Good advice for starting a light novel?

[Cuyir]

Having an idea, theme, scene (s), etc. in mind when starting is probably the most important part. Then it's just about polishing, aka editing, everything (from grammar and syntax to ideas and feelings and story etc etc etc) and just developing it.

You also have to be completely willing to scrap and/or improve ideas. Be highly critical of yourself (just as long as it doesn't border on self-hatred haha) and if you trust someone, have them read parts of it or talk to them about it; sometimes other people will see things you didn't and help you.

From there on, everyone else has a different method of continuing it and working on it. For example, I have folders( in my computer) and a real notebook with notes about everything you can imagine. There i've written down descriptions, quotes, characters' mental profiles (ambitions, weaknesses, vices, bla bla), possible plot developments and such.

But honestly, the most important part about it is editing and trying to have something you can write/type in on the go. Sometimes inspiration hits in the strangest places, so it's imperative to have somewhere to write stuff down. The alternate stuff (like my folders and notebook filled with miscellaneous notes) you'll figure out for yourself. Different people, different habits.