When you sit down at your computer to create a fictional world, you will draw from your imagination, writing knowledge, and a lifetime of experiences and observances. Having a novelist’s tools will make this exciting journey smoother. As well, research and a blueprint for your plot and characters may be essential to make your novel the best it can be.

A widely-used word processing program is a good investment if you don't already have one, such as Microsoft Word. In my personal experience, editors have requested summaries, synopses, and manuscripts via email and on disk with this office suite.

If you need assistance editing your novel, many publishing houses use The Chicago Manual of Style, a prominent reference book. I also highly recommend The Blue Book of Grammar by Jane Strauss, an easy to understand grammar guide, as well as The Elements of Style by William Strunk.        

A recognized thesaurus and dictionary are other necessary assets in your writing career. In addition to definitions, if you want to see sentence examples, Cambridge International Dictionary of English by Cambridge University Press is extremely helpful.

Research 

Some authors pen tales about places, personalities, and situations they are familiar with and no research is required. However, many writers do explore careers, locales, history, psychology, and other features to bring a sense of realism to their story. There are different ways to accomplish this.  

Discovering information in a book is the simplest method. Travel guides, psychology textbooks, encyclopedias, and publications, which provide details about occupations are some sources you can use for research. 

News clippings and articles provide useful facts. The internet offers an abundance of information to plan your novel, but obtain it from reputable sources. A personal interview with someone who has knowledge of a topic related to your characters and plot is a fun and beneficial way to research.

You can take a trip to a location described in your book to see, smell, taste, touch, hear, and overall experience what it is like to actually be there. Volunteer to assist someone who works in the same profession as the hero or heroine of your book to get a feel for the person’s day-to-day existence. Documentaries can even uncover facts for your fiction. Equally interesting, investigative news shows can be an information resource.      

Blueprint 

Sometimes an author gets an idea and feels it so strongly he or she is compelled to write a tale without direction. The story rushes from the soul. Everything about it takes a life of its own. Many outstanding, page-turning novels are constructed in this manner. Other wonderful works come to life with a well thought out summary, synopsis, and outline.  

A summary is a brief description of a novel, focused on the central characters and their dramatic situation. It is usually one to three paragraphs long, but can be longer. A book blurb is a summary written with such sizzle that it entices one to read the book. A summary should be included in a query letter for a novel.

A synopsis is a portrayal of the story from beginning to end. Major plot points, character’s actions, and thoughts are included. It is generally one to three pages long, but is sometimes much longer. Book editors generally request that a synopsis accompany your manuscript.  

An outline is a chapter-by-chapter depiction of a story. It summarizes each scene, provides details about the plot, and puts emphasis on the characters’ conflicts. It is typically lengthier than a synopsis.  

Once the creative juices flow like never before, you’ll choose whether to dive right in and draw from your emotions, or carefully design your summary, synopsis, and outline. You may even attempt to try both approaches of setting off your novel. 

In addition to all of the abovementioned, take into consideration that writing a full-length novel requires a commitment to yourself. Some authors enjoy writing in the morning because their minds are clear and most imaginative at that time of day. Other novelists like crafting their tales at night. Then there are those writers who can immerse themselves in their imaginary world any time.

Whether you’re a morning, night, or any time person, it’s going to take hours of your life to attain this goal. You have to make room in your life for writing. Whether it’s three hours a day or three hours a week, you need consistency to complete a novel.

On the other hand, we are all human. It’s all right to indulge ourselves in the good things. Sometimes our newborn flashes a smile that melts our hearts and we can’t resist cuddling him or her for hours. Or your husband lures you to a romantic getaway. Even your friends might entice you away for a shopping spree.

In either case, do what feels right in your heart. Writing shouldn’t hurt; it should feel good. Writers don’t just want to write about life, but live it. However, don’t remove yourself from your characters and plot for weeks, or worse, months. You don’t want to lose the passion and connection that moves you forward.  

*Book Preparation information is by published by award-winning, best-selling author Loure' Bussey