So you’re thinking of writing a novel, or a short story, or just writing anything, and wonder what the first thing to do is. A well-known author says, just do it, but you still can’t quite grasp what that means. First things first.
The first page is everything to an agent/publisher. If it doesn’t hit the ground running after page one, the only likely destination is the bin. The first page sets the world in the mind of the reader. Do you have a specific character in mind? Do you know what kind of mood they are in? What do they look like, and what is the weather like outside? Have you decided on the genre and whether it is science-fiction or magic realism? How about the year the book is set in, and if it is a period drama.
Creating characters and their world
It’s the first page, and you are trying to set a scene in the mind of the reader. The point is that if it is a dark and brooding fantasy, then the environment will reflect the tone and style of the book. It could be all lightning and triple moons. Is the character in a good mood or a bad one? If so, how would you describe the world around them that reflects their mood? Heavy rain and grey clouds for a morose character, minus the clichés. As you are just starting out then you will still be trying to find out what kind of writer you are. Do you write for young adults or adult crime thrillers? Do you focus on the minute details of the character, or prefer to leave details up to the reader’s imagination and focus on action and dialogue.
Planning your novel
Once you have thought about all these things you realize that you haven’t written a word yet. The best thing to do is just write. But are you a freestyle writer, or would you prefer to plan your novel? I have tried freestyle writing, but don’t end up with many words. If you plan your novel you can write out the first twelve chapters and sketch each scene as the novel unfolds. I always say, for the first time, write the worst novel you can. See how far you get, and this should relieve you of the burden of perfection. The grammar can be left till the end. Don’t forget there will be many drafts.
Once you have finished the manuscript then you can go through it slowly and check each single sentence. Print out the pages and read the text out aloud. Read with a pen in hand, marking where you could improve the grammar and dialogue. Feel the sentences as you read, breathe slowly in between the paragraphs, and then put the said manuscript away in a draw until you are excited enough to read it again. And then repeat until you feel nothing else can be done.
