First Novel 101: A Guide on How to Write it!

May 10, 2025

A Guide on How to Write Your First Novel

Writing your first novel is a thrilling yet challenging endeavor. Whether you dream of crafting a bestselling fantasy epic, a gripping mystery, or an intimate literary work, the journey from idea to finished book requires planning, discipline, and creativity. This guide will walk you through every step—from brainstorming to publishing—using a fictional novel, The Shadow of Blackwood Manor, as an example.

1. Finding Inspiration

Every novel begins with an idea. Inspiration can strike from anywhere—a news article, a personal experience, a dream, or even a random conversation.

For The Shadow of Blackwood Manor, the author imagines:

“What if an old mansion held a secret that every generation tried to bury? And what if the newest heir discovered it?”

How to Find Your Own Inspiration:

Keep a story idea journal (digital or physical).
Explore “what if” scenarios—e.g., What if a detective found out the killer was his own reflection?
Draw from myths, history, or personal experiences.

2. Choosing a Genre and Audience

Your genre will shape your writing style, plot structure, and audience.

The Shadow of Blackwood Manor is a gothic mystery with elements of psychological horror, targeting adult readers who enjoy slow-burn suspense.

Popular Genres & Their Expectations:

Fantasy: World-building, magic systems.
Romance: Emotional arcs, happy endings.
Thriller: Fast pacing, high stakes.
Literary Fiction: Deep themes, character-driven.

Pick a genre you love—it’s easier to write 80,000 words about something you’re passionate about!

3. Developing the Plot

A strong plot keeps readers engaged. The Three-Act Structure is a classic approach:

Act 1: Setup

Introduce protagonist Eleanor Blackwood, a historian inheriting a decaying mansion.
Establish the central mystery: Why did her grandmother forbid anyone from entering the east wing?
Inciting Incident: Eleanor finds a locked diary with a warning.

Act 2: Confrontation

Eleanor explores the mansion, uncovering hidden passages and family secrets.
Midpoint Twist: She realizes the diary’s author—her great-aunt—didn’t disappear; she was murdered.
Rising tension: Eleanor starts seeing apparitions.

Act 3: Resolution

Climax: Eleanor confronts the ghost of her great-aunt, learning the truth.
Resolution: She decides whether to expose the secret or bury it forever.

Alternative Plotting Methods:

The Snowflake Method (expand from a one-sentence summary).
The Hero’s Journey (for mythic or adventure stories).

4. Crafting Memorable Characters

Great characters drive the story.

Eleanor Blackwood (Protagonist)

Occupation: Historian (skills help her research the mansion).
Motivation: To uncover her family’s past.
Flaw: She’s overly rational, refusing to believe in ghosts—until she can’t deny them.

Supporting Characters:

Thomas, the Groundskeeper: Knows more than he admits.
The Ghost of Lydia Blackwood: Tragic figure seeking justice.

Character Development Tips:

Give them conflicting desires (e.g., Eleanor wants the truth but fears what she’ll find).
Avoid stereotypes—e.g., the groundskeeper isn’t just a “creepy old man”; he has a personal stake.

5. World-Building (For Any Genre)

Even non-fantasy novels need immersive settings.

Blackwood Manor Features:

Gothic Architecture: Hidden rooms, portraits with shifting eyes.
History: Built in the 1800s, rumored to be cursed.
Atmosphere: Always raining, creating a claustrophobic mood.

Tips for Strong Settings:

Use sensory details (smell of damp wood, creaking floorboards).
Make the setting affect the plot (e.g., the mansion’s layout hides secrets).

6. Writing the First Draft

The key? Just write.

Strategies for Drafting:

Set a daily word goal (500–1,000 words).
Silence your inner editor—fix typos later.
If stuck, skip ahead (e.g., leave a fight scene unfinished and return).

Example Draft Passage (From Blackwood Manor):

The diary’s pages crumbled at her touch. Eleanor squinted at the faded ink: “Do not trust the reflections. They watch.” A cold breath brushed her neck—but when she turned, the room was empty.

7. Revising and Editing

First drafts are messy. Revision is where the magic happens.

Revision Stages:

Structural Edit: Fix plot holes, pacing, character arcs.
Line Edit: Refine prose, dialogue, descriptions.
Proofreading: Catch grammar/spelling errors.

Beta Readers & Feedback:

Ask: Was the ending satisfying? Were any parts confusing?
Use feedback to strengthen weak spots.

8. Publishing Your Novel

Traditional Publishing

Query literary agents with a pitch letter.
If accepted, they submit to publishers.

Self-Publishing (Amazon KDP, IngramSpark)

Full creative control.
Requires marketing efforts.

Hybrid Options

Small presses.
Crowdfunding (Kickstarter for books).

Full Novel Outline: The Shadow of Blackwood Manor

(A Gothic Mystery/Horror Novel)

Genre & Tone

Genre: Gothic Mystery / Psychological Horror
Tone: Dark, atmospheric, slow-burn suspense
Comparable Titles: The Haunting of Hill House (Shirley Jackson), Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier)

Part 1: The Setup (Act 1 – 25%)

Chapter 1: The Invitation

Protagonist Introduction: Eleanor Blackwood, a 32-year-old historian specializing in Victorian architecture, receives a letter informing her she’s inherited Blackwood Manor—a decaying estate in rural England.
Personal Stakes: Her estranged grandmother’s will stipulates she must live there for three months to claim the inheritance.
Inciting Incident: Eleanor arrives at the manor and meets Thomas, the elderly groundskeeper, who warns her, “Some doors here should stay closed.”

Chapter 2: Secrets in the Walls

Eleanor explores the mansion, finding:
A locked east wing (forbidden in her grandmother’s will).
A portrait of Lydia Blackwood (her great-aunt who “disappeared” in 1965).
Strange cold spots and whispers in empty rooms.
First Weird Event: Eleanor sees a woman in a black dress in the mirror—but when she turns, no one is there.

Chapter 3: The Diary

Eleanor discovers a hidden compartment in her grandmother’s desk containing Lydia’s diary.
The first entry reads: “If you’re reading this, I’m already dead. Do not trust the reflections.”
End of Act 1: Eleanor decides to investigate Lydia’s disappearance, defying the family’s silence.

Part 2: The Descent (Act 2 – 50%)

Chapter 4: The Groundskeeper’s Warning

Thomas reveals fragments of the past:
The Blackwood family made a deal with something generations ago.
Every heir who tried to uncover the truth vanished or went mad.
Eleanor dismisses it as superstition—until she hears footsteps at night.

Chapter 5: The East Wing

Eleanor picks the lock to the east wing.
Inside, she finds:
A ritual circle scratched into the floor.
A child’s doll with its eyes sewn shut.
A newspaper clipping about Lydia’s disappearance (“Local Woman Vanishes; Suspected Suicide”).
Midpoint Twist: The diary entries shift—Lydia didn’t kill herself. She was murdered to silence her.

Chapter 6: The Reflection

Eleanor sees the woman in black (Lydia’s ghost) in mirrors more frequently.
She starts sleepwalking, waking up in the east wing with muddy feet.
Thomas’s Secret: He was in love with Lydia and knows who killed her.

Chapter 7: The Family Curse

Research reveals the Blackwoods sacrificed a servant in the 1800s to gain wealth.
The “curse” demands a life every 50 years—and Eleanor is the next heir.
Darkest Moment: Eleanor’s sanity unravels. She questions if the ghost is real or if she’s inheriting the family madness.

Part 3: The Truth (Act 3 – 25%)

Chapter 8: The Final Entry

Lydia’s last diary entry: “They’re coming for me. The key is in the doll.”
Eleanor destroys the doll, finding a key to the attic.

Chapter 9: The Attic Revelation

In the attic, Eleanor finds:
Lydia’s skeleton hidden in a trunk.
A letter from her grandmother confessing: “We had to silence her. She knew too much.”
Climax: The ghost of Lydia appears, demanding justice.

Chapter 10: The Choice

Eleanor must decide:
Expose the murder (risking the family’s reputation).
Bury the secret (condemning Lydia’s spirit forever).
Resolution: Eleanor burns the manor, freeing Lydia’s ghost but destroying the evidence.
Final Line: “As the flames consumed Blackwood Manor, I swore I saw Lydia smile—before she faded into the smoke.”

Themes & Symbolism

Themes: Family secrets, guilt, the cost of silence.
Symbols:
Mirrors = The duality of truth vs. lies.
The Doll = Innocence corrupted by evil.
Fire = Purification and destruction.

Character Arcs

Character	Start	End
Eleanor	Skeptical historian	Believes in the supernatural, chooses justice over family loyalty
Thomas	Mysterious groundskeeper	Reveals his love for Lydia, helps Eleanor
Lydia’s Ghost	Trapped, vengeful	Finds peace after the truth is uncovered

Publishing & Marketing Notes

Target Audience: Fans of gothic horror, slow-burn mysteries.
Query Hook: “A historian inherits a cursed mansion—only to discover her family’s darkest secret is still alive in the mirrors.”

Conclusion

Writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint. By following these steps—from inspiration to publication—you can turn your idea into a finished book. Remember, even bestselling authors started with a messy first draft. Keep writing, revising, and believing in your story.

Tags:

first novel