Whatever stage of the process you’re at, writing a novel can be a whole lot of fun. But it also takes a lot of time.

None of us have unlimited time to write (and chances are, your writing time has to fit in around everything else in life) – so how can you best move forward at all the different stages of writing a novel?

I’ve written several novels and novellas, some of which I’ve published, and some of which will never see the light of day. Each time I embark on a new novel, it feels a little daunting. And I remember that before I completed my first novel, the idea of writing something so long felt almost impossible.

A novel is a big project. It takes time (often years, particularly for first-time authors). Even if you do nothing else but write, you’re unlikely to be able to dash off a good novel in just a few weeks. That means there’ll almost certainly be points in the writing process where you end up feeling bogged down. Sometimes, that’s because life gets in the way – but it can also be because you’re struggling with a particular stage of writing a novel.

Let’s take a look at some key stages, along with tips for moving through each without getting stuck.

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