102 Ways to Write a Novel

Then draw off lines from the centre and at the ends of the lines put words such as ‘plot’, ‘characters’, ‘location’, ‘time frame’, ‘symbolism’, ‘emotions’, ‘suspense’, ‘point of view’, ‘other media’, ‘theme’, ‘genre’, or ‘conflicts’.

Put the title of the novel underneath, if you have one.

Start by writing the word ‘novel in the centre of a large sheet of paper.

Mindmapping is a technique that combines elements of free association and chance to pull ideas out of your mind. Variants of it are called clustering, branching or spider drawing, but they’re all basically the same.

19.
MAP YOUR MIND

Just leave them out. What was it Elmore Leonard said? ‘Leave out the parts that readers tend to skip.’

In fact, there’s no need to write those intervening scenes if they’re not interesting.

If you’re stuck at a particular place, zip forwards to the next scene that really interests you.

Or try writing your book non-chronologically.

Change your main character’s name, for example, or their sex, or their location.