Noticing Newbies

Hello there fellow novel writer!

First thing I would advise is don't worry too much about what to do with the novel when it's done until you're really close to finish, and by finish I mean after rewrites and edits. The big first step that lays before you is a hard task. That is simply to get the first draft done. Many people quit and/or lose interest before making it to that point. How long it takes and the methods you use in creating drafts (some edit as go along, other do 4 drafts before even editing, others do something else) that is all up to what works best for you.

Once you get draft 1 done, though, it is often suggested you take a little break from it. At least two weeks though it helps to take some more time off from it because you want to gain a little distance. Work on something else during that time. Then when you go back to either rewrite, or edit, it's not as fresh in your mind and you will be able to catch the troubled spots where it needs fixed better.

Eventually having readers will help, once you have a version you are ready to show people. You can go to groups like Pencil, who specifically review novels. Or you can join groups with likeminded people and maybe trade someone, you help with their novel and they help you with yours. There are many options available. You can have someone read it before edits, some call those alpha readers, to get a gauge on how things are going, just depends on what you are comfortable with and who you can find that you trust.

From there, depends on what you want. Agent searching, publisher searching, research into editors and the many aspects to consider when self publishing.

There is a long road of options, which is why I first suggest to write the first draft. The rest you can figure out along the way.

Good luck!