On Writing, 149

How to Write Your Novel

Here's how you write your novel.

This system is not the only one, but it will work.

1.        You need an idea. You may already have one, which is why you wish to write the story, in which case, jump to point 2. If you don't, where do you find one? A news article might inspire you; as I write, there are articles about using DNA to bring back wolves. Of course, this theme has been exploited significantly by the author of Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton. Still, perhaps your angle might be a domestic take: a local dealer producing pure breeds of dogs from former times. Or it might be by simple observation; I was once in a Café Nero and sitting high in the window; there were those sitting below, outside, at small round tables, one looking through government papers; I wondered what might happen if these were confidential and revealing……That become an essential part of my book Bram, A Spy Story. Buy a paper copy of your favourite sunday paper and leaf through, cutting out possibilities. Take a walk with your notebook, observing.

TBC