How To Finish Your Novel
Struggling with finishing your novel? Read more to learn about a few different ideas that could help.
Chelsea Lauren
Outline Your Novel
As the writer, you get to choose whether you follow an established outlining technique or if you create your own. It is crucial to know how you want to start your novel, where it will lead, and generally how you’d like it to end (even if this changes as you write).
A simple brain dump can establish this if an outline feels stifling.
If you’d like to follow an established outline, check out:
Set a Deadline
Creating a deadline is so helpful when it comes to completing a task. Especially something as massive as an entire novel! That’s no easy feat
Set a deadline, then create smaller deadlines to make sure you stay on top of things.
How many words can you write in a day?
1,500
How many words are you aiming for?
80,000
Divide the amount of words you want to write into what you can write a day.
80,000/1,500
Take that number and see what month you end up in.
53.3 days. Estimate 60 days = 2 months.
From there, set deadlines for every week or every five chapters to stay accountable.
By the end of the first month, you’d have 40,000 words.
How To Create a Deadline
Stay Accountable
Find accountability partner
Find someone you trust to check in with you. Have them take something away (like changing your streaming password) if you don’t reach your goal.
Body double
This can piggyback off of an accountability partner, especially if they are a writer. Video chat while you write, do writing sprints.
Schedule notifications in your calendar on your phone
Reward yourself
Hire a book coach
weekly or bi-weekly word submission
weekly (30m) or bi-weekly (60m) video calls
unlimited email support
chapter-by-chapter feedback, edits, and suggestions
a book assessment document, featuring strengths and weaknesses for plot, setting, dialogue, characters, and more
final developmental edit of completed manuscript
3-month service
6-month service
12-week service. Starts at $104/week.
Base pay is for manuscript up to 40K words
24-week service. Starts at $104/week.
Base pay is for manuscript up to 80K words