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How To Write Fiction.
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This page is dedicated to helping you to get started with writing that novel that you know is inside you and in fact is inside everyone.
SEVEN STEPS TO SUCCESS
1 Begin. This might seem ridiculously obvious, but it is always the hardest thing to get the first words down. Even before you
plan your story line, a good opening line is essential to grab the reader, so spend a few days just mulling over the idea.
2 Research. This can be as little or as much as you choose, but the important thing is to have some knowledge of what is already
doing well on the market. It is best to follow a current successful trend, but put your own mark of originality on what you write.
Decide which genre you wish to concentrate on:- ie Comedy, Horror, Crime or Romance and think of books you have enjoyed. Study the first lines
of those books if one does not immediately come to mind. Often a first line will also give you your title, but sometimes
the title can supercede the book and that is not necessarily a bad thing.
3 A Great title. This is a must because it is the first thing that will catch the eye of your audience,agent or publisher. Hopefully, all three.
4 A General plan. This could mean that you have the whole story planned out, either mentally or on paper, but it is not necessary to approach
every work with it all mapped out in advance. If you worry too much about the structure, plot, characterization and style, you may never get started.
Keeping a writing notebook is helpful and jotting ideas down as they come to you. These can be detailed plans or just vague thoughts. I cannot stress enough
the importance of making a start. Remember it does not have to be perfect. You can just write one line down and then leave it to mature in your mind. You may find
that one line leads to another. Obviously different people approach writing in different ways and some prefer to have
the story line and all their ideas mapped out first on paper. Everyone finds their own particular method in the end.
5 Practice. You need to practice and be disciplined. Writing is no different than any other vocation. The more you write, the more you will be able to write.
You may end up binning much of your work to start with or you may get straight into your stride. It is important not to worry at first about having it in a finished state.
It is a good idea to set yourself a target of pages or words per day according to your other commitments. Remember you don't need to be writing all the time to write a novel.
A lot can be achieved in just one hour a day, but the important thing is to make sure you do that hour every day without fail and do not get distracted from your goal. People can find
many excuses not to be able to devote some time to writing, but actually the more you are cramming into your day, the more stimulated your brain is and therefore many
people find that writing under pressure with little available time means that you don't waste the time you have and are very productive. If you don't have time for
writer's block, then you don't get it.
6 Use what you know. When you first write, it is easier to stick to your own life experiences, interests and characters you have met.
Obviously you are going to draw from personal experience, particularly at first. Remember there is no such thing as pure fiction or indeed pure autobiography, most books
fall somewhere between the two. Even fantasy novels often come out of situations that are familiar in one way or another or are imitations of
things we have seen or heard.
7 Imitation.Don't be afraid to imitate someone's style when you begin. It will not end up the same. Your own voice will creep into the work
whether intentional or not. Soon you will have a strong style of your own and each time you write your voice will become stronger.
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