How to Become a Novelist: Great Authors’ Tips for Writing Novels

Writing fiction is one of the most satisfying forms of human artistic expression. Yet many people with a knack for creative writing can nonetheless become overwhelmed by the many obstacles in getting a writing career off the ground. The feat of completing a first novel is impressive, and yet that alone is unlikely to make you able to embrace fiction writing as a full-time day job.

Aspiring writers should be prepared to put in hard work on multiple fronts. The first front is creative and includes developing good story ideas, refining writing skills, and pushing through any writer’s block to get that first book finished. Additionally, a successful writer must thrive on another front: navigating the publishing industry. Whether you aim to produce New York Times bestsellers with a traditional publisher or employ self-publishing to explore novel writing on your

Margaret Atwood is one of the most influential literary voices of our generation, known for works like The Blind Assassin and The Handmaid’s Tale. Here a five key tips from Margaret on becoming a novelist:

1. 1. Start with characters. Margaret never writes from ideas—she believes that ideas are discovered later by readers, once a book has been written. She writes from characters—voices she’s heard, scenes, even objects. Readers don’t pick up a book looking for a theme. They look for memorable characters cast in a compelling story, so focus on those first.
2. 2. Rules are meant to be broken. Every great writer works in a different way. Some writers work straight through from beginning to end. Others work in pieces they arrange later, while others work from sentence to sentence. Don’t be afraid to try out different techniques, voices, and styles. Keep what works for you and discard the rest. Your material and creative process will guide you to your own set of rules. Understand that this doesn’t mean there’s no use for the rules that you might hear at a professional writer’s conference, in writing guides, or in school writing workshops. Indeed, most enduring rules are rooted in common sense. That doesn’t mean that every professional writer follows them to the last letter.
3. 3. Don’t judge a draft until it’s complete. When it comes to writing novels, some people have what Margaret calls “completion fear”: a fear of finishing a project and discovering it’s not very good. If you have this fear, just work to finish your manuscript; you have nearly endless opportunities to revise your own writing. Once you’ve completed a first draft, you have to read it from the perspective of the reader.
4. 4. Ask the right people to read your work. While it’s understandable that a young writer who’s successfully drafted a novel for the first time might want to alert literary agents and publishers as quickly as possible, it’s important to show prudence. Once you feel there’s nothing else you can do with your manuscript, it is time to hand it to a trusted outside reader. Don’t choose a spouse or someone with gatekeeping power in the publishing industry; there are too many other power issues in such relationships. It may even be best to find a nonwriter. The best question you can ask your trusted reader is, “How quickly did you read it?” If they read it quickly, you’re likely in a great position. If possible, try to find more than one dedicated reader so that you look for consensus or common threads in their responses.
5. 5. Write for art’s sake, and save the commercial analysis for later. Genre is a concept created by publishers and literary critics, but it’s not always a valuable one for the working writer. In fact, Margaret says not knowing or thinking about what genre your book belongs to can be valuable, because it offers you greater freedom to stray from genre expectations and to play with form and subject. Your job is to make your book the best, most compelling version of itself, plausible within its own imagined realm and set of rules. Let others worry about what genre it is (or isn’t). You can self-consciously try to write a horror novel, but this won’t necessarily make you the next Stephen King. You can try to reinterpret a classic legend the way that John Gardner upended the Beowulf story, but that doesn’t mean that scholars will promptly insert your novel into the literary canon. In other words, don’t let genre analysis creep into your writing process. It’s hard enough to be a good writer without obsessing about commercial appeal, so don’t.

David Baldacci has topped bestseller lists with one blockbuster thriller after another. David’s success as a fiction writer comes from personal discipline. Using a step-by-step method for approaching story, dialogue, and revisions, he has produced 38 adult novels and 7 children’s books, which collectively have sold more than 130 million copies. Here are some important tips from David that can help first-time authors produce good writing and understand the industry at large:

1. 1. Develop good habits. Most beginning writers will have to balance their writing with other responsibilities. David wrote for years while also practicing law and raising a family, so he has some solid advice for those who have to juggle their writing with numerous other, time-consuming demands. Setting aside consistent blocks of time for writing is an important step. David wrote at night after a busy day, but he did it seven days a week. Your writing time can be early in the morning or late at night or on your lunch hour, but keep it consistent, and insist on prioritizing that time.
2. 2. Use your limited time wisely. Before you sit down to write, think of ideas, remind yourself of where you left off in the story, or make a mental plan for what you want to accomplish during that session. Some people strive to write 2,000 words a day. Others disregard word count and are more comfortable alternating between days spent reading, outlining, or researching. No matter what you choose, it’s a good idea to give yourself daily goals. This will prevent you from spending precious writing time staring at a blank page.
3. 3. Build a relationship with an editor. Editors are a hugely important part of your publishing process, so if you’re so fortunate as to command interest in your manuscript, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure a good fit. A good editor will make you a better writer, and a bad editor can compromise your artistic vision. Check their references, look at their backlist (prior books they’ve edited), chat with them about expectations, and look for a personal connection. Ask yourself what traits you value in a collaborative partner, as well as what traits would be difficult to stomach. For instance, what would be more aggravating: compulsiveness or sloppiness? A good novelist/editor connection makes a huge difference in what tends to be an intense process.
4. 4. Network with other writers at conferences. Conferences are an invaluable help if you’re looking to network with other writers, publishers, and agents (and sometimes readers). They will usually provide educational programs geared toward specific genres. Prominent conferences include ThrillerFest (for thrillers), Bouchercon (for mystery thrillers), Malice Domestic (for cozy mysteries), and Killer Nashville (for crime writing). Also consider joining a writers’ association, which can provide similar benefits to its members through online connectivity. Such associations include the International Thriller Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America, and The Authors Guild.
5. 5. A professional writing career doesn’t stop with your first book. Once your book has been published, plan a celebration and be proud of your success—but don’t quit your day job just yet. It’s very common for first-time authors to have success with a first novel only to find it difficult to get the next novel written or published. This sophomore slump can happen at any stage of your career. The business side of writing can be very demanding. Opportunities that arise—in film or TV, say—can take up a lot of time and often have little payoff. It’s important to avoid getting distracted. Don’t spend time worrying about the things you can’t control. Instead, follow David’s advice and stay focused on your writing. David took his laptop on a 15-country book tour and worked on his next novel during that time. Continuing to write will not only keep you grounded in your craft; it is also the most important tool to keep your career going. If you stay in touch with what made you want to be a writer in the first place, you’ll maintain a healthy relationship with the craft, even when the industry doesn’t cooperate.

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