Simplicity in Fiction: Why We Should Not Complicate Narrative, Characters, or Narrators

Writers often try to overcomplicate a narrative. Sometimes a story calls for this. The punk science fiction needs to be complicated. The literary novel of the collapse of one man's mind should not read like "Lord of the Rings" or any other novel intended for young adults. But working with simple narratives, understandable characters, reliable narrators, and an easily readable sentence allows a writer more freedom in terms of publishing.

Writers work on the science fiction novel not to complicate it but because it is a vision of the future. A vision of the future need not have a complicated narrative like a Phillip K. Dick novel. Sometimes it should. But, on the other hand, writers who work simplicity into their works have a better chance of selling the story. In the narrative writers should allow themselves to work out the points in their minds before putting them to the page. If writers just write things on whims, because they sound good, mistakes are made. They should have a clear short story or novel, one that does not attempt to reinvent the world. Paragraph by paragraph, chapter by chapter, the reader is looking for reasons to put the story down. Working in simplicity also means the characters act like they should.

Consider writing a Batman comic. Batman does not kill, so writing of him killing someone would have to be explained in detail. However, Batman killing would complicate a story too much. It asks something of the character he would not normally do. A simpler tale may sell less copies, but it will have a better chance of being published. Shock value in characters, perhaps insane ones, often turns readers away. The writer should not take the characters too seriously, but make them like a clear portrait. If we painted the nose wrong, we might have to redo the entire painting.

The character could be the narrator of an author's fiction. An example of a reliable narrator is Batman. He does not know everything, but he relates what he does towards the story. A crazy narrator may only confuse a story. This is why comic fans rarely see a first person monologue with the Joker (Batman's greatest nemesis)-he is not a reliable person because of his insanity.

Sentences should not be full of semicolons or other tricks to lengthen a sentence. The writer need not be afraid of using semicolons, but consider what they can do. They are often not clear thoughts. And a semicolon could be replaced by a period. If the writer uses too many commas, he or she should consider adding more "and" into the stories.

As stated, simplicity sells. The writer need not worry about all these things. Often the simple story will tell itself. The writer should just keep these points in mind while writing any story they want to sell.