How to Write Your First Dream Novel ① Mindset

Before you start writing a dream novel, I would like to write down something like a mindset.
Since this mindset will be the foundation of your creative work, I can honestly say it is the most important thing.

When you are just starting out, you might feel pressured to write well, or (if you are posting online) you might worry about what your social media followers think.
But writing dream novels is a truly fun activity.
The content I am about to write is also like a set of tips to ensure that such fun writing does not become mentally heavy or painful.

▶ Write for yourself, not for someone else

When you think about writing a dream novel, you might find yourself thinking about "what others will think."
Is it weird? Will people be put off? Will they think I'm a bad writer?...
But the moment you start thinking about that, your spirits will suddenly feel heavy.

A dream novel is not meant to be evaluated by someone else, but rathera way to give shape to the "experience you want to feel".

If you write seeking evaluation, you will feel depressed when you don't get the expected reaction on the social media where you posted it, or you will push yourself too hard, thinking this isn't good enough and that you need to get better, which will make it painful.
It could even lead to being swallowed up by comparison and competition, causing you to give up writing entirely.
That's not fun at all, and it's a huge waste, as if you are crushing your own passion.

I believe that a dream novel can be entirely for yourself. You don't even have to show it to anyone, and even if you publish it, it doesn't matter if no one understands it.
You write the scenes where you think, "I want to experience this moment with my partner," because you want to read them yourself.
A dream novel by you, for you, and of you.
That is perfectly fine.

I believe that what starts from there is what ends up reaching someone else later on.

▶ It's natural not to be able to write well at first! It doesn't have to be a long story!

Have you ever had an experience like this when trying to write a dream novel?
Even though the scene is clearly floating in your head, the moment you try to write it, you stop, the sentences don't continue, or you can't think of the perfect word...
Some people might even despair because words aren't coming out as much as they thought they would.
I was the same way.

Butno one can write well from the start. If you have never written a novel in your life, it is truly normal to have those worries.
After all, your brain isn't wired for writing yet.
That is your "initial state," and everyone starts from that state.
(If there is someone who says, "It's my first time, but I was able to write it just fine," that is a wonderful talent, so please keep writing away.)

Besides, don't you think that since it's a novel, it won't look good if it's short, or that you have to write a long story?
The length of a dream novel doesn't matter. There might be regulations if you are submitting to a contest, but novels written as a hobby are free; anything goes.
Even 140 characters that fit in an X post can be a wonderful dream novel.

So you don't need to feel pressured at all.
The important thing is to create the experience of having "written something."

By the way, the first short story I posted on my personal website was 2,124 characters long.
Reading it back now, I use the same words over and over, and the Japanese is somewhat clumsy.
Even so, when I finished that dream novel I had worked so hard on, I was so, so happy, and I became obsessed with writing, wanting to write more and more.

▶ The important thing is to just try it first

It goes without saying, but you will never finish writing if you only think about it.
I have thought thousands of times, 'I really wish there was a device that could automatically write out the stories in my head,' but unfortunately, that is difficult with current technology.

This is something you have to write yourself (though there is the option of relying on AI, which I will discuss later).
However, once you start moving your hands even a little, a flow strangely begins to emerge.
It is quite common for the story to then proceed smoothly from there.
For those who are struggling at the stage before writing, I recommend trying to write even just one character first.

If I hadn't started writing the first character of the 2,124-character dream novel I mentioned earlier, I wouldn't be here today.
Because I started writing, it has continued as a fun hobby for over 10 years, I've published fanzines, met fellow dream novel writers, and ended up writing this note.

Try writing even if you're not good at it.
It doesn't have to be cohesive, and it's fine to start without a plan.
Try just lining up the dialogue.
I support that first step from the bottom of my heart.

▶ You don't need a plot! Even just one scene is a dream novel!

When you think, 'I have to make it a proper story,' the hurdle suddenly goes up.
But for dream novels, it is not strictly necessary to have a proper story.

The Boys' Love, or BL, genre was once called 'Yaoi'.
Yaoi is an abbreviation for 'no climax, no punchline, no meaning' (yama nashi, ochi nashi, imi nashi).
I think it is perfectly fine for dream novels to have 'no climax, no punchline, no meaning' as well.
Just write the scenes you want to write!
Just write the lines you want to be told and the parts around them!
Isn't that fine? After all, you are the one writing it because you want to read this scene.

For example,

• ・The moment your name is called while looking at the night view

• ・The moment you are suddenly pulled by the hand

• ・A scene where you suddenly make eye contact and smile at each other

These are heart-fluttering scenes.
If this situation is written down in text, even if it's short, that alone makes it a dream novel.

In the past, there was a time when I frequently visited the personal website of a novelist whose writing style I liked.
They had many novels around 2,000 characters long, describing only a single scene in detail, with no particular story.
However, my heart was pierced by those 2,000 characters packed with their dedication, and I read them over and over again.
As a reader, even without a plot, I was filled with the feeling of 'Thank you for writing this (applause).'

Since that's how it feels from the reader's side, you really don't need to worry too much about the story.
If you start writing and want to get particular about it, please enjoy the process of carefully crafting the scenario.

▶ AI can write for you, but the joy of writing it yourself is on a different level

Technological progress is remarkable, and now you can create things immediately using AI.
You can easily generate dream novels too.
I think it's a valid way to enjoy things, like having AI write something because you just want to read it.

However, there is definitely a sensation that you can only experience when you write it yourself.
The sense of immersion as you lose yourself in the writing.
The flow of the pen when the characters start moving on their own.
The exhilaration when the perfect words come to you.
The sense of accomplishment when you finish.
And above all, (as I wrote in the ─Introduction─ article), it is no exaggeration to say that you are constantly thinking about your favorite character while writing, so you are always happy. Once you have experienced these sensations, I think you will nod and agree, saying, 'Yes, that's exactly how it is.'

AI is convenient, so you might want to use it as support for brainstorming ideas.
But I really, really want you to try writing it yourself.
I am sure you will understand the unique joy that can only be found there.

▶Understand that it is fan fiction

Dream novels usually feature characters from manga, anime, etc., as the partner.
If you create something using copyrighted characters, that work is considered fan fiction.
Fan fiction exists only because the original work and characters exist.
We are able to create fan fiction because the official creators tacitly allow what would otherwise be a copyright infringement.
Let's keep that premise firmly in mind.

And when creating fan fiction, it is also important to not force your own opinions or interpretations on others, as well.
On the internet, there are countless people with various preferences, from dream novels and HL to BL.
Even within the same genre, everyone has their own 'landmines' (pairings or settings they find physiologically unacceptable).
To operate peacefully in such a world, let's respect each other's boundaries with the spirit of 'to each their own.'

• Follow official guidelines

• Use search avoidance so that people outside the genre you are creating for do not see it

• Clearly state if there are special settings or R18 content so that readers can choose whether to view them

• Do not push your own interpretations onto others

These kinds of rules and manners are things that everyone who creates fan fiction should always keep in mind.

▶The writing method here is just one example

The way of writing dream novels that I will introduce from here on is just my way of doing things, so it is only one example.
There are no restrictions saying you must do it this way, and there is no single correct answer.

In fact, there are countless ways to write dream novels.
The order in which it is easiest to write also differs from person to person.
Some people write out detailed plots, while others build everything in their heads.
Some people start by writing dialogue, while others start with the narrative text.

Please try various things and find the writing style that feels natural to you.

I have listed many things, but above all, I would be happy if you could feel that you don't need to be too intimidated at first and that it is okay to just write casually.
We will go through the specific steps of writing in the next article, so I hope you will join me.

※Announcement※
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