How to Bring Out the Best in Your Novel… with editor Frances Moloney
When it comes to writing a novel, there is no “one size fits all” method, and every author you speak to will have a different approach to their writing process. However, there are some tried and tested methods that I have used over the years that can help you figure out the way you work best, and therefore bring out the best in your novel.
The first question I always ask when approaching an idea for a new novel is: What’s the story? The first part of the writing process, for me, is finding the story you want to tell and distilling this idea until it is crystal clear. You might find answering the following questions helpful: What makes your story unique? Why do you feel passionate about the subject matter you have chosen? Who are the characters? Where is the novel set? After you have answered these questions, you may then want to go one step further: writing a synopsis, plotting out the novel in bullet points or giving a full chapter by chapter breakdown and writing character sketches. Putting in the leg work before you’ve even begun to put pen to paper to fully flesh out the world of your novel will help create a more informed and assured first draft.
When it comes to starting writing, you may want to consider the narrative voice that best fits your story. Is your novel voice led? If so, you may want to consider a first-person narration, where the reader feels totally immersed in the protagonist’s point of view. If your work is plot driven, you may instead decide that you want the freedom to jump seamlessly from one character to another’s perspective and using a third person narration might work best for you.
Once you have found the voice of your characters, the writing process can differ drastically from person to person. In my experience, it can be motivational to work to a set word count each day, but others might find this limiting or restrictive. Whether you start at the beginning and work chronologically or sketch out scenes in vignettes as they come to you is another area of subjectivity. Whichever way you choose to approach your writing process, a standout opening chapter is vital to your novel’s success. Reading opening chapters that you admire and considering what makes them effective can be a good starting point.
Once you have a finished first draft that you feel completely happy with, it is always advisable to put it away in a drawer for a couple of weeks, before rereading, editing, and deciding whether you feel ready to send your work into the wider world. Joining a writer’s group and sharing your work with fellow readers and writers can be a great way to measure the strengths of your novel and identify any areas that could still do with some further work.
If I can offer any wisdom, my main advice to new writers would be that most of all, writing is about learning, improvement, and growth. That’s one of the things that makes it so fulfilling. Even the most successful published authors work with editors to polish their manuscript before it becomes the novel you have in your hands.
Happy writing!
Frances Moloney’s debut novel for middle grade readers, The Mystery of the Missing Mum, was published on 4th August 2022 by Pushkin Children’s Books. She has worked in children's publishing for over ten years. Starting out as a bookseller at Waterstones, she has worked for some of the world's largest publishing houses, Simon and Schuster and Hachette, and with independents Nosy Crow, Flying Eye and Knights Of, amongst others! She has worked with a range of bestselling and award-winning children's authors such as Holly Webb, Jonathan Meres, Pippa Goodhart and Berlie Doherty. Frances is a Cornerstones Industry editor, and is available for reports and mentoring – do get in touch with the team for more information!
