How to Write a Fiction Novel

If you are thinking of penning your first novel you have to have a few things sorted out first. These are the three things that you need the most. It may sound obvious but it is these three things that cement your novel into exactly that. You need a beginning, middle and then an ending. There are many people that get this terribly wrong in writing their first novel and it is so simple. Once you get this right, your novel will take care of itself.

The beginning is where you introduce your characters, set the scenes (times, places and general atmosphere) and begin to establish your story line.

The middle is where you will place a few obstacles for the path of your characters. These obstacles are usually problems or difficulties that they will either overcome or succumb to. This will build the tension that your novel needs and it will also keep your readers interested in the plot. Not only this, but using obstacles allows you to delve further into your characters by assessing their strengths and their weaknesses. The middle of your novel is also where you can start to build the climax for the ending of the novel.

The ending is where you can tie any loose ends that are in your novel and explain any significance to happenings throughout the book. If you have written something into your novel that you cannot explain at the end then take it out. If you cannot explain it then it has no significance and is pointless in your novel.

There is no reason not to have a twist at the end of your novel, in fact a twist can help cement your story telling skills, but you have to be careful when adding such twists. If the twist is too complicated or farfetched, (unless the whole novel is farfetched) then you will lose the reader at the most important part of your novel.

Imaginative and dramatic writing can have a huge impact on the readers, but the key is to write about things you know or are already familiar with. You can always research subjects but if you decide to write about diseases or medical situations, you will be better placed if you already have knowledge on these subjects.

You don't have to have your novel packed page to page with dramatic offerings and terrible situations. The most important thing to have is knowledge and to portray that to the reader. The best fiction books are the ones that we can all relate to and identify with.

Don't be afraid to attempt horror, science fiction, action and thrillers. Just remember to keep at least one foot on the ground; you will soon see that there is a huge difference between writing the improbable, writing the impossible and writing the downright insane.

Always keep a list or a note book of your characters, plots, twists and scenes. Just because you are writing the novel doesn't mean you won't forget what you write about certain things earlier in your book. You may end up with a million contradictions within your novel and that is the last thing that you want.
Writing fiction isn't easy and it will take time and perseverance, but if you stick with it and follow the simple rules, then you will soon have your first novel completed. The satisfaction you will feel when you have finished will make all the hard work worth it.