Writing a novel is one of the most rewarding and creative challenges you can take on. It’s a long journey that requires imagination, discipline, and resilience. But with the right structure and mindset, you can also write a novel just like your favorite writers! Whether you’re writing for fun, hoping to publish, or simply want to finally finish that idea that’s been living in your head for years, this guide will walk you through every step of the process and explain how to write a novel from start to finish.
(Affiliate disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you when you purchase something through one of my links).
Step 1: Develop Your Core Idea
Every novel begins with a seed. It could be a character, a situation, a “what if?” question, or a scene you just can’t stop thinking about. Your first task is to nurture that seed into a story premise. This idea should evolve into something with direction, stakes, and conflict.
Ask yourself:
- Who is this story about?
- What do they want more than anything?
- What’s standing in their way?
- What’s at stake if they fail to get what they want?
These questions help you shape the foundation of your story. Think of your premise as a compass; it doesn’t tell you exactly where every scene will go, but it keeps you headed in the right direction. Try summarizing your story in one or two sentences. If you can’t, head back to the drawing board and try thinking up more details.
Check out this post → 10 Things to Know Before Writing Your First Book
Step 2: Create Your Characters
Characters are the soul of your novel. The more believable and emotionally complex they are, the more readers will care. Start with your protagonist. The protagonist needs a goal, flaws, and something to lose. Then build out the rest of the cast: allies, mentors, antagonists, and side characters who all serve a narrative purpose.
Give each major character:
- A backstory that influences their present choices
- Desires and fears that drive their behavior
- Strengths and weaknesses that create internal tension
- A distinct voice and way of seeing the world
Characters don’t exist in isolation. Think about the relationships between them. How does your protagonist challenge the antagonist? Who supports them, and who betrays them? Complex character dynamics can elevate even a simple plot.
Step 3: Outline Your Plot
Some writers prefer to dive in and discover the story as they go. Others prefer to plan every beat in advance. Either method works, but even discovery writers benefit from a loose structure or some type of mini-outline to prevent burnout and plot holes.
I personally used to be a spontaneous writer that jumped right into it, but after writing more complex worlds and stories, I found that outlining, drafting, and creating the pieces and parts of my world was much more beneficial in the long-run.
Popular plot structures include:
- Three-Act Structure: Beginning, middle, end with clear turning points
- The Hero’s Journey: A transformative quest with trials and revelations
No matter what framework you use, a solid outline should include:
- The setup and inciting incident
- Key complications and rising tension
- Major turning points and character decisions
- The climax and what it changes
- The resolution and emotional payoff
Check out this post to learn how to create an amazing plot outline for your next story!
Step 4: Build Your World
Whether you’re writing fantasy, sci-fi, historical, or contemporary fiction, your world must feel real. Even if your setting is familiar, it should be detailed enough to shape characters and events.
Check out this post → World Anvil vs Campfire Writing for world building
Consider:
- Time period and location
- Social, political, and economic systems
- Culture, religion, and shared beliefs
- Local traditions, slang, and customs
- How the setting influences character decisions
World building doesn’t have to involve creating a detailed encyclopedia. Focus on how your world impacts the characters. Show the setting through their interactions, challenges, and worldview. The most immersive worlds are revealed gradually through conflict and discovery.
Step 5: Write Your First Draft
Now comes the hard part: writing the draft. The goal here is not perfection but rather progress. Your first draft will be messy, flawed, and occasionally frustrating. That’s normal.
Tips for finishing your draft:
- Set a daily or weekly word count goal that fits your schedule
- Don’t edit as you go; save revisions for later
- Keep a separate document for new ideas and scenes to explore later
- End each session mid-scene so it’s easier to pick up the next day
Try not to compare your first draft to published novels. Those have been rewritten and edited dozens of times. Your only job at this stage is to get the story down in its rawest form.
I recommend you use Scrivener to write your drafts because it’s one of the best writing applications out there. Not only can you house all your notes, world building ideas, concepts, outlines, chapters and more, but you can move things around, adjust and remove as needed, track your word count and set goals. It’s what I use for every book I’ve written for a reason! Plus, the best part about Scrivener? It’s a one-time purchase and you can get a 30 day free trial to try it out before you commit! Check out my full review on Scrivener here.
Step 6: Revise and Restructure
Once you’ve completed your first draft, give yourself a break. Set the manuscript aside for at least one or two weeks. This break allows you to return with a fresh perspective and better critical distance.
Start with big-picture edits:
- Does the plot make sense? Are there gaps in logic?
- Are the stakes clear and rising throughout the story?
- Do the characters grow or change meaningfully?
- Are any scenes repetitive or dragging the pace?
You may need to rewrite whole chapters, delete scenes, or rearrange the plot. This is where your book starts to transform from a rough draft into a real story.
Step 7: Proofreading and Editing
Once you’ve addressed the major issues, it’s time to zoom in. Line editing focuses on the prose itself or how the story is told. You want each sentence to be clear, compelling, and necessary.
Look for:
- Clunky or unnatural dialogue
- Overused words or filler phrases
- Awkward phrasing or confusing sentence structure
- Grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors
This step often involves multiple passes. Reading your manuscript aloud can help catch rhythm and flow issues you might miss while skimming.
Step 8: Feedback and Final Draft
At this point, you’ll want to share your manuscript with trusted beta readers or critique partners. Choose people who understand your genre and can give honest but constructive feedback.
Ask them:
- Were there any confusing parts?
- Did the story hold their interest?
- Were the character motivations believable?
- What moments stood out emotionally?
Take notes on common patterns in their feedback. Not every comment will resonate, but if several people point out the same issue, it’s worth addressing. After making necessary revisions, polish the final draft until it’s submission- or publication-ready.
Prepare for Publication
Now that you have a strong final draft, it’s time to share it with the world.
If you’re pursuing traditional publishing:
- Research literary agents who represent your genre
- Write a strong query letter with a clear hook and credentials
- Prepare a one-page synopsis and sample chapters
- Follow submission guidelines carefully
If you’re self-publishing:
- Hire a professional editor for a final pass
- Invest in a professionally designed cover
- Format your book for both eBook and print
- Create a basic marketing strategy (website, social media, email list)
Conclusion
Writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, effort, and the courage to revise and start again. But every step you take brings you closer to your finished book. The process can be messy and uncertain, but also incredibly meaningful. I personally find that it’s a very rewarding process and I encourage everyone to at least give writing novels a try! You never know what you might come up with!
Hopefully you’ve learned more about how to write a novel from start to finish! You can check out the other posts on my website to get more in-depth explanations and individualized details for the many aspects and things discussed in this post.
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