I’ve already written a detailed article on How to Write a Novella and How to Write Fast, but in this post, I wanted to share some takeaways from a novella project I began recently.

It all started with a Dark Academia Solo RPG I was working on. I wanted to test it by playing through it, and as soon as I rolled the main characters and the setting, I found myself immersed in the story, and wanting to write more.

I spent a couple of leisurely weeks playing through and outlining the novella — now titled, Dark Academia.

Then I started writing.

In all honesty, I didn’t expect it to develop so rapidly, but after two weeks of writing (and vlogging), the first draft was complete.

Writing Vlog

Week 1

Watch on Youtube

☞ If you’re interested in beta reading the novella, you can sign up here.

Week 2

Watch on Youtube

Writing a Novella

If you want to write a novella quickly, I have a few recommendations:

1. Start with an outline. While this isn’t necessary, and you may even find yourself deviating from your outline, having a familiarity with the characters, settings, and the overall story can afford you ease and confidence as you write.
   1. Even if you don’t plot before you begin, use a story structure in order to help shape the character arc as you go.
2. Have fun. Instead of focusing on finishing the project, focus on enjoying it, even savouring it.
   1. Rearrange your desk or workspace. Maybe even consider decorating for the season.
   2. Plan a writing date, or an outing.
   3. Treat yourself to some nice stationery.
3. Take the pressure off your project. Don’t treat it as your masterpiece, don’t consider target audiences or market dynamics or future sales. Enjoy writing your novella just as though you were reading it.
4. Use dice to make decisions. My novella started out as a solo RPG, and I found it fun and freeing to ask a yes/no question and roll a die when I needed to make a story decision.
5. Film yourself writing in order to help stay focused and in flow. You don’t have to share your recording — in fact, you can delete it afterwards if you prefer, although I personally find time-lapses of blank pages filling up both satisfying and motivating.

Resources I Used

1. Free Novel Templates – I used this free Scrivener template to structure my project.
2. The One Page Novel Story Structure
3. The One Page Novel 30-Day Prompt Schedule – this schedule is available in the One Page Novel Course & in Bestseller Over Breakfast.
4. The One Page Novel Genre Cheatsheets – these cheatsheets provide scene ideas by genre. You can find them in the One Page Novel Course.