Suggested steps for writing a novel

Suggestion -- formulate the steps involved in writing your type of novel and gage your progress by those steps, not by word count or chapters.

You can always compile notes, juggle the outline, write scenes as they pop up vivid in your mind. But focus on following your steps.

Steps for writing a novel in which the main challenge derives from a cosmic anomaly, a divergence from everyday expectations. (My flavor of magic realism).

1) Identify the anomaly to be shown and explained. Express that simply in the form of a placeholder book titl.
2) Choose a place and time.
3) Imagine main characters, including physical descriptions and backstories.
4) First draft of chapter 1
5) Imagine the series of challenges that should flow from that beginning and from the characters interacting with one another.
6) Listen to the characters. Try to capture the rhythm of their thoughts and words. (This may first come to you while walking/exercising/mediating or in our sleep).
7) Watch and listen to your characters as they come to life and the ation unfolds.
8) Tweak and nudge to help the pieces of the story fall together, as you discover the true nature and motivations of your characters and the likely consequences of their actions.
9) If there is a second related story, handle it similarly
10) Figure out how the second part of the story may link to the first, including by way of one part being a frame ofthe other or both being subsumed by the same frame.
11) Pray that it all works and turn to beta readers to find out if it does.