a distilled version of the key points, as gleaned from dozens of books on
writing, hundreds of articles, decades of writing, years of research and analysis and a
heavy dollop of personal experience.
Therefore, we encourage further reading to support and deepen your knowledge of the
principles laid out in these steps.
How should you use the roadmap?
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 6/15
03/01/2024, 11:52 How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step: A Proven Roadmap
Every writer is different, and every writer will find their own method of writing their book.
Therefore, the Roadmap is not intended to be a strict set of instructions that must be
followed to the letter.
Not at all.
It’s a just a suggested route for getting from A to B, where A is where you are now, and B
is having a completed novel in your hands.
But there are many roads, modes of transport, diversions and scenic points along the
way that you may wish to intentionally deviate to.
You may wish to skip some steps and come back to them later, or ignore them altogether.
So if you’re on step four but you’re itching to get started writing your first draft – then do
it! The best writing comes from the heart, so listen to yours.
We hope the Roadmap helps writers take steps towards achieving their dreams, and like
all good mentors, it is happy to eventually stand aside and watch proudly as the student
spreads their wings and soars on their own.
Preparing to become a writer
There are a few things you can do to help create the right conditions for successfully
writing a book:
Intend to have a daily writing habit
In an ideal world, you will be able to write every day, for a reasonable amount of time.
For many of us with busy lives, this is an unrealistic dream.
The best we can do is carve out a few minutes from our busy schedules.
If possible, try to schedule in a set time every day, reserved for writing.
But if that’s simply not possible in your circumstances – or if that kind of routine doesn’t
suit your personality, then just stick to this one simple rule:
Write every day.
Having a target of writing every day – even if it’s just a single sentence - will make a
world of difference.
Have a ‘safe space’ for writing
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 7/15
03/01/2024, 11:52 How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step: A Proven Roadmap
Writers can write anywhere. In cafes; with their laptops balanced across sleeping babies;
in a cupboard, in the garden or even in a dedicated office (my personal dream is to have
my own writing turret one day).
The location itself isn’t important, but the sanctity of the space is.
This means that when you enter your writing space, you should be free from distractions
and interruptions. These distractions may be family members, chores, mobile phones,
emails, the Internet, or anything else that will take up your brainspace and time (the only
allowable exception is cats – who must be given their due respect, even when walking on
the keyboard or cleaning themselves directly in front of your monitor).
Do your best to establish and be ferocious in protecting your safe space.
Speaking of which…
Don’t apologise for taking time for writing
A common habit of unpublished writers is to feel guilty for time they take to write.
They feel that they ought to be doing something ‘more productive’ like doing the laundry,
going to the gym, feeding the toddler, etc etc.
Of course, you must fulfil your duties as parent, worker, householder, whatever – but you
are a person too, and you also deserve to spend time doing what brings you joy.
And if writing brings you pleasure, then it is wise and mindful to allow yourself some
personal space to enjoy it.
Of course there is some sensible judgement involved here – if you lock yourself in a room
for fifteen hours a day and refuse to converse with your children until the first 100,000
words are complete, then perhaps its time to reassess the balance. However, people who
behave in this way rarely suffer from complicated feelings such as guilt.
No, in most cases, the people who feel guilty about taking time to write are the ones who
are already giving everything of themselves to others, keeping their families and
colleagues afloat, and barely have time to sit down for five minutes with a cup of tea.
If that sounds like you, then give yourself permission to nourish yourself doing what you
love.
The first part of taking care of others is taking care of yourself.
If this resonated with you, then tweet us and we’ll reply with some words of
encouragement to boost your resolve!
Now - let's get started writing a novel!
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 8/15
03/01/2024, 11:52 How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step: A Proven Roadmap
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 9/15
03/01/2024, 11:52 How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step: A Proven Roadmap
This step allows you to let loose a little more and let your imagination start filling in the
detail of the basic plot outline you've come up with.
View the Step
Use the five senses and other tools at your disposal to develop locations that add
atmosphere and theme, and enhance your story.
View the Step
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 14/15
03/01/2024, 11:52 How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step: A Proven Roadmap
world. Launch day is the most important, and you should make sure you have a solid
marketing plan in place right at the start.
View the Step
https://www.novel-software.com/how-to-write-a-novel/ 15/15