The Complete Guide to Writing Novels: From Beginner to Advanced - Over 20,000 PV!

To write from start to finish

A gentle, complete guide

“I want to try writing a novel.”
The moment you think that, you are already a creator.

But at the same time, don't you have these concerns?

・I don't know where to start
・Is a plot necessary?
・I'm afraid I'll stop halfway through
・My writing might be too poor...

It's okay.

Novels are not written with “talent,” but withprocedure.

Here, I will explain in order
how to write to the endwhile avoiding the points where beginners often stumble.

I will break it down as much as possible, so please stay with me until the end.

Chapter 1: What do you write in a novel?

1-1 The true nature of a novel is “change”

Simply put, a novel is

a story where someone changes

.

Examples:
・A timid boy learns to be brave
・A lonely woman learns to trust someone
・A person who gave up on their dream tries again

No matter the genre, there is always a “change.”

First, try thinking about it this way.

How does the protagonist change in the end?

Once this is decided, the story is half finished.

For now, it is enough to recognize that “a novel is change.”

Chapter 2: The 3 Steps to Start With

Step 1: Decide on the Protagonist

A common mistake beginners make is starting by building the world.

First, start with the person.

Things to consider:

・How old are they?
・What is their personality?
・What are they struggling with?
・What are they lacking?

This "struggle" becomes the engine of the story.

Step 2: Decide on the Goal

What is the protagonist aiming for?

Example:
・Winning a tournament
・Confessing to someone they like
・Reconciling with their family

Having a goal keeps the story from drifting.
By continuing to write toward that goal, contradictions are less likely to arise, and it becomes easier to manage while writing.

Step 3: Prepare Obstacles

A story always needs "obstacles."

・A rival
・A time limit
・A misunderstanding
・Failure

No matter what it is, it's interesting because things don't go easily.

One of the joys of a novel is seeing them overcome those obstacles.
There is a common saying in manga that 'a story sells if the villain is attractive.' The same applies to novels.

Chapter 3: How to Create a Simple Plot

Complex structural theories are unnecessary.

For now, just remember this format.

① Daily life
② Problem arises
③ Failure
④ The biggest pinch
⑤ Overcoming it
⑥ Change and conclusion

Just by writing these down, the framework is complete.
These six things you wrote down are the plot.

Chapter 4: Tips for Writing Sentences

4-1 Do not explain emotions

X He was sad.
O He refreshed the screen with no read receipt over and over.

Show emotions through actions.
Writing "he was sad" as is is fine for a personal diary.
But as a novel, it's a bit bland, isn't it?

4-2 Use the five senses

・Sound
・Smell
・Touch
・Temperature
・Sight

Just by incorporating the five senses a little, your writing will come alive.
If you can stimulate the reader's five senses through your writing, that expression will likely be as close to perfect as possible.

For example, when you have food in front of you, think about what you feel most strongly, and try to write about that.

4-3 Do not aim for perfection

This is the number one reason beginners get stuck.

"I can't write well, so I can't move forward."

It is natural to be bad at first.

Completing it is the top priority.
Rather than spending several hours on a single sentence, please finish it even if it is imperfect.
You can revise it later, and in fact, once you can see the end, the direction of the writing becomes clearer, and it may turn into the kind of writing you were aiming for.

Chapter 5: Tips for Writing to the End

5-1 A little bit every day is fine

Even 300 characters a day is OK.

The important thing is to "keep going."
I won't say it's meaningless if you don't continue, but rather than writing 10,000 characters in one day, writing for a month, no matter how many characters it is, will help you acquire writing and structural skills, and as a result, you will be able to write to the end.
Writing a novel is not a sprint.

5-2 It is normal to get bored along the way

The plot stage is fun, isn't it?
Your imagination expands, and you think, "I'll add this, I'll do that." It's such a fun step.

But once you start writing, the process is steady and methodical.
Some people can enjoy that steadiness, but for many people, it is natural to feel that it is boring.

Boredom does not equal failure.
There is also a joy that becomes visible by building things up little by little.

Also, precisely because it is boring, ideas may emerge from trying to entertain yourself.
Please consider that boredom to be necessary.

5-3 Let it rest after finishing

Immediately after writing, you are filled with a sense of accomplishment and cannot judge normally.

If you leave it for a week and then reread it, you will see areas for improvement that were not visible before.
Make sure to let it rest before reading.
This step is essential, especially for contests and public submissions.

Chapter 6: Common Worries Q&A

Q. I feel like I have no talent.

→ Most people feel that way.
What is more important than talent is the "number of completed works."
Things like talent are only visible after you have achieved something.
Believe in yourself and try to run to the finish line.

Q. What if it doesn't get read?

→ First, praise yourself for having written it.
Whether it gets read or not is the next stage.
And the worry of not being read is something everyone has.
That is why "Fragments of the Pen Tip" exists, so please consult it.

Q. Can I become a professional?

→ You don't need to think about that right now.
First, complete one piece.
After you have completed a work, let's revisit that question.

Summary

What a beginner needs to do is simple.

1. Decide on a protagonist

2. Decide on a goal

3. Create obstacles

4. Write to the end

That is all.

Skill will follow later.
And once you reach that point, your true worries will become apparent.

Summary for Beginners

Writing a novel is not just for someone special.

The emotions and memories within you are your own unique material.

Start with just one.

A short story is fine.

It doesn't have to be perfect.

Try finishing it.

That is where the story begins.

Technique alone is not enough to reach others.

A revolutionary method to turn your very existence into a story

You who have read this far have surely already put in enough effort.

・Read books on plotting
・Signed up for workshops
・Submitted to new writer awards
・Resolved to write every day

Even so, don't you feel this way?

“I learned how to write. But for some reason, I can't write.”
“I can't finish to the end.”
“If it's not read, I feel like my existence is being denied.”

Many novel and writing courses in the world teach 'technique.'
However, what is really holding you back is not technique.
After all, we learn how to write sentences in compulsory education.
Even at Pen-saki no Kakera, we teach how to write, but that is not what we really want you to learn.

What is holding you back is your heart.

What I teach here is not just a how-to.
It is a systemization of everything regarding the 'structure,' 'psychology,' and 'continuity' needed to write a novel.

Technique × Psychology × Habituation × How to handle your existence

Only by integrating these four layers can a novel be completed.

Chapter 1: What is a Novel - Understanding the Essence

1-1 The True Nature of a Novel

What is a novel?

The answer is simple.

A "story of change"

・Change in values
・Change in relationships
・Change in circumstances
・Change in inner self

What readers are looking for is not "good writing."
It is experiencing change.
Gaining a simulated experience from text. That is one of the joys of reading.

1-2 The Essence of a Structure That Sells

No matter the genre of content, there is a common basic structure.

Three-Act Structure (The Classic Framework)

1. Daily Life (Stability)

2. Incident (Collapse)

3. Reconstruction (Change)

This is the same for Hollywood films and literary award-winning works.

There is no need to overthink it.

What kind of life does the protagonist lead, what are they drawn into, what do they lose in the end, and what do they gain?

Just by clarifying that, the story begins to move.

Chapter 2: Complete Procedure for Plot Design

2-1 Deciding on a Theme

A theme is a question.

Examples:
・Can people change?
・Can loneliness be overcome?
・Can talent be surpassed by effort?

If the theme is vague, the story will also be blurry.
What is important here is not to become too preachy.
Let's present the 'question' in a way that is firmly embedded in the story.

2-2 Determining the Protagonist's Flaw

A story begins with a 'flaw'.

・Lacks confidence
・Does not know love
・Cannot trust others

It is precisely because there is a flaw that the story moves.
Without a flaw, there is no room for growth.
This is where the 'potential' lies.

2-3 Setting a Goal

Please set a physical goal and a mental goal.

Examples:
・Win the tournament (physical)
・Accept oneself (mental)

When these two axes are aligned, the story becomes stronger.
How will they change by accomplishing something?
If you don't decide that, the story tends to become quite vague.

Chapter 3: How to Create Readable Prose

3-1 Basic Principles of Description

Bad example:

He was sad.

Good example:

He closed his smartphone screen and repeatedly refreshed the notification bar that had no replies.

Do not explain emotions.
Show them through actions.
I am writing the same thing, but please remember it because it is truly important.

3-2 The Secret to Dialogue

Dialogue is not about conveying information.
It is a device for creating discrepancies.

Always mix the following into dialogue:
・Things you want to hide
・True feelings you cannot say

Let me break it down for you.

"Let's go defeat the monster."
"Okay."

This conversation only explains the situation. It just adds to the word count without conveying anything to the reader.

"Alright, we can take down an S-rank monster. Let's go hunt it down immediately!"
"B-but... ugh... alright, I understand."

By writing it this way, you can get a sense of the characters' personalities and positions, right?
It is natural for people to think differently, but in a novel, there is only the author writing. By intentionally being conscious of these discrepancies, you can successfully differentiate your characters.

3-3 Causes of Boredom

There are several reasons why a work becomes boring.
If your work is judged as boring, it will stop being read, so please avoid this as much as possible.

・Excessive explanation
・Scenes without purpose
・Time without conflict

Ask yourself this for every scene.

"What changes in this scene?"

If there is no change, delete it.
Wasting word count leads to low evaluations in contests and public submissions.

Chapter 4: The Real Reason You Can't Write

This is the core that makes this article different from others.

The reason you cannot write is not a "lack of ability."

Main causes

・Fear of evaluation
・Fear of being proven to have no talent
・Fear of not being read
・The sense of emptiness that comes the moment it is finished

Many people are afraid not of writing, but of "being exposed."
Of course, as an author myself, I understand that feeling.
There are times when I feel the pressure to write something interesting.
Even so, if you don't write and put it out into the world, nothing will change.

4-1 Separate Your Work from Your Self-Worth

This is the most important thing to keep your heart from stopping.

Work = Product
You = Existence

Even if your work is rejected, your existence is not.

If you cannot make this separation, you will feel every critique as a personal attack.
It is true that your personality and life are reflected in your work, but it is not all of who you are.

4-2 Build Tolerance for Loneliness

Authors are fundamentally lonely.

There will always be a period where you are not read.

During that time,

redefine it not as "proof of worthlessness" but as a "polishing period"

Just doing this will make you less likely to give up.

Chapter 5: Practical Methods for Habit Formation

5-1 30 minutes a day is enough

Perfectionism is the enemy of creativity.

For example, instead of writing 1,000 characters every day, make it your goal to
sit in front of your computer every day.

5-2 Establish a pre-writing ritual

・The same music
・The same time
・The same place

The brain responds to rituals.
Turning it into a routine is the best way to lower the hurdle for writing.

5-3 "Boredom" is normal

Listen, the excitement during the plotting stage is an illusion.
It is truly fun to imagine things in your head. That is only natural.
But writing is work.

Please view it as a "process" rather than an emotion.
Just by recognizing that, your mind will be less likely to stop.

Chapter 6: For those aiming for new writer awards or book publication

6-1 What is talent?

Talent = Ability to continue × Ability to improve

The genius type is rare.

I think most are the improvement type.
Beyond just continuing, how much you can find your own shortcomings and how you improve them.
That is talent.

6-2 How to view rejection

Rejection = Just a lack of fit

It just means that the work did not align with the market.
After receiving the results, think only about how you can improve to better match the market.
Focus solely on making those improvements.

Chapter 7: Using Modern Weapons

・Social media outreach
・Creating touchpoints with readers
・Using AI for plot assistance

It is not just about the technique; how you deliver your work is also a strategy.

"If you write it, someone will find it" is a fantasy.

In the modern age, a writer's ability to promote themselves is crucial.
The results will change significantly depending on how you advertise.
For that purpose, please make use of Pen-saki no Kakera.

Resolve

What it means to write a novel

・Accepting loneliness
・Taking responsibility for the evaluation
・Choosing to write regardless

More necessary than talent is,

"the resolve to keep deciding to write."

Start from the heart.
It may seem like mere mental theory, but that is the best way to continue and achieve results.
It is the most effective approach.

Summary

What is necessary to write a novel is

1. Understanding structure

2. Plot design

3. Descriptive technique

4. Organizing psychology

5. Habit formation

6. Resolve

When these 6 layers are in place,
you will finally become a "writer".

Summary

It is okay to have periods where you are not read.
It is okay to be lost.
It is okay to stop.

Even so.

Only those who keep writing can reach the other side of the story.

Your story has only just begun.

The Complete Guide to Writing Light Novels

A practical manual for creating "interesting" content at maximum speed

Light novels (hereafter referred to as LN) rely on
"readability" and "character appeal" as their lifeblood.

There is no need to be literary.
Difficult metaphors are not needed either.

What is needed is:

Character x Setting x Pacing

From here on, I will explain how beginners can write a "light novel-style work" in the shortest time possible.

Chapter 1: What is a Light Novel?

1-1 The Essence of Light Novels

The core of a light novel is the "character".

More than the story,

・I love this character
・This banter is fun
・This relationship is precious

It is important to make the reader feel this way.
Understand the structure that makes people want to support a character, and try writing while thinking about what kind of character you would want to support yourself.

1-2 Examples of Common Genres

・Isekai Reincarnation
・School Battle
・Romantic Comedy
・Dungeon Exploration
・Streamer/Modern Fantasy

Existing genres are just the "entrance."
Differentiating the content is your job.

Chapter 2: The First Thing You Should Create is the "Protagonist's Weapon"

Light novel protagonists always have a "weapon."

The weapons referred to here are:

・Abilities
・Special status
・Personality strengths
・Overwhelming weaknesses

Examples:

・Return-by-death ability
・Strong but oblivious
・Introverted but brainy
・Actually a former hero

Create features that readers can understand in a single line.

Chapter 3: How to Create a Heroine (or Partner)

In light novels, relationships become important.

The heroine is a mirror that reflects the protagonist.

Things to consider are:

・The exact opposite of the protagonist?
・Sharing the same wounds?
・An existence that triggers the protagonist's flaws?

The charm lies in the "gap."

Examples:

・Cool but loves sweets
・Strong-willed but easily scared
・The strongest but has no sense of direction

Chapter 4: The Ultimate Template Structure (For Beginners)

1. Daily Life + Sense of Unease

2. Being Swept into the Extraordinary

3. Ability Awakening / Secret Revealed

4. Appearance of a Formidable Foe

5. Crisis

6. Making a Resolution

7. Victory + Aftermath

This alone is enough to structure a single volume.

You don't need to overthink it.

Chapter 5: Tips for Writing Engaging Prose (Light Novel Edition)

5-1 Keep sentences short

X: He turned around slowly, wearing an expression that could be taken as either anger or sadness. O: He turned around. His eyes were angry.

Tempo is everything.
This is the major difference between literary fiction and light novels.
Keep it simple, short, and rhythmic.

5-2 Use plenty of dialogue

Dialogue is the star of light novels.

A ratio of 4:6 for narrative to dialogue is perfectly fine.

5-3 Weave explanations into dialogue

X: In this world, magic power is... O: "Out of magic? You were firing spells all night yesterday, weren't you?" "I couldn't help it!"

Exchanges are much easier to read than explanatory text.

Chapter 6: Common Mistakes

1. Long world-building explanations

→ The story comes to a halt. Many people will stop reading at that point.

2. The protagonist lacks personality

→ Being just a "good person" is weak.

3. The formidable enemy is weak

→ If the crisis is shallow, it won't be exciting.

Chapter 7: How to Generate Ideas Without Running Out

Recommended for beginners is

"What if" x "Daily life"

Example:

・What if the whole class were streamers?
・What if your favorite idol were your classmate?
・What if isekai reincarnation were a civil service system?

Structurally, it's just adding one twist to an existing genre.

Chapter 8: Tips for Finishing Your Story

Momentum is important for light novels.

・Write a little every day
・A rough plot is fine
・Leave revisions for later

Completion > Perfection.
Basically, let go of perfectionism.

Chapter 9: How to Create a Title

The title is also important for light novels.

・Long titles are okay
・Make the situation clear
・Include differentiating words

Example format:

“What happened when I did XX”
“I, the weakest, am...”
“I was banished, but...”

The content should be understandable at a glance.
It is important to think of the title as a 'synopsis' nowadays.

Chapter 10: If you are aiming for newcomer awards or web submissions

・Give your all to the first 3 pages
・Introduce abilities or incidents in the first chapter
・Prioritize pacing

Web-originated works are mainstream now, aren't they?

The fast cycle of posting, getting reactions, and improving is a strength.
Keep that in mind and continue to iterate on your improvements.

Summary

What is important in light novels is

1. Attractive characters

2. Easy-to-understand weapons

3. Pacing

4. Moments that stir emotions

You don't need to overthink it.

Instead of aiming for 100,000 characters first,
complete a 30,000-character volume structure.

Everything starts from there.

Light novels are a genre where you seriously create 'fun'.

If you cannot get excited about your story, the readers won't either.

Start with the setting you most want to write about.

Finally

Thank you for reading this far.
If you found this even slightly helpful, please share it and leave a like.
The activities of Pen-saki no Kakera are supported by your encouragement.
If you would like to support me, I would be grateful if you could also provide a tip.

Postscript
Thankfully, over 10,000 people have read this.
I have also received feedback saying that reading this article helps people write novels.

If you really don't mind, would you consider tipping even just 100 yen so that Pen-saki no Kakera can continue its activities?
Thank you!