Novel Writing Hacks from Author Daniel Grant Newton

 

Have you got a novel in you that you've always wanted to write?  Perhaps you haven't had the time?  Or you get started, but can never finish it?

Well, as someone who spent most of his life trying to get one of my ideas into a finalised manuscript, and now being someone who has done it, I've found a few secrets of the trade to make inspiration easier, improve your story, and importantly, get it done.  This isn't an exhaustive list, but very powerful all the same - I may write a follow up article later with more tips.

1.) Write about what you love.

Writing a book takes a long time (although perhaps shorter with the tips below :P), so you need to be passionate about the subject to keep going: researching, idea generating, editing, etc.  This might be the most obvious of these tips, but it is one of the most important, and overlooked, pieces of advice since the people of Troy were told that curiosity kills the cat.

 

2.) If you're bored or aren't inspired with a section, scrap it and get more creative.

If you're bored with your story, so will your readers be.  You may have planned for 'A' to happen, but if it is a task writing it, think about other possible outcomes - and go wild.  If any bit of your book didn't fully engage every cell of your body, it needs to go!

 

3.) Daydream about your characters and story for the pleasure of it.

This is when you get your best ideas.  It also allows you to get better acquainted with your characters.  It gives you out-of-the-box ideas.  It gets you in the flow.  I don't know how - but it does - so try it.

 

4.) Jot every idea down.

Good, bad or ugly, write them down, or you'll forget them.  I wrote enough alternate story directions for The Last King of Shambhala to complete at least ten completely different books, allowing me to choose the best and build on them.  Sometimes an idea will seemingly be useless, but it will later spark a better idea, or will fit perfectly somewhere else later on.

 

5.) Create impossible problems for your characters, plan them out, and then look for creative ways to solve them.

The bigger the problem, the more tension and excitement.  These can be physical disasters, or emotional tangles ... But a combination is even more powerful.

 

Further to this, in those "will he make it or won't he", there is nothing like (even if it is a BIG cliche) a character seemingly dead, but then to emerge out of the smoke alive to the relief of their companions.

 

6.) Want to write quicker, plan out every chapter.

I wrote The Last King of Shambhala in five or more years.  There were a few reasons it took half a ten year old's life, but one big one was I planned it out as I went.  

 

This meant it was more creative than it may have otherwise been, but if you have a more simple storyline, and want to write it quicker, plan it out chapter by chapter.  It doesn't need to fit the chapters, you can be open to new directions, but it will save so much time.

I wrote the novella Don't Shoot the Messenger in three weeks.  Why?  I planned out every chapter (and it was about 35,000 words rather than over 100,000, I guess).

 

7.) Show not tell.  Adam is NOT "angry".

 

 

Everybody makes assumptions of others by how they perceive them, therefore readers will get to know your characters better when you 'show' not 'tell'.  

For example, don't say "Adam isn't happy and wanted his boyfriend James to know, no matter how childish he seemed", instead say "Adam crossed his arms and glared out the window, periodically glancing back at James and huffing until his lover diverted his eyes from the Playstation and onto him."

 

Yes, I made that example on the run, so it isn't Dickens.  Or even Meyer.  But you get the point.

 

8.) Research - the key to opening creative doors

Research, research, research.  If you have followed step one, this will be fun. If not, read step one again.

 

Knowing more about the subject allows for accuracy, but more importantly, it expands your mind, dude, and allows for more creative direction and solution.

 

9.) Quick 'cheat' way to bulk up the persona of your characters - write in another's voice

 

 

A quick way to create better characters is to play about with the voice or mannerisms or persona or beliefs of a famous movie or book character, or famous person, or of someone you know.  

Your character shouldn't be a rehash of some other character however, by doing this, you might be able to develop your character in another direction by mixing elements and mannerisms of this character with your current character.  

I'd suggest even mixing multiple characters with your original character, but still keeping the essence of him or her.

Extra tip: Try using a character that is completely out of place.  Like Fran Fine as the voice of an evil warlock, or the Terminator as a flight attendant, or Goofy as a werewolf.

 

10.) If uninspired, watch inspiring videos on YouTube before getting into writing

Some times you just aren't in the zone.  If you have a chapter about a romantic date, go onto YouTube and watch a montage of BBC adaptions of Jane Austin movies for five minutes.  If it is a boxing scene, watch a Muhammad Ali fight montage.  This isn't for copying, it just gets the juices flowing.

If you'd like to see the result of putting these tips into practice, you can now buy The Last King of Shambhala at any good online book store.

The Publishing Iceberg ... Never Trust a Creative with a Timeline

"So when can we buy your book?"

July 2011

November 2011

January 2012

February 2012

March 2012

My book is finally ready for online publishing, my dear and patient friends.  

Despite a number of false starts, and a book trailer that has been watched by 885 people (as of today) that states it will be ready for purchase eight months ago.

And of course, when I say finally ready, I mean it will be available to purchase in the next 14 days ... it has been written, has had numerous edits (by myself and others), has a cover (as seen above), has a theme song, and has even more book trailers... something tells me I just like making book trailers.

Naturally, now I have to think about such things like a website, a Facebook page, and how to take it from one in a million books, to THE one in a million book.  I came up with that just as I write.  Thanks.  I know.  Brilliant, right?

So when I said last week this is when my journey starts, what I REALLY meant to say is THIS is where my journey starts.

Publishing Iceberg.

But I guess the lesson here is that it takes much, much longer than you expect to get a project off the ground like this - ESPECIALLY when you're taking the world on yourself, and not got a whole paid publishing and marketing team behind you.  There are just so many things to do in the unseen (FYI self-publishers).

My publishing team is me.  And my marketing team is my readers who are obsessed with like my book and tell others about it.  (Kind of like my blog.)

(And creatives are, well, creative with expected timelines, too.  That's why publishers set the release dates and not authors, I guess.)

Anyway, I am just so so so excited about the release, I thought I'd drop you a line.

Oh, and by the way, if you like my book cover above, check out the graphic designing team that created it and their 'off-the-chart' creativity at: www.neverlandstudio.com.au

www.neverlandstudio.com.au

Can too many book editors or artistic opinions spoil the creative brew?

The idea behind this blog article can be adapted to anything, whether you're writing a story, or creating art, or creating anything artistic - but since I've just finished my first novel and everybody wants to be my editor (which I'm thankful for), I'll use a book as an example.

Say you're writing a book (if you're confused because you are not writing a book, read the above paragraph again).

You've put a generous proportion of character development. Put a sprinkle of romance in it. A dash of action. Two cups of intrigue. You've mixed it around, and have let it sit. It is now ready for you to put it in the oven and have people look over your story.

We are still talking about writing a book right? Yes, and I'm glad you bared with me with my over-the-top extended metaphor. Are we talking about a cook book? No, forget the whole cooking thing. Then why did you start talking about cooking? (Excuse me, I'm just having one of my multiple personality moments.) I'm hungry.

Where were we? I have been sidetracked... a feature of this unedited blog apparently.

Now you've got people looking over your work, critiquing and giving advice. Question on your lips is, or sign-languaging hands for those who cannot speak... can you ask too many? Survey says... The plain and simple answer is yes but no but yes but no - to quote a few television shows in one mash-up sentence.

It's great to get different perspectives and ideas (and grammar checks) from willing participants, but the caveat on that is that they are the cooks, and you are the chef. The iron chef with the iron fist.

You use your cutting knife (probably iron too) adding some suggestions and cutting others. So although they are integral to the editing process, do not change your story if it doesn't feel right to you. Or change your artistic vision. Or your art piece. Or whatever.

It is ALWAYS your work, not theirs... however this leads me to...

Two words of warning.

Well, two points of warning. I couldn't summarise each point in one word.

One, don't take offence to what they say.

Everyone has different tastes and sometimes they'll have an opinion that you don't have. That's okay. Doesn't mean your books sucks, or that is must be changed to their liking. (They'd probably tell me enough of the cooking analogy Daniel. You should really have got this blog entry edited. In which I'd answer, "I'm hungry and I don't know why.")

And then there will be people who just never like your work, or the fact you are doing that work. There are many reasons people won't like what you do, and none of them are really ever about you or your work. For example, I find people often tell me I can't do things when they really fear that it will reflect badly on them and what they have achieved in their lives.

And, as I always say (to myself in the mirror with the door closed), if you want to be something different or more than those around you, you have to think and do differently than them. So thinking differently to those around you is the first step in moving forward.

Don't get me wrong, your editors will always (most likely... probably... maybe... perhaps) be well meaning. But subconsciously they won't want you to make them look bad. Success and being different scare most ordinary folk.

And that leads me to my second point...

Two, don't fight over what they say.

It's futile for one. They probably think what they're saying is correct no matter what you say, but more importantly, you should never have to justify your reasons. Does Lady Gaga defend her cigarette glasses, or Michael Jordan ever defend why he wears Nikes, or Charlie Chaplin ever defend why he never spoke? (I hope I'm making you laugh as much as I'm making myself laugh!)

Point being, because you're a genius, or a genius in the making, you don't explain - that's for critics to ponder. Just ask me why I can think that and watch me not justify it because I'm a mother flippin' genius - and so are you - yes, you.

Always thank them for their advice, but you don't have to ever say you'll take it all on baord!

Thank them, use what you want, don't use what you don't want. You may ask them for clarification, but don't go to war with them on why your artistic idea is right and their opinion is wrong. It's an easy equation.

Y x (A + T) x (G - R) = S

Y = Your Work

A = Ask

T = Thank

G = Good Advice

R = Rubbish Advice

S = Success, or sexiness personified

So don't go to war with your editors. Just thank them, and don't take it personally because your art is all about YOU.

(On a side note, if a young Hitler's art pieces had been more accepted we may not have had War World Two so... case in point. And who knows, Ghengis Khan was probably spanked when he did finger painting at pre-school.)

And take a look at it from your editor friend's side of the table. If they feel attacked for opening up with their opinion they'll never give you advice again (and I need people to check my spelling and grammar).

These two points are hard to follow, especially since you've put your soul into your story, but essential to a writer or artist.

Last Thoughts...

Never worry about whether people will like what you've done. I have always found that if you throw yourself completely into your artistic expression, are passionate about it and making it the best possible piece, and love it with all your heart, the world is a big enough place that there will be plenty of people who will support you.

On a side note, one month until my novel is out! :-) Just in case you are one of the people who are going to support ME and buy it!