Goal: Write a novel

[Teddy]

I don't want to start writing it until I have a very solid world, solid plot, and solid characters in place.

Seems like you're setting yourself up for defeat. Personally I think the best approach is to build from scratch and let the characters form as you write. Create a rough draft of the novel with a basic premises with basic characters and as you write you'll be able to see where you want to take the story and articulate the specific traits of your characters as it comes together. Waiting to write anything before you have a complete book in your head doesn't seem to be the right approach. Writing something basic then editing and adding to it will get the ball rolling. 

I also recommend the book War of Art to anyone in the creative field.
https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Winning-Creative-Battle/dp/1501260626

I know what you mean but if you're writing a fantasy novel (usually the genre newbies start off with), your setting is a character in itself and you have to pay close attention to "the world". And being a gamer, I think I can curate an interesting, intricate setting. While I do this, I write character arcs -- just short half paragraph summaries. Later, I'll weave them together so they're all overlapping and integrated. I have a basic world map already - it was a headache because I had to make sure that things like my world's orbit, day-night cycle, yearly weather cycle, tides, etc. make sense scientifically. It's all done so I'm glad I can move onto more interesting things like filling in the world map and writing character arcs.

I've written chapter 1 a few times only for the purpose of seeing what sort of tone/style that my writing takes. I know I'm gonna need a good editor at the end   .

Do you have an idea of the kinds of characters you want, an idea of what the plot is like? I know somebody suggested finishing that Zybez book. I know what they're talking about (something else), but when I've daydreamed of writing a novel, I always thought about basing it off of grandiose fantasy exaggerations of the kinds of stuff I saw unfold on these forums and other internet interactions, and have characters based on some of the interesting people around here. Are you planning on basing it off of something you've already seen in your life, or are you just waiting for the idea to spontaneously come to you from out of nowhere?

-Teddy

[W13]

I don't want to start writing it until I have a very solid world, solid plot, and solid characters in place.

Seems like you're setting yourself up for defeat. Personally I think the best approach is to build from scratch and let the characters form as you write. Create a rough draft of the novel with a basic premises with basic characters and as you write you'll be able to see where you want to take the story and articulate the specific traits of your characters as it comes together. Waiting to write anything before you have a complete book in your head doesn't seem to be the right approach. Writing something basic then editing and adding to it will get the ball rolling. 

I also recommend the book War of Art to anyone in the creative field.
https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Winning-Creative-Battle/dp/1501260626

I know what you mean but if you're writing a fantasy novel (usually the genre newbies start off with), your setting is a character in itself and you have to pay close attention to "the world". And being a gamer, I think I can curate an interesting, intricate setting. While I do this, I write character arcs -- just short half paragraph summaries. Later, I'll weave them together so they're all overlapping and integrated. I have a basic world map already - it was a headache because I had to make sure that things like my world's orbit, day-night cycle, yearly weather cycle, tides, etc. make sense scientifically. It's all done so I'm glad I can move onto more interesting things like filling in the world map and writing character arcs.

I've written chapter 1 a few times only for the purpose of seeing what sort of tone/style that my writing takes. I know I'm gonna need a good editor at the end   .

Do you have an idea of the kinds of characters you want, an idea of what the plot is like? I know somebody suggested finishing that Zybez book. I know what they're talking about (something else), but when I've daydreamed of writing a novel, I always thought about basing it off of grandiose fantasy exaggerations of the kinds of stuff I saw unfold on these forums and other internet interactions, and have characters based on some of the interesting people around here. Are you planning on basing it off of something you've already seen in your life, or are you just waiting for the idea to spontaneously come to you from out of nowhere?

-Teddy

Yes of course. I'm knee deep into the planning (setting, world, etc.) and about to wade further into the planning (specifically the character arcs). You're either an architect or a gardener when it comes to your plot and I think I'm a bit of both: I like to have a framework/plan (like an architect) and then I'll write (like a gardener watering plants and watching them take shape) and see where the story goes.

It's medieval fantasy with some steampunk elements (old-fashioned sci-fi, basically) which are sometimes interpreted by the characters as "magic". 

Since I'm a doctor, I want to throw in plenty of ailments including giving most characters (hopefully non-cliche) defense mechanisms and varying levels of mental diseases. I come from an immigrant family and have traveled most of my life so those experiences can be woven into the Hero's Journey easily. Basically I'll be taking events (interesting stories) from my life and then adapting them into the setting and plot of this novel. 

I wouldn't be surprised to see lots of inspiration from RuneScape.

(As for the Zybez Novel... it would be a monumental task to edit it - and besides, we've lost a lot of that content. And the legal aspects of it would simply make it impossible now).

[Venenatis]

Currently on chapter 4 of my book, roughly around 26,000 words. I've got at least 140k in lore. It's a challenging task but very satisfying to see come to life.

[Murdoc]

Currently on chapter 4 of my book, roughly around 26,000 words. I've got at least 140k in lore. It's a challenging task but very satisfying to see come to life.

Ah you have to give us details.

[Hemlock]

How about finishing the Zybez Book?

This please. Will buy.

Get Hemlock to finish his story, too, while you're at it.

Hashem was Zamorak the entire time. Abomia (Howabomable or however it's spelled) stabs him him in the chest before the frozen corpse of Saradomin. However the Astral spell cast on him fatally kills her and releases Chaos.