How To Become A Novelist On The Side

Many of us one day dream that we can write and publish a book. It’s a dream that may seem far away and almost like a pipe dream, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Today, we’ll explore everything you need to know about becoming a novelist on the side of your current career, allowing you to tick another item off your bucket list.

Publishing After 40

One of the most interesting facts to remember about becoming a novelist is that many of them don’t actually publish their first book till they’re over the age of 40, sometimes even the age of 50. In short, you’ve got so much time to experiment with what novel you want to create, and it doesn’t have to get in the way of your current career.

Even if you write or edit 100 words a day, that’s 36,500 words in a year, which could be the length of your novel!

Write About What You Know

It’s extremely difficult to write about something fluently that you know nothing about. Stop and think about how many thriller books you know that have come from authors who have backgrounds in the government, military or law industries?

It’s not just a huge coincidence; it’s simply because these novelists have the experience and knowledge to write about something so in-depth that it can become a reality. It brings an edge of authenticity to their work.

This is why you should write about something that you know. Look at your life, your career and your individual circumstances, unless you’re willing to dedicate many years to researching and interviewing people for the novel that you want to write about.

Take Your Time

Hand in hand with the first consideration, you cannot rush the writing process, no matter how eager you are to get it done. The more time you ponder and set up your story in your mind, the better the words will flow when you finally sit down and put pen to paper.

You could even write an outline which you edit for years before you even sit down and start writing. Always remember that anything you do towards your novel is a step in the right direction, no matter how small.

“A work of art cannot be completed in a couple of days or hours. If you’re serious about writing and completing your novel, take your time and enjoy the entire process,” shares novel proofreader Richard Messner from Elite Assignment Help.

Using Tools to Help Production

Of course, writing is renowned for being a very solitary craft, and when you do get about writing, you won’t want anybody around to distract you. However, that doesn’t mean you need to create your novel on your own. Here are some tools that could help you out along the way.

• Via Writing - An online blog is full of all the information you need to know about grammar.
• Grammarix – Online grammar checker.
• UKWritings - An online writing community where you can meet other writers to discuss all things related to writing. These services are suggested by The Huffington Post in “Dissertation Writing Help” article.
• State of Writing - An online blog is full of information on all things related to writing novels and editing.
• Essayroo - A writing service full of tips on how to edit your novel professionally and correctly.
• Easy Word Counter- A free tool for tracking and monitoring your word count in real time.
• BoomEssays - An online writing agency full of essential proofreading guides. Read Boom Essays review at SimpleGrad.
• Cite It In  - A tool for making citations and references to use in your novel.
• My Writing Way – A grammar blog.

Research the Competition

Okay, other authors and novelists aren’t so much competition because if you’ve got a got novel, it’s a good novel and it will reach out and touch the hearts of everyone who reads it. However, it’s still a good idea to shadow and research the novelists that you love the most.

By doing this, you can learn to pick up certain styles and formats as well as learning all about how to write properly and make your writing flow from one scene to the next, chapter to chapter.

Lauren Pelletier, a writer for Paper Fellows, continues;
“As you’ll be focusing on your career, it will be difficult to invest a huge amount of time into your writing which is why you’ll need to research your favourite novelists, the ones that inspire you, to easily find your own style.”

Feedback is Essential

It’s so easy to get caught up in your writing, especially when you haven’t yet shown anyone and it can be difficult to build up the courage to let somebody else read your content. However, this is an essential process, and you must be ready and able to handle any criticism. After all, you can’t write for everybody.
Be proactive in asking for feedback, and you’ll be able to create the perfect novel for your readers.