How to Write an Excellent Novel

Novel writing takes skill but there is always space for improvement. Analyze a work in progress against these points and then polish, refine and focus the writing. It is worth taking time to review and adapt a story before sending it to an agent or publisher for consideration.

The Main Character and Plot

The backbone of any novel is the plot. To maintain the reader's interest, the storyline should contain mystery, suspense and hope. The main character should have a problem that needs solving and by the end of the story they must have made changes to themselves and their lifestyle, that results in a satisfying conclusion.

Most novels work around one protagonist. This character should play an important role in the first few pages to establish his or her position. Develop the character as the story progresses and use habits and behavior to reveal thoughts and ideas.

The protagonist should have a distinctive voice so that the reader will know who is speaking, even if names are not mentioned. This can be done by choice of words, tone, and limited use of dialect.

Eliminate Melodrama From a Novel

Melodrama is defined as a story with excessive sentiment and emotion, sensational and thrilling action, and an exaggerated happy ending. Readers don't want to read material that is far removed from reality. They are looking for stories, scenes and emotions that ring true and are believable. They want something they can relate to and understand.

To check if a section is believable, read it out loud and imagine it happening. Does it come across as stilted, overdone or weak? Make adjustments where necessary and use actions to convey emotions and feelings.

Write Visually and Bring a Story to Life

Life is perceived through the five senses of taste, touch, sight, sound and smell. A novel that doesn't include all of these will be lacking in some way. Make sure each chapter contains references to sense and steer clear of clichéd descriptions.

Here are some examples of appropriate usage:

• Taste - The cake dissolved in sweet mouthfuls, washed down with creamy coffee
• Touch - She tore at the cobweb as sticky threads trailed across her face
• Sight - Clouds streaked the sky with gold, amber and crimson
• Sound - The bell echoed through the night, mournful and slow
• Smell - Hedges spilled fragrant blossoms across the park

Write as People Think and Speak

A novel is designed for easy reading. Eliminate formal, showy language and write as people think and talk. There is no need to use long words unless the character is a college professor or similar. Dialogue is an important part of most novels and should be phrased informally while cutting out excess words and waffle.

It helps to read a section out loud to pick up where weaknesses are. Make sure the sentence construction and words used match the age, background and sex of the character.

Novel writing is a complex process with many facets to consider. By checking various areas for authenticity and flow, it is possible to produce a book that is easy to read, believable and interesting.