Not sure where your story starts? Let’s find the spark 🔥

Reminder: you don't need to know everything to write a novel, all you need is to connect with your WHY!

Are you staring at your first draft and wondering, “Is this even a book yet?” If this is you, then you’re not alone.

When we’re writing a book it’s so easy to dive headfirst into worrying about structure or making sure you have ALL the subplots covered, but really the most important advice I’ve ever heard is to come back to the hook.

That moment of curiosity, tension, or heat you first experienced when this idea floated into your mind. It’s the very premise that made you want to write this book in the first place. Your why!

For some, it’s a murder at the village fête. For others, it’s a long-held family secret unearthed in a steamer truck in the attic. It’ll depend on your genre where you end up taking the spark of a story – trust me a romance can turn into a creepy crime/thriller quite easily and vice-versa (more on this in another post). But whatever your genre, it is your hook that pulls your reader in – and it’s also knowing the hook that will keep you writing.

💡 So in those quiet moments when you wonder why you wanted to put yourself through writing a story in the first place, ask yourself:

• What’s the moment your story truly begins? How do you see it in your mind?

• What is unique about this story? How is it different from everything else out there?

• What is the central question you keep thinking about? Write it down!

• Why would a reader open the first page and keep reading, unable to stop?

• What feeling do you want the reader to experience by the end of the book?

  
  

Sometimes it just takes a few minutes of sitting down and getting really honest with yourself on why you are writing the story, what you want to share with people, and why it is so important to you. Trust me, knowing your why will get you through the tough times so much more effectively than all the coffee, well-meaning advice or aspirational author quotes in the world.

Trust yourself. You don’t need all the answers to every plot twist or even know who the killer is right now – you just need to know your spark. The rest, will be shaped along the way.

Happy writing!

Victoria O.

P.S. Tomorrow we dive into character - so subscribe on my homepage to ensure you have it delivering directly into your inbox!

P.P.S. If you’re looking for a little bit more help along your writing journey, this is where we begin inside The Write Start: Foundations. We start next week. And if you’re ready to stop rewriting or procrastinating on that amazing idea, and finally build the strong foundations for your story, this is your invitation.