"There are three rules for writing novels," said Somerset Maugham. "Unfortunately, nobody knows these rules." Of course, there are no universal rules for writing a novel of genius. But everyone can make their creativity meaningful and create a work worthy of publication.
Instructions
Step 1
It all starts with an idea. Most writers spend a lot of time thinking about a novel. This is the most important part of creating a piece. It is necessary to write down all the ideas on paper so that in the writing process you can use them.
Step 2
Start by writing a short annotation for your upcoming novel. Literally one sentence in which you need to express the general concept of the work. For example: "A beggar student, in a fit of fever, kills two innocent women, not realizing that his conscience will become his main enemy."
Step 3
Extend the annotation sentence to a paragraph. Outline in it the plot, conflict and denouement of the work. Ideally, a paragraph should consist of five sentences: one for the opening, three for conflicts, and one for the denouement.
Step 4
List the heroes of the novel. For each character in the work, write a small essay on the page, in which you reflect the full biography of the hero: name, life story, what he wants to achieve, what prevents him from doing this, and the events in the plot in which this character takes part.
Step 5
Write down the story in detail. From each sentence in the annotation paragraph, make an independent paragraph, each of which (except the last) should end with a conflict.
Step 6
Conflict is the driving force behind any piece of art. They motivate characters to act voluntarily or by force of circumstances and create internal tension in the narrative. In order for the reader not to lose interest in the novel, it is important to come up with an intriguing opening and throughout the story to pose questions without giving them immediate answers.
Step 7
Working on the plot, draw up diagrams, draw maps, pin suitable photographs to them. This visual series will help to keep track of the plot, no matter how complex and confusing it may be while writing the novel.
Step 8
The main commandment of the author is not to tell, but to show. “Don't tell me that the moon is shining,” Chekhov wrote. “Show me the reflection of her light on the broken glass.” Only then can the reader become a part of the world created by the author and completely immerse himself in the text of the novel.
Step 9
Gerald Brace, in The Fabric of Fiction, expressed the idea that writing a novel of genius requires courage: in order to “face the truth,” you need to be an artist. And this is the first step towards writing a genius novel.
