This article will show you how to write a vampire novel.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Getting started
Step 1. 'Don't' decide the title first
You can do this as the story unfolds.
Step 2. Think about the period in which the story takes place
Is it the modern era? It can be set in any period.
Step 3. Establish your point of view
Will it be in the first person (me) or in the third person (him, her)? Normally you will not find books written in the second person, which have "you" as the subject. It would mean knocking down the fourth wall (i.e. speaking directly to the reader).
Part 2 of 4: Creating the Characters
Step 1. Think about some characters
Are you going to focus on a single vampire among humans (or elves, dwarves, aliens or whatever)? Or do you prefer a cast made up entirely of vampires? Each character will need to be fully developed, so start with a small number until you have gained more writing experience.
Step 2. Choose a name for the vampire character (or characters)
A name like Dracula sounds good, but it's not very believable (unless you want to link your story to the original). Why can't a vampire have a common name like Liam? You can also use a word made up of multiple names: if, for example, you are undecided between Katherine and Madeline, you could call her Catherine.
It is also useful to determine the age of your vampire. Vampires can be immortal or not (interpretations on the subject are different), which means that they do not necessarily have to be born in contemporary times. Thus, your vampire character could easily have been born in the Victorian age or during the great depression. As a result, it makes sense for your vampire to have a name consistent with the time he was born
Step 3. Establish the vampire's abilities
Can it change shape? Can he fly? It depends on you. Dracula and other "classic" vampires can float in the air and pass through closed doors, they do not reflect their image in the mirrors and they can vanish into the shadows. Freely use these basic elements to build your character.
- Describe the vampire's feelings about what he does. Are you proud of it? Are you ashamed or afraid of it?
- A general rule is that vampires are burned by sunlight. However, it is possible to have a vampire who is immune to it. Consider writers like Stephenie Meyer (the Twilight series) and Christopher Pike (the Last Vampire series). The best thing, though, is that it has some reaction to sunlight. Or, you could have your vampires wear a special necklace or something, thanks to which they are not affected by the sun.
Step 4. Determine what your vampire eats
Most of the time, tradition dictates that a vampire drink blood. While it is the most widely adopted idea about vampires, when you write fiction, it too can be subject to change. Some argue that this idea is essential, but some artists have found alternatives (think Count Dacula, the vegetarian vampire duck). And there are several ways to survive on non-human blood. Whatever your choice, be sure to establish this characteristic of your vampire as well.
Part 3 of 4: Give your Vampire a Family
Step 1. Decide whether or not to give your vampire a family
This can contribute considerably to the development of the character, allowing him to converse with other family members.
- Do you have brothers or sisters? If so, how many?
- Find interesting names for family members. Specifically, what is the surname of the vampire family?
- Is it a noble, middle-class family of workers or a group of criminals? Try to avoid the usual "rich and famous"; for a change, these vampires may never have known wealth and have a penchant for frugality!
- Did your vampire father another vampire? You could also give him a father or a son. All vampires, of course. Maybe he hates his father or his son? Is he hated by them in turn? Do they have a close relationship? Are they friends, rivals, lovers?
Step 2. Alternatively, determine that this vampire is completely alone in the world (or environment in which he lives)
This could provide many reasons why the vampire chooses to go in search of certain people: out of loneliness, in search of a sense of belonging, etc.
Part 4 of 4: Developing the Storyline
Step 1. Before starting to write the book, outline the plot
The plot will provide you with a kind of guideline around which to develop the book. It is more difficult to write a book without any direction than it is to do it with a solid idea that forms the backbone of the plot. That said, many people prefer a directionless style - it depends on how your creativity emerges. Do some experiments.
- Even with a storyline, your character will sometimes surprise you. This is the art of good writing: letting your character communicate with you as it changes over the course of writing.
- Remember that your vampires are not human, and therefore they will see things differently, including humans. This is a great way to describe human nature the way you see it, as long as you see it in an unusual way.
- When you tell the way people were turned into vampires, do it from their point of view. Changing your point of view from time to time is fine, especially in a vampire story.
Step 2. Start writing
Develop your own method of writing regularly (this varies from writer to writer). The most important thing is to start, and then find reasons to keep writing.
How you write a story depends on the audience it is intended for. If you post it on an Internet site some small mistakes are acceptable, but if it gets printed, it must be almost perfect; so be prepared to have it torn apart in some places by the editors of the publishing house
Advice
- Constant, uninterrupted action is not good. You definitely need to give the reader an exciting escape or fight to the death, but don't do it too often.
- Try to include an idea of the vampire lifestyle that is yours. Taking some ideas from other vampire books is fine, but always make sure you try to make the vampires in your story unique and different from everyone else.
- Different novels portray vampires in different ways, including their aging. Some novels claim that their canines grow older as they get older, or maybe they don't drink blood until they are adult vampires. The main thing is not to be hindered by the interpretations of other writers - it is fiction, and this is your approach to the character of an ancient legend.
- If you are targeting an adult audience, you make your novel more macabre, while for younger readers it is better to tone it down a bit.
- Don't make the details too gory; not everyone is interested in this aspect of vampires, especially with the romance that has crept into recent plays. You better keep the violence to a minimum. But again, it's about your book …
