A strong
novel writer causes readers to feel they experience a slice of someone else’s
(one or more characters) “real” life. Even Science Fiction and Fantasy must
accomplish this in their own ways. Readers want to relate to characters in
novels, whether that’s just for one novel or in a series that involves the same
main characters throughout. It’s up to you as a writer to create this for
readers. You do this through plot and character development.
Your job
as a writer is to make readers forget they’re reading. The way to accomplish
this is to create a movie in the minds of readers through all the ways that
make a story one told well and is readable. A well-developed plot uses
characters developed well and all five physical senses (and sometimes the sixth
sense).
A strong
writer makes every effort to show rather than tell. This is done by providing
settings, scenes, and characters readers can easily visualize in their minds
and relate to, but through only as much exposition as is actually needed. It’s
better to more often merge exposition with what characters say and do than provide
it solely or primarily through narrative. Too much narrative can easily become
tedious to contemporary readers.
Cause
readers to feel the tension created by what happens through events large and
small, and between one or more characters. Readers
expect to feel something when they read. As a writer, it’s up to you to
make this the smoothest experience for readers as possible. This means you must
remove anything (or strive to) such as typos, misspelled words, wrong or extra
words, or any scene that detracts from the reader’s experience, even if you
absolutely love it.
PLOT
The plot
needs to follow a logical and believable path. Again, even in Science Fiction
or Fantasy, there are enough elements included that allow readers to relate to
what’s happening as possible. What a
plot should never be is a story filled with action scenes you add characters
to, like refrigerator magnets stuck on to fill up space. Nothing should ever be
included on a page of a novel that doesn’t belong there, that doesn’t move plot
and character development forward. Plot is and should be about the
characters—what they say and do as they contend with events when they happen
and as a result of them. As best-selling author Elizabeth George said, “You
never want to give readers characters in search of a plot.”
Events
should influence characters, and characters should influence events. As part of
plot, readers expect characters to do certain things: Face challenges, make
decisions—wrong or right, and learn and evolve (or devolve) in some way. At the
end of each scene, ask yourself what changed about the characters and the plot
as a result of the scene. If nothing changed, you either need to rewrite the
scene so that something does change, even if it’s a small shift, or delete the
scene entirely. No page filler allowed. Story is meant to be like a thread you
pull on a sweater and you watch what it unravels. You want the thread to be
clean and even—no knots or anything that doesn’t belong there that will jam up
the flow. Plot develops as a series of
events that follow an original event—like a lit match placed to a fuse.
Plot
involves conflict, and conflict comes in many forms, not just drastic ones.
Conflict is the result of what is said and done by characters in the story, as
a result of weather and nature, and by any number of initiators. But whatever
is said or done or happens, one thing should always lead to the next, in a
logical way, just as it does in life. Again, nothing should ever be included
just to fill the page or create more length for the novel. Everything on every
page must contribute to plot and character development.
“Story is
about mastering the art, not second-guessing the marketplace.” – Robert McKee
I wish
you the best with your writing, process, and progress.
Joyce
Shafer
“Editor, Joyce Shafer.
What can I say? Simply put, no Joyce, no book. Part editor, part coach, part
teacher, Joyce was absolutely phenomenal throughout the entire
editing process. Working with Joyce was like taking a graduate course in
writing with your all-time favorite teacher and you were the only student. I
just can't say enough good things. Allow me a shameless plug for her services
at http://editmybookandmore.weebly.com/~ Eric Berbig, Author of The People’s
Will
Work with
Joyce L. Shafer as your writing coach or developmental editor, or get a
thorough manuscript critique. Details about her services, including The
Chapter-by-Chapter Get-Your-Book-Written Writer’s Incentive Coaching at http://editmybookandmore.weebly.com/
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