So, you want to write a novel?

So, you want to write a novel?

Have you wondered what it takes to write a story? In its most simplistic form; an idea, a pencil, and somewhere to write on. But what does it take to write a novel and have it published? Now that is another story. Can you do it? The simple answer is yes; you probably can. Is it difficult? It is. Is it fun? It can be. These were some of the many questions and answers I found throughout my writing journey.

I found that writing is something many yearn to do but never fully commit to accomplishing. I wrote the following outline for those still on the sidelines. It’s a simple outline based on my experiences while I wrote the dark fantasy novel—Armilus. There is no specific “right way” to write a book; every author has his/her ideas, methodology, and tools. And like all art forms, in the end, it all lies in the eye of the beholder. 

Consider the following list as a general outline. It’s what worked for me while writing my fantasy novel and publishing it through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). The following twelve milestones will provide you a starting point for writing and publishing your novel. So, let us begin.

You have this story you’ve been carrying around for years and are ready to share it with the world. 

(1) Let It Flow 

First, you will need to get that story out of your head and into a word processor. But in what format? Do you just start writing page after page with no idea where you are going? You can, but you will have no assurance that this will lead you anywhere. I outlined my story. Nothing complex. I divided my story into three parts; each of these parts was divided into chapters, and my were chapters divided into scenes. An excellent book to help you understand how to outline your story using this method is Save The Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody.

(2) Word Processor

Do you use MS Word? You could, but I used Scrivener. This app is a word processor created with writers in mind. It will help you create the novel’s structure. It is perfectly suited to outline your story as specified in step #1 above. And it has all these nifty tools to help you along the way. 

(3) Write

Decide on the point of view (POV). Will you write in first person or third person narrative? First Person (I, me) or Third Person (he, she or it). Once you have determined your POV, then begin to write. Based on your genre (fiction, fantasy, mystery, etc.), write like there is no tomorrow. Don’t overthink anything. Get that story into Scrivener or whatever editor you chose. You will need characters and a plot. Add conflict to the lives of your characters. Don’t fix anything or try to get the perfect words. You have had that story in your head for years. Let it flow. If you use the three-part format described in step # 1, you may find that part 1 is easy (you know that beginning, it’s what inspired you, like that first kiss), part 2 is a nightmare (it’s like walking in deep mud), and by part 3, you just don’t give a darn, you just want to finish the novel. It’s okay; we all go through this. Keep on writing. Don’t stop. Two excellent books to read at this stage are Make a Scene by Jordan E. Rosenfeld and Writing Deep Scenes by Martha Alderson and Jordan Rosenfeld.

(4) Your First Draft

You have written your story. Your head is empty. You are a free man or woman at last. Now put away what you wrote for at least a few weeks. Yes, forget it for a while. Take a break, enjoy your family; you will need it. Winter is coming! In the writing world, winter is called editing. You may want to give you documents a full read fixing any major plot holes before you plunge into the actual editing. Start with a strong entrance. Capture the reader’s attention from the first sentence. Make sure your main character has a strong presence and that we care about him/her or it? Does your dialog sound right? Check out How to Write Dialogue by Marcy Kennedy. Describe your settings and show more than you tell. A good book to read at this stage is Understanding Show, Don’t Tell by Janice Hardy. Make conflict fall over your main character like a dark plague, to a point where the main character has hit rock bottom. Checkout Writing with Emotion, Tension, & Conflict by Cheryl StJohn. This will pave the way to a climactic ending. You probably strayed away from your original storyline, which may be good or bad. You need to decide what goes and what stays. Just make sure your story is there. This is your first draft; it will make you cringe when you read it. It’s okay. Every first draft sucks.

(5) Self-Editing

Editing is making sure that your writing has the right words for your story. I used Grammarly and Hemmingway to check general sentence structure and grammar errors. Once I could read the story (without thinking I had just picked my 5-year-old daughter’s notebook), I then used Autocrit to edit it. The Autocrit app will help you make improvements to your document and compare it to other novels. It is not perfect (no online editor is) that said, it is the best one out there. Note that you will still need to send your document to a professional editor. Why use it then? Autocrit will help clean your novel to a point your real editor will not cry when he gets your document. The Autocrit Facebook group is also a good place to hang out and ask questions about writing. 

(6) Beta Readers

This is revision 4, 5, 6, or as many as you need. Send your novel to some beta readers. It is always good to have someone other than yourself take a look at what you have written. Specifically, the story. Did they enjoy it? Did they laugh, cry, or got bored? Their comments will make you aware of any plot holes in your story. Be prepared for some hard truths. 99% of the time, your beta readers will be right. But in the end, it’s your book.

(7) Professional Edit

Once you have cleaned your novel and your story is complete, have a professional editor go over it. Just know that the editor will not write your book; that was your job. Also, remember there are different stages of editing that include content editing, line editing, and proofreading. Make sure you know what you will be paying for. A professional editor can cost a lot. Like everything in life, get the best that you can. I used Red Adept Editing, which provided me good prices and excellent services.

(8) Book Cover

Your book will need a cover. Yes, if you are artistic, you can go for it and create your cover. Don’t do it! Your book cover is the first thing your possible client will see. It’s your first opportunity to impress. I worked with an excellent graphic artist Michael Bakker for my cover. My very talented daughter (Eleonor Cordero) did the cover’s font artwork, and I put it all together. It worked out well for me because I have worked with images in the past. If you have little or no experience with images, I suggest you have someone create the cover for you. Also, consider that the back cover will require a blurb. A blurb is that small section in the back of the book that gives you an idea of what the book is about (it’s your sales pitch). You need to love your cover. If you are looking for ideas on fantasy book cover designs and services, check out D&D Fantasy Art.

(9) Formatting

Once your story is edited, it will require a specific format for KDP. In my case, I used a beautiful program called Vellum to convert all my writing into the proper novel format. This is the margins, titles, fonts, and stuff. Other apps may do this, but none as simple as Vellum. Just import your document into Vellum and watch the magic. It not only formats my novel as an eBook but also for hardcopy printing too. The output from Vellum can then be moved to KDP. Using Vellum, you can view how your hard copy will look and how your eBook will display on different computer devices. 

(10) Publishing

Okay, we have our novel edited and formatted appropriately. And we have a beautiful cover to cuddle all those hundreds of pages. Now what? We publish it on Amazon KDP. You could send it out to publishing houses and sign a million-dollar contract with them, or you could stop hoping and get that book published on Amazon overnight and free. I said published free; this does not mean Amazon works for free. They will get part of your royalties down the line, but it does beat waiting months for someone to say your book deserves a chance. It’s your book, you can decide now. 

(11) Promoting

To promote your book, you can pay for promotional services like Bargain Booksy or use your social groups, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. I went for the latter. Note: If you have limited resources (like most of us), save your money for the cover and the professional editor. Promoting is important when you consider that there are millions of novels out there. That said, if the story is good, you have half of the promotion right there. Use social media to find your possible clients and let them know that your book is an option. And if you do not have a large social group at hand, check out fiverr.com and have someone promote your book for you. One note on Fiverr, do the proper checks on your service provider.

(12) Why write? 

There is one last philosophical question you need to answer before you write your book. Why are you writing your book? Each person may have a unique answer to this question. Just note that if you are out to get rich with your one amazing book, you may be heading for a disappointment. With some luck, a good story, and a quality product, you could generate a passive income. Writing a book was on my bucket list of things I wanted to do before glaucoma took what’s left of my eyesight. And even before that, it was something I always wanted to do. I am darn glad I accomplished it and still have some spare time to read it. It took me less than a year to complete all the milestones described above, but then I had already written two other business books. 

This is by no means the definitive list of what it takes to write a novel. There is a whole lot more about this amazing journey. These are some important milestones that will give you a glimpse of what occurs during the process. Now go ahead and write that darn novel. And don’t forget to check out my dark fantasy novel Armilus (Step 11 in action).

ARMILUS – AND SO, THE END BEGINS

Armilus is a simple woodsman, keeper of a vast redwood forest, when he’s struck by calamity and plunged into a time of chaos. He is thrust into a world never meant for his kind, one where forces beyond his grasp battle for the balance of power between the realms. At odds with nature, man, immortals, and ultimately, the Creator, Armilus must find his place in the new world. It’s a time of light and darkness, where what lurks in the shadows often holds the deepest secrets.

Surviving nature is one thing, but confronting the wrath of the Creator and his immortal hunters is another. Cast into a sea of unknowns and helped by an unlikely ally, Armilus can only hope to return home alive. But where is home when everything that he loves lies at the bottom of the cold, dark waters? And what role does Armilus play in this epic game of destruction and rebirth?

What people are saying about my dark fantasy novel:

“An ordinary woodsman by trade, Armilus lives a simple if difficult life until he faces a catastrophic flood. He survives the devastation and goes on to battle man, nature, and the heavenly realms in a tale brimming with rich imagery and evocative prose.” Angela M., Line Editor, Red Adept Editing

"This take on the biblical story of Noah imbues it with elements of action and survival literature. Vivid descriptions of an unforgiving environment meld with fantasy swordplay, creating a satisfying read for fans of the genre." Virge B., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing

About the Author of this article.

Iván Cordero Torres is from Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He has a Master's Degree in Computer Science and several certifications related to Information Security, Auditing, and Business Continuity. He is currently retired after a 30-year career in Pharma IT. 

He is an indie author who has published both business and fantasy books. These include:

• IT Business Continuity Documents
• Armilus: And So The End Begins

When not writing about computer stuff or other genres, you can find him hiking in Puerto Rico's beautiful tropical forests. He is also a published wildlife photographer (Wildlife Photographic Magazine). For more info on his books, please visit his author website at ivancorderotorres.com or download the novel here.

Raven image by khius/Adobe Stock