Novel Writing

Inspiration & Exploration

Start your novel-writing adventure by reading widely and paying attention to what pulls you into a story. Visit the Salt Lake City Public Library and check out novels in genres you love — fantasy, mystery, realistic fiction, whatever sparks your curiosity. Browse the free "StoryGraph" app to track books and discover what themes and styles excite you. Watch the free YouTube channel "Brandon Sanderson Lectures" — he's a Utah author who teaches his BYU writing course online at no cost. Keep a small notebook handy and jot down images, overheard conversations, or "what if" questions that pop into your head. Notice how your favorite authors start chapters, build tension, and make you care about characters. You're ready for the next step when you can name three story ideas you'd genuinely want to write and explain what makes each one interesting to you.

Tools & Techniques

Now that you have ideas brewing, it's time to set up your writing toolkit. Download the free app "yWriter" or try Google Docs, which saves your work automatically in the cloud. Learn about two popular planning methods: outlining (mapping your whole plot before you write) and "pantsing" (discovering the story as you go). Watch the free "MasterClass Sample Lessons" on YouTube from authors like Neil Gaiman to hear how different writers approach the craft. Explore the free website "The Story Grid" for articles on story structure. Set a daily word-count goal — even 200 words a day adds up fast. Create a simple character sheet listing your main character's name, age, biggest want, and deepest fear. You're ready for the next step when you have a writing tool set up, a daily goal chosen, and at least one character sheet completed.

First Creations

Time to write your very first scenes — no perfection required! Open your document and write the opening paragraph of your story without stopping to fix mistakes. Give yourself a 20-minute "sprint" where you type continuously, even if you write "I don't know what comes next" for a few lines. Try NaNoWriMo's free "Young Writers Program" at ywp.nanowrimo.org, which lets you set your own word-count goal and track progress. Write at least three scenes: one showing your character in their normal life, one where something changes, and one where they face a small obstacle. Read your scenes aloud — your ears catch awkward sentences your eyes miss. Share a paragraph with a trusted friend or family member and ask one specific question, like "Does this opening make you curious?" You're ready for the next step when you have three complete scenes totaling at least 1,500 words.

Style Development

You've got scenes on the page — now you get to develop your own storytelling voice. Voice is the unique way you choose words, build sentences, and see the world through your character's eyes. Try writing the same scene twice: once in short, punchy sentences and once in longer, flowing ones. Notice which feels more like you. Study how Utah author Shannon Hale uses sensory details in her "Princess Academy" series, available free at the library. Practice "deep point of view" by rewriting a paragraph to remove phrases like "she thought" or "he saw" and just show the thought or image directly. Experiment with dialogue — read your characters' conversations aloud and ask yourself if each person sounds distinct. Start a "style notebook" where you paste sentences you love and write a short note about why they work. You're ready for the next step when you can write a 500-word scene where your main character's voice feels consistent and recognizable throughout.

Refine Your Craft

Refining your craft means learning to revise — which professional writers say is where real writing happens. Print out one of your scenes and read it with a pen in hand. Look for three things: places where you tell the reader how someone feels instead of showing it through action, sentences that repeat information, and any scene that doesn't move the plot or reveal character. Use the free "Hemingway App" at hemingwayapp.com to check your readability score and spot overly complex sentences. Join a free online critique group through Scribophile.com or ask your school librarian about local teen writing groups in Salt Lake County. Revise one complete scene from your draft using feedback you've gathered. Read about the "three-act structure" on the free site "Now Novel" to see if your story's shape is working. You're ready for the next step when you have one fully revised scene that feels stronger than your first draft, and you can explain two specific changes you made and why.

Portfolio Piece

Your portfolio piece is the opening chapter — roughly 2,500 to 5,000 words — polished enough to show what you can do. Revise it at least twice using everything you've learned about voice, structure, and showing versus telling. Format it like a real manuscript: double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, with your name and the title in the header. Check out "Query Tracker" free articles to read what literary agents say makes a strong first chapter. Consider entering Utah's "Original Works" competition through the Utah Arts Alliance, which welcomes young writers. Share your chapter with at least two readers and use their feedback for one final pass. Create a one-paragraph summary — called a "logline" — that describes your story's main character, conflict, and stakes in two sentences. You're ready for the next step when you have a complete, formatted opening chapter and a logline you could confidently read aloud to a stranger.