Writing a novel is a lot like assembling a picture puzzle without a box top picture or colored pieces as a guide. Writer's without a plan to guide their work toil endlessly with words, sentences, and paragraphs unsure of the outcome. As the manuscript grows, questions appear that nibble away at self-confidence. Is there enough material to complete the novel? If there is, will the book captivate the reader's interest from beginning to end? Will the reader be absorbed in the created scenes, or lose the desire to read the next chapter halfway through the book?
Perhaps self-analysis is the best place to start. Are you writing for yourself, literary academia, or to the broad spectrum of the world's population? Is your style, tone, and word usage compatible with your intended audience? Does your story transport the reader into the scene providing vicarious association with the main character's struggle for survival or do your characters appear as puppets manipulated by author contrivance?
This section, presents material that aids writers in manuscript development. The brief topic discussions presented here are by no means all-inclusive. The writer's skill reveals itself in plot and character development, research, and dialogue; therefore, anyone interested in writing must study reference books, attend workshops and classes, and read discussions from others who choose to share their insights and methods.