How to write a novel

You start with an idea, a line of dialogue, a place. It's as simple as that. Then you write. And write and write and write until you think you have come to an ending. Then you leave it. Then you come back to it and see how terrible it is. You throw away the rubbish - hopefully there will be something left for you to work with. So you go back to the start, and write and write and write until you have come to an ending, which may or may not be the ending you came to before. Then you leave it. Then you come back to it and see how terrible it is - but this time, it is not as terrible as it was the first time. There is still rubbish, though, so you throw the rubbish away. Hopefully, there is more left for you to work with. So you go back to the start and write and write and write...this process goes on for months, perhaps years. The trick is to know when to stop and say, That's it. Then you go on to the next thing. You start with an idea, a line of dialogue, a place. It's as simple as that. Then you write.