How to Write Fiction

Two Methods:Writing HelpWriting Fiction

Fiction and non-fiction are two of the main forms of writing. Fiction is the creation of a
story from the author's imagination, and is not based on real events or people, though it
may reference real events or people. Fiction stories are not true stories, though many
have elements of truth in them. Fiction is by far the most popular form or literature, and
you can find a fiction story in any genre. If you want to create your own work of fiction,
all it takes is a little time and creativity.

Writing Help

Sample Fictional Character Description

Sample Novel Plan

Sample Novel Outline

Writing Fiction
1.

1
Decide what format you want to write your fiction in. Even though there is no such
thing as an absolute format, using a format such as poetry or short stories can help you
somewhat structure your fiction.
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2.

Get an idea of some sort. All books start from a small idea, dream or inspiration that is
slowly transformed into a larger and more detailed version of that same idea. If you're
having issues coming up with good ideas, try these:
Make lists of random things: 'the curtain', 'the cat', 'the investigator' etc.

Take each word and add a few things. Where is it? What is it? When is it? Make up a
paragraph about it. Why is it where it is? When did it get there? How? What does it look
like?
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Make up some characters. What is their age? When were they born and
where? Do they live in this world? What is the name of the city they are in now? What is
their name, age, gender, height, weight, hair color, eye color, ethnic background?

Try making a map. Draw a blob and make it an island, or draw lines
indicating rivers.

If you do not already keep a journal, start now. Journals are amazing
helpers when it comes to getting good ideas.

3
Let your idea feed. It needs to become bigger. Take notes on what you might want in
the story. Go to the library and read up on interesting topics. Go outside and look at
nature. Let the idea mix with other ideas. It's kind of like an incubation period.

4
Get the basic plot and setting figured out. When is it? Is it in the present? The
future? The past? More than one? What's the season? Is it cold, hot or mild? Is it
stormy? Where is it? Is it in this world? A different world? An alternate universe? What
country? City? Province/State? Who is in it? What is their role? Are they good or bad?
What is the precipitating incident that made this story happen in the first place? Is there
something that happened in the past that could affect what happens in the future?

5
Outline your story. Use Roman numerals, and write a few sentences or paragraphs on
what is going to happen in that chapter. Not all writers use outlines, but you should try it
at least once, to see what works for you.

6
Start writing. You may want to try pen and paper instead of the computer for the first
draft. If you're sitting at a computer, and there's one part that you just can't seem to get
right, you sit there for ages trying to figure it out, typing and re-typing. With pen and
paper, you just write it and it's on paper. If you get stuck, you can skip it and keep going.
Just start wherever seems like a good place and write. Use your outline when you forget
where you're going. Keep on going until you get to the end.

7
Take a break. After you have the first draft all on paper, just forget it for a week or so.
Go to the movies, read a book, ride a horse, go for a swim, dine out with some friends,
go for a hike and get some exercise! When you take breaks, you're more inspired. It's
very important not to rush, because then your story comes out as a scrambled mess.
The more time you take, the better it will be.

8
Read. Yes, you have to read your own work. Just do it. While you're reading it use a red
pen to make any notes or corrections you want. In fact, make lots of notes. Think of a
better word? Want to switch some sentences? Does that dialogue sound too immature?
Think that cat should really be a dog? Read your story aloud, it helps you find mistakes.

9
Revise. Revision literally means to visualize it again. Look at it from a different point of
view. If it's in first person, put it in third person. See which you like better. Try new things,
add new plot points, add different characters or put a different personality on a current
character, etc. You may want to get on the computer at this point and type it out. Cut out
the sections you hate, add sections which will make it better, switch sections around, fix
spelling, grammar and punctuation. Make your story stronger.

Don't be afraid to cut out words, paragraphs, and even entire sections.

Most people pad their stories with extraneous words or passages. Cut, cut, cut. That is
the key to success.

10
Copy-edit. Go through every line, looking for typos, misspellings, grammatical errors,
awkward words and things that don't fit. You can go through looking for a specific thing,
like spelling errors, and then again for punctuation errors, or try to fix everything at once.
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When copy-editing your own work, you will often read what you thought
you wrote rather than what you really wrote. Get someone else to copy-edit it for you.
Your first copy-editor will catch more mistakes for you. Even better, have a friend who

likes writing fiction as well. Try writing your stories together or get tips from each other.
Maybe even read each other's works and point out mistakes and give suggestions.

11
Format your work and put it into manuscript form. On the first page you'll want your
name, phone number, address and e-mail in the top left hand corner. In the right hand
corner, put the word count rounded to the nearest 10. Press enter a few times and then
put your title. The title should be centered and set off somehow, like in bold or all caps.
Press enter a few more times then start the text. The main body of the text should be
either Times New Roman or Courier (not Arial). Put it at 12pt or larger. It makes it easier
to read. Double space. You absolutely must double space. Editors like to write notes in

between lines. Change the borders to 1" for added note taking space. Don't change
the right border though. It messes things up and makes it all S T R E T C H E D , like
that. At section breaks, you should use three asterisks (***). Start all new chapters on a
new page. On every page except page 1, have the page number, a shortened version of
the title, and your last name, just in case it gets separated from your other pages. Last
of all, print on high quality 8" x 11" 20lb bond paper.

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Print out a few manuscripts and give them to friends of family to go through and
take notes. If you like what they wrote, you could add it in.

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Submit your manuscript to an editor or publisher and keep your fingers crossed.
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