If you have always enjoyed writing, then your One 51 Place apartment might be the perfect place to write a novel. Whether you’ve never written before, have experience writing short fiction, or have already finished your first book, writing can be a very rewarding experience. Although writing a complete novel (whether or not it gets published) may be one of the hardest things you ever attempt, the satisfaction you will get by finishing it will be well worth it.

Here are some helpful pointers if you want to get started writing a novel:

• Start with a plan. Every great novel is based on a great idea, so outline what’s in your head. Describe your main characters, decisive plot points, and where you want the story to go. It’s okay if everything is not specifically laid out in the beginning, but in general, the more you have planned out, the better.
• Seek help from peers and fellow writers. Talk to friends who enjoy writing, reading, or have been published before. Failing that, every November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, an event where over 200,000 writers nationally try to complete a novel in a month. Even if there’s no way you see yourself completing the 50,000 word goal, it’s a good way to challenge yourself, and you’ll receive plenty of emotional and moral support from the other writers attempting the same feat.
• Finally, don’t be afraid to just write. Many writers go through several iterations before their work is even close to done. Just let the words out as much as you can, and don’t worry about quality until later. If you feel like you just can’t continue on a given day, either consult your outline for ideas, or edit and polish what you already have.

With a little bit of motivation and a lot of creativity, hopefully these tips will help you on the way to writing a novel in the comfort of your Alachua apartment.