In Ten Steps? Really?
Kudos to author Anastasia Rubis on the success of her recent novel. But lest you think her AARP guide to becoming a debut novelist seems easy, keep in mind Rubis is no slouch. She’s quite an accomplished writer. That goes a long way toward knowing how to write well and edit.
Rubis’ writing has appeared in the New York Times, Huffington Post, New York Observer, and literary journals. One of her stories, “Blue Pools,” was included in the anthology Oh, Baby published by Creative Nonfiction. Another story, “Girl Falling,” was named a Notable Essay in Best Essays of 2014. She co-wrote and co-directed a 13-minute documentary titled Breakfast Lunch Dinner: The Greek Diner Story on YouTube.
That aside, here’s her ten steps to becoming a novelist in your 60s:
- Choose a subject you’re crazy about. Mine was Oriana Fallaci, the trailblazing female journalist.
- Use your favorite book as a model (though, obviously, don’t plagiarize!) Study how the author develops characters, crafts scenes and dialogue, and introduces challenges and tension.
- Attend author events at your local bookstore or library to see how published writers think about story and plot. (Or just watch them on YouTube.)
- Plan and brainstorm. Buy notebooks and jot down story ideas. What do your characters want, and what’s stopping them?
- Think through plot and structure. Make a list of what happens in your story. Start with an incident, something that happens to your character.
- Start writing. Draft one chapter at a time. Deviate slightly if new ideas bubble up. Keep moving forward.
- Print out your first draft. Read it two weeks later and mark it up. Sign up for a novel writing class at your local library, bookstore or online. Revise your draft with teacher input.
- Finish Draft 2. And possibly Draft 3. When you can’t improve further, hire a freelance editor. There are plenty of professionals downsized from the publishing industry.
- Query literary agents. A query is a pitch letter whose subtext is “please represent me and sell my manuscript to a publisher.” Search the internet for the format of a good query. Research agents online at Manuscript Wish List, Publishers Marketplace and QueryTracker. Follow submission guidelines!
- Having trouble getting an agent? Google smaller, independent publishers that accept author submissions. (I repeat: Follow submission guidelines!) Keep sending your story out until you get a hit.
When I first read the article, I hooted, especially at “Keep sending your story out until you get a hit.”
Is it that easy to become a novelist?
I shared the guide with a few fellow writers.
One writer commented, “Sad to think that some readers will think it’s that simple.”
Another said: “I’ve written press releases in three drafts, fiction never. And I would never hand my third draft to anyone else.”
Rebecca added: “Now that I am done with the first novel, I can confidently say it was more difficult than getting a master’s degree.”
Another writer suggested a timeline adjustment. “Though this ‘guide’ is unrealistic, I’m not sure it’s wrong? Just add in endless years and it will be more complete.”
The funniest comment: “Oh boy – what’s with the graphic with the manila envelope for querying?”
The second funniest: “Is AARP magazine a fantasy-based publication now?”
Timeline Adjustment
I agree with the comment about the lack of a realistic timeline in this guide. Rubis herself says of her debut novel, Oriana: A Novel of Oriana Fallaci, published in March 2024 by Delphinium Press:
It took 11 years to write and to get it published through traditional channels. I was a debut novelist and Fallaci was relatively unknown in the U.S. I had to be really persistent. Delphinium understood that the point of the book was to re-introduce Fallaci to American audiences.
Eleven years. That sounds about right. Also consider she first wrote Oriana’s story as a spec screenplay in 2002. That’s 22 years before the novel.
Being a good writer takes time and hard work
When I began writing and publishing short stories in the mid 1990s, I shared a story with my poetry editor, the late Rob Bixby of March Street Press. He said, “Love it! These characters are great! You should write a novel about them.” After I stopped laughing, told him I knew nothing about novel writing. He said “It’s easy. Fourteen chapters, introduce a new character in each chapter, and BAM you have a novel.” He was being silly, but once he’d put the idea in my head, I had to try. Two years later, I finished the manuscript and even acquired an agent for a brief time who talked about movie rights. Ultimately it went nowhere–and for that I’m thankful!
What I learned from writing that first terrible unpublished novel was that I had a lot to learn. I went back to school to earn an MFA in creative writing.
Embrace the dream: it’s not about publishing
Twenty years after Bixby gave me that advice, my first novel was published. I was 61. It went on to win a Hoffer Finalist Award and a Sarton Finalist Award for Women’s Fiction.
I’ll be 72 when my second novel is released. Between those two novels, I published two poetry chapbooks a children’s book which I wrote and illustrated, and my poetry has appeared in Dunes Review, New Ohio Review, The Paterson Literary Review, Peninsula Poets and other journals. There is no age limit when it comes to accomplishing your dream. But I object to simplistic how-to guides that make publication the end-all.
What tips in the list actually work
Given that, I appreciate Rubis suggests using your favorite book as a learning tool. In fact, read, read, read everything and anything if you want to write well.
And yes, attend author events.
Also, yes to taking a writing class. Add many workshops and writing retreats to that list. Meet other writers and dreamers because it’s good for your soul.
And yes, yes, YES, any aspiring novelist who wants to publish should consider a freelance editor.
The bottom line:
If you want to write, write. Embrace your dream. Chase it down and tackle it. Writing won’t save your life nor make you rich and famous, but it’s an amazing journey, one you can start at any age. It can be immensely satisfying, too, whether you publish or not.
Thank you for visiting.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist
BUY BOOKS: In the Context of Love | Gordy and the Ghost Crab | Sleepwalker
New novel for fall 2026 Love and Other Incurable Ailments, from Regal House Publishing
Connect with Linda on social media: LinkTree
