Writing a novel is not an easy task, but it can be rewarding and fulfilling if you follow some tips and techniques. Here are 10 tips that can help you in creating interesting stories for novel writers.
1. Start with a strong premise. A premise is the core idea or concept of your story, the main question or problem that drives the plot. A strong premise will intrigue your readers and make them want to know more. For example, what if a boy discovers he is a wizard and has to go to a school of magic? What if a girl falls in love with a vampire who wants to kill her? What if a detective has to solve a murder that he committed?
2. Develop your characters. Characters are the heart and soul of your story, the ones who make your readers care and empathize. To create interesting characters, you need to give them personality, motivation, goals, flaws, strengths, and conflicts. You also need to make them dynamic, meaning they change and grow throughout the story as a result of their experiences.
3. Create a plot outline. A plot outline is a roadmap of your story, the sequence of events that happen from the beginning to the end. A plot outline will help you organize your ideas, avoid plot holes, and maintain consistency and coherence. You can use different methods to create a plot outline, such as the three-act structure, the hero’s journey, or the snowflake method.
4. Write scenes that move the story forward. Scenes are the building blocks of your story, the units of action and dialogue that show what happens to your characters and how they react. To write effective scenes, you need to have a clear purpose for each scene, such as introducing a character, advancing the plot, revealing information, creating tension, or resolving a conflict. You also need to use sensory details, vivid descriptions, and realistic dialogue to immerse your readers in your story world.
5. Show, don’t tell. Showing means using specific details and examples to illustrate your point, while telling means using general statements and summaries to explain your point. Showing is more engaging and convincing than telling because it allows your readers to experience your story through their own senses and emotions. For example, instead of telling your readers that a character is angry, show them how they act, speak, and look when they are angry.
6. Use different types of conflict. Conflict is the engine of your story, the source of drama and suspense that keeps your readers interested and invested. Conflict can be external or internal, meaning it can come from outside forces or from within your characters. External conflict can be physical, such as fighting an enemy or escaping a danger; social, such as competing with a rival or opposing a group; or situational, such as facing a natural disaster or a moral dilemma. Internal conflict can be emotional, such as dealing with fear or guilt; psychological, such as struggling with an addiction or a mental illness; or moral, such as choosing between right and wrong.
7. Vary your sentence structure and word choice. Sentence structure and word choice are important elements of your writing style, the way you express yourself and convey your voice. To create interesting stories for novel writers, you need to vary your sentence structure and word choice to avoid monotony and repetition. You can use different types of sentences, such as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex; different lengths of sentences, such as short, medium, or long; and different types of words, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, synonyms, antonyms, or figurative language.
8. Use dialogue to reveal character and advance plot. Dialogue is the spoken words between your characters, the way they communicate and interact with each other. Dialogue can reveal character by showing their personality traits, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and motivations. Dialogue can also advance plot by moving the action forward, providing information, creating tension, or resolving conflict. To write effective dialogue, you need to make it realistic, consistent, distinctive, and concise.
9. Revise and edit your draft. Revising and editing are essential steps in creating interesting stories for novel writers. Revising means improving the content, structure, and style of your draft, while editing means correcting the grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting of your draft. To revise and edit your draft, you need to read it multiple times, get feedback from others, and use tools such as dictionaries, thesauruses, or grammar checkers.
10. Publish or share your story. Publishing or sharing your story is the final step in creating interesting stories for novel writers. Publishing means making your story available to the public, while sharing means giving your story to specific people or groups. You can publish or share your story in different ways, such as submitting it to a publisher, agent, or magazine; self-publishing it online or in print; or posting it on a blog, website, or social media platform. Publishing or sharing your story will help you reach an audience, get feedback, and improve your skills as a writer.