Beginning

This blog was supposed to be about how we write a novel, and it was pretty sweet if I do say so myself. Then I found out this was going to be one of the first posts for the Rejects. So in light of launching the new site, I’d like to change this from how do we write a novel to how do we begin one.

It’s the same thing you say? Que Sacrilege!

Okay, it’s true that they have a few similarities. The beginning of a novel and how to write one can have things like creating characters, conflict, and building worlds, but that’s about it. Writing one will also include things like outlining, editing, beta reading, editing, and did I mention editing?

So what does it take to begin one? Some will say you need to love the story. It’s close, but personally I don’t think that’s quite right. Yes loving the story about how a young wannabe knight with a laser blade and an honor blurred space cowboy team up together to destroy an evil empire helps, but so does hating zombies so much that you want to blast them all back to hell. The one thing they both have in common is passion. And that my friend is how you begin a novel—with passion.

You see, passion will get you through the best and worst of a novel. The easy part is getting the idea and writing that so important first draft. But it’s passion that will keep you going when you’re trudging through that 3^rdor even 4^th run through of editing your baby, and if you’re like me, it’ll get you past that dreaded world building (I hate world building). Without passion for your novel, it could wind up in the drawer as it attracts the vile dust bunnies.