Developing an Outline

To write a cohesive novel we need to make sure our story has a proper flow.  Our ideas need to mesh organically and clearly.  The best way to stay on track is to have an outline of what we want accomplished in our story.
An outline gives us an outlet to write down everything we would like to accomplish in our novel.  So first just write points you want to incorporate.  Have the main idea and then start jotting down story ideas to develop the main idea.  This looks bad now, but will make for great literature later.
We can have a great story idea in our mind but it needs to be developed through a course of events.  For us not to get confused and keep a flow in our writing we need to organize our thoughts.
Start at the top with the main idea.  The main idea is the angle we want our story conveyed so it is important we have a good understanding of what we want to accomplish.  If we are unsure of certain points we want to develop in our story, now would be a good time to do a little research.  We should have a good understanding of what we are writing about and a side bonus from research is that we may learn more points we want to include that we had not thought of.  This will add to the flavour of our novel.
Now lets look at the other points we wrote down.  How do they help in developing our main idea.  Look at your thoughts and see if they add to your story.   Imagine for a moment that you are writing a romantic novel, and there is too much information that simply confuses the reader.  Eliminate it.  If you want to include a point, you should have a clear idea of where it belongs in your story.  Obviously we don't give away too much too early in suspense fiction.  Keep a list of where to add information in your outline.
Under the main point we can now write our first supporting point, then our second, third and so on.  Under the first supporting point we can write sub points.  As we write these down keep asking yourself; Is this adding to my story?  Is it accomplishing its purpose?  Does it reflect what my main idea is?  These sub points will help develop our story and lead to the climax and conclusion.
For our sub points to have substance; do research.  If we are writing about medieval times then it would be good to research what people wore, living conditions, what they knew or didn't know.  Doing this research will add a depth to your story and help your readers feel like they are there.  Reality makes good fiction.
This process should help us keep our flow and not have any overlapping.  We can see if each supporting point is clear and needed for  the story to develop.  If it does not add to the story then discard it.  Trying to make a point fit can ruin a good novel and confuse the reader.
Looking at our supporting points again it is now time to put them in proper order.  With the research we have done we may feel one idea should come first to set the characters up properly.  When we want to introduce certain points.  Looking everything over closely will help us see how we want to line up our story.  This should then make it clear as we write and we are not jumping from idea to idea.  We want it to be cohesive, after the reader is finished they should feel a logical conclusion was developed.  It is good for them to think about your book afterwards with positive thoughts.
Of course the order will be different for a suspense novel than for science fiction; so there is no one answer for this; it is up to the author.

Proofreading

When we pick up a novel and start reading; it would be very disappointing to read grammar and spelling errors. In fact we would probably put the book down and not continue reading. The same is true if we are writing a blog or promoting our writings online. So what can we do? Proofread, proofread and proofread.
We may have a great plot and we took the time to develop our characters,but if the grammar is bad you've lost your readers and they won't get to see your amazing plot ideas. So how can we do it? If grammar and spelling is not our strong quality, then we may need to ask for help or pay someone to help us.
Things to Look For
First, it may be wise to check the spelling. Most word programs have built in spell-checks for us. If we are writing fast to get our thoughts down we may miss typing a certain letter. If we go back over our work and check for these errors we can fairly quickly make the needed corrections.
Second, take the time to re-read what you wrote. When we get in the groove of writing we may miss adding words. Sometimes it is as simple as missing conjunctives or prepositions; small words that don't matter that much but without them your sentence is definitely missing something.
Third, look for punctuation. Make sure there are quotes around spoken words. Proper commas, periods, question marks, and even exclamation marks. We do not want our sentences to look like they run on and on. Have a thought, finish it and then move on.
Editing
Now that the basics are done lets look into the meat of your writing. For readers to enjoy your story they will need to read proper grammar. Again, if you are not capable, it is vital to have someone to help you. If we read a sentence that says: "He play all the time." or "I took the ball from she." Our readers will feel frustrated and will stop reading. So if this is difficult for you to do, I can not stress this enough: Please Get Someone to Help You!
For our writing to flow we also need to make sure our sentence structure is clear and organized. We do not want to be writing about one point and then jump to another without it flowing properly. So proofread one paragraph and make sure it makes sense to you.
When proofreading look for simple mistakes. Homonyms: your or you're, they're, their or there. Contractions and apostrophes: its, it's. Commas: "Let's eat Stan." vs "Let's eat, Stan." Word endings: family/families.
Take your time with this. Read over your work slowly. Keep your concentration while you are reading so you do not miss anything. It can be helpful to read aloud, sometimes your ears pick up errors your eyes may miss. Have others read it for you. And then proof read again!
Hopefully you can now see the importance of proof reading and if you are proud of the story you wrote then take the time to proof read for errors. This will go a long way in your future to become an accomplished writer or great fiction.

Plot ( Part 2 )

In Donna's previous article she discussed four factors to develop a good plot.  Now let’s consider five more.  Plot is crucial to having good fiction.  You may think that a romance is all about the people - that's not true.  If you want the reader to commit to your writing you need  to give careful consideration to the plot.

Setting

The best way to get your reader involved is to describe what the surroundings are.  First ask yourself some questions. Where is the story taking place? What is the landscape? What time in history? What social structure are the characters under.  When answering these questions we can start to develop an effective setting.

Be careful in your details.  You will need to decide how much description is needed.  We don’t want to give so many precise details that our reader is overwhelmed and weighed down.  Or  may eventually become bored.  So consider what your story needs to capture your reader, do you need to describe every inch of the house or can a general description work?  To enhance the house you could add smells, textures even sounds.

Fully Develop the Characters

Once our setting is established let’s go back and look at our characters.  How will they interact with each other.  Can there be any overlapping with different characters?  If so; again it would be wise to have a mapping of ideas so you can visualize how the characters are being developed.  Ask questions to delve into the whys of the character.  Such as why does he speak that way?  Any personality quirks? Make sure to write the answers to develop the character as much as possible.  It is good to remember that we want the character to evolve throughout the story - so don’t make them too rigid.  If the characters will interact, help them to get the best out of each character.

Events

Outlining the events will help the story flow.  No event should be random.  For the plot to be clear the events need proper cohesion.  If there is going to be a proper conflict, events need to lead up to it.  As events unfold there should be enough information that our readers are not lost; but they want to keep reading.  The progression of events needs to be logical so we can arrive at the climax of the story.  Over the course of the story the events should be in a sequence giving rising action so the reader is involved and ready.  These events will also help to develop the characters personalities.  How they react to situations.

Creating an Interesting Climax

This is the part of our plot where the characters will face their greatest challenge.  As characters are developed and the events unfold this should lead to our plot climax also.  Generally this is near the end of the story.  The main character will go through events that may seem defeating and (if we want a happy ending) will miraculously come through. If we want to keep our readers in suspense and give us the chance to provide a sequel, then we can leave the ending open with some unanswered questions.

Falling Action

This helps us sum up our happy ending.  After the climax the falling action brings back calm again.  This shouldn’t be written quickly and without forethought - don't assume this is an unimportant detail.  A fast ending can leave a reader feeling annoyed that they invested time reading your novel only to be jilted in the end.  So take your time to neatly clear everything up and leave your readers wanting more.

Now that you have developed your plot it’s time to start writing. 

What Do I Read Next?

Are you overwhelmed by the sheer amount of reading subjects? I finish a good novel and sometimes I honestly think it would be easier to read it a second time rather than choose a new one. How much time do you commit to a book before you decide if you can finish it? I have my favorite authors, but I have read all of their books and now I need a suggestion - but my wife's taste is very different from mine.
Actually she once bought the book The Moonstone and she couldn't get around to reading it so she told me it was a classic mystery and that I might like it. I read it but it never really became a book i would consider a favorite. To be quite honest, the only book we have ever both read and both enjoyed was The Scarlet Pimpernel. I'm just discovering that now as I tell you; she never likes to read historical fiction or classic novels. I don't read romance novels.
So where do we find our next book? Enter the age of computers and the huge advantage o previewing a book before committing to it. Then there was the reading apps and the downloadable e-books, and now in this glorious age we have the ability to sit on a train going to work and I can go to a website to read fiction for free online. No download, no app, no problem if I don't have my tablet or laptop with me. Literature has never been so accessible, and I really hope that more people discover this new technology rather than simply using their phones to watch movies and play games where you have to match three things together to win a prize. Surely culture has evolved to a point where we could use our time to broaden our horizons.
So I have spent countless hours reading classic novels and enjoying the literary art through the masters of old. But a new thought has been recently in my mind, why not test some new writers? Where can I find authentic fiction online written by amateurs who have a story to tell? I don't want to read a blog, I want to read an actual novel, some free fiction posted by someone who wants to tell their story. Ficfun is the place. Hundreds of writers sharing their work. And I can access it on my phone while waiting for the doctor.
This has actually become a library for me, one I can look through on my daily commute. I don't have time to walk through the library every day but I can find a new book to read and maybe the first 10 chapters are all that is available right now. That's okay, next week I'll come back and read some more chapters - it's like having access to the author's manuscripts. I can see the process, it's very real. As a writer myself I even leave comments for the author, these are new writers and some advice may be good for them. I'm never mean, writing is hard work and they need to have the courage to keep going; in some cases I need them to keep going so I can continue reading their book. Like an itch I gotta scratch.
In a world with so many options to choose from, finding something you want to read can be a challenge. Ask a friend, ask your spouse, go to the library, or find a free novel reading website online. Keep reading!

Word Over-Use

Over using phrases like "there is", "there are", "it is", "it was", and other such things can be a big problem for beginning writers. When we use these too often in our writing they lose their meaning and what's worse they can frustrate the readers of our novels.
For example, writing: There are likely to be many parents concerned about the new bus schedule. Using “there are” obscures the main subject and action of the sentence. It should correctly read: Many parents are likely to be concerned about the new bus schedule. In the first sentence, the words "There are likely to be" is just too many small words put together in one verbal phrase.
The most common way to organize a sentence is to put the subject first and then the verb. Here is an example: The boy runs to school. When we use the words “there” or “it” first followed by a verb it can confuse the reader because "there" and "it" are not the subject of the sentence. This is a good rule to follow when writing action sentences and any time you need your subject to be clearly performing the action.
When overusing these words our writing becomes complicated and wordy rather than concise and easy to follow. "There is", "there are", "it was" or "it is" are called expletives. In the world of grammar, expletives aren't swear words. They are words that serve a function but don't have any meaning. These words do not add any meaning or structure to our sentence. I know it is not forbidden to use them of course. "It was a dark and stormy night" can be a perfectly good beginning sentence, look at popular books and see how experienced authors use expletives.
These expletive sentences are different because if we change “there” or “it” with a different noun the sentence meaning changes. They serve a purpose but they don't really have a meaning; not the same way that a sentence subject does. For example “There is a coffee and donut shop” is another sentence that makes perfect sense to us. What is the subject of that sentence? "There is" is not the subject. You can replace it with: “Dave is a coffee and donut shop”. Dave is a noun and is a fitting subject for any sentence - a subject that makes sense to us. And in this case he is a coffee and donut shop. Nouns can be a subject of the sentence in a way that an expletive cannot.
How do I avoid this trap? This can be as simple as rearranging a few words in your sentence. Sometimes it means stepping away from your work as a writer and looking at it as a reader would. Just examine the words, look at your sentence and find the real subject of the sentence. What verb does this subject need, add it here and create a meaningful sentence. I think this especially would be the case in a romance novel, or erotica fiction. It is important that our subject be clear.
Here is another word of caution for beginners, choose a verb carefully. It may seem simple to read it here but we have to remember that singular subjects require singular verbs; and plural subjects require plural verbs.
Don't over-use words, and use care when using expletives. This becomes ever more critical in the age of online books, as readers may become more transient and we want them to come back for more. Just making small, subtle changes we can clarify the meaning of our sentences and give our readers something truly enjoyable to read.

How, When, Where and What?

Writers face so many questions when they consider the possibility of writing.  How do I find readers for my work?  Where can I write so that readers can find me?  When do I stop being a writer and start becoming an author?  And of course the big one; what do I write about?
Let's answer these one at a time.
Where can you write?  Well the internet is a crazy thing, and today there are so many places that new writers can write, that it is easy to feel like your audience may never find you.  Twenty years ago, if you wanted someone to read something you wrote, you either got it in a newspaper or had a book printed.  The options were much more limiting and this made the work of writing the biggest challenge.  Today the biggest challenge is finding a platform that allows you to write what you want to write, and then matching this work with the people who will want to see it.  Unfortunately these people have to dig through millions of other works and sources to be matched up with your work.
Well for fiction literature, the job has been made a little easier with the launch of the Ficfun website (ficfun.com).  Let's face it, if you have in mind the idea to write a science fiction novel, or a romance novel, or some clever mystery you have the chance today to have an audience exposed to your work immediately.  What's more, you don't have to have the book completed before posting it, you can post a chapter at a time.  You could never do that with a paper book!
You can also post on blogs and Facebook, and you cold start your own website - there are so many places you could post your next literary idea.  The trick is to consider who will be exposed to your work; so find a place that readers have already gathered.
That actually answered two questions, finding readers for your work will be easier if you post on a popular website; and for beginners it is possible for that to be completely free.  Don't pay to find readers, get some free exposure first and maybe some constructive criticism along with it.
When will you stop being a writer and start being an author?  Well that is a tricky question.  I was writing in high school and have continued writing ever since.  I have not had one complete idea yet; my novel ideas do not get finished so I don't think I am an author.  To be perfectly honest, this is another reason that I like ficfun.com.  The ability to post one chapter at a time is so much less intimidating, but on the flip side it does put just enough pressure on me to actually keep those posts coming.  I have people reading the first five chapters so I had better get the sixth one done!  What a great idea that was to read novels online.  No app to download!
Final question: what do I write?  This one has no answer that I can give you.  I believe there is an amazing story inside of each of us.  Yours might be science fiction and mine might be a great romance novel.  The hard part is getting that story out and working on it.  I don't think you or I will simply sit down and type a masterpiece; I think we will type out a great story and then somebody who is much smarter than us will help us to fix the parts that need fixing.  I think a great novel is the result of many people doing a lot of great work - but that work starts with some normal person writing a story.  So figure out what your story is.  Write it down and get some criticism.  I might read your novel online and you might read mine.  And maybe, just maybe.....something great will come of it.  Then we will no longer be a writer, we will be an author.