: Re: When writing a novel where do you start? I have many abstract ideas for a novel, including characters, storyline etc.. I have found that writing my ideas down helps make them more real and

@Kevin153

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There's no correct, official sequence to begin a novel, but I've found that first writing a very minimal outline or plot arc (I usually draw and annotate this on a whiteboard) for any length story helps me get an idea of where I'm going, just to start bridging the gap between initial concept idea and finished draft. Some light research helps too.

Once I've got the important plot points down, I focus on figuring out who my characters are. I find it easier to begin writing about characters who already feel "real" to me, so before I begin drafting I complete profiles for each character, draw doodles of them, tell my family about what they're like as if they're someone I met, etc. Write a few short scenes for each character that have nothing to do with the novel, just to learn who these people are.

When I have a rough idea of who the characters will be, I refer back to my plot arc/outline and begin writing the scenes I can see most clearly. Sometimes that's beginning-to-end, sometimes it's not. It's pretty common for people to write novels out-of-order and I don't think there's anything wrong with doing that at all. It may seem a little disorganized, but it's a long process and some find it helpful to fill in a few scattered scenes first and then connect the chronological dots.

Of course, plot changes and new characters and research will interrupt this process, but you're going to edit and redraft it anyway so don't let things like that bog you down. And this is just the way I like to start writing projects - what feels natural to you may be very different. It's not exactly the same every time, and you'll settle into a method that works for you. Good luck with your writing! Hope this helps

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