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How-to-Write-a-Novel

How to write a novel-Step-3-Support Characters

So, you want to write a novel?

In this series, I’ll detail out my process of writing a novel. This is the story of How I converted a simple idea into 70,000 (Scrabble Queen) and 80,000 (Penniless) word manuscripts.

I will use my latest writing project Bhumiyin Kathai (Bhumi’s story) as an example, so that it can serve as an inspiration for you. (Totally selfish reasons, while trying to explain stuff to you, I am getting the motivation to complete outlining the story 😁)

I am writing this story (eventually as a screenplay) to serve as a backdrop and an interest creator for this course - https://study.iitm.ac.in/ds/course_pages/BSCMS3001.html

Right, back to novel writing.

You’ve written the one line story, then wrote your main story arc. Now what?

Step 3
List down support characters

For Bhumiyin Kathai:

  1. Bhumi - main character
  2. Okano Nakazo - Main support character (maybe romantic interest)
  3. Vaani - Bhumi’s sister
  4. Kathir - Bhumi’s brother
  5. Kalai - Bhumi’s youngest sister
  6. Palanisamy - Bhumi’s dad (antagonist 1)
  7. Param - Bhumi’s classmate (antagonist 2)

What do you do with each of these characters?

You will have to make them 3 dimensional. How?

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How to write a novel-Step-2-Write the main story arc

So, you want to write a novel?

In this series, I’ll detail out my process of writing a novel. How I converted a simple idea into 70,000 (Scrabble Queen) and 80,000 (Penniless) word manuscripts?

I will use my latest writing project Bhumiyin Kathai (Bhumi’s story) as an example, so that it can serve as an inspiration for you. (Totally selfish reasons, while trying to explain stuff to you, I am getting the motivation to complete outlining the story 😁)

I am writing this story (eventually as a screenplay) to serve as a backdrop and an interest creator for this course - https://onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in/course_pages/BSCMG3001.html

Right, back to novel writing.

What after the one line story?

Step 2
Write the main story arc.

For Bhumiyin Kathai:

  • Bhumi is outright broke, but wants to go to college (Hook)
  • Bhumi runs away from home and ends up in Hassan Arts College because of helping Okano (Plot Turn 1)
  • Bhumi enrolls in a computer course on Okano’s insistence (Plot turn 1)
  • Bhumi topped the first English exam ahead of Param, Param’s schoolmate and friend plants evidence of Bhumi cheating and the teacher voids her marks (Pinch 1)
  • Bhumi wants to make amends, she pleads with the HOD and she grants her one chance - to present to her teacher
  • Bhumi makes a presentation, but teacher ends up failing her
  • Bhumi trains hard in computer science (app dev), presentation skills, webpage development (Mid-point)
  • Bhumi decides that she has to help her sisters and brother out
  • Okano finds out Bhumi had been lying about her mom (Pinch 2)
  • Bhumi gets to know of a hackathon and enrolls as a team (Plot Turn 2)
  • Her alpha version of the app bombs (FailTry1)
  • Her beta version of the app also bombs (FailTry2)
  • She ends up intercepting Okano’s email (FailTry3)
  • Bhumi wins the hackathon and uses the prize money to give scholarship to girl students from Jaanathur (Resolution)

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How to write a novel-Step-1-Write a one-liner novel

So, you want to write a novel?

In this series, I’ll detail out my process of writing a novel. How I converted a simple idea into 70,000 (Scrabble Queen) and 80,000 (Penniless) word manuscripts?

I will use my latest writing project Bhumiyin Kathai (Bhumi’s story) as an example, so that it can serve as an inspiration for you. (Totally selfish reasons, while trying to explain stuff to you, I am getting the motivation to complete outlining the story 😁)

I am writing this story (eventually as a screenplay) to serve as a backdrop and an interest creator for this course - https://onlinedegree.iitm.ac.in/course_pages/BSCMG3001.html

Right, back to novel writing.

Where to start?

Step 1
Write the story in one line.

For Bhumiyin Kathai:

An indecisive and scheming literature student from a village helps all her siblings become artists by learning to make apps.

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How to write a novel-Ideas a plenty

So many people in the past have told me “I have an idea for a novel” or “There is a novel in everyone” or “Bah.. I can write better than that novel that I just read”.

Translating these words into action requires, brace yourselves,

inspiration.

Nope, wrong answer. The answer is actually very simple - writing.

Not:

  • learning about writing
  • reading other people’s work
  • contemplating how your fans will be clamouring for your autograph once your book reaches the top of the book stack.

In this series, I’ll detail out my process of writing a novel. How I converted a simple idea into 70,000 (Scrabble Queen) and 80,000 (Penniless) word manuscripts?

But, is it just writing? So, if you keep writing for a year, will you have a novel at the end of the year?

Yes, in many cases. In my case, my intention was to plan out the details of the book first before diving headlong into writing.

I consider this an architect or an engineer’s approach to writing fiction.

More posts will come out soon detailing the process. Hang tight!

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