Julie Corbin: Novel Writing Tips

For me, novel writing is a process of decision-making. I begin with an idea, and from that idea, the characters and plot slowly emerge. 

What I’ve learned along the way – 

1. Love your idea. If you love your idea you’ll want to spend time with it, and through spending time with it, you’ll see a spectrum of possibilities for your plot. There’s a great deal of thinking and imagining involved in writing a novel. You need to ask yourself questions – for example, my seventh novel, A Lie For A Lie, is about a school nurse who is accused of hitting a child. I asked myself over one hundred questions along the lines of: Where does this story take place? Who is my nurse? Why is she accused? Who is her accuser? When does this happen? What are the repercussions? 

Each of these questions were expanded into a further set of questions as I drilled deeper and deeper into the heart of the story. 

2. Spend time in your main character’s head. And if you’re going to spend time there then you need to make her interesting. The most important question you will ask her is: What do you want? 

She might tell you she wants to get revenge or find a husband, have a baby or walk the length of the British Isles. Or she might tell you she wants to keep the status quo. 

Do you – and therefore readers’ – identify with whatever it is she wants? What motivates her? Is she different from you? In what ways is she different?

Do the work. Get under her skin. The more you get under her skin the easier it is to make decisions as the story progresses.

3. Who, or what, is in your main character’s way? You need a strong antagonist, someone or something that will push your protagonist to the very limits. If your antagonist falls at the first hurdle then that will make it very easy for your protagonist to get what she wants, and there’s no story in that. I have learnt that the harder I push the antagonist, the harder I have to push my protagonist. That makes for a story with shocks and revelations, twists and turns.
4. So, what does your main character want? 

Yes, really. I’m repeating this because it can become lost as the story progresses. I have post-it notes on my wall to remind me of this otherwise my focus slips.

5. Where is your story set? Setting adds atmosphere, context and imagery. Do you want your setting to help or hinder your character in some way? How will you use your setting to highlight and inform certain aspects of the plot? Make it work for you.
6. Find your first few plot points. 

There are writers who plan before beginning to write and there are writers who have an idea and dive in. I am somewhere in between. When I know toughly what my novel will be about, I plan Act One, and about halfway through the writing, ideas for Act Two begin to take shape.

I believe plot grows from character. The more work I’ve done with my protagonist, the less likely I am to be sitting thinking – what’s she going to do now? Is she the sort of person who would do X, Y or Z?

7. Make decisions

Remember that this is your work and you can change your mind. Choose a viewpoint, if you don’t like it – change it. Give her a brother; take him away again. Make her commit murder, then change your mind, have her commit a lesser offence and save the murder for the end. Try not to let yourself become too fixed on any one way to tell your story.

8. Take a break – go out into nature, watch something gripping or funny on Netflix, give your imagination the opportunity to relax and renew. Read a novel you enjoy. You will intuitively absorb some of the structure and rhythms. 
9. Try to add to your manuscript every day and don’t worry about the fine dusting – you’re mixing your metaphors and some of your descriptions are woeful – it doesn’t matter – get the first draft written. When you have a first draft you have the gold from which you can craft your masterpiece. I can’t stress enough how much you need that first draft in order to see your way to a completed novel. It sounds obvious but just getting to the end is crucial. You might be long or short on words, it might be boggy in the middle with a confused, unbelievable plot, but now you have something to work with.
10. Find yourself a trusted reader – not your loved ones, not people who rarely read. Make friends with other writers and share your work. I’ve been doing this for years and it’s both encouraging and eye opening as my friends see plot holes and possibilities I haven’t considered.
11. Be prepared to rewrite.

You have a first draft! Take time to celebrate. Smile. Congratulate yourself. Leave it for a few weeks so that there is some space between you and your work.

Read it through in one sitting, if possible. Treat it as if it isn’t yours.

Ask yourself more questions – Is the reader hooked from page one?

Does the engine of my story fire up quickly? Where are the dramatic conflicts? Does each scene move the plot and characterisation forward? 

Then begin the rewrite with a greater understanding of what your novel is about.

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Find out more about Julie on her website https://www.juliecorbin.com/

Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/Julie_Corbin

A LIE FOR A LIE

Teacher versus pupil.
It’s your word against hers . . .

As a school nurse, Anna Pierce is a well-respected and trusted member of the community. So when she is accused of hitting a pupil, the reaction is one of shock and disbelief.

The pupil is Tori Carmichael – Anna’s mentee and a troubled child known for bending the truth.

With her career and reputation on the line, Anna is determined to clear her name. But before she can, the worst happens: Tori is found dead.

Suspicion mounts against Anna, who says she didn’t do it.

But if she isn’t the killer, there is someone out there who is . . .

Delivering a dark and twisting plot and asking the reader ‘What would you do?’, this is gripping suspense for fans of Big Little Lies and The Rumour.

BUY HERE

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: On Writing