Ten lessons on writing and conceptualizing a novel (illustrated using a world composed only of escalators)

Okay, it's kind of like this, but instead of stairs, they're escalators

Over this spring break, I've been working on a long-form project, and it's made me reflect on all that I've learned about novel-writing. If I'd been able to internalize these lessons four years ago, then, well...I could've skipped four years of learning. However, whenever I try to e…