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Your First Novel Roadmap
Eight stages, from a spark of an idea to a book in readers' hands. Do them in order, one small step at a time.
1. 💡 Spark
Find the story worth telling. Typical time: About a week.
- Write your story in one sentence
- Pick your genre and who it is for
- Know your main character and what they want
- Decide what stands in their way
2. 🗺 Plan
Map the road before you drive it. Typical time: 1 to 2 weeks.
- Choose a story structure (three acts is fine)
- List the major plot points
- Sketch your main characters
- Pick the point of view and setting
- Write a chapter-by-chapter outline
3. ✏ Draft
Get the whole story down. Messy is fine. Typical time: 2 to 6 months (50,000 to 90,000 words).
- Set a daily word goal
- Reach 10,000 words
- Reach 25% of your target
- Reach the halfway point
- Reach 75% of your target
- Write the last chapter
4. 🔧 Revise
Make the story work. Typical time: 1 to 2 months.
- Rest the draft for a week or two
- Read it start to finish without editing
- Fix plot holes and pacing
- Deepen your characters
- Rewrite the weakest chapters
5. 💬 Feedback
Let trusted readers in. Typical time: About a month, while readers read.
- Choose 3-5 readers you trust
- Send them the manuscript with a few questions
- Collect and sort their notes
- Decide what to change
6. ✨ Polish
Make every sentence earn its place. Typical time: About a month.
- Line edit for clarity and voice
- Check names, dates and details are consistent
- Proofread for typos
7. 📖 Format
Get it ready for readers. Typical time: A week or two.
- Write the title, blurb and author bio
- Format the manuscript
- Make or commission a cover
- Write your logline (one sentence)
- Write a 150-word back-cover blurb
8. 🎉 Publish
Share it with the world. Typical time: Varies: querying takes months, self-publishing takes weeks.
- Choose your path (agent query or self-publish)
- Publish or submit it
- Tell your readers
- Write your query letter or launch description
- Write a one-page synopsis