If you want to become a novelist, your first book can feel like a daunting task. But, with the right approach, it can also be a manageable process. Whether you’re starting with a vivid idea or simply ...

The author of “First Lie Wins” explains a key move in her novel-writing process. By Elisabeth Egan Elisabeth Egan is an editor at the Book Review and the author of “A Window Opens.” Index cards.

It’s November. It’s dark. It’s cold. It’s cozy. It’s time to write. At least that’s the case for those taking part in the annual National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known as NaNoWriMo.