Writing a novel is a huge undertaking. It is not always thoroughly enjoyable and can consume many hours. Authors invest a lot of mental energy into their writing. To write your novel takes a great deal of determination. If you want to create interest in a novel, the story needs to be interesting, especially to you. Unless you enjoy the process and the story, you will not be able to keep up the effort needed to complete the task.

For a first novel, you need to write about familiar places and times. The writing will then sound authentic. If you want to include information on subjects not familiar to you, research the area thoroughly or have a knowledgeable friend give their opinion of how you have dealt with a subject.

Decide what genre you're going to attempt. Whether you're writing a mystery, a romance or a historical drama, the approach to each will be different. The plot is important. Generally there needs to be tension of some sort in the writing; a problem or dilemma that isn't fully resolved until the end of the book. Twists and turns in the plot keep the reader in suspense and wanting to know more. Because a novel is so long, subplots may be needed to retain the interest until the last page. A rough plan will keep you on track and give you guidelines to follow.

An interesting book is a complex piece of work. It is useful to have a plan, even if it is rough, of what is happening in the story. Aim to write so many words or pages a day. Perhaps you are able to set aside several hours either in the mornings or evenings. Perhaps you can only write at the weekends. Whatever the circumstances, try to set aside a definite time for writing when you can expect to be free of interruption.

The most important parts are the plot and the characters. The latter should be believable. Even if almost perfect, readers will relate to them more if they have a small flaw or two. Keep your eyes open when out in the community for ideas that would help flesh out one of your characters. Choose names with care. Don't have two characters with really similar names.

A universal rule is 'show, don't tell'. Try to impart information by the actions, dialogue and stance of your characters. Instead of telling the reader a person is angry, show it by having him/her slam down a book or stamp out of a room. Dialogue is a very strong tool. Mix speech and narrative to keep the interest alive.

Read drafts through carefully. It is important to pick up spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. Check time-lines and look for discrepancies in facts. It is difficult to proof-read your own work and you may want to ask a knowledgeable friend to check the story for errors. You can always hire a professional for the task too. If there are passages that don't move the story forward, then delete them.

If you find the words are coming almost faster than you can write them down, just write without bothering to make minor corrections. Editing can wait till later. Once you write your novel, put it away for at least four weeks before going through it again. Writing a book is sometimes the easiest part. Editing and proof-reading may take longer than the actual writing.