How to write a novel

"That is a NOVEL idea, old chap!" <-- sorry, I had to do it.

1. Set up a schedule for yourself.
Don't just write whenever you feel like it. Novels NEVER get done that way. You have to say to yourself, "OK, I'll write 4,000 words over the weekend, and during the week I'll try to write 3,000." Or like a lot of people do: set up a NANOWRIMO for yourself. NANOWRIMO is NationalNovelWritingMonth, but I never actually write during that time because I'm in school and I'm always so busy. So, I set up a fake NANOWRIMO during some other month and try to write during that. NANO basically means you write a novel during the whole month of November. A novel is about 50,000 words, so (roughly) you write 1,612 words a day... which isn't to bad for some people. I always get ahead of myself on the weekends ;)

2. Don't get stressed!
Sometimes I get WAY too stressed, and then I end up just scrapping the whole idea of my story. I feel like everyone is pressuring me to write my novel, and that's why I never get it done.
SO. I've developed a plan.
I have an overactive imagination, so sometimes as I'm falling asleep I'll get my story's plot into my head, and fall asleep to new ideas. This makes my story go WAY out of line, so when I get down to writing again, my mental storybook is way ahead of the physical one.
Also, when I tell people about my story, they want to read it. and when they read it, they offer pointers and such... which I HATE when the book isn't done and they offer advice. It pushes my buttons hahaha.


WILL UPDATE LATER...