Do you want to be able to write the kind of novel that will stick out from the crowd? Do you want to be able to write the kind of stories that will keep your readers engaged? Do you want to be able to write the kind of book that will make your coworkers jealous? You can! All you need is the desire and the guidance of an experienced mentor.
In this article, you’re going to learn six steps that will help you become a better writer. The following advice will be given by bestselling author and literary agent, Robert Pattinson. In case you’re wondering, yes, the guy from Water for Elephants!
Step 1: Decide What You Want To Write
One of the first things you need to do is decide what you want to write. If you’re not sure, then it might be a good idea to write down some of the ideas that have been popping up in your head over the past few days. Once you’ve got a good list going, then you can start to narrow it down. The best way to do this is by figuring out what is the most relevant to your life. What do you care about, what are you passionate about? It could be family history, it could be education, it could be politics, it could be social issues, it could be the environment. It’s up to you!
The important thing is that you find something that you’re passionate about and that you’re willing to explore. Why should writing be any different?
Step 2: Determine Your Literary Goals And Motivations
The next thing you need to do is to set your literary goals and motivations. What do you hope to achieve with your writing? Are you aiming to become famous? Are you aiming to make as much money as possible? Are you looking for inspiration? Set a goal and make a list of your reasons for wanting to achieve what you’ve set out to do. This will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the process.
For example, maybe you’ve set a goal to write a novel that will be published and make you a million dollars. Your motivation for this goal is to be able to pay off your student loans. This is extremely noble, however, paying off your student loans is not something you can measure directly as an outcome of your goal. Your motivation behind this goal should be to use your novel as a platform to enlighten people about the environment and how they can contribute. In this way, you’re achieving your goal of making money while also contributing to social causes. Setting goals and motivations can be extremely motivating and will ensure that you stay focused on what you’re doing. Keep goals and motivations simple, yet ambitious. This way you’ll be able to keep motivated throughout the process without any confusion.
Step 3: Select A Publication Plan
The next thing you need to do is to select a publication plan. Now is not the time to be timid. If you want to write the kind of book that will be picked up by Hollywood, then you’re going to have to put in the effort. It may seem daunting at first, but picking a publication plan is one of the most important things you need to do if you want to succeed as a writer. Once you’ve got your plan, then it’s time to start moving forward.
Publishing plans can vary from creating a small press to working with a traditional publisher. It really depends on your budget and the genre of your book. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on traditional publishing, then you may want to consider creating a small press to see your work published. Alternatively, you could try self-publishing or using online marketplaces to find an audience.
Step 4: Choose Your Characters
The next thing you need to do is to choose your characters. If you’re writing in the form of a play, then you may want to consider using real people as your characters. The reason for this is that plays are usually very character-driven stories. What this means is that you should pick characters that you can explore in great depth. In addition, you should also give your characters sufficient motivation, so that their actions make sense. It’s no secret that plays are a lot of work, but the pay-offs can be worth it. In addition, plays are often seen as a stepping-stone for writers, so if you’re looking to break into writing, then plays may be a good place to do it. However, if you think that you’re capable of writing a full-length novel, then you may want to consider using real people as your characters. As a general rule, using real people doesn’t discriminate against the fact that your characters are fictional. It just means that you’re writing about real-life issues and putting yourself in the characters’ shoes.
Step 5: Start With A Short Script
The next thing you need to do is to start with a short script. If you’ve decided to go with a traditional publisher, then they may ask for a short script first. What this means is that you should start by writing a short, stand-alone script that is able to be sold independently. A lot of beginners decide to write a full-length novel first and then see where it ends up, but if you want to be a successful writer, then you should consider putting your script first. This is something that the professionals do and it’s a good idea to follow suit.
Once you’ve got your short script, then you can start reworking it into a full-length novel. Most professional writers will tell you to take your time with this process, because it’s easy to rush into writing a novel without a proper plan. The result of this is that the book ends up being very formulaic and lacking in originality. Take your time with this process, develop a clear outline, and remember to revise often. This is probably the most important step because it will determine the quality of your final work. A lot of people think that the first draft of a novel is the hardest part of the process, but that’s simply not true. The hardest part of the process is often the editing and the revising. Once you’ve got a draft that’s acceptable, then you can move onto the next step.
Step 6: Hire A Professional Editor
The last thing you need to do before submitting your manuscript to a publisher is to hire a professional editor. This is one of the best investments you can make if you want to see your novel published. The editor will help you fix all the problems with your work and polish it into something special. They will also take the time to get to know you as a person and build a relationship with you. This is important because you’ll be working together for the rest of the process. If you don’t have the money to hire an editor, then you should consider doing it yourself. There are a lot of online tools that can help you with the editing process, so don’t be afraid to try your hand at it. If you’re comfortable enough, then you can even take a crack at some of the more cumbersome parts of the process like editing the text and organizing your thoughts. Remember to always follow the editorial advice and fix the problems that the editor points out to you.
After you’ve got your manuscript finished, then it’s time to send it off to the professionals. If you’ve done everything correctly up until this point, then you’re going to end up with a well-written, original novel that is able to stand out amongst the rest. This is the kind of book that will put you on the map, so to speak. With the right execution and a bit of luck, you may even end up being able to pay off your student loans and live the dream!