DABL is a User Experience methodology to approach writing: Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live. It can be as complex or as simple as you want to make it.
Discovery — This is the stage where you need to do your research. Your novel’s success depends on your research. At the same time, if you consider you know everything and no research is needed start writing. You don’t need this.
Alpha — Crystallize some of that research into ideas, then put those ideas into a plan. Done properly, this phase will prevent you from having writer’s block.
Beta — Write your first draft, then your second, then your third, and eventually make use of those friends we sometimes call beta readers.
Live — Once you have a critiqued and edited novel, sell it and publish it. Or self publish it, do some marketing, advertising, and become the number one bestseller.
Now put on your big brains hat because we’re going to delve into some technical details. Yet you won’t notice they’re technical until you’re already deep in it. Next time, let’s do some delving.