

Before you put pen to paper, ask yourself these questions:
Who is my reader? How can I reach them?
Who is my competition? How can I make my book better than theirs?
Write a synopsis.
Make a chart for all characters, major and minor. Describe your characters in detail: vital statistics, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses.
Make a timeline of your novel.
Remind yourself that setting has two components: time AND place.
Put each potential scene on an index card.
Sort the index cards into three piles: beginning, middle and end.
Arrange the order of the scenes.
Using the scene cards, make an outline.
Start writing!