How to write light novels

Video: How To Write A Light Novel In English (From Start To Finish!) OELN

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 4: Understand How Light Novels Are Written
Method 2 of 4: Light Novel Outline
Method 3 of 4: In the process of writing a light novel
Method 4 of 4: Publishing
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

If you are the type of person who is limited in time but is interested in manga and anime but cannot draw, then a type of Asian youth literature known as light novels (ライトノベル raito noberu or ラノベ rainobe - briefly) may be the right choice for anime storytellers. Initially, light novels originated in Japan, but later were printed in Taiwan and China. It can range in size from an average novella (20,000 words) to a large American novel (50,000 words). Many popular animes, such as "The Melancholy of Haruhi Sujimiya", are based on the popular "rinobe". Therefore, if you want to learn how to write light novels, then you've come to the right place.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Understand How Light Novels Are Written

1 Read light novels. Anytime you try, if you want to start writing light novels, then you need to read one of them.
- The light novels were printed in the US by Yen Press, Del Rey Manga and Tokyopop (the last of the three ceased to exist in 2006), so get a novel (or a series of novels) and analyze the style.
2 Keep in mind that you will have to face a lot of dialogue. Light novels are heavily based on dialogue, so look at the bubbles from the characters and get a feel for the characters' speaking styles. However, consider what audience your book should appeal to.
- If your audience is Western readers, don't spend your time writing just dialogue and no descriptions. This will easily confuse the average American viewer (although it may be different for readers in other countries).Readers can lose the essence of who is speaking if there is no relevant description.
3 Try to please more than one nation. For example, if you're just writing for anime fans, the average American reader (who may not even watch anime) probably won't understand the jokes you weave into your text if they don't have a basic knowledge of Japanese culture. This is a major drawback for many English-speaking rynoba, as most people will not understand them and they will not sell.

Method 2 of 4: Light Novel Outline

1 Plan a light novel. Of course, any great novel is born of an idea, and light novels are no exception. Ask yourself what you want to write about. The main thing is to answer this question. Using "Haruhi Suzumiya" as an example, the question is: what if the world can be changed by one person, and that person does not know about it? Make sure you have an idea. And don't forget the characters. Every novel, light novel or not, has characters (each with their own point of view), as well as an idea, idea, and theme.
2 Set a schedule. Give yourself time to write light novels, but don't force yourself to write when you're out of ideas; if you have any notes, then give yourself time to collect your thoughts. Make a schedule of days when you have free time and you can pour your heart out on paper, as is the case with any novel.

Method 3 of 4: In the process of writing a light novel

1 Write your first draft. Sure, the first draft will be full of corrections and spelling / grammatical errors, but at least it will be, right? Also, the first draft is just draft... You can always correct the draft however you want. And after constant changes, you will have the first chapter. After that, do the same with the remaining chapters until you are sure they are good enough to be read, if not published (yet). If you don't think your draft is something that you yourself would take off the shelf of a bookstore, then it needs some work.
2 Watch for continuity. Continuity is the consistency and flow of circumstances in a light novel when it comes to information, events, or anything in your light novel. Make sure you jot down the highlights so that you can keep them handy if you don't have time to constantly go back to the beginning of the book.
3 Save your artwork to your computer. If you write "raynobe" in a text editor, then you just have to save it. If you are using the old method, then scan the written text and check the spelling.
4 Once the document is saved, add images previously drawn by you or a hired artist. They will be mostly without dialogue, as your "raynobe" is likely to convey what the characters have said. Add these images to the center of the action to properly illustrate the scene. Save the file.

Method 4 of 4: Publishing

1 Submit the work to the publisher. If you can, try self-publishing the book if you don't want to face legal issues. Just find a self-publishing site like “Lulu”, buy your first copy, then check for any mistakes. Once you are sure that this is the right location for your light novel, advertise the book online and find a seller who can sell your book. Sellers are just launching the book, so talk to friends and family.

Tips

No light novel is complete without illustrations, and manga style is a must. Since various light novels have been adapted into manga and anime, why not join the fun?
- If you can't draw, then team up with someone who can - for example, Konno Oyuki (author) and Hibiki Reine (illustrator) of the series Maria-sama ga Miteru.
- Unless, of course, you want something more realistic, that's another story.
The TV Tropes Wiki is a useful page for understanding all types of templates (common phenomena in literature) and our brother, the Wiki, also provides detailed information on how such patterns exist in various types of fiction (such as light novels and anime and manga in general) and even reality (the "Real" sections ). However, don't rely entirely on templates if you don't want your story to feel like it was written off.

Warnings

Don't get hung up on one chapter. Remember that you can always come back to it in the revision process.
Despite what was previously stated in this article, do not limit yourself to a strict number of words for each day, but be sure to schedule a time for the case when you can write fluently. Write whenever you can and let your imagination take off.
Don't plagiarize.