The novel is the longest type of story we will be looking at, and they are typically around 80,000-120,000 words. Of course, this is very varying, but for a rough idea look at some of the books on your shelves - that's what you're aiming for!
The idea of writing a novel can be very daunting - especially if you just want to dive right in for the first time. I would instead start by writing some shorter pieces, develop your ideas and themes and get an idea of your style first.
With a novel, you need to consider things like theme, place, plot, and characterisation a lot more than you might have done previously. Refer back to some of my tips on this under the 'Writing Features' tab if you're unsure of where to start.
A novel should be fully developed. Unlike a short story or flash fiction where you can leave things ambiguous, a novel should aim to tie up all loose ends. There's nothing worse than investing your time in a novel and coming away with loads of questions!
I have never tried writing a novel myself, but it's a nice goal to be able to work towards! Make sure you feel confident writing generally before you dive in. Your notebook is a really great place to practice, as well as free writing and flash fiction. Once you've built up your style and skills, go out there and do it!
Happy writing!
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