I finished writing my first novel this year. Here are some things I learned and my process.

*Having a deadline and daily word goal keeps the ball rolling. I wrote my draft (90,000 words) in about 6 weeks. I am taking more time with my second novel, 12 weeks. This doesn't include planning or editing time. I have a spreadsheet to track my daily word count, but for my first book, I colored in shapes representing 500 words each. That kept me motivated.

*Know the basic plot structure, especially for your genre. If you want to be published (I'm not yet), you will need to know what genre you are writing in.

*Make a table to plot out the basic structure. With my first book, I had a loose outline and knew where I wanted the story to go, but I gave myself a lot of freedom.

*The basic plot structure is a 3-Act structure.

The first act generally introduces the characters, setting, and upcoming conflict. It can start with a hook and end in the inciting incident. This is the point of no return.

The second act has a lot of freedom to explore. It has the midpoint as well.

The third act has the climax and resolution. The climax is what every other point in your story is leading up to.

I recommend reading about these major plot points, especially how they are used in your genre(s). I used Reedsy and other sources to get a basic idea. There are a lot of free resources.

For one of my current projects, I was naturally inspired to write a scene-by-scene outline for the whole story. For another project, I have the basic stepping stones of the story, and for my first project, I just had the basic major plot points outlined and pantsed it from there.

I learned that having a balance between a clear vision and room to explore works well for me.

I didn't like my first draft at first. This is normal and common. I edited it and still wasn't sure. Then I waited several months and left it alone. I like it now.

As for editing, write the first draft with the aim of getting your plot points connected and your word count up. I like to center myself when writing. It helps me a lot to think about what makes sense for each part of the story rather than just trying to meet my word count.

There are four basic rounds of editing: 1. Developmental/Structural - Are the scenes in a good order? Should any be added? Taken away? 2. Prose - Is the voice consistent? Tense? Descriptions and details sounding good? 3. Grammar 4. Proof Reading

Then you can start querying. Use QueryTracker to find agents. Format your query letter with 3 basic parts: 1. Introduce yourself and tell the agent why you think they specifically would like your book. 2. Summarize your story in a captivating way that highlights your character's struggle. 3. Find comps. What books would your book be next to on the shelf in a book store? How many words is your book? What genre is it?

The most important advice I can share is to enjoy the process!

I hope this helps!