Some suggestions for writing that novel

Be effusive. Do not shy away from effusiveness. Why? If a woman intends to put on her shoes before going to the party. Why not make the shoes black, and perhaps give her an earring to put in as well. I find that cats do a great deal of work when writing about women going to parties. They can take up to three lines in a row without giving a reader any trouble. Everyone loves cats.

Think...a lot. Perhaps as the woman is putting on her shoe she is reflecting about who will be at the party. Whether certain of her friends will be there, which ones are terrific bores. After a while, perhaps try having the cat cross the room. This is the sort thing that delights your casual reader, being made aware at all times at the positioning of the cat. She can, because by now you've got yourself at least a paragraph or two if you've executed things properly, described the light in the room, the shape of the windows, the quality of her feet, begin to describe a man who she fancies meeting at the party.

Looks. Do not make the mistake of making the man too handsome for you've just described the woman's feet in detail. Surely she cannot hope to obtain a great looking man with heels such as those. No. It is at this point that she should begin to reflect on his finer virtues, humor, ease of company, that sort of thing. Make his shoulders sloped rather than broad. It will give this character the type of depth that is sometimes lacking in these stories involving the folly of youth. Do not fail to attach a little bit of emotion to the thing. Have her recollect a look he exchanged with a mutual acquaintance the last time you saw him, and then some sort of contact implied. You can include something about social networking at this point if you'd like to, but I have not given up the field yet in that regard. Remember though, everything is dated but the vicissitudes of the human heart.

Scenery. At this point you've forgotten all about that cat. Remind your reader. Have the cat brush up against her legs as she's in the process of turning out lamps in the living room. Describe the soft touch of the fur, making it clear that we're supposed to assume that this is the sort of woman who is not frequently touched. When the lights are off, do not have her rushing out the door. Too many people are eager to move on to the next thing. But then you've got one of those short stories on your hand instead of the clearly superior novel. No. She must stand at the window for a while. Watch the sky or the stars, or some bridge receding into the dark. She should perhaps, sigh. This is the sort of situation in which a person could reasonably sigh.

It is almost time for leaving, but you've gotten enough down to allow her to cross the room. The cat should be gone. She should willfully dismiss thoughts of the man she maybe hopes to meet by this time, but your reader should know by this time that she will meet him, and that it will be complicated. That these sorts of things are always complicated. There, now we are ready to go out into the evening, everyone so much more prepared for the rain that is to come.