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5 Things You Need Before Starting Your First Novel

December 29, 2021 No Comments

Are you someone that has always thought, “I’d love to write a novel,” but had no idea where to start? When starting your first novel becomes less of a pipe dream and a more genuine ambition, refer to this list first…

Starting your first novel is a massive feat. That’s starting it; say nothing of finishing it! Over the course of my short life thus far, I’ve encountered a number of people who have told me they would love to write a book, but no idea where to start. And then there’s a select few that have begun, got to a certain point and given up. Or indeed, an even smaller number who have produced first drafts and then done nothing with them.

This post is addressed to those who need a bit of guidance before starting to get serious. Becoming a writer is not just an ambition; it’s something of a lifestyle choice too. So here are five things you will need, without question, before starting your first novel.

1. TIME

You think this would go without saying, really, but it beggars belief how many people expect that it takes no time at all to write a compelling story. Sure, you can chuck a load of words together in an hour and see what you come out with, but I’d consider you a prodigy if it was a fully cohesive, entertaining story with interesting plotlines and irresistible characters. Building all of those things takes time. The Berylford books took me eight and twelve years to finish, in total; that’s numerous drafts, re-drafts, editing sessions, planning sessions and more. With hours of social life sacrificed in the process.

My advice is, if you have a busy lifestyle, to reserve a regular period of your week — maybe an evening one weekday or something — in which you do nothing except work on the book. That way, it becomes a part of that lifestyle, as opposed to an intrusion on it.

2. A GOOD, ORIGINAL IDEA

I often despair at the number of aspiring and amateur authors who say they’re writing a fantasy novel. Simply because it’s such a saturated genre, it stuns me to think how they have come up with something new, that isn’t not-so-secretly “inspired” by Tolkien or George R. R. Martin.

To have a story worth publishing (assuming that’s what you want to do with it), it has to be of a decent quality, namely of considerable interest to an audience. And it should also be original, i.e. not done before or tweaked from something similar. Having inspirations and influences is fine, but the story should be your own. So, starting your first novel not only requires you to recognise what is considered a high-quality idea. You also need to have knowledge of the genre your story belongs in.

3. COMMITMENT

An offshoot from the first point in a way. Commitment is so important for any creative project, not just for writing. I have worked with enough non-committal people to know the annoyance when they start something, often very good, and don’t or won’t see it through to the end. I still harbour some bitterness about one or two projects that ran dry on account of the other half’s lack of commitment.

When you’re writing your first book, try to maintain the attitude that you are working on something big. An awesome achievement with potential rewards at the end of it. Because otherwise, I will say there’s probably no point in pursuing it in the first place, if you’re going to get so far and then just leave it.

4. RESEARCH SKILLS

Whether it’s a gripping thriller or a work of epic fantasy, you won’t get very far without research. To me, it becomes very clear very quickly when a writer has no idea what they’re writing about. And that indicates a lack of research. So having those research skills down — knowing what you need to find out and where to start looking — is of extreme importance. If you’ve read this point and thought, “I can’t be bothered with that,” or “Who has the time?” then maybe writing a book isn’t the right thing for you.

Research not only helps you construct your story and your characters, it also adds to your knowledge of literary style and form.

5. A UNIQUE VOICE

No one likes a copycat or a wannabe. As I said in an earlier point, it never hurts to have influences and inspirations, as in any line of business or creative ambition. But to make your work really worth reading, it has to come from you personally. And that means developing for yourself a unique writing voice. A lot of my readers have said to me that, when reading the Berylford books, they heard my voice as they read the words. That’s not only a massive compliment; that means that my writing voice, my vocabulary and style, successfully came out. And that’s what you want to aim to achieve when writing your first novel.

For more author news and views, my Facebook and Instagram pages are here. And drop a subscription to my YouTube channel to remain informed of the latest, plus some exclusives. Furthermore, my fortnightly podcast, The Dale Hurst Writing Show, is available to listen to here on Spotify.

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Reading time: 4 min
Written by: Dale Hurst
Blog Writer

Fantasy Writing: 5 Mythological Figures to Inspire Your Characters

August 5, 2021 No Comments

Our inaugural podcast episode explores ways to keep fantasy writing fresh. And one of the things we explored is drawing inspiration from ancient myths and legends. Here are a few that are a bit outside-the-box…

The first episode of The Dale Hurst Writing Show deals with keeping fantasy writing freshI once dabbled in a bit of fantasy writing. Never really got the knack for it, though. For one thing, I expect I was too young to understand the greater process of world building. The amount of history that goes into these things, as you see in Tolkien’s Middle Earth legendarium, or the world of George R. R. Martin… in short, it’s no small feat crafting a successful fantasy world.

As discussed in the first episode of The Dale Hurst Writing Show, when writing fantasy, we sometimes look to comparable works such as those of Tolkien and Martin, as well as maybe those of C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia), J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter), and Andrzej Sapkowski (The Witcher). Other times, we draw from what we grow up learning about ancient cultures – gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters. In other words, figures featuring in myths and legends. 

I was a bit obsessed with this sort of thing when I was younger. And while, of course, I would read about the feats of Zeus, Poseidon, Odin, Thor, and Loki, I also remember some of the more obscure mythological figures I read about. So, when it comes to creating your own fantasy story, maybe you’d like to take inspiration from some of these characters, rather than the usual go-tos…

LOUHI (Finnish mythology)

The Witch of the North in Finnish folklore, and already an antagonist in some pre-existing fantasy series. All the same, Louhi, or a character inspired by her, could be quite a harrowing villainess. Some portrayals have her taking the full guise of an eagle or some other monstrous bird. Meanwhile others, including the first depiction I saw of her, showed a frightening-looking woman (white eyes, fanged teeth) with handmade wings and talons, the latter made from farmers’ scythes. If I were to head back into the realms of fantasy writing, Louhi would have to be in there in one form or another.

RAVANA (Hindu legend)

The Ramayana is possibly one of the earliest legends I ever remember hearing. We were taught about it in school when I was either five or six years-old. It’s the tale of Rama and Sita, but it also features one of the most memorable villains ever, in the form of Ravana. A demon king with ten heads and 20 arms. Hindu tradition already regards him as a symbol of evil, so why not inject a bit of him into your next dark lord?

BABA YAGA (Russian mythology)

One of my main guilty pleasures is the film Anastasia; in part for its music, in part on account of my obsession with Russian imperial history. This film produced a direct-to-video spin-off called Bartok the Magnificent, an antagonist of which was Baba Yaga, who is actually a prominent figure in Russian folklore. A child-snatching witch who lives in a house mounted on chicken’s legs, and who travels the Russian skies in a flying mortar and pestle. In Bartok, her portrayal was relatively light-hearted compared to what it could have been. Maybe you could push her to the other extreme in your fantasy villainess.

ACALA (Buddhism, particularly Japanese Buddhism)

You could include a character based of Acala based on his depictions alone. This is one scary and angry looking guy. Bulging white eyes, fanged teeth, a sword in one hand and a noose in the other. Acala is what is described as a wrathful deity; in some cases, he is the wrathful manifestation of the buddha Vairocana. Either way, he gives plenty with which to inspire up-and-coming fantasy writers.

ANANSI (African mythology)

The trickster spider Anansi gets a passing mention in the podcast episode. He is a god in African and Caribbean mythology, who knows all the stories in the world. As such, he is attached to a great many myths, stories and parables. He is the only entry on this list that does not specifically fill an antagonistic role. Anansi typically uses cunning and creativity to outsmart his opponents. With that in mind, he could always serve in a similar capacity to the MCU’s Loki. Or a would-be fantasy author might push Anansi one step further and make him 100% evil, who plays tricks purely out of sadism.

Any more weird and wonderful mythical or legendary figures you think would inspire decent characters, whether hero or villain? Why not let me know in the comments? For more author news and views, my Facebook and Instagram pages are here.

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Written by: Dale Hurst
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The Berylford Scandals (1. Lust & Liberty, 2. Sin & Secrecy) 📚
Podcaster | The Dale Hurst Writing Show🎙️

Dale Hurst | Author
While it's too drizzly to enjoy a Sunday on the Bo While it's too drizzly to enjoy a Sunday on the Boulevard down here in Bournemouth at the moment, I've instead reflected on my most recently published piece 'Sunday on the Boulevard with my Pet Lobster' and chucked it all in a new post on my website. Have a read if you want to find out more about what inspired this bizarre little tale (#linkincomments)🦞🚬🏖️📖📚✍️🖊️
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And with that, he was 30... 🥳 I was going to do And with that, he was 30... 🥳
I was going to do a huge carousel post with some of my favourite photos taken across my 20s. But having done two degrees, practised and retired from journalism, independently published two novels, hosted two podcasts, and met countless amazing people in that time... to sum that all up in 10 photos would be impossible 😆 so... more of the same in the next 10 years? Why not? 🤣😱🧐 In the meantime me and my MVPs right here 
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#ladsladslads #crimefamily #writersofinsta #ignovelist #authorcommunity #writingcommunity #30thbirthday
2022 was a funny old year... new job, new home, pu 2022 was a funny old year... new job, new home, published something new, lost someone dear, and saw two of my oldest and best friends get married... Not sure about you but I'm a bit knackered 😆 anyway, Happy New Year everyone 😘🧐
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#happynye #nye2022 #writersofig #igwriters #ignovelists #authornetwork #writingcommunity #novelists
The listener favourites of Season 2 of #thedalehur The listener favourites of Season 2 of #thedalehurstwritingshow have been totalled up. The following episodes are evidently NOT to be missed!
▪️The most-listened episode of Season 2 was our spooky special Episode 17, featuring author @alex_colvin_ 
▪️Second-most was Episode 12, featuring crime novelist @jasonrvowles 
▪️Third was Episode 19, which featured actor and playwright @conor_jquinn and director @tazy_hm 
▪️An honourable mention goes to our somewhat different Episode 11, starring singer-songwriter @calum_lintott 
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Listen to my podcast now on Spotify and Google Podcasts🎙️📚📖🖋️🎧
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2022 has been eventful to say the least... I won't 2022 has been eventful to say the least... I won't go into the personal stuff, but my latest blog post - link in comments - sums up my professional updates for the year (in case you missed them 😉) 📚
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To all friends and family, personal and profession To all friends and family, personal and professional, domestic and international, I wish a wondrous Christmas 🎄🥰🎄 
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I'll say thank you again to everyone who guested a I'll say thank you again to everyone who guested and listened to Season 2 of The Dale Hurst Writing Show. If you haven't caught it yet, it's on Spotify and Google Podcasts. Swipe 👈👈👈 for a snippet of each episode 😉😉😉 📚🎙️
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Get your 2023 reads started the right way - with t Get your 2023 reads started the right way - with tales of deceit, betrayal, secrets and forbidden love... Not in your personal lives of course (unless that's what you're into), but with my Berylford Scandals books. Both available on Amazon now at slashed prices! Order via my DMs and I might sign them too 📚📝📘📙
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Dale Hurst

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Recent Posts

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