How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II

1. Embrace the Power of Premise: Your Novel's Foundation

Premise is the fiction writer's chisel.

Defining premise. A premise is a concise statement of what happens to the characters as a result of the core conflict in the story. It serves as a guiding principle for your novel, helping you shape your fictional material and create a focused, dramatically powerful story.

Types and applications. There are three types of premises:

• Chain reaction: A series of events leading to a climax and resolution
• Opposing forces: Two forces pitted against each other, with one emerging victorious
• Situational: Examining the effects of a situation on multiple characters

By articulating your premise, you can test each complication in your story, ensuring it contributes to proving the premise. This helps maintain focus and coherence throughout your novel.

2. Master the Art of Suspense to Keep Readers Hooked

Suspense in the first sense is a form of curiosity. The writer raises story questions the reader is curious about.

Creating suspense. Suspense is achieved by creating a state of uncertainty, anxiety, or apprehension in the reader. This can be done through:

• Raising story questions that pique the reader's curiosity
• Putting sympathetic characters in menacing situations
• "Lighting the fuse" - establishing a time constraint or impending danger

Techniques for building suspense:

• Use specific, concrete details to create vivid scenes
• Develop characters readers care about
• Introduce conflicts and obstacles that escalate throughout the story
• Use pacing to control the flow of information and tension

By mastering these techniques, you can keep your readers engaged and invested in your story from beginning to end.

3. Create Memorable Characters: From Wimps to Wackos

Great characters are so extraordinarily interesting that if you met them at a cocktail party you'd later want to tell others about them.

Developing dynamic characters. To create truly memorable characters, focus on making them:

• Dynamic and driven by strong desires or motivations
• Competent in their chosen field or area of expertise
• Slightly "wacky" or eccentric to add color and interest
• Contrasting with both other characters and their settings

Character creation techniques:

• Write detailed character biographies
• Give characters conflicting emotions and desires
• Create dual-natured characters with contrasting personalities
• Use exaggeration to emphasize unique traits

By crafting characters with depth, complexity, and a touch of the extraordinary, you'll create a cast that readers will remember long after they've finished your novel.

4. Develop a Strong Narrative Voice for Authenticity

The narrator as agent has a habit of defying the author's plans and taking on a definite personality of his own. And in the best fiction, so he should.

Crafting a distinctive voice. A strong narrative voice creates trust with the reader and allows them to become fully immersed in the story. To develop your narrative voice:

• Choose a persona that fits your story and genre
• Use specific, concrete details to establish authority
• Allow the narrator's personality to shine through
• Experiment with different voices and viewpoints

Voice development exercises:

• Study authors with strong narrative voices
• Practice writing the same passage in different voices
• Imitate voices you admire, then adapt them to your own style

Remember that the "invisible author" is a myth. A strong, distinctive narrative voice can greatly enhance your storytelling and create a more engaging experience for your readers.

5. Establish and Maintain the Author-Reader Contract

You promise a damn good novel; your reader pays damn good money for it. But there's more to it than that. Much more.

Understanding the contract. The author-reader contract is an implicit agreement between you and your audience. It includes:

• Delivering the type of story promised (genre, style, tone)
• Maintaining consistency in narrative voice and point of view
• Playing fair with the reader (no cheap tricks or deus ex machina)
• Fulfilling the expectations set up at the beginning of the story

Honoring the contract:

• Clearly establish the type of story you're telling from the outset
• Maintain consistency in style, tone, and narrative approach
• Avoid breaking the "rules" you've established without good reason
• Deliver a satisfying conclusion that fulfills the promises made

By respecting the author-reader contract, you build trust with your audience and create a more satisfying reading experience.

6. Avoid the Seven Deadly Mistakes of Fiction Writing

Writing is painful. Writing is hard work. Writing is sometimes a bitch. To be a damn good novelist you will have to write with pain, you will have to work hard, and you will have to do it despite the fact that it's a bitch.

The seven deadly mistakes:

1. Timidity: Failing to take risks or face criticism
2. Trying to be literary: Imitating "great" writers instead of developing your own voice
3. Ego-writing: Focusing on self-expression rather than engaging the reader
4. Failure to learn to re-dream the dream: Inability to revise and reimagine your work
5. Failure to keep faith with yourself: Giving up in the face of rejection or setbacks
6. Wrong lifestyle: Not prioritizing writing or creating a conducive environment
7. Failure to produce: Succumbing to writer's block or procrastination

Overcoming these mistakes:

• Embrace criticism and use it to improve your craft
• Focus on mastering the principles of storytelling before experimenting
• Write for your readers, not just for yourself
• Learn to revise and reimagine your work based on feedback
• Persist through rejection and setbacks
• Create a lifestyle that supports your writing goals
• Establish a consistent writing routine and stick to it

By avoiding these common pitfalls, you'll be better positioned to succeed as a novelist and create truly engaging works of fiction.

7. Write with Passion and Persistence to Achieve Success

Anyone with a passionate desire will succeed if he gives himself to it fully, knuckles down and masters the craft, works hard, has good teachers and reliable readers, learns how to re-dream the dream and rewrite in answer to criticism, and actively pursues the selling of the script in a businesslike manner. I guarantee it 100 percent.

Keys to success. To become a successful novelist, you must:

• Cultivate a passionate desire to write
• Fully commit to mastering the craft
• Work hard and consistently
• Seek out good teachers and reliable readers
• Learn to revise and reimagine your work based on feedback
• Approach the business side of writing professionally

Benefits of pursuing fiction writing:

• Personal growth and self-discovery
• The potential for financial success and recognition
• The ability to impact readers' lives through your stories
• The satisfaction of creating enduring works of art

Remember that success in writing is a journey, not a destination. By approaching your craft with passion, persistence, and a willingness to learn and grow, you can overcome obstacles and achieve your goals as a novelist.

Last updated: February 4, 2025