Eight Promising Tips for Novice Fiction Authors

Are you ready to pick up the pen and let your imagination run wild? Let’s set on the journey to build worlds from scratch and create believably unbelievable characters. If you feel ready, it is the best time for you to write your first fiction masterpiece.

Even if you head to this path with enthusiasm, taking the right start can feel like a challenge. You can fight all challenges by following these tips.

1. Write What You Love

The first and most important thing for a novice author to know is that they must first fall in love with their story before writing it. It can be challenging to maintain motivation when writing about something that does not excite you.

If you have a list of novel ideas in mind, pick a notebook and pen and start writing them all. Among several ideas, ask yourself about the one that gets you the most excited. At this point, you do not have to worry about what is trending. You only need to follow what you love.

1. Keep Some Secrets

As a novice author, you may find yourself always thinking about keeping the reader engaged at every point. After all, your hard work and dedication can all go to waste if the reader does not stay engaged in your work.

While there are several ways to win over your readers, the best thing you can do is to keep some secrets from them. Even if you are excited to show your readers what lies ahead for a character, holding that bit of information till revealing it later on is absolutely necessary.

This way, you cannot only keep your readers engaged till the revelation but also let them use their imagination to fill in the blanks.

1.  Adapt Simplicity

One of the biggest mistakes novice authors make is to think that fancy words and complex sentences will create a great impression on their readers. However, the truth about winning over your audience lies in simplicity.

A great story and strong characters do not need dense words to be presented. Confidence and simplicity can come together to form great things. Using simple sentences ensures that your readers can engage with your story without feeling overwhelmed. 

1. Try Different Forms

Sticking to your comfort zone can be so relaxing and assuring. For example, someone who has been writing short stories for years can keep on doing so for years to come as well. However, it may not be the best course of action if you are trying to grow as a writer.

Instead of sticking to what you are great at, you can try writing in different styles and genres to boost your creativity. This practice can help you broaden your horizons and establish yourself as an author for a wider audience.

1. Establish a Routine

Writing the manuscript with consistent motivation can be a challenge every time you resume. If you are struggling with this aspect as well, you can benefit a lot from establishing a regular writing routine. This means that you will have to write every day, even if it is just a few hundred words.

Whether you are a morning person or a night owl, you can choose when to write based on your preference. The only thing you have to make sure of is that you write every day. Remember, writing a few words every day is better than staring at an empty page.

If you struggle with sticking to a routine, it is always a good idea to partner up with an accountability partner. Surrounding yourself with the right people can also be key to ensuring timely project completion.

1. Set Achievable Milestones

An average novel can have around 70,000-80,000 words. Looking at your project holistically can feel like an impossible dream to achieve. However, dividing this endeavor into sections can help you take one step at a time to achieve your goals.

Setting milestones keeps you motivated and avoids burnout among writers. This will help you break the book down mentally and make it easier to manage.

Whether you enjoy dining out or meeting friends to relax, be sure to reward yourself with things you love after achieving a milestone.

1. Take Breaks

If you think that the hours spent behind the desk are a measuring scale for your creativity, you are certainly mistaken. Creative activities such as writing are done best when your mind and body are relaxed. This may not sound achievable if you are not listening to your body.

Instead of working through mental and physical exhaustion, you must step away from the desk when needed. Whether you go for a swim or take a brisk walk in the backyard, take your mind off of your manuscript for some time. This way, you will be able to come back to your manuscript with a fresh mind and feel ready to face any challenges.

1. Edit Ruthlessly

Every word in a manuscript can feel like a loved child. When editing a manuscript, authors are often hesitant to remove their favorite parts. However, it does not change the harsh reality that any unnecessary information that does not contribute to the story must be eliminated. 

Even after your best efforts, you can never be sure that every unnecessary word, paragraph, and chapter has been eliminated. Hence, you must hire fiction editing services to make the necessary corrections on your behalf.

1. Read the Genre Masters

Whether you are writing fantasy fiction or speculative fiction, there are great works available in every genre to be pursued. If you are not reading other works in the genre, you may be missing out on your opportunity to discover your full potential.

While you may not be able to meet your favorite authors in person, reading their works is the best chance you can get to learn from them. Reading great writing can help you find your own voice and improve your skills. You can read various genres and focus on the same genre as your novel.