You Could Write a Novel too!

Have you ever thought about writing a novel?

Many of us who love to write sure have…

We imagine creating a story so memorable it may as well be a work of art—our very own words strung together like music, set on crisp white pages and bound together inside a beautiful old- fashioned cover—with our name etched on the front.

Can you imagine?

The problem is, as much as many of us would like to write a novel like that, only a select few of us will actually write a novel in the first place. Why is that?

There are many reasons I suppose, but to be honest, the biggest reason that people who want to write a novel but don’t ever do it, is that they find reason after reason to believe it’s impossible.

They think:

                Writing a novel is hard.

                I’m not a good enough writer.

                What would I write about?

                No one wants to read a story I’ve written.

                I don’t have enough time.

To those reasons I say:  

Writing is hard.

You do need to be a really good writer to get your story published.

It is sometimes hard to think of an amazing story idea.

It is possible no one will want to read the story you’ve written.

None of us have enough time. We have jobs and school and kids and sports and annoying little brothers and cooking and meetings and housework and yard work and doctor’s appointments and family picnics… The list goes on and on.

But what I really say to all those reason is this:

If writing a novel length story is important to you, then you can overcome those obstacles…because that’s what all those reasons are. Obstacles. And obstacles are meant to be overcome. That’s their job—to stand in the way of you getting what you want. It’s your job to overcome them!

Are you up for the challenge?

Do you want to write a novel? If you want to then that’s all the qualification you need.

Even if you think you’re not a strong enough writer, that’s okay because the more you write, the better you get. Over time, if you stick with it, you will become a good writer. And if you stick with it long enough and really work hard to improve, you will become a great writer!

So where do you start?

Many writers are worried their idea isn’t good enough to become a story readers will care about. If that’s the case for you, think about ways you can put an original spin on the idea you have. Each of us has a story to tell. How can you make yours feel special?

Once you have an idea (even if you don’t have all the ideas in your head worked out into a perfect outline), get ready to write.

I’ve found the best way to write a novel is to just start writing. The idea of writing so many words can be overwhelming. Don’t think about how many words you need to write. Just write as many as you can for today. And then tomorrow, write as many as you can again. If you write something every single day, pretty soon one chapter will turn into five and five chapters will turn into fifteen. And before long, you’ll be writing the ending to your first amazing novel!

If it’s hard to find the time to write every single day, you might have to get creative about it! Do you love watching TV after finishing your homework? Swap TV out for writing time. Do you love to play games on your phone while the kids are at swim lessons? Blast out a few hundred words instead. Wake up a half hour before the kids wake up and write. Stay up an extra 45 minutes once they are tucked in and write. That nap you usually take after raking the yard on Saturdays? Skip it! Your story is calling your name!

Do you see what I mean? If it means enough to you, you’ll find the time. 🙂

But what if no one wants to read my story?

If you try to write a story everyone else will like, you may give up half way through because it’s not a story you care that much about. You’re going to spend a lot of time on this story. Make sure it’s one you really care about…one you’re excited to write. Pretty soon you’ll see that if you’re writing a story you’re excited to write, you won’t even notice how long it’s taking. You’ll just be excited that you get to write it!

For some of us, writing is as important as breathing or hanging out with friends. If it feels that way to you, then overcome the obstacles you think are getting in your way. Crash through them. Stomp all over them. You can do it. Besides, it’s nice to know there are other writers out there who are doing the same thing as me!