Writing a Novel Is Like Attending Graduate School

Have you completed your prerequisites?

Do you want to write a novel?

If you’re a writer, this has probably crossed your mind more times than one. Of course you want to write a novel!

You want to see your name in print on a bookstore shelf next to other great books by even better authors. But are you ready to write a book?

You may not be.

Writing a novel is like attending graduate school. You have to finish all of the prerequisites like high school and college first but embarking on a difficult task like that. In other words, you have to gain experience as a writer before writing a novel.

I Don’t Want to Rain On Your Parade

Most young writers set out to write the Great American Novel. This is great, but many don’t have much experience before this to do so.

I should know. I’m a victim of doing it too.

I thought that’s writers are supposed to do: start writing novels to launch their career. One would think so, but there’s much other tasks to be done before then.

A writer must gain experience. They can do so by writing short stories, poetry and articles, all which can be done on Medium. Once they gain insight into what they can and can’t do, then they will know what will work for a future novel or not.

When you start to write a novel without experience, you will probably fail. You just don’t have all of the writing muscles to complete a book.

But you will in the future if you start writing today.

I Failed Plenty of Times at Writing Novels

Some projects I began writing without a plot. Other novels I began to plot but then I quit writing it. Why?

I was nowhere near prepared.

Even though I’m still a rookie on Medium, it’s helped me gain experience in so many ways. I’ve grown as a writer to see what I like and don’t like to write, what I’m good at and what I’m not.

When I write a novel in the future, I will know what and what not to do. I have so many ideas for books, but I’m not ready for them, and they are not ready for me.

Nowadays, I’m sticking to writing on Medium as much as I can. I’m doing everything I set out to do on here:

• Grow as a writer.
• Meet other writers.
• Earn some money for my work.

I’m doing these things every day. And when the day comes I’m ready to write a novel, I will be ready.

Closing Thoughts

We all have a book deep down inside of us. I just know we do. But are we ready for it yet.

Ask yourself today. Are you ready to take on a novel, or are you still in the early days of your writing career?

Wherever you are, keep going. Keep writing and fueling your passion for the written word. I know you will write a great novel someday.

I know we all will.

Happy writing!

Noah Nelson is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in journalism with minors in political science and history. He serves as a senior columnist for The Daily Illini and a writer on Medium. “Life: A Collection of Short Stories” is his first book available now on Amazon.