Writing is an art that can be mastered with hard work and a lot of practice. Not everyone is born with the natural ability to write well and write great books. Some of us have to add that extra effort and give ourselves an extra push to make our writing stand out and make it perfect. However, there are some common things one can do in perfecting our chosen art and ensuring that our work stands out.

Writing a novel is very hard and takes blood, sweat and tears to make it perfect enough to even present to a publisher. If you are in the process of writing your novel or if you are thinking of writing one, then here are some don’ts of writing a novel that you must learn.

Don’t Wait for the Inspiration to Hit You

You should not just sit around and wait for the inspiration to hit you. You need to look for your inspiration. It can be your favorite coffee shop, a park near you, your favorite novel or it can be just peacefully lying down. Make an effort to find your inspiration and look for your inspiration. You need to go after your inspiration and once you do start writing your novel, set a daily quota. Start by setting a quota for the number of words you will write in a day and the next day, start by rereading what you wrote and then move on.

Be Positive  

You can be your best critic and you can be worse critic as well. It is up to you to decide what you want to be. If you start doubting your abilities and believing that your novel will turn out bad, it might just be exactly that. Have faith in your abilities and make your inner critic your best friend. Your doubts can easily become your fears and overcoming doubts is easier than fighting your fears. Having doubts and fears is good, but you should not let them overpower you and dictate how you write.

Study Your Craft

No one can become the best without learning their craft. Since you are an author and your craft is writing, you must study writing. You must make an effort to build up your knowledge and learn to become a better writer. Start by asking yourself questions and see how you react when you read a novel. Notice what draws you into the story, what kind of characters you like, what kind of narrative you appreciate and how your favorite writers write. You need to study the genre you like and pick up some books that will help you polish your writing skills.

Last but not the least, keep your mind and heart open for criticism. Learn to appreciate criticism and take it as an advice. If your beta readers or editors point out a mistake, work hard to resolve that mistake and improve your writing. Don’t take any short cuts and don’t give up. Keep fighting!