Writing a Great Novel-The Secret Every Writer Needs to Know

There's nothing more important to writing a successful novel than identifying the key problem of the story. This article shows how easy it is.

Every writer wants to write a great novel, but not every writer knows the secret that can make the difference between a successful novel and a failure. The secret that every writer needs to know is that every novel is a mystery. I know that might sound ridiculous at first, especially if you're writing a romance or a science fiction novel. At their core, though, even westerns and horror stories are mysteries.

Let me explain what I mean. When I say that every novel is a mystery, I mean that there is something (a mystery) that the main character must figure out during the story. In a murder mystery, this is pretty obvious. The main character must figure out who committed the murder. This search for the murderer then provides the framework around which the rest of the story is structured. In a romance, the protagonist may need to figure out how to get the man she loves to fall in love with her. In a science fiction novel, the main character may need to figure out how to get back home after his spaceship crashes on an alien planet. In each of these cases, solving the mystery in the story provides the framework.

This mystery can't just be a passing comment in the story. It needs to be the bones of the story. Therefore, the very first step in writing your novel is to figure out what mystery your main character is going to solve.

First, answer these questions. What is my character's main task during the story? What does he or she need to find out?

Next, give your main character a seriously compelling reason for completing their task. Let's use our previous science fiction novel as an example. Our main character needs to figure out how to get back home because he wants to witness the birth of his first child. Maybe he is carrying a vaccine that can cure an epidemic on his home planet. Maybe he only has three days of breathable air. Maybe he has a message that must be delivered to the president in order to prevent war. The more dire the consequences, the better the story will be. The list of possibilities is endless.

You can see how important the word "because" is when you're writing your novel's statement. It can turn a good idea for a novel into a great idea. Try using this format for your novel's mystery sentence: The main character needs to (write the problem here) because (write a compelling reason here).

You can use this mystery statement as part of your marketing material when the novel is finished. It can appear in your press release and in your online advertising.

If you've already written a novel, check to see if you can write a mystery statement. If not, there's a good chance your novel lacks focus. I've seen some pretty decent writers spend a lot of time writing very mediocre books which sold only a few copies because they ignored this simple secret.

Make your novel a great novel by finding the mystery in it.

Julie Coan has been a writer and educator for more than twenty years. She has just released her novel-writing system as an ebook: Write Your Way to a Million Dollars. Her unique strategies will show you the best ways to write, publish, and market your novel. You Can Write a Successful Novel

to Write

Chapter 1   BEFORE YOU WRITE

Writing a book is a lot like getting married.  It is intensely  personal, it calls for a big commitment, and it requires a sustained effort.  And like marriage, it carries no guarantee of success.

Books and marriages often fail for the same reasons.  The most common reason is that the writer doesn't know enough about the four essential components of a successful book.  It may surprise you to know that the first and most important of these components is the self.

1. the SELF– Many writers get an idea and then jump into writing about it, never  giving any conscious thought to what his or her motives are for wanting  to write.  As you'll see a little later, why you want to write should  help determine what you write.

The second essential component is:

2. the SUBJECT  – How much do you know about your topic?  Enough to convey to your readers how your (or your character's) experiences felt; how your readers can  acquire proficiency: do you know enough to teach them what they want to know  about the subject?   

Now for another surprise.  The third essential component is        

3. the READERS  – Are you clear about who you are writing this book for?  Do you   know the profile of the ideal reader of this book?

The fourth component is, of course, the actual writing of the book.  This includes the format, mechanics, style, tone, etc.

4. THE WRITING  – You may not yet know the writing methods  that will create and sustain reader interest in your book.  That's okay.  You will know these by the time you finish this book.  And if you have sufficient knowledge about your motives, your subject and your readers, you have already solved many of the most aggravating problems of writing.

Successful writing requires a harmonious blend of writer, subject and reader. When this is achieved, an alchemy takes place.  This alchemy informs the writing process in a way that cuts through the common problems writers face.  Once the alchemy is there, a writer can usually work swiftly and efficiently, avoiding many writing pitfalls and completing the book in less time than (s)he expected it to take. This is as true for seasoned professional writers as it is for beginners.  Experienced writers tend to search out this information automatically, perhaps arriving at the information without giving the searching process any conscious energy.  A beginner will probably have to go through the process more consciously in order to obtain workable answers.

Achieving this alchemy depends on knowing a number of things about yourself, the writer,  and your motives;  about the subject to be written about, and knowing some essentials  about the people you hope will read your book.  Let's take a look at each of them:

WHY YOU WANT TO WRITE

The motives are many.  Maybe you've always dreamed of achieving fame and fortune as an author. You picture yourself on TV talking to David Letterman or Jay Leno, or being interviewed on Good Morning, America.  You see yourself autographing books for a long line of admiring readers or standing before a large audience, talking to them about your book.  Perhaps your book was such a success that it is now being made into a movie.  Do you know what kind of book to write to turn this dream into a reality?

Maybe you want to write as a means of self-actualization.  You know you have things to say that others will find interesting but you've never taken the time to organize them into a meaningful text. Writing a book can create just the opportunity you need to organize your vast body of knowledge on a subject, or to explore your own psychological depths.  Do you know who would be interested in reading this book?

Or maybe you hope to gain immortality, to perpetuate yourself through your autobiography.  Other reasons for writing an autobiography include creating a legacy for those who follow after you, to give children and grandchildren a sense of belonging and continuity. Your motive for writing a book might be to help others.  You may have pioneered an experience (anything from a self-cure for cancer to rollerblading across the U.S.) or discovered a new or better way to do something.  What you've done or learned could be of help to others, and you want to write a book to share.  Do you know who would welcome this information?

Recording knowledge, experience or history is a valuable contribution.  Doing it has many benefits.  It can bring fame and fortune. It can help you self-actualize. It can serve to advance your career or be a way to spend your spare time constructively.  Writing such a book could provide an important teaching tool.  It is important for you to know which of the above motives are your reasons for wanting to write a book, because your reasons are tightly connected to whether or not the kind of book you write will be a success.

WHAT YOU WANT TO WRITE

First, what types of books are there?  Generally books can be broken down into fiction or non-fiction.  Fiction includes general novels; romance novels; Gothic novels; historical novels; westerns; mysteries; suspense novels; adventure novels; children's books. Also included under fiction, of course, is the short story, which can be written in any of the previously mentioned genres.  Nonfiction includes all factual books: how-to books; cookbooks; histories; art books; travel books; plus all sorts of academic books on any area of knowledge. There are also, of course, hundreds of professional and trade journals which print articles in specific areas of interest. These can be written in any of the following nonfiction forms: news, feature, analysis, how-to, opinion, speculation, interview, inspirational, evaluative, study, narrative, history, journal, observations, creative nonfiction, summary, list or satire.

Now, how can your motive influence the success of the kind of book you want to write?  Well, consider these facts.  According to the Writer's Market, only 5% of writers earn over $80,000 a year. Your chances of attaining fame and fortune will be better, therefore, if you write the type of book that the greatest number of people want to read. It helps if it's the kind of book that will translate well into a film or video format. The most popular kinds of fiction books are love stories and legal thrillers.  The most popular non-fiction books are how-to's, followed by books on health care; men/women relationships; business and management advice; spiritual and psychological works; dieting, and books with a multicultural slant.  We are a nation of do-it-yourselfers who gobble up information that helps us become more self-sufficient.

If your motive is self actualization or to help others,  the  popularity of your book will be a minimal factor for you.  You may already know that your book will appeal to only a limited market.  Who over 40, for instance, will be interested in rollerblading across the United States?  How many people will be interested in reading the history of your home town, or your opinions, evaluations, or your life story?  You get the point.

Perhaps your main motive is career advancement. Will this purpose be best served by targeting as your  audience those who are beginners in your field?  Your peers?  Those who have been in the field longer than you?  Do you know what differences in approach are needed to write successfully for these three different markets?

The same questions apply to those of you who want to write a book to help other people.  Who are these people?  How much do you know about them?  Is your reason for helping them to impress them, to encourage them or to inform them? These are all factors in determining the contents and style of your book.

Now you need to know if you have what it takes to write that book.

IF YOU CAN WRITE

Many factors determine your ability to write, beginning with whether or not you have the time to do it.  Another important factor is whether or not you like to write. Then there are personality traits to consider: are you an idea person?  Do you have patience?  Do you have the training to be a polished writer? Can you make the emotional commitment to the type of solitude and perseverance required to write your book?

Don't get discouraged if you've answered no to some of these questions. By the time you have read this book you will be answering yes to most of them.  And by following the step-by-step approach outlined in the pages that follow, you'll find that a time commitment of as little as one hour a day can get the job done.  The essential part is your emotional commitment.

You've got to believe in your project and believe in yourself.  You have to be convinced of the importance of writing this book.  You have to commit to it, and to firmly commit yourself to this project you must make a contract with yourself. Your contract is your vow.

Decide on a time of day when you can consistently devote time to writing.  Then realistically assess how much time you can spend at it daily.  Don't overestimate.  It's important for you to write consistently each day, at the same time and if possible in the same location. If  all you can realistically expect to devote to writing on a daily basis is fifteen minutes, then contract with yourself for fifteen minutes.  Then, if it turns out that you can spend two hours at it on some days, you can consider that bonus time. 

Once you are clear with yourself about when, where, and what time you can give to your writing, write a simple contract with yourself:   Here's an example:

The following is the sworn statement made by you, the writer:

DECLARATION TO WRITE

I am a writer, now engaged in the writing of a book about 

                                                                                          .

I pledge to devote                          (minutes/hours) to this project

every day,

from                           (hour) to                          (hour).   

Signed:                                                                                    

(your name)                                               (date)

Sworn to this                 day of                                  , 19        .

Don't overlook this step.  It seals your commitment to yourself to follow through on this project and solemnizes the importance of this task.  It also formalizes exactly what part of your life you will carve out to make way for this accomplishment, and it commits you to getting into the habit of writing.  As Somerset Maugham once said, "Writing is a habit that's easy to get into and hard to break."   Forming that habit is an essential part of achieving your goal.

Now inform your family, friends and associates that you will be unavailable at those times.

It is important that your writing time be uninterrupted.  Other people will have to take it as seriously as you do, allowing you quality time for your  work

 Write Better... Get Published

If you are looking for ways to improve your writing skills there is one surefire way to accomplish this. Every time we sit down to write an article the intention should be to try and keep things short and sweet.Good articles are short articles that get a point across with the minimal amount of words used. All too often however we find ourselves going off on tangents thereby increasing the length of the article. Effective writing skills include the ability to write less and say more but without repetition this skill can be hard to develop.  

The recent past evolution of web 2.0 on the internet has now given article composers the chance to frequently practice their writing skills. Blog posting, social networking and even emails now offer the opportunity for many to practice writing 'content without fluff'. 

Here are 3 ways in which participation in social networking, blogging, or composing emails can make you a better writer.  

Consolidating Your Thoughts   Why say something in 100 words that can be said in just 50? Your readers will greatly appreciate this.  It is always a good idea when writing to finish your composition and then let it sit for a while. With a little thought and a fresh perspective you can always edit out words, phrases, and even paragraphs that aren't needed. Getting your point across using as few words as possible will give those words you do use more impact.  Blog posts, emails, and even interacting at social networking sites will quickly 'train' you to quickly make your point.  In fact Twitter, one of the most popular social network sites online limits your post to just 140 characters.   

Sticking to the Subject   Your ability to stick to the subject and get to the point is something every reader will appreciate. A common tendency for most writers is to sometimes deviate from the main point of their articles. In fact meandering away from your intended subject can irritate readers to the point where they don't even finish reading what you wrote. The additional content doesn't necessarily add any value to the article itself and therefore can and should be left out when possible. 

Once again when posting to blogs or emailing you want to get right to the point since these type readers don't expect to be reviewing anything other then brief messages.   

Write Plainly   Learn to write so everybody understands you and don't try to impress them with your vocabulary. The need for a dictionary is not what your readers are looking for since this takes additional time and is inconvenient.

When sending quick emails, or writing short blog posts you have to focus on making your points quickly and in an easy to understand fashion.  

Always write to and for the general audience and never assume that they have an appreciation for 25 cents words. This only makes their reading all the more difficult and less enjoyable.  

The best way to improve your writing skills is through repetition. One of the most effective writing talents a person can develop is the ability to write less and say more. This is particularly true when you write an article since you want to capture the readers' attention without boring them. As a rule of thumb good articles are short articles and this is why. So next time you 'tweet' somebody or sit down to write a blog post or email realize you're also improving your writing skills as well.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/improve-your-writing-skills-write-less-and-say-more-1217634.html

About the Author:
TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.

For additional  Money Making Tips  and a free guide that demonstrates how to find both profitable markets and products visit:  http://blogbrawn.com/

Writing blogs has become insanely popular with the passage of time. From simple construction workers to political figures from across the globe, anyone and everyone can express their opinions and be heard for what they have to say.

However, one of the most attractive reasons to keep and maintain a blog is to make money from blogging: advertising, merchandising, affiliating, or even premium subscriptions and donations will help bring some clink to your pocket. Yet there are some good reasons to blog for money even if you have a decent day job supplementing your needs:

More Money to Spend - A little more money is always a good thing to have, and would probably be the primary motivator to blog for money, especially with the financial disaster currently enveloping the world.

Having as many sources of income as possible is also essential in today’s stormy financial conditions. Employees are getting laid off left and right, businesses are folding up faster than paper planes, and once-untouchable financial conglomerates are reeling from the crisis. Blogging for money would help alleviate the initial sting, and can tide you through the crisis.

Making Money from Your Experience - When you have just experienced something mind boggling and interesting from work, family or personal revelations, it can be tapped for content on your blog.

When you have got something good, exciting or weird to share to the general public, you can upload it on your blog to make some money off your experiences. You just need to be creative in presenting it, and you can make money by sharing what is going on around you and at the same time gaining some insight from the experiences as well.

Stimulating Creative Thinking - Speaking of creativity, the simple experience of writing up a blog can bring you money in other less obvious ways. One of the most important is the stimulation of creative thinking, which is essential in today’s fast-paced world.

When you write up a blog, you dig deep into your pool of creative ability to come up with the words and content to broadcast your thoughts and opinions over the ‘net. This process stimulates creative thinking, and helps make you think faster, better and more creative in other areas of your life: work skills, social skills and entrepreneurial skills are just some areas that can greatly benefit from creative thinking.

Therapy that Pays for Itself - While the money that it brings is reward enough, blogging is also therapeutic in nature. The perks you get from it are akin to going to a therapist; except this therapist pays for your bills instead of making them.

Sharing your thoughts and ideas, and squeezing your creative juices helps results in lower risk for heart disease, better problem coping skills, improved stress management and an over-all sense of well being. It is definitely something to help make your life better and more satisfying.

From adding a little clink to your pocket to free reflection and insight therapy, blogging for money has a lot of perks attached to it. That is why it is so lucrative and fun to make, and will continue to do so for a long time to come.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=377181&ca=Writing

When it comes to writing fiction, there are numerous advantages to creating a make-believe setting - whether it be a house, a street, a town or even a whole country.

Not only do you not need to worry about the little things like train and bus schedules, what time the sun sets, what kinds of flowers bloom where etc., you've also got free rein on all the buildings, the streets, the municipal systems, even the type of government.

Good writers spend lots of time checking police procedures, technology and how real places look, feel and operate. When you make everything up - you save on all that research. Okay, you still need to use you mind to imagine everything but no-one can ever turn round to you and say you got something wrong - because it just can't be wrong!

Unless you're writing fantasy or science fiction, you don't need to go so far as to invent everything. Many writers choose to invent just the town (and the people in it) and leave the country and state and its political system intact. This is good way to create veracity without being a slave to the truth.

One major disadvantage is that readers have gotten used to modern fiction being set in real places - they expect it. Therefore, if you present a fictional town, some readers will baulk and cry: well, if that's not real, how can I begin to believe anything else this author tells me!

Some readers may feel cheated that you, as the author, are playing God and consequently can shape the 'rules' in your world. This may hinder their willing suspension of disbelief.

Plus, there's the need to identify. People like things to hold on to - things that feel real. Sometimes one of the advantages of setting your story in New York, Paris or London can be the reader is filling in the details for you. Place a reader in a nebulous, unfamiliar environment and they'll feel lost unless you describe the place fully - which may in turn hinder your ability to pace the action.

Stephen King's Castle Rock is a very familiar place - he uses it in many of his novels. What many people don't realize is that this place is completely imaginary. Sure, it's based on several places in Maine but it's designed to be a credible backdrop - rather than a real place.

Kathy Reichs uses real Canadian cities as the backdrops to her novels - describing them with a freshness that makes them very real - especially to readers who may never have experienced them first hand.

JK Rowling uses a combination of real English places like London and Oxford and imaginary locations like Hogwarts to root her reality in real life but also give her the latitude to take her readers on a magical adventure.

There's no right or wrong way to do these things. Only one rule is important. Whether your location is real or imaginary, it must be believable.

So - if you're tempted to invent a city, where do you start?

Make a map. Start small - with just one street and move outward from there.

Most of my stories (three novels and about a dozen short stories) are set in a fictional town - loosely based on the place I grew up in - called West Ridge. I have a map - it's just a sheet of A4 I have taped near my desk. Sometimes I will add to it if I decide I want one of my characters to take a walk round a park or drive over a bridge, or whatever. The best part is that it's organic - it grows larger and more complex with every story.

It has bars, clubs, shops, roads, hills, rivers, housing estates, statues, parks, fountains and - best of all, it's as real to me as the keys on this laptop!

Invent your own city if you like. It can be a lot of fun.

Best regards and keep writing!

Rob Parnell
rob@easywaytowrite.com
Your Success is My Concern
The Easy Way to Write

Developing Characters

(excerpted from the online course, Bringing Your Characters to Life. www.acappela.com

Fiction, biography, history, adventure stories ~ they all have one thing in common: they’re all about people.  Too often, such works are simply variations on the seven-word biography:

he was born, grew up, and  died.

Such writing merely offers readers lists ~ of facts, of dates, places, relationships, experiences and accomplishments, what I call laundry lists.  Writing like this is dull.  It doesn’t involve readers in the character’s life, because it doesn’t give readers the kind of inside information that allows them to get involved with the character.  Laundry list writing doesn’t reveal the character’s inner person or tell what that person’s life was about.  It doesn’t engage readers because it doesn’t provide the intimate information that brings the character to life, right off  the page.

Readers live through your story by experiencing the events and dilemmas you present to your character. You want readers to experience the people you write about.  For this to happen, you have to characterize your characters, whether they’re real or imagined.

CHARACTERIZATION

There are three primary methods of characterization:  description, action and dialogue.

DESCRIPTION is narrative that simply tells your reader something about your character:

Keith was a tall, unhappy man with short brown hair.

 The words and actions of a character, particularly when enhanced by description, can tell your reader a  lot about who that character is. Here is Keith in ACTION:

Keith shuffled into the kitchen, ducking instinctively as he came through the doorway. The dishes were piling up and the floor needed sweeping, but he couldn't find a reason to care about that  right now. He pulled a beer from the fridge and sat at the table without opening it.

From this passage we get an impression of Keith’s height from the fact that he needs to duck through the doorway. His unhappiness is hinted at by his shuffling and his apathetic reaction to his surroundings. In a similar way, DIALOGUE can characterize by letting the reader see the character relating to someone else:

Beth clicked on the light and jumped when she saw him slumped over the kitchen table. "Jeez, Keith, you scared me half to death. What the hell are you doing, sitting in here in the dark?" "I don't know. Nothing." He ran his hand over his head, spiking his short brown hair. "Did you go to work today?" 

"No." 

“You sick?" 

"No." Beth laid her purse on the table and sat down. "Now you're really scaring me. Tell me what's wrong."

All three methods of characterization can be effective.  How you use them, and in what combination, is a matter of your personal style and the needs of your story.

Characterization depends on creating word pictures of your characters.  This is best done through showing the character, through his/her actions and speech, or through imaginative descriptions that create pictures in readers’ minds.

To create word pictures about your characters, you have to know them thoroughly.  Do you know, for instance, your character’s job description? Where (s)he lives, the decor and furnishings? Favorite foods?  Treasured possessions?  Tastes in clothes, movies, music? How the character sees him/herself? 

If you’re writing non-fiction, about a real person or persons, you may already know the answers to many of the above questions.  But if you’re writing fiction, you’ll have to create this information.  You’ll have to give birth to characters that are consistent, believable people with specific qualities and faults, with specific feelings and histories and needs and desires.

Your characters must seem like real human beings.  They must be feeling, caring, striving, failing, winning, hurting. Above all, they must earn your readers’ respect.  Readers have seen every imaginable plot, yet they have not learned how your character will handle adversity.

CREATING CHARACTERS

Only stress reveals true character. Characters react to stress because of motivation. To ensure they act as you wish under pressure, you must construct their past to set up the desired reaction in the future. Give them a biography, including a history. The more important the character, the more complete the biography. Print out this personal resume for each character and place it nearby. Include the character's name, date and place of birth, physical description, age, address, occupation or primary endeavor, immediate relatives, friends and relationships with each. List every facet of their physical and emotional makeup. Build them from the inside out, including traits that set them apart and differentiate them from other characters. In the history, list the dates and circumstances of pivotal events which have imprinted the character. Think action/reaction. Impact characters with a past event that explains why they react in a certain way to a present event. Not all past events need be revealed. However, as the  author, you must know their history. Otherwise, you won't know how  and why your characters react as they must under pressure. If you take the above steps, you will end up with the intimate information that allows you to bring your characters to life

_____________________________________________________________________________

The above article has been excerpted from the online class, Bringing Your Characters to Life, one of 17 classes offered by Patrika Vaughn, your Author’s AdvocateTM, on www.acappela.com

There is nothing more confusing to a writer than reading guidelines and not understanding some of the lingo. Although some of the definitions below are self-explanatory, I’ve included them for clarity to those who weren’t sure.

All rights – this means you give up the rights to that article to the buying editor.

An Article – this is usually a nonfiction piece of writing on any topic – like this article you are reading.

Bio – it’s not biosphere or biology but your very short biography (write up) as a writer. Check out my biography found at the end of this article to get an idea.

Clip – this is simply samples of work published in print – newspapers, magazines.

Deadline – self-explanatory: the date you must hand in your writing assignment.

Editorial Calendar – many magazines and online ezines set certain themes/topics they request for the whole year. It gives you a heads up what to write on.

Filler – not filler up but 1 – 3 paragraphs of writings that venues use to fill in their space. Take a look at Reader’s Digest to get an idea: humor, jokes, etc.

First rights – not to your first born, but first rights given to a magazine to publish your piece exclusively. In other words, they will be the first ones to showcase it for a specified time as agreed upon.

Guidelines – that all important page where editors tell you exactly what they’re seeking, how to format, where to send, and to whom. Sway from these guidelines and you risk rejection.

Hook – a hook is the opening statement in an article or the beginning of your story, the part that hooks your reader to want to continue the read.

Kill Fee – this is not an actual mobster fee but a fee offered by some magazines when your article has been accepted but for some reason never gets published.

Masthead – although it sounds like something belonging on a ship, it’s not. A masthead is where the names of the editors, writers, cover artists, etc. are found in the beginning of any magazine/ezine.

MS – simply put: manuscript. If you see MSS: manuscripts

Multiple Submissions – this is when you send more than one article/story to the same editor. Read their guidelines carefully because many frown on this.

On Spec – when first starting off writing articles, many editors might want to see you work (on speculation) and judge whether or not to use it.

Pays on acceptance – something a writer loves to hear. This means as soon as an editor agrees to accept your work, you will get paid once the contract is send, signed, and delivered back to them.

Pays on publication – better than nothing but pays on acceptance is always best. This means payment will be issued once your article has been published.

Query – the dreaded part for most writers. Think of the query as your sales pitch to get an editor/agent interested in seeing your work.

Reprints – self-explanatory. Reprints are articles that have previously been published. There are some magazines and ezines that accept reprints for lesser pay.

Second rights – articles that have previously been published and the first right time frame has elapsed, can now be offered to others as reprints.

Sidebar – these are either graphs, charts, or/and informational boxes you see on the side of an article. They are like ‘sidekicks’ to support the basic article.

Simultaneous Submission – this is something many editors frown on so please make sure to check their guidelines. This is when you send one work to several editors at the same time.

Now that you know the lingo, get writing.

-----

Lea Schizas is an award-winning author and editor, submissions editor for Red Rose Publishing and founder of the Muse Online Writers Conference. She also offers editing services. For more info, please go here: http://www.leaschizas.com