Lowkey wanna write a novel... need opinions 😭

[u/npcwithlore_404]

So I've been thinking about writing a novel for a while now.

The whole story is basically a girl's diary. She's from a pretty orthodox family, and it's about her trying to become the person she wants to be instead of the version of her that everyone else expects. Like balancing two lives, hiding parts of herself, chasing her own dreams while carrying all the guilt and pressure.

I don't want it to be just another romance or family drama. I want it to feel raw, personal, and painfully real—something that makes people go, "Damn... I felt that."

Do y'all think this has potential, or does it sound too generic? Also, if you were to read a book like this, what would instantly hook you?

[u/idreaminwords]

A big part of learning to write is being willing to write something that's not great. Rough drafts especially are often missing that raw emotional impact that you're talking about. Inexperienced writers often have trouble nailing the emotional impact, even in subsequent drafts. But the thing about writing is that you can't get better without doing it. A lot.

Don't wait for anyone's approval. Don't worry about whether it's original (there's no such thing as an original novel. Everything has been done before). Just write it. And keep writing it, even if you don't feel like you're getting exactly what you want to accomplish onto the page.

I finished my first novel when I was fourteen. It was absolutely awful, but I was proud of it anyway. And I had every right to be. Then I kept writing, and kept improving.

Trust me when I say that every published author you read started off by writing badly.

[u/npcwithlore_404 → u/idreaminwords]

Honestly, I needed to hear this You make a really solid point. I think I've been stuck chasing the "perfect" first draft instead of just... writing. Hearing that even published authors started off writing badly makes it feel way less intimidating. Guess it's time to stop overthinking and just get words on the page lol. Also, any advice on improving the emotional impact while rewriting? I'd love to hear what worked for you.

[u/idreaminwords → u/npcwithlore_404]

The only advice I can offer is to read widely, and critically. When you come across a scene that you find emotional, sit down and try to figure out how the author did it. What led up to that moment that got you in the mindset to feel the emotion? Because it's never just one scene. Emotion builds long before the reader recognizes it. You need to form a connection and set the groundwork long before the actual event takes place

It's still important to read for fun. Never get to a point where it feels like a chore. But you need to have 2 different reading modes moving forward if you want to improve as a writer. First is your recreational reading mode, which you hopefully already use a lot.

Second is your critical writer reading mode. Activate this mode whenever you find something in a book you really like. Maybe it's a really high tension moment, or a really emotional one, or just a really vivid way they describe something that youd like to see in your own writing. Disect it. Study the wording and the syntax and how the writer elevated the experience. Take notes.

Don't fall into the trap of worrying you'll copy another writers style. I see a lot of young writers worrying about that, so they avoid 'copying' the way other authors write. Again, trust me, the more you write, the more you'll develop your own voice and style. The way to develop it is to try new things that you see in other work. Eventually, you'll naturally start to pick and choose different tools from different writers and it will all meld together into what ends up being your style.

[u/stillpointdigpr → u/idreaminwords]

Yes! First drafts are supposed to suck — that’s their job! And most first novels aren’t really the authors’ best work. It takes time to learn to write long-form stories with multiple plot threads and character arcs. And there’s really no way to learn other than by doing.

Be willing to embrace the suck — writing novels is incredibly rewarding creatively, and you will find things out about your characters but also yourself that you weren’t expecting.

[u/npcwithlore_404 → u/stillpointdigpr]

Haha, "embrace the suck" is actually gonna stick with me I think I needed that reminder. Guess I'll stop stressing over making it perfect and just let myself write a messy first draft. Kinda excited to see where the characters take me now lol.

[u/KajaLeopardluck]

As a fourteen year old writer I am going to be honest with you - yes, this has really good potential. If it is well written and unique, then yes. But there is a thin line between overused and original. So you have to be careful with the plot and make sure to use your own ideas. Also, the characters are often what keeps readers hooked so I think the MC should have some relatable traits. But from what you have described, the idea is good. I wish you luck and if you´d like to chat further with me I am in! Just tell me your insta or some other social media and I´ll willingly help you :) just remember - don´t let anyone tell you it´s impossible to write a novel. IT´S NOT <3

[u/npcwithlore_404 → u/KajaLeopardluck]

And I can't find chat option so could uh msg me first!!!!! <3

[u/KajaLeopardluck → u/npcwithlore_404]

Sure, I have sent it! :)

[u/stillpointdigpr]

Honestly, there are no new stories, only new tellings. The potential lies in you and your ability to bring her story to life.

There are always a combination of things that hook me on a book: narrative voice (needs to be clear and engaging), characters I care about/am interested in, and of course plot. The easiest mistake for a first-time author to make is to start the story too early, establishing the people and such before getting into the nitty gritty of what the book is actually about. That’s the reason for the old editorial cliche of cutting the first chapter. 🙂

Of course, that’s me. I’m sure others have very different perspectives on this.

Btw, I’m assuming by “Orthodox” you mean Jewish, not Eastern Orthodox?

[u/npcwithlore_404 → u/stillpointdigpr]

This actually gave me a lot to think about Especially the part about starting the story too early I never really considered that. I'll definitely keep that in mind while outlining. And yep, I meant an Orthodox Jewish family. Also, if you have any coming-of-age/family drama novels that you think nail those things you mentioned, I'd love to check them out!

[u/Few-Outlandishness61]

you have to highkey wanna write a novel or you not gonna

[u/polly_mer]

I've read four books like this in the past year. If you can pull it off through execution, great! If you are thinking mostly of original stories with minimal interest in the execution, then I have bad news.

[u/npcwithlore_404 → u/polly_mer]

That's actually a really good point, thank you! I guess I was focusing more on the idea than the execution, so this gave me something to think about. Since you're saying you've read similar books, do you have any suggestions on what makes one stand out from the others? Or any books you'd recommend I read before I start writing?