When your novel is progressing nicely and you finish a chapter, the next chapter is calling but you procrastinate, you do your laundry and you avoid your next chapter.

Writing a novel is difficult. It takes time and persistence.

There are many rules new writers are unaware of. When I was writing my first draft for, A Time of Stones, I finished each chapter and stared at the blank piece of paper, confused at how I could start the next chapter.

If this is you, below are three ways to start that next chapter and three dead-end ways to start a chapter. These rules aren’t set in stone but more of a guide to make your novel the best it can be.