How to Write a Novel Writing an AMAZING Book in 15 Steps

How to Write a Novel Writing an AMAZING Book in 15 Steps How to Write a Novel in 15 Steps Much like learning to ride a bike, the best way to learn how to write a novel is by just doing it. Unlike saddling up on a Schwinn for the first time, however, writing a novel can’t be accomplished in one hot summer’s day. It requires good doses of commitment and perseverance. As Octavia Butler put it: â€Å"You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.†This post will break up the 15 major steps of writing a novel into bite-sized pieces, organized in three categories - before, during, and after you write your manuscript. Those steps are as follows:How to Write a Novel: Working with readers is important, because during the writing process authors can often become blind to certain issues like plot holes, lack of continuity, exposition dumps, etc. Beta readers can help you iron these things out before you publish your novel - and you get the exact same feedback, only in a negative user review on Amazon which everyone can see.For more information on where to find beta readers and tips for getting the most out of working with them, head here. And if you're curious about sensitivity readers and what they do, go here.15. Hire a professional editorOne of the most important parts of getting a novel ready for publication is to: hire an editor. It might not be the cheapest investment, but when you think of the many hours you’ve spent getting your novel to this point, the cost of getting an expert to fine-tune and polish your story is likely worth it.Here are a few types of editors you might want to consider working with:Developmental Editor. If youâ⠂¬â„¢re planning to hire multiple editors once you finish your manuscript, it’s best to start with a developmental one. They will provide a holistic and in-depth review of your novel,   giving you feedback on everything from problematic characterization to sentence structure.Copyediting. A copyeditor has a more zero’d-in approach than developmental editor. They will make sure that the â€Å"copy† - the actual language used in your novel - is perfect, keeping an eye out for things like bad grammar, repetition of certain words, or spelling mistakes.Proofreading. Typically the last stage of editing, proofing provides your manuscript with a final polish, making sure it puts its best foot forward when it hits the presses. A proofreader will ensure that every word in your novel is spelt correctly and that every sentence is grammatically correct, clearly marking any errors they find.Learn more about what each type of editing consists of here.Now, how about that pri ce tag we mentioned? Well, the cost of professional editing will depend on a number of variables: the type of editing you need, the specific editor you hire, and your books length, to start.But to give you a general idea, here are the potential costs of editing a 60,000-word manuscript:Developmental Editing: $1,440Copy Editing: $1,020Proofreading: $600Check out our post for more information on the costs of editing - and even try out our pricing calculator by entering the word count for your novel and genre. Step by step: tackle writing a novel in bite-sized pieces And there you have it, 15 steps that will take you from â€Å"one day I’ll write a novel† to â€Å"today I finished writing my first novel.† During the process, the perfect title for your book may have come to you. If not, finding the perfect moniker for your story will likely be a last - and important! - step. But don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you hanging. Check out our book title generator and generate titles based on your genre until you find the one.What step of the process do you typically get stuck on? What advice might you have for other writers currently struggling to get their novel going? Leave any thoughts or questions in the comments below!