How to write a novel: Read novels, practice writing (classes, workshops optional); listen to Muse; find Voice for novel; consider all your alternate personalities.

Since ancient times, writers have spoken of having a muse and listening to voices.

A Muse is a voice that remains with you and may offer guidance on any novel you write.

The Voice of a novel are the voices you hear that belong to that novel’s main characters and/or narrators.

What are these muses and voices? They are alternate personalities, which simply means that they are rational, autonomous, psychological entities, who have minds of their own.

Why think of muses and voices as alternate personalities? What is the advantage?

First, there is a body of knowledge related to alternate personalities (i.e., multiple personality).

Second, if you don’t realize that you have multiple personalities, and don’t consider the needs of your other personalities—and not just the needs of the Muse, the voices of that novel, and of the writing personality who is working with them—your other personalities might cause problems.

What if you don’t have a muse or hear voices? If you really do have them, but haven’t paid attention, you can listen for them. But if you just don’t have them—most people don’t—there are things to do other than write novels.

There are literally hundreds of posts in this blog about various aspects of writing: comments quoted from great writers and discussions of their novels. But you can't become a great writer just by knowing these things. Not everyone is suited to be a novelist.