Don’t Tell the Same Old Story
As a reader, nothing annoys me more than going to the bookstore and finding three apparently different books with the same basic plotline lined up next to each other. Sure, the details are different, and there might be some twists that aren’t identical, but the stories are so similar, it just doesn’t make sense to spend my hard-earned money on all three. One is enough.
As a writer, I just don’t see the point of writing a book that’s essentially a carbon copy of something else that’s already out there. Taking someone else’s storyline and trying to manipulate it to come up with something semi-creative is just ridiculous. Instead, I try to sit down and come up with a story that I feel is at least a little unique.
If you don’t want to bore your readers, go to your local bookstore, check out what kinds of books are being written, and deliberately write something else. The same old story will only turn off any readers you’re hoping to attract.
Manipulate Your Plot for a More Creative Story
One thing that irritates me as a reader is a plot that just plods along. I want more out of a story than a simple list of events. I want something engaging, something that draws me in, and certainly something unexpected.
As a writer, accomplishing this is my primary task. There are several ways to manipulate your basic plot and keep your readers interested. While not all of these need to be used in a single novel, they should at least be considered as ways of enhancing your plot. Some of these techniques are:
- Try telling events out of order. Waiting before you fill in the gaps can keep readers curious.
- Pick the events that truly help to move your plot forward, and focus on those. Having too many "extras" can detract from the telling of your central story.
- Leave out a crucial detail and let your readers try to puzzle it out. This will keep your readers guessing, and hopefully keep them interested.
The answer to this question is "maybe." For some writers, such as myself, letting a plot flow naturally results in a better product. If you do choose to forgo an outline, just let your creativity take over. It’s a good idea to have a pad of paper beside you where you can jot down ideas that don’t fit into your current plotline. You might be able to use them in a different novel.
This method of writing can lead to some wonderfully creative and rich plots. However, the downside is that if you encounter the dreaded writer’s block, it can be difficult to find your focus again.
On the other hand, outlines are helpful to stay on track and get your characters from point A to point B. You can keep your focus on the main elements of your story, developing it to its fullest extent. Having a prepared outline, whether sketchy or full of details, can also help you to get through writer’s block, since you already know where your characters are heading.
While this method of writing is a little more orderly than working without an outline, for some writers, it can feel a little like writing while on a leash.
Knowing What to Leave Out
Sometimes, the most difficult part of any plot is deciding which information is not really necessary. It’s quite easy to end up with several chapters worth of information that isn’t really related to the plot. This can really hurt a novel.
As an example, if your main character takes a drive to a different state, meets some interesting people, has tea with a lady he’ll never see again, and returns home, all without anything happening that matters to the plot, you’ve probably just wasted paper. If, on the other hand, he discovers an important clue while on his little road trip, then perhaps his little journey, or at least a part of it, does belong in the story.
The point here is to eliminate anything that’s completely useless. Your readers probably don’t care about irrelevant details. They want substance, plot, and something engaging. If a piece of information isn’t any of these things, it can probably be ignored.
What you write about is up to you. Your plot, characters, and genre are up to you. However, if you want a novel that will grab the interest of your readers and keep them captive, try to keep your plot creatively moving forward. Keep in mind the above tips and the essential elements of plot, and always believe in your own story.
If you can do this, then getting started in the world of creative writing becomes just a little easier.
