Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and they’re just not getting it? You try to explain something, but they keep coming back to the same thing over and over again.
Maybe it’s because they’re not really listening or maybe it’s because they don’t understand what you’re trying to say. Either way, when people don’t understand what you’re saying, it can be frustrating!
In writing fiction, there are some things that authors need to do for their work to be understood by readers. This is why I’m going to tell you about a few guidelines for writing fiction so that your work will make sense and be more enjoyable for everyone involved!
| Takeaways for Fiction Authors |
|---|
| 1. Embrace uncertainty and create a novel even without a clear idea. |
| 2. Discover 12 secrets to become a more skilled writer. |
| 3. Learn techniques to generate captivating story ideas. |
| 4. Explore strategies to engage readers and promote your novel. |
| 5. Simplify your novel writing process with a comprehensive guide. |
Work On Your Strengths
Know your weaknesses and strengths. To be a good writer, you must know what your strengths and weaknesses are. This can help you decide what kind of stories to write as well as how much research is needed for each story.
For example, if you have a hard time coming up with interesting villains for your stories but are great at creating compelling protagonists.
Then perhaps instead of focusing on writing villains in general (since it’s not something that comes naturally), focus instead on creating more complex heroes and heroines who will face off against these evil forces.
Write what you know: This is one of the most important rules of fiction writing! If you don’t feel comfortable writing about something because there isn’t enough research material available or because it doesn’t interest you personally.
Then chances are good that readers won’t be interested either they want realness from a book!
So if someone tells me they’re going through my books looking for historical inaccuracies or errors just so they can shame me into closing up shop forever…well…let’s just say I’m not going anywhere anytime soon 😉
Navigating the creative abyss and crafting a novel might seem daunting, but you’re not alone in this journey. Explore our guide on How to Write a Novel Even Though You Have No Idea and discover techniques to overcome uncertainty and create a captivating story.
Create Vivid, Believable Settings
When you’re writing fiction, it’s crucial to give your readers a vivid, believable setting. To do this, you’ll need to explore several different ways of describing the setting.
You can describe it from the POV of a character (he or she walks into the room and sees X), from the POV of the narrator (“The night was eerily still…”), from the POV of an author (“This was one of those rare moments in life where everything just fell into place”).
You should also consider how each scenario might affect your story. For example: If I’m walking into a room and notice my wife sitting on our couch with another man, that would cause me some problems! That said…
Utilize Plots Set In Realistic Settings
You should also consider setting your story in a realistic, or at least believable, location. Readers are often more interested in what happens to characters they can relate to than those who live in worlds that don’t exist.
If your character is a struggling artist and you set their story in New York City, readers will be able to sympathize and understand that struggle better than if you were to set the same story somewhere like Neptune or South Dakota.
A good way to utilize settings is by using them as a tool to reveal character traits. You can use it as a way of showing whether someone has ambitions or not by showing where they’re from;
If they’re from an affluent part of town then it’s likely that this person grew up with money and ambition.
But if it’s someplace more gritty then chances are that person doesn’t have much ambition because he/she grew up with fewer opportunities available (or maybe just doesn’t care).
Another great way of utilizing the setting is by making it play a role in creating conflict within your storyline (s).
Having one character live on top of another character’s house so he could look down into her window whenever he wanted to be made her very uncomfortable.
And this discomfort caused problems between both parties because she disliked being watched constantly while going about daily life (cooking dinner) etc…
Becoming a skilled wordsmith takes dedication and insight. Uncover the hidden gems of storytelling with 12 Secrets to Becoming a Better Writer, where you’ll gain valuable tips to elevate your writing prowess.
Create Dilemmas That Add Depth And Generate Conflict
A dilemma is a problem or difficult situation faced by a character. Dilemmas are different from conflicts in that they are specific to one character, while conflicts encompass many characters and/or events.
For example, if you have a protagonist who needs to choose between two lovers, there’s an obvious conflict but it’s also important that this dilemma be relevant to your plot and the theme of your work. A good way to make sure this is the case is by asking yourself “Why?”
As in: Why should he or she pick either lover? What will happen if he chooses one over another? How will his choice affect him, his loved ones, and others around him?
The answers can help inform how you write out your dilemmas so that they’re not only interesting for readers but also true-to-life for characters who might find themselves in similar situations.
Make Your Character’s Motivation Strong And Relatable
The main reason your character’s motivation should be relatable is that it will help you create a character that the reader can understand and care about.
If the reader cares about your character, they’re more likely to keep reading! If they don’t care, they won’t finish your book, and then how will you get published? You need people who are willing to read your work! And if no one reads what you write…
Well, I think we all know where this is going. You need readers. You need readers who want to spend their time reading what you write. For them to want this experience with your writing, though… Your characters have GOT TO BE RELATABLE!
So make sure everything makes sense before continuing with this article (or any other part of this guide).
Otherwise, there might be some confusion which could lead to some problems down the line later on when trying out different things such as setting up an outline or even more importantly during draft revisions.
Where every little detail matters most especially when dealing with characters’ motivations as well as their actions throughout various stages throughout each chapter in order ensure nothing gets lost along the way due to a lack thereof proper planning beforehand–which means:
DON’T FORGET ABOUT THIS PART OF THESE GUIDES!!!
The wellspring of creativity lies in the art of idea generation. Delve into the methods used by novelists to conceive compelling narratives in Generating Ideas: A Look at How Novelists Come up with Story Ideas, and open the door to a world of imaginative possibilities.
Keep An Open Mind Until You Have Proof That You Are Right
Be open to new ideas and new information. If you have a specific way of doing things that have worked for you in the past, there may be better ways to do the same thing.
Be open to criticism. Criticism can be very helpful in pointing out flaws, but it can also be destructive if taken too seriously or personally. Sometimes we think our work is perfect when it’s not and we need someone else’s input before we realize this fact.
Be open to the possibility that you may be wrong. It’s important not only to accept this idea when people tell us so.
But also to consider what they’re saying without being defensive or stubborn about it especially if their criticisms are fair ones! You never know: maybe their feedback will make your story even stronger than before!
Be open to the possibility that you may be right…and wrong at once. While these two points seem contradictory at first glance (how could someone both be right AND wrong?), keep reading–it makes sense as soon as I explain myself further 🙂
Write Every Day
The next step is to write. This means that you need to do it every day, even when you don’t want to. Set aside a specific time when you will write and stick with that schedule.
For example, if you’re an afternoon writer, then start your day by writing at night or in the morning instead it doesn’t matter what time of day your muse visits you as long as she does!
It may take some practice before your body gets used to writing at certain times of day but eventually, it’ll get easier. And if all else fails… just keep trying until something works out!
Read Every Day
The best way to learn how to write is simply by reading. Read everything you can get your hands on, and don’t feel bad about it if you don’t finish books even the best writers are only able to read a fraction of what they want to in their lifetimes.
Reading is also great for relaxing, getting inspired, and feeling motivated. It can give authors new ideas as well as help them understand other peoples’ perspectives better than before (which makes them better at writing characters).
Crafting a masterpiece is only the first step; ensuring it reaches eager readers is the next challenge. Discover innovative approaches in Ways to Get People to Read Your Novel that will captivate your audience and make your novel shine.
Read Broadly
You should read both in your genre and outside it. You should read in your native language and a foreign language. You should read books on paper or electronic devices, or both, and not just one type of device!
You should read in different formats: digital versus analog; hardback versus paperback versus e-book; online versus traditional print-published and so on.
Learn From Other Authors’ Works
If you love to read, chances are you love to write even more! As a novelist myself, I can say that my writing has been influenced by many great authors who have come before me even those from genres that may seem very different from my work (such as science fiction).
Read Actively
Reading actively is more than just reading a book. It’s about taking in the material, thinking about it, and going places with it that the author didn’t intend.
Reading actively will help you solve problems, generate new ideas, and find inspiration for your writing. Here are some ways to read actively:
- When you come across something interesting in a book (or any piece of writing), ask yourself what it would look like if it were written differently or better – then write your version!
- Write down all the words you like from every piece of writing you read – these can be used as inspiration for new words in your work later on.
Simplify your path to novel-writing success with a comprehensive guide that streamlines your process. Explore Simplify Your Novel Writing Process with This Guide and unlock the strategies to bring your story to life with ease.
Choose Your Characters Carefully
When you’re writing a story, it’s easy to fall into the trap of making all your characters exactly like you. You have a lot of aspects in common with them, so it feels more natural for them to be similar than not. But if everyone is just like you, then there’s no conflict in the story.
You need to take a step back and consider who your characters are as people: what kind of jobs do they have? Where did they grow up? What do their families look like?
What kind of hobbies do they have? And then think about ways those things will affect how they behave in different situations throughout the book (and even how they react differently to each other).
For example one character might be an orphan who grew up on their own because their parents died when he was very young (which could lead him down certain paths);
Another character might come from a large family where everyone helps out around the house but also has plenty of time for themselves (which could lead them down other paths);
And yet another character might live alone because his wife died recently and still be dealing with this loss while trying hard not let it affect his daily life (which could lead him somewhere else entirely).
Use Dialogue Sparingly But Effectively
When you’re writing dialogue, make sure that it’s used to move the story forward, reveal characters and advance the plot.
Dialogue should not be used to explain something that has already been explained.
When a character says something in dialogue, it should be because they have something specific to say at that moment not because you want them to tell the reader what to think or feel about this particular character or situation.
Write A Compelling Story Arc
A story arc is the emotional journey of your characters. It’s also a way of structuring a plot and ensuring that it has well-defined peaks and valleys, with everything building in intensity until it crescendos into an explosive ending.
The inciting incident is the event that kicks off your story that moment when something happens that sets everything else into motion. In many books, this might be something like someone getting murdered or discovering their powers for the first time;
But there are so many different kinds of inciting incidents under so many different circumstances (like being attacked by zombies) that you could have hundreds if not thousands of options here!
Once you’ve written out an inciting incident, you should move into rising action this is where events start piling up on top of each other as they get more intense (and where things start to get exciting).
Rising action can be broken down into subplots (for example one character wants revenge on another character because he/she killed his/her parents), which build up tension until…
Conclusion
Writing a novel is exciting and challenging. The best way to get started is to sit down and start writing, but it can be overwhelming if you don’t have an idea of where to begin.
This guide will help you create a solid plot for your story so that you can focus on the details later on in the process. It includes tips from professional authors as well as exercises that will help you figure out what type of story works best for your audience or genre
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to further enhance your fiction writing skills:
15 Helpful Style Guides for Fiction Writers Short Description: Explore a curated list of style guides tailored specifically for fiction writers, offering valuable insights into crafting polished and consistent narratives.
ProWritingAid’s Fiction Writing Tips Short Description: ProWritingAid presents a collection of practical fiction writing tips designed to refine your storytelling techniques and elevate the impact of your prose.
15 Top Writing Guides for Novelists Short Description: Access a compilation of writing guides that cater to novelists, providing expert advice and strategies to excel in various aspects of novel creation.
FAQs
How can I improve my fiction writing style?
Enhance your fiction writing style by experimenting with different narrative techniques, exploring diverse genres, and seeking inspiration from renowned authors.
What tools can I use to enhance my fiction writing?
Consider using writing tools like ProWritingAid to analyze and refine your writing style, grammar, and structure, ultimately enhancing the quality of your fiction.
Where can I find resources to guide my novel-writing journey?
Explore online platforms like Medium and Daily Writing Tips for curated lists of style guides and writing tips tailored specifically for novelists.
How can style guides benefit my fiction writing?
Style guides provide consistent guidelines for grammar, punctuation, and formatting, ensuring your fiction maintains a polished and professional presentation.
How can I overcome common challenges in fiction writing?
To overcome challenges, engage in regular writing practice, seek feedback from peers or writing groups, and study successful novels to glean insights from experienced authors.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.