Guest blogger, Carole Gift Page, shares her Ten Steps in Writing a Novel, a technique she has taught as well as used in her own writing for over 30 years.
Now, let’s get on with your novel and take those ten steps, one by one.
Step One: Begin with an Idea—for a particular THEME, a particular PLOT, or a particular CHARACTER. Eventually all three must be woven together to create your novel. Imagine a triangle with THEME as the base and PLOT and CHARACTER making up its sides to form a satisfying story.
How do I define each of these terms?
THEME: The purpose or intent of your novel revealed as a unifying idea or premise which, while not glaringly obvious to the reader, holds the action together as an invisible thread holds together a pearl necklace. The theme is your “take-away,” the central impression you want to leave with your reader. It’s always there giving organization, direction, and unity, but never calling undue attention to itself. Many writers develop their plots and characters without giving serious thought to theme, and yet the theme is what plot and characters are strung on. Proceeding without a clear-cut theme is like trying to hang out the wash without a clothesline.
I suggest you write your theme in a single sentence and tape it above your computer as a reminder of what you’re essentially trying to say. Keep in mind the difference between “theme” and “subject.” Your subject can often be said in one or two words, but your theme should be put in a complete sentence, because it’s what you personally want to say about your subject. For example, your subject might be “abortion,” while your theme might be stated, “Women who have abortions are also victims.”
What specific theme do you wish to convey in your novel? If you begin with theme, think of characters and a plot that would best express the theme you wish to communicate.
PLOT and CHARACTER will be covered in the next blog.