Before you start writing, you should have a general idea of what you want to write about. While you don’t need the specifics yet, try writing down your idea in a single sentence. By limiting your grand aspirations to a single line, you can refine story and focus your main conflict.   You don't want to have a topic that causes people to cease reading your novel within five seconds. An action novel should introduce conflict as soon as possible so the reader is hooked. Come up with a protagonist that readers will want to root for. Make them relatable so the audience connects with them right away. Make sure you have a new perspective to write about. You don't need to come up with a story idea that no one has ever heard of before, but you do want to tell your story with your own unique voice. In action novels, it is a good idea to know the different types of weaponry, vehicles, and technology that will be used throughout the book. You should familiarize yourself with the application and practicality of various guns, military services, survival techniques, computer programs, and combat styles. This will make your writing more precise, and it will help you hammer out those tricky action scenes later.   Places you can use for research include museums, libraries, and archives. If your book involves technical knowledge, try contacting an expert about the subject area. University websites, newspapers, and government agencies can be a good source of information on who to contact. While it is good to research as much as possible, you don’t need to include all of your research in your book. Too much information will overwhelm the reader.  Decide what is necessary as you write your novel. Maybe your story is a globetrotting adventure, or maybe it is set in your hometown. If you are able to, try visiting the locations you plan to write about. During your visit, record important details about the scenery. What is the climate like? Where are the major streets and landmarks? Engage all of your senses: what does it smell like? What can you see? How noisy is it? What kind of sounds do you hear? Perhaps you can't afford a trip to Mount Everest, but you can visit a local mountain. Or perhaps you don't have time to visit Miami, but there is a beach close to you. You can still do on-site research without traveling across the world. your ideas. This technique is great for visual writers. Try writing your main conflict in the middle of a sheet of paper. Trace a circle around it. Draw lines for each major event or catalyst off this center circle and write them down. As ideas come to you about your novel, draw more lines that show how these ideas connect to your larger narrative. Lines can interconnect, zigzag, or even branch off into other circles. Your mind map can resemble a web, a tree, or even a spreadsheet. Outlines not only sketch out the main action before you write your novel but can help you identify problems with the plot ahead of time. Write a list of the events of your novel as they happen. These headings should be short descriptors of each scene. Bullet points and subsections can record the details of each scene, such as which characters are present, where the action takes place, and how the action resolves. Record each plot event on a notecard. On a table, arrange the notecards so that you can visualize the entire plot. Reorganize the notecards as you brainstorm. You can move around events or reorder certain scenes. When you are ready to put the notecards away, be careful to keep them in their proper sequence, so that next time you need to consult them, they are already arranged correctly. Write your idea down in a single sentence. Once you are done, expand that single sentence into a paragraph that describes the main conflict, important events and obstacles, and the ending. Slowly expand your synopsis, first from one paragraph to one page and then from one page to four pages. Keep adding to this synopsis until you are ready to begin writing the novel itself.  The snowflake method can help make the writing process a little less intimidating so it's easier to get started. To write convincing characters, you should know every detail of their lives. Write a summary or list for each character that notes their physical characteristics, history, motivations, relationships, personality traits, habits, and flaws. Important questions include:   Ask yourself how your character moves and speaks. What skills does this character possess that make them useful through the book? Are they skilled in a particular fighting technique?  Can they hack computers or fly a helicopter? How did they develop this skill? Do they have experience in the military or a tragic past? Why is this character invested in the events of this book? What motivates them to participate in the action? What is at stake for them? How does this character deal with anger? How does this character deal with tragedy? What about fear, disgust, excitement, or danger? How does this character treat those they love? How does this character treat those they hate? Always have a notebook on hand for when inspiration strikes. Write down intriguing details as they come to you. As you research, keep detailed notes on everything you find. Later, when you are at your desk, you can use this journal as a reference.  You can also keep track of your ideas by recording them in an app on your phone.

Summary: Write down your idea. Research. Travel to similar locations. Mind map Write an outline. Write your story on notecards. Use the snowflake method. Draft profiles for each character. Keep an idea journal.


Take a full, long drag and keep the smoke in your mouth. Smoke rings only work with thick, fully formed smoke, so consider using a Hookah or cigar to practice. Some people have success pulling their lips back over their teeth, but the overall goal is simply as if you were saying "oh." Keep your mouth open and round and you'll be perfect. There are a lot of schools of thought about how to best accomplish this, as it is the hardest part of blowing rings:  Exhale with rapid, clipped breaths. A lot of groups call these "reverse hiccups." A hiccup is basically a quick, brief inhalation. It feels almost like a pop.Think of making a "Huh, Huh, Huh," sound as you push air out. Use your tongue to "flick" out bits of airs. Time your flick with a puff of air, almost like a heavily enunciated "to." Tap out the rings. Contort your mouth so that your cheeks are concave (curving into your mouth). Tap the cheek with a finger, hitting it hard enough to force some air out of your mouth. You can tap rapidly as you get better and better. Rings are determined by the size of your mouth and the force you use to push the smoke out. Once you get the basic idea down, practice moving your lips and working your lungs to get different sized rings.. You can make your rings into little hearts easily. After you blow it out, snap just above the ring, 1-2" high. The resulting burst of air will dent the top of the ring, making a heart appear.
Summary: Get a full mouth of smoke. Open your mouth to an O shape. Use quick bursts of air to push the smoke out. Change your mouth shape to change the ring shape.