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Kids Can Publish Novels Too! [Part 1]
by Angela Giles Klocke and Scott D. Warren

You might ask, "Why do adults get to be the only ones that get to have their name on the front of a novel? Why can't kids write novels, too?" Well, guess what. They can! As a matter of a fact, I am working on a novel right now called The Struggle for Freedom. It's about a made up Communist country and... well you read it when I finish it. I got the idea from a show that talked about Communism. I created my characters and the country and went from there, just letting everything that I thought go into the plot. Then later, I'll edit it and change things that I didn't like. That's a good way to do it.

Getting Started

You might wonder, "How am I going to write 760 pages of words to make my novel?" Well, you don't have to be like Stephen King and write all those pages. Think of Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and R.L. Stine. Their novels are usually under 150 pages. Then you say, "But I still can't write that many pages, either!" Imagine looking at the page in one of their books, R.L. Stine's books particularly. Wouldn't about two of those pages from Stine's Fear Street books fit onto one of the pages from your computer? Then consider the fact that you don't have to use small print like size 10. It's best to use size 12. It makes all the difference.

• Use size 12 fonts. Remember - try to use the font Times New Roman in size 12 when writing anything. This not only saves you time later, since you have to submit to publishers like this, but it will give you a better idea of how much progress you are making without checking your word count every few minutes.
• Brainstorm for a catchy title. Many writers find it so helpful to have a working title to go with. Often times, writers have a title before anything. For many, it is the idea of the title that builds the rest of the story.
• When you start writing, try not to think that it is going to be over an eighty-page novel. Think that maybe it's just a short story. That might help you get along better, too. Just get it out.
• Try to write a novel that will keep you interested in writing it. For instance, if you don't like history, don’t attempt to write a novel about the history of America. If you don't like stories about vampires, you just might not be the right writer to write about them. But, still, there is always a chance that you could. The best bet, though, is to write about what interests you first.
• Don't start thinking about money and rush to finish your book. Take your time. Never, never, never think about the money or fame when writing. Your book may end up a best seller, or it may not. You should never write with the hopes of fame and riches. We're writers -- it doesn't exactly happen like that.

  
  

Copyright © 2001 Angela Giles Klocke and Scott D. Warren

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