How to Construct a Good Novel

Writing a novel is easier said than done. Oftentimes, aspiring authors lose their sense of dedication after knowing that their story has been quite a mess because of losing some important details or concocting confusing storylines. Just what does it take to make a good story turn great?

Here are some of the few important tips that you should know when it comes to turning a novel great:

Describe, Describe and Describe

It’s often that most writers often leave out details of a scene or story which leaves the reader confused and dumbfounded. That’s because many authors get caught up in the moment of finishing a scene and then proceeding to the next, forgetting the crucial details of a scene that can be described as “short” in real life but can last several pages in a book. Don’t hesitate and describe what the setting is, what a particular character felt, or what movement did one character do in that specific scene.

Don’t Limit to the Senses

You’re writing a novel. This gives you the authority to go outside of the five senses and described whatever it is that you truly feel that’s beside what you see, hear, smell or taste. Words are the weapons that writers use, so don’t limit yourself and extend your boundaries in describing moments as the story of the novel goes on. Feel free to cross descriptions as well, like describing a smell or a taste using different ways. For example, “The sweet floral fragrance of the garden reminded him of his quaint and homely village from years ago…”

Develop Characters

No one likes a stale and boring character that doesn’t have an outstanding or unique feature. If you’re going to write a long novel, it’s important that you show the development of a character, less of the physical aspect but more on the mental and emotional aspect. This would include the beginning personality of the character, encountering a conflict in the story, the character making a choice to resolve the conflict and then resolving the conflict and its effects on the character.

Limit Using Clichés

During this time, most people are sick of clichés. Creating stories that are solely based on clichés can end up getting good or bad impression, but overly showing clichés in a story can end up killing the story itself. Be sure to use cliché sparingly and learn tips on how to use them properly in your story.

Don’t be Afraid of Darkness

Oftentimes, most writers are afraid of writing about darker topics such as racism, incest, etc. because these are sensitive topics to begin with. However, these topics are excellent foregrounds to build stories and plots wherein your novel can blossom and characters can develop. Feel free to discuss on these topics and show your opinion as a writer, extending your hand to the readers and showing your beliefs.

Sense of Humor

The best novels have some comical moments that make the readers grin or even laugh out loud without reserve. Even in serious fiction novels, it’s because of these small moments that help grab the reader’s attention and keep the story going smoothly. Provide what you can and share a bit of comedy, even in the serious stories. But be sure not to overdo it or else you’ll be just spelling trouble for your novel.

Adding Drama

What makes a novel story good is how it can grab and manipulate a reader’s emotions and can even make them cry. When the plot demands for it, concoct a situation where it’s relatable or where the reader can sympathize with the characters of your story and become the character themselves. While this may take experience, getting that tug on your readers’ emotions is important and can be the very reason why a novel is considered to be “good” or “great” by the masses.

Writing a novel can take months or even years to finish. With tons of revisions and edits to be made, it’s understandable that a lot of writers have that difficulty of getting out of that slump and making a good story for their novels. Hopefully, these useful tips have given help in constructing a good novel story for you.