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Novel Writing: The
Craft of Writing Fiction
Publishers are
seeking elements in a story that will keep readers turning the page.
Whether your manuscript is published depends on how creative the
story is, whether your descriptions are compelling, whether your
dialogue is believable, and whether the conflict draws readers into
your narrative.
Advice on How to
Write Fiction
 Stick
to one point of view at a time. There's a trend in publishing where
the writer jumps from POV to POV in a middle of a scene. Though
"head bopping" can occur in any genre, it seems popular
thrillers are notorious for including more than one POV in a scene.
Here's an example
of "head bopping" where the scene is supposed to be on the
protagonist's viewpoint (Bill).
"I was
surprised that Jordan never made it to the meeting,"
said Bill.
Samantha had a hard time concentrating on Bill's words. Her mind was
on other matters. "I'm sure he has a good reason."
Bill knew Samantha was right. "I'll give him a call to see if
he's okay."
Since Bill is the
main character, Samantha's thoughts do not belong in the scene.
Buy
books on writing. There are plenty of books that provide basic or
advanced fiction writing tips. Reading "how to" books can
help with writer's block because you gain ideas on how to tackle
some of your writing obstacles. Through these books you also receive
a checklist for fiction writers you can use. Check out
The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the story within for
more information.
There's
an old adage in writing: write what you know. There is sense in that
statement because writing a story around an aspect you are familiar
with makes the process easier. However, feel free to venture out
into areas that are new to you. The caveat: have patience.
Especially if your first novel is based on a concept that you never
ventured into in the past.
Join
critique groups. Doing so allows you to receive writing tips on how
to write fiction that grabs reader's interest. You can find novel
writing groups online or locally.
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