1 Dummies Guide to Cultivation (pt1)

Cultivation novels. These guys rule the rankings... if you ignore the romance, video game, and romance novels. Did I mention romance novels?

For young wannabe authors, this is the best starting point. "Why?" you may ask? Well, thanks to your predecessors, the plot is already written for you! But that is for another chapter, this is about the very basics of creating your novel's identity.

To begin the writing process, you must first make a choice.

Reincarnation, or not reincarnation.

I know, it's shocking. Cultivation novels can be made without reincarnation? Though such cases are rare and are hard to find in the wild, it is possible to make one. but let us put that to the side for a moment. How do you approach the fact that the mc was reincarnated? Was he a normal person from earth? An earth-shaking master that fell due to bad luck? Eh, it doesn't matter. Either way, the past does not affect him, other than when you need it to.

If you are worried that some readers will think his character does not fit with his actions, there is a simple fix. Just have him spout something along the lines of "Now I am yada! The old me, yabba, has died.", or "I must change to fit in this world where the strong feast on the weak!".

This makes it easier for you to transition from the old world to the new one, plus it makes him sound like a real badass! Everyone likes a badass.

If you decide to be a weirdo and go with normal cultivation, that's ok. The change in plot is nonexistent and the only downside is he can't be given some mystical method of cultivation or op device right off the bat.

Wait, nevermind.

Turns out you can, just gotta dust off the trusty plot armor and make good use of it. It was coming out one way or another, and since it is out you may as well keep it for later use. Trust me, it will never wear thin.

As for explaining how he got there, just throw out some bullshit McGuffin like his mysterious grandmother's magical cookie jar. No need to think out how it works, just throw out some stupid reason 1000 chapters in. Your readers are already committed, some little plot hole isn't gonna stop them now.

The next thing we have to work out is the cultivation system. It sounds hard, but it takes minimal work, barely an inconvenience actually. Just steal some system from something you have read and just rename it. Copy/paste is not frowned upon, it's expected.

The hardest thing is making up names for them. You want to make it cool, so just throw some words together until it comes out right. "Dark Immortal", "Heaven Rendering", and "Earth Core" are just three examples that I made up within 30 seconds, so if I can do it you can too.

Plus, you don't have to make up all the names immediately. You will only ever use around 5 levels at a time, so time is on your side. If you want to have a character appear that is even more powerful than that, just have the mc say "his power is too much for me to fathom" if the name hasn't hit you yet.

After refurbishing that old and busted system that's been nicked by every other upstart writer, you now have to introduce the "rules" of the world. How much power does each power level have? How big of a difference is there between levels?

You could use the bucket, basin, pond method, but that's for losers! Instead, just use vague, mystical terms to describe the power. The readers will understand, they always do. The ONE thing you have to do though - no matter what - is tell them that someone from the lower level CANNOT, under no circumstances, beat someone above them. It is impossible. If they did, it was a lie, poison, or some hidden scheme made by a power-hungry traitor.

Hammer this fact into their thick skulls until they start chanting it in their sleep and put it in their wedding vows. you don't need any other law in your created universe, this is the one constant. This is extremely important and will be the main reason your novel will be successful.

That's all for the basics, the next chapter will go over creating a fun, lovable mc that no one could possibly hate. Get your pens ready fellas! We got a lot more to cover!