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Create a new book wizard
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This wizard takes you through the steps to create a new novel. At the end of the
wizard MyNovel will create the novel for you and open it. You need to complete the
whole wizard in order to create the novel.
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Step 1
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This is the start page for the wizard. Read the text before progressing by clicking
the next button.
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Create a novel - step 1
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Step 2
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Think of a working title for your novel. You can change this later. Then think of
a brief concept or tag line for your novel. You will eventually transform this into
your synopsis; but, again, you can change this later too. Now choose a genre for
your novel. If you're not sure, leave it as fiction. Now you should decide the
approximate reading age of your novel. MyNovel has built-in text analysis tools
which will enable you to keep your text at an appropriate readability level / reading
age. For more information see readability. Finally,
choose the format of your chapter titles. This is simply a personal preference.
Once you are happy with all the settings for your novel, click the next
button.
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Create a novel - step 2
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Step 3
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Optionally, think about when you would like your novel to be set and how long your
novel will be set over. You can change these settings later on, in the
novel details page, but it is preferable to set them straight away. There
a number of preset time periods for you to choose - for instance the Victorian era,
as in the screenshot below. If you would prefer to write without a time setting,
you can uncheck the give my novel a timescale / period checkbox.
If you do choose a timescale, you will be able to visualize the events / scenes
of your novel in the timeline. See the timeline.
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Create a novel - step 3
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Step 4
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MyNovel is as prescriptive as you wish to make it. You can use a built-in template
to use as the basis of the structure of your novel or you can choose Empty novel
and structure the novel yourself. If you are a first-time novelist you will find
the built-in templates very useful as the basis of your novel. The principal template
is The Hero's Journey, which you will recognise as
the structure of most of the stories you read or watch at the cinema. There are
other templates for love stories, adventures, quests and so on. It is possible to
add to or edit the existing templates (for instance if you wish to distribute MyNovel
to your novel writing class / group). For more information see
novel writing templates. Once you have studied the templates and selected
one you are happy with click the next button.
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Create a novel - step 4
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Step 5
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You should now set yourself some writing goals. First of all enter the estimated
total word count of your novel. Some guidelines are provided for target word counts.
For instance shortish novels start at about 50,000 words. Quite often, for adult
fiction, you can expect to write in excess of 100,000 words. It is quite easy to
be daunted at this stage, but try not to be! Think about how many words per day
you want to write. 250 is a default number. Some days you will write more. Some
days less. Think of the average number. If you change your estimated word count
or words per day you will see the completion date change automatically. Similarly
you can change the completion date and MyNovel will calculate the number of words
per day you would need to write. This facility is also useful for NaNoWriMo entrants.
Start a novel on November 1st. Set the completion date to November 30th and write
as many words as you can in that time. Once you are satisfied with the goals you
have set yourself click the next button.
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Create a novel - step 5
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Step 6
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You should now select a working folder for your novel. Usually the default folder
is sufficient. If you are using Microsoft Word or Open Office in conjunction with
MyNovel it is into this folder that your word documents are stored (as well as the
MyNovel file.)
You should also select the type of word processor you wish to use. The MyNovel word
processor is quite sufficient to write a novel.
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Create a novel - step 6
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Step 7
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You should now enter your name address and so on. MyNovel uses this information
when automatically generating cover letters (submission letters to literary agents)
and title pages. For more information see the novel explorer. You may not have a
web site yet. If not leave this blank. If you want further information about creating
your own author website please contact us. We may be able to help. Once you have
entered your personal details click the next button.
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Create a novel - step 7
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Step 8
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You've finished! The final page of the wizard shows a summary of the information
you have entered. When you're happy click finish. Your novel will be created and
opened in the MyNovel workspace.
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Create a novel - step 8
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