Attempt at First Novel - Getting Started. Advice Please!!

[loopylou0612]

I have an idea for a novel, based on past experiences. I have the characters again based on past experiences. Only trouble is, I don't know how to get started and some of the incidents I plan to write about seem a bit far fetched, kind of on a par with 'Eastenders'!

I want to try and tone it down, so it's more real but don't want to lose any of the important details.

Has anyone got any ideas or advice as to how I would go about this please? I would be really grateful. Thanks.

my sister is a successful novelist and she says the key is not to wait until you are ready but to get on with it. She says you need to force yourself to sit down infront of the computer and churn the stuff out - whether you think it is good or bad going well or not just keeping writing it. Then you have loads of stuff and edit it down rahter than wait around to be 'gripped'.

So unless you are asleep or physically unable to sit at a desk you write it. Having the idea is great, but a lot of the skill lies in turning the idea into a book.

(she also claims it is not that hard once you get going!)