Writing a novel is difficult. But above all the plotting, figuring out the characters and direction of your story, understanding your style and trying to avoid all the tropes and cliches of your genres, writing the darn thing is the hardest.

How do you push yourself to write that novel? After all, some people feel that it could be wasted effort, especially if they write it and don’t know what to do with it. Not all writers will be successful after all, and this can feel demotivating.

But the truth is that just like anything else, anything worth engaging in is not necessarily a pursuit you only enjoy because of the promsie of rewards. Writing for the sake of writing can be restorative and help you in the right direction.

So, how do you finally push yourself to write that novel? Let’s explore that, below:

One Word At A Time

There’s no getting around the fact that writing a novel is a huge task, and for some the idea sits at the back of our mind for months, maybe even years. You may find it grows and changes shape until you barely recognise the thing you first imagined.

This can make you feel intimate to even outline it. But you’ll also find that even for major, successful writers, novels aren’t written in sweeping, cinematic structures, but are still written one word at a time. That’s what Stephen King recommends in his intro to The Stand, his best book. If you just write ten words now, you have ten words. But that’s one at a time still.

Consider Self-Publishing

You amy think that unless it’s a bestseller, what’s the poin of writing? But the truth is, there’s a whole world between your notebook scratches and landing a deal with a major publisher. That space is really quite wide with the internet now, it’s full of opportunity, and it’s getting better all the time.

With the rise of quality self-publishing services, more writers are putting their work into the world on their own terms, such as with the eBook platforms. Now, that doesn’t mean lower standards or cutting corners. In fact, plenty of self-published authors are building real readerships and releasing beautiful, professionally polished work, and you can too.

Don’t Self-Edit As You Write

There’s no quicker way to talk yourself out of finishing a novel than trying to make it perfect as you go. We all have a critical voice that points out how clunky the dialogue is or how slow the pacing feels, successful writers have it, but gets louder the more attention you give it.

If you can find a pace, even if it’s fifteen minutes a day or just a couple of hundred words before bed, you’ll be surprised how quickly the pieces start stacking up, and then one day, you’ll look back and realise you’re in the middle of a novel you actually wrote! You can always edit later.

With this advice, you’re sure to push and write that novel. Remember us when it’s published!

How Do You Finally Push Yourself To Write That Novel?