Writing a Novel: The Epic Novel

I've had a remarkable number of e-mails lately about epics and how to write them. There is certainly an interest in epics of all kinds, from historical novels such as War and Peace to fantasy epics such as The Lord of the Rings. And writers are constantly penning their own epics, so the epic novel isn't going away any time soon.

But writing an epic is a monumental task, mostly because it's easy to think you're writing an epic and then end up not doing so. So if you're going to write an epic novel of any kind, you have to start by understanding exactly what an epic is. And of course, you have to understand what it is not.

First of all, an epic, whether it is fantasy, adventure, or any other genre, focuses on heroic characters. The characters don't necessarily start out as heroic, but they do have to develop a sense of heroism as the story progresses. Accidental heroes are fine. Characters who are simply forced to go along with the story are not heroes. They might be protagonists, but they're not heroes.

You also have to have some idea of scope before you begin writing an epic novel. An epic is not a story that happens in a small down at the edge of the ocean, with the characters never leaving their own little town. The action in an epic must take place on a grand scale. Across an entire world or at least across an entire country is best. Science fiction epics tend to take place across galaxies. Your epic should capture struggles that are almost majestic in their scope and take place across vast stretches of time. An epic cannot take place in just a few days. Months, at the very least. Sometimes years, as is the case with Pillars of the Earth.

Now you come to the meat of your story, the question of what to write. Many epic stories focus on tales of war or the struggle against good and evil, but this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. You could write an epic about the struggles of a traveling minstrel in medieval times, and war certainly doesn't have to be the focus here. Adventure should be a part of any epic, but it doesn't have to be adventure associated with war.

An epic novel can be of any genre. Fantasy, science fiction, horror, literary fiction, or really any genre you want can serve you well. Just make sure that the genre fits your story. Or better yet, write your epic without worrying about genre and let the genre come from the story itself.

When attempting to write an epic, keep in mind both the heroism expected of your characters and the general scope of your novel. Don't lose sight of these basic principles and you'll be well on your way to creating an epic story.

Writing a Novel: Literary Nonsense as a Genre

Nonsense literature, often called literary nonsense, is a sub-genre of absurdist fiction. To be considered nonsense literature, a book must use sensible and nonsensical elements to defy language conventions or logical reasoning. Nonsense verse is the most common form of literary nonsense, but it can come in just about any form of fiction.

It is important to not that literary nonsense usually consists of an excess of meaning and not a lack of meaning entirely. It is also usually amusing, if not outright hysterical, though this humor is derived almost entirely from the nonsensical nature of the language used. A good example of nonsensical fiction is The Cat in the Hat, written by the now-famous Dr. Seuss, but there are dozens of modern (and not-so-modern) authors who use this genre of literature to express themselves.

Writing Literary Nonsense

If you are hoping to write a piece of literary nonsense, you'll have to become familiar with at least some of the techniques used by authors of this genre. Some of the more popular techniques you may wish to explore include:

• cause and effect that doesn't make any real sense
• portmanteau (combining words together to form new words that often don't make any sense at all unless you know the root words)
• neologism (making up words, sometimes by the dozens)
• reversals and inversions
• imprecision or deliberate vagueness
• simultaneity
• picture/text incongruity (if your book uses pictures or images)
• arbitrariness
• infinite repetition (which isn't as annoying as you might think when done correctly)
• negativity or mirroring
• misappropriation
• nonsense tautology
• reduplication
• absurd precision

To be considered literary nonsense, your work must employ more than one of these techniques. In fact, you have to use more than two. Your work must be full of these techniques and you must use them well. Your job, while writing nonsensical literature, is to allow your readers to find meaning in every corner of your writing, even if there is no true meaning at all. That is the heart of literary nonsense.

But that doesn't mean everything goes. You can't simply writer gibberish. This can happen when using certain techniques, especially portmanteau or neologism. When making up new words, the meaning has to be easily derived from the context of those words or you must use word play to associate what might be gibberish with more familiar words. As an example, Lewis Carroll coined the term "mimsy" to mean flimsy and miserable. This is a great word, but it would have been rendered meaningless if you could not derive the meaning. Nonsense needs at least the appearance of meaning. Gibberish doesn't bother.

Nonsensical literature is not fantasy, though there may be elements of fantasy in your work, such as is incorporated in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The difference is that in a work of fantasy fiction, things make sense. Plot and all its devices follow a system of logic. When the impossible comes up, magic is used to explain it. Literary nonsense doesn't bother with explaining things at all. If magic is used, it doesn't explain anything. It simply is, and usually contributes to the chaos rather than alleviating it.

Essentially, you want your work to be cohesive but not make any real sense. If you want to create a nonsensical work but aren't sure how to go about it, study the creative works of Lewis Carroll , Edward Lear, Roald Dahl, Edward Gorey, or Flann O'Brien. These authors create a universe that is both hysterical and fun in the most nonsensical way.

Writing a Novel: Absurdist Fiction as a Genre

We all enjoy the absurd, whether it's funny, tragic, or simply pure nonsense. This is where absurdist fiction comes in. Absurdist fiction is that type of literature focusing on the experiences of characters in a situation where they cannot find any inherent purpose in life at all. This is often expressed through a series of meaningless and unrelated events. This type of fiction may seem easy to write on the surface, but it is really one of the most difficult of genres to master.

Writing Absurdist Fiction

While absurdist fiction takes many forms, there are some common elements. Dark humor, satire, incongruity, the abasement of reason, and controversy regarding the philosophical condition of being nothing all play a part when crafting absurdist fiction. Literary works of this nature often explore agnostic or nihilistic topics, though any topic is a possibility.

Much of fiction that is absurd in nature involves comedy, hilarity, and the irrational. However, the defining trait of absurdist fiction is not any of these. Instead, it is the study of the human behavior under a variety of circumstances that appear purposeless. These circumstances may be realistic or pure fantasy. It doesn't really matter, since the purpose of this type of fiction is exploration of the human condition.

Another defining trait is the complete lack of judgment. So if you're writing absurdist fiction, you have to be careful not to judge the characters or their actions. This should be left to the reader. Let your audience decide for themselves. Also, leave the moral of the story deliberately vague. You should let your readers take from your story what they will. Possibly there is no moral, especially if the events in your novel are truly absurd in nature.

Unlike most other fiction genres, the absurdist novel does not necessarily have a traditional plot structure. Because it is absurd, you don't necessarily have to worry about your rising action, climax, and falling action. In fact, none of these things may be present in an absurdist novel. If, however, you are going to use a different structure, you have to do it well. Calling your book absurdist simply so you can avoid a traditional plot structure won't fool anyone, least of all your readers.

This type of fiction is almost exclusive to the 20th century and beyond and rose in direct opposition to the Victorian literature that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th century. Most absurdist novels also fit into other categories of fiction. In fact, many novels are categorized as absurdist simply because they fail to fit into another, more appropriate, category.

Writing a Novel: The Dystopian Genre

With the popularity of The Hunger Games, both in film and in literature, there's been an increasing interest in dystopian fiction. Put simply, dystopia is the idea of a repressed and controlled society featuring repressive social control systems. Multiple forms of coercion, both active and passive, are engaged to keep the society under control. Oftentimes dystopian literature involves either humans abusing technology or being unable to cope with technology that has advanced far too rapidly. Because of this, dystopian fiction is sometimes categorized under science fiction, which is itself a form of speculative fiction. Writing dystopian literature can be fun, but it comes with its own share of challenges.

Creating the Dystopian Universe

Out of necessity, you'll have to set your dystopian novel in a world not our own. This doesn't mean it can't be on Earth, but it usually has to be an alternate Earth. Before you can put pen to paper, you'll have to construct your world. You'll need and entire backstory that explains how the world got to be the way it was. Though you'll only need to dole out this information in small and necessary bits throughout your story, but you'll still need to have the backstory in your mind (and probably written down) in order to craft a believable story.

All of this means that you'll have to make some careful decisions involving oppression, uprising, and rebellion. This might involve crafting a story based on war, natural disaster, revolution, overpopulation, or any other serious problem the society you perceive as a threat.

Creating Your Dystopian Hero

Though sometimes compared to utopian fiction, your dystopian novel will almost certainly not feature a utopian hero. In utopian fiction, the hero is often an outsider intent on disrupting the status quo. But a dystopian hero is usually from within the society (though there are exceptions to this rule). This hero, called the protagonist, is often a doubter, someone who questions the way the society has become and is determined to do something about it.

The protagonist will usually take one of three paths: escape the system, overthrow the system, or change the system. He takes action, almost certainly risking his life, even if he's not entirely sure of what he's doing. His viewpoint is typically unpopular (or at least silent) at the beginning of the novel. This quickly changes as the story progresses as the protagonist works toward his goal.

The Conflict of a Dystopian Novel

As with any good novel, there needs to be some obvious conflict. This usually means an antagonist, and it's not unusual to have an antagonist who is a faceless entity. In most cases, the antagonist will take the form of a representative of the dystopian society. Someone in charge, someone responsible for the way things run.

Though the protagonist and antagonist may not meet until later in the story, they do interact on some level, usually through two distinct groups of people. One of these is under the direct control of the antagonist. They control and patrol the society, keeping everyone in their place. The second group is usually not under the complete control of the state or society. They are rebels, perhaps, but without clear guidance. At least until your protagonist gets involved. Where things go from there is anyone's guess.

The Resolution of a Dystopian Story

The interesting thing about dystopian literature is that at the end things are often unresolved. Yes, the protagonist and his friends may escape the clutches of the state (or not), but the state itself continues on much as it has been. But the rebellion may accomplish very little. There are exceptions, of course, but they are few. In fact, in some cases, the protagonist not only fails to change anything, but is changed himself, conforming to the expectations of society, such as in With Folded Hands. This may sound frustrating, but it rarely turns out that way. In fact, this little trait of dystopian fiction leads many authors to create additional works based on the same universe.

Dystopian fiction is popular because of its interesting narrative arc. A successful dystopian novel gives a sense of hopelessness which is carried throughout the story and is embodied in the characters that exist in the dystopian world. If you can convey this and create characters your audience can connect with, you can write a dystopian novel.

Writing a Novel: The Romance Genre

The romance genre is not what it used to be. It's expanded into a genre where anything goes and your hero and heroine can be just about anyone. There are still the traditional "prince meets princess" tales, but now there is so much more and it sells better than most other genres. But romance has changed to the point where it's becoming difficult to really pinpoint what makes a romance novel. Before you sit down to write a romance novel, you'd do well to figure out what a romance novel really is.

The Types of Romance

In today's multi-genre world, romance has invaded most types of fiction. You have fairy-tale romance where the damsel in distress is usually rescued by the hero and they ride off into the sunset to live happily ever after. Historical romances are popular and tend to follow specific rules not entirely unlike the typical historical novel. Contemporary romances are a little more modern, allowing the heroine to take more control than historical or fairy-tale romances permit.

And of course you have the cross-genre romances. Thriller romance, adventure romance, and even science fiction romance are suddenly more common these days. Fantasy romance is a cross-genre that's quickly gaining strength, as my novels Arianna's Tale and Thief's Heartache will attest to.

What does all this mean for an author? It means that you should know exactly what kind of romance you're writing before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, as the case may be). You'll have to know your own style to really decide. But know what you're doing before you start or your romance novel will be a real mess.

Writing a Romance Novel

What makes a romance novel is a very specific sequence of events. The couple meets, there's an attraction, they fall in love, conflict arises, the conflict is resolved, and the couple gets to stay together in the end. But as society has changed over the last century, so too has the romance genre.

Romance novels used to involve the prince-princess stories almost exclusively. These stories are still written and much enjoyed by readers, but thankfully, the romance genre has changed enough that the possibilities are now limitless. Still, there are some basics. Almost all romances are written either from the woman's point of view or a more omniscient point of view. Few are actually written from the man's point of view, but if you think you can pull it off, go for it!

At least one good sex scene is a must in romance novels. But you get to choose whether your sex scenes are sweet and lighthearted or steamy. Be careful with the steamy scenes though. It's far too easy to cross that arbitrary line that will move your book from romance to erotica. There's nothing wrong with that if your intention is to write an erotica book. But if you're trying to stay firmly in the romance genre, don't get too graphic. And watch out for euphemisms. They're handy, but don't overdo it.

There has to be some kind of conflict or your book will go in the boring pile, but the nature of this conflict varies. It could a personality clash, or perhaps their lifestyles are just too different. Maybe one of them is emotionally scarred. Adultery is sometimes used as a conflict, but be careful with this one. Readers, especially female readers, aren't all that quick to forgive a character who has hopped into bed with someone else. If you want a conflict that involves a third party, consider having an old boyfriend or girlfriend get in the way. The point is, you need a believable conflict.

Writing a romance novel isn't as easy as many people think. In fact, making a romance believable can be one of the most challenging tasks when you're faced with today's readers. They're harder to fool and demand more from a romance author.

The Ending Makes It All Worth While

For all that romance has changed, it's still romance. The core of the story must revolve around the love blossoming between two characters. That means your ending has to have some sort of resolution to that love. This doesn't necessarily mean marriage. Many a romance novel has ended without the two characters being married, especially when it comes to contemporary romance. But a lasting relationship has to emerge.

If you're not sure how to craft a romance novel, pick up a few romance novels and give them a read. They have different stories, different characters, and different endings, but at their core, they follow the same basic rules. If you don't think this is true, pick up several books by different authors and compare them side by side. The goods ones are unique without losing the entire point of a romance -- an enduring love.

Writing a Novel: The Young Adult Fiction Genre

Fiction for young adults and teenagers is a relatively new invention. Until recently, teenagers were considered adults and expected to read adult literature. It wasn't until the 1960s that authors began to realize that there was a gap in literature. We had books for children, up until about age 12, and books for those 18 and older, but nothing for the 13-17 age range. Young adult fiction sprang up to fill this hole.

Writing Fiction for Young Adults

Writing for teenagers can be tricky. It's too easy to assume that because they're young, they don't understand complex subject matter. This is far from the truth. Their interests might vary from adults, but they are just as smart and just as deserving of respect as adult readers. Take this into account when writing a young adult novel.

It's also tempting to pick the current trend or fad and use that as a basis for your book. Bad idea. Teenagers today are growing up at an extraordinary pace, so by the time you finish writing your book, the kids will have moved on and you'll have difficulty finding a publisher to take you on.

When writing fiction for young adults, younger characters should carry the story. Your principles should be 13-17 years of age so your readers can identify with them. You can certainly have characters older and younger than this, but try to have those characters who drive the plot and solve the problems as close to this age range as possible.

There are some things to avoid when writing for young adults. Teenagers are exposed to everything from drugs and smoking to sex and alcohol. However, that doesn't mean they things have to feature in your book. Try to make your characters into role models when dealing with sensitive topics. Don't imply bad behavior is okay, even if some of your characters do deal with some of the problems listed. Try to think of what you'd want your own children to read. This doesn't mean you can't have characters having sex, but you have to deal with it tactfully. And, for the love of all that is holy, do not have a graphic sex scene! It simply doesn't belong in a book for teenagers.

The other dillema you might encounter is the use of slang and profanity. In general, you should avoid popular slang. What's popular today could be gone tomorrow, so slang may simply date your book and limit its appeal. As for profanity ... it's probably better to not use it at all, or to use it sparingly. I know a lot of teenagers use excessive profanity, but not all of them do. Those who don't will be turned off and toss your book in the trash heap. Those who do are usually smart enough to read books that don't rely on the shock factor of profanity to entertain.

Other than these things, fiction for teenagers is basically like fiction for adults. They like fast-paced stories that engage and entertain. They also like a variety of genres, so don't confine yourself to the typical high school setting. If you like to write fantasy, write fantasy. If you prefer a good mystery, go right ahead. Teenagers enjoy a wide variety of material, just as you probably did when you were a teenager. With that in mind, go wild! Within reason.

Writing a Novel: The Children's Fiction Genre

Children's fiction is an entertaining genre that has been around for centuries and continues to expand. Though primarily written for children, children's fiction must also appeal to the adults who will have to read the book over and over and over and over ... if you have kids, you get my drift. The most successful children's fiction will appeal to both adults and children, so take the time to do it right.

Relive Your Own Childhood

You can't write fiction for children unless and until you can remember what is was like to be a child. What would have captivated you when you were small? Simple stories with vibrant characters are best, but never underestimate a child. You weren't an idiot when you were 7-11 years old. Assume your audience will be equally quick and intelligent.

To get yourself in the right mindset, go to your local bookstore and purchase a few books from the children's fiction section and start reading. Enjoy the books for what they are — simple stories designed to entertain younger readers. Think like a child and let yourself laugh and truly experience the story.

But also think like an adult. Read the book aloud and see if you could enjoy reading it to a child. If you can, that book is a winner. And while you certainly shouldn't use a book written by someone else as a template for your own, this little bit of research will give you an idea of what works. You can use this information when working on your own bit of fiction for children.

Writing Children's Fiction

Like most forms of fiction, the rules for writing children's fiction have changed in recent years. Fiction written for children now contains strong and vibrant characters with their own minds and own ways of doing things. However, it is important that these characters are appropriate for the age group, usually 5-12 years of age. The characters should be clean and your book should be free of material that is simply too mature for children. This means you should avoid characters that engage in things such as sex, drugs, and even smoking. Parents are still the ones purchasing the books for their children, and parents don't appreciate characters that might have a negative impact on their children.

Even though the typical age range for children's fiction is 5-12, you should narrow the age range for your book. You don't write the same things for a 5 year old as you would a preteen. So think about the age of the children you're writing for and write something appropriate and entertaining for that age group.

Avoid the use of slang and certainly don't curse or swear in your book. Again, parents don't like it and young children really shouldn't be exposed to it. And don't preach. Kids don't need someone to preach to them when they're simply reading a book. You also might want to avoid the darker themes often found in literature for teenagers. Most children are not ready for heavy themes.

One of the problems with writing for children is that children today have short attention spans and they're used to instant gratification because that's what they get from TV and video games. So engage children by using all five senses when writing your book. Make sure your characters experience their environment by sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. If something smells terrible, describe it. Kids get a kick of it and it will make the experience more real.

But all of these little rules pale in comparision to this one — let your characters solve their own problems. We're talking about children's fiction, so your characters will probably include young people. Adults shouldn't come in and solve all the problems at the end of the book. Kids like books where people just like them solve the problems. So give them what they like and your books are more likely to be well received.

Writing fiction for children can be tricky, but if you can pull it off, its vastly rewarding. Remember to think like a child and definately find a few kids to try out your story on. They are the best judges of what children's fiction should be, after all.

Writing a Novel: The Woman's Fiction Genre

Woman’s fiction has become an incredibly popular genre in recent years. In fact, this genre has become so popular that it has its own section in most stores. Go to any bookstore and look at the bestsellers, and you’re sure to find at least a few women’s books. But writing these books is a little more difficult than reading them.

Romance and Woman’s Fiction

Romance has been a draw for women since the first romance novels were published. And romance is still very much a part of what many women want in a book. And so much of woman’s fiction does involve a certain amount of romance. However, woman’s fiction is not romantic fiction.

Romantic fiction tends to involve a ‘damsel in distress’ and other such plot points. In contrast, woman’s fiction puts the woman in control. She is the center of her own story. The man, if there is one in the story at all, only has a supporting role. His story is only detailed enough to further her story. In a romance, on the other hand, the man’s story would be as developed as the woman’s, sometimes more so.

The women featured in woman’s fiction are strong and independent, not requiring a man to save them. While romance often plays a large part in woman’s fiction, it is not necessarily the main point of the story. In addition, much of woman’s fiction is devoid of any romance at all.

Writing Women’s Fiction

The four essentials of novel writing are plot, characters, setting, and details. When it comes to writing women’s fiction, these things all have a common thread. The characters and plot will all support a tone of empowerment, specifically the empowerment of the women in the story. They are an affirmation of life from the woman’s point of view, though these books do not always have to end well.

When writing women’s fiction, you have to write for women. At least, you have to write for women if you hope to sell books to women. Women usually enjoy tales that evoke hope and fear, dreams and nightmares, fantasy and reality. The action in your tale can be drama instead of adventure, the relationships don’t have to be romantic in nature. Connect with the lives and hearts of women and you’ll be fast on your way toward writing women’s fiction.

You don’t have to be a woman to write for women. Some of the most successful writers of women’s fiction are men. Nicholas Sparks is a man, and his books, written primarily for women, have been incredibly successful. Some of his books, such as The Notebook, have been turned into feature films. If you can connect to the inner mind and heart of a woman, you can write women’s fiction, regardless of your own gender.

Woman’s fiction is a popular genre. It is frequently more popular than mystery, science fiction, and even fantasy. If you’re hoping to publish a book with broad appeal, the women’s fiction market just might be the place for you to start writing your first novel.

Writing a Novel: The Mystery Fiction Genre

Mystery fiction can sometimes be difficult to define. It is often confused with crime fiction or even thriller fiction, and indeed a book can be mystery, thriller, and crime all in one. However, mystery fiction does have certain defining characteristics that set it apart. These same characteristics can make the mystery genre difficult to write.

The Characteristics of a Mystery Novel

Simply put, a mystery novel is one that contains an element of mystery. Very often, it is a story where a detective, professional or not, attempts to solve a crime that is committed at the very beginning of the novel. In some cases, this crime is committed before the novel begins. Regardless, the emphasis of a mystery novel is on the puzzle presented and finding a logical solution to that puzzle.

Mystery novels do not necessarily have to revolve around crime drama, however. It is entirely possible to create mystery fiction that does not involve crime at all. Supernatural mysteries, for example, are often about solving a supernatural mystery and do not involve a crime element. Mystery fiction is primarily about the mystery, not about the other elements that may be present.

Writing a Mystery

Mystery fiction is all about engaging the reader from the first page. The novel should start with the discovery of a mystery, but nothing should be given away. You don’t want your readers to know exactly where the novel is going or how it’s going to get there. Give your readers just enough information to hook them with the first scene. If you do this well, your audience with be eager to keep reading, to find the solution to the puzzle.

The key to mystery fiction is the keep the reader legitimately confused without being ridiculous. You don’t want to bore your readers by giving away too much too soon. You want to put them in the shoes of your protagonist, allowing them to solve the mystery as it unfolds. If they figure it out by the end of the first chapter, you’ve lost the opportunity to create a truly engaging mystery novel.

Mystery is always tricky. You have to leave enough clues that the puzzle can be solved while hoping that the reader misses the clues or forgets them before the end of the novel. A large cast of characters can help, though a beautiful mystery novel can be created with only a few. However you choose to operate, the goal is to surprise the reader at the very end. But you also have to make sure you’ve left enough clues that your readers can be back through the book and pick them out.

Like most books, you’ll want yours to catch and keep the reader. One of the best ways of doing this is by using your chapters effectively. Use each chapter to solve a small problem or piece of the puzzle and your readers will remain engaged until the very end. Of course, this may mean that you run out of problems well before the end of the book. In this case, use your chapters to solve one problem and create another. This process is great fun for the writer and complicates your story just enough to keep your readers confused.

Writing mystery novels is fun and exciting, lending itself well to the bits and pieces approach to writing. However, creating the perfect “whodunit” does take practice and patience. Don’t expect to have your novel finished in a week. Explore the various permutations your plot might take and have fun.

Writing a Novel: The Thriller Fiction Genre

It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish the thriller genre from the horror genre. Occasionally, thrillers are even confused with mysteries. It might be easiest to say that thrillers are all about the chase and involve constant action, with a great deal of suspense and peril thrown in for good measure. Writing a thriller takes patience, practice, and guts.

The Characteristics of a Thriller Novel

Most thrillers share certain characteristics in characters, plot, and atmosphere. The setting is typically dark and creepy, and there is usually violence and crime, often murder, involved. The world of the thriller is dangerous and corrupt, with peril lurking around every corner. For the most part, thriller novels are fast-paced, exciting, and at least a little gritty.

The hero, or the protagonist, is often quite different than will be found in a mystery. In a mystery, the hero is usually competent to some degree. He or she will be intelligent, quick witted, and have the training or experience to keep up with the antagonist. Victory isn’t assured, but at least the hero already has the skills necessary to survive.

Protagonists in thrillers are more often just ordinary people. A man or woman thrust into danger with no real experience or training to survive. Most of the time, the hero ended up involved in the entire situation by accident or a twist of fate. It’s not usually intentional. He (or she, as the case may be) will have to learn the rules and acquire the skills to make it through to the end of the book. A thriller is sometimes describes as the process by which the protagonist becomes a true hero.

Another distinctive trait is the plot structure of a thriller novel. Heroes in thrillers spend most of their time thwarting the actions of the antagonist, whose identity is usually known all along. Unlike a mystery, which climaxes with the solving of the puzzle, a thriller climaxes with the defeat of the villain. In many cases, the hero dies to assure victory.

Writing a Thriller

Readers of thrillers want you to scare them out of their pants and slap them in the face with the unexpected. So, when writing a thriller, imagine that you’re on an unknown rollercoaster with a blindfold on. Your story needs to be just as engaging and keep the readers on their toes.

Accomplishing this isn’t always that easy. It helps if you get really good at the “what-if” game. Think about your characters, where they are, how they got there, and start plotting. How can you possibly make things even worse? There’s bound to be a way — a believable way — to make things even more challenging for your protagonist. Thrillers are all about what happens next, so make what happens next thrilling and terrifying.

The thriller genre is one of the few genres where you absolutely should go over-the-top. The general rule of thrillers is “if it’s at all plausible, go for it.” Give your readers all the information they need to make sense of the plot so you don’t caught trying to pull the wool over your readers’ eyes. This means revealing key plot points earlier than you might in a mystery. That’s okay, because you’re not writing a mystery. You’re writing a thriller.

The way you end your thriller can make or break your book. The biggest mistake thriller writers make is to wrap it all up too quickly or too neatly. You just spent 300 pages weaving a thrill ride. You should probably take more than a single page to untangle everything. Make your audience truly believe that your ending makes sense by taking the time to do it right. At the same time, don’t go nuts. The ending should fit the story. If the story was complex, the ending will be complex. If your story was simpler, your ending should reflect that.

Thrillers are most easily defined by the mood they elicit and their approach, not by the subject matter they address. Thrillers may have elements of horror, mystery, paranormal, or crime, but they are unique entities deserving of consideration in their own right.

Writing a Novel: The Horror Genre

There are many easily identifiable fiction genres on the market today. One of the most popular genres of literature is horror fiction. This genre, which has the ability to frighten its readers and induce feelings of horror, is closely related to crime fiction, dark fantasy, and thrillers. Horror fiction may be either supernatural or not, depending on the subgenre.

Characteristics of Horror Fiction

The defining trait of horror fiction is the response it provokes. A good horror novel evokes some type of psychological, emotional, or even physical reaction that causes some degree of fear in the reader. Authors of horror fiction will use a variety of techniques to accomplish this goal, usually involving a monster of some kind. Often this monster will be supernatural in nature, such as a werewolf, vampire, ghost, or mummy. However, more realistic are sometimes used to the same effect, usually in the form of a serial killer.

The entire genre is built upon a very particular kind of fear — the fear of the unknown. This can be accomplished in many different ways. If a book manages to terrify and even horrify the reader, it can be effectively classified as horror fiction.

Writing Horror Fiction

Creating your own work of horror isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds. You have to be able to frighten your audience, and readers simply are not easily scared. However, if you think about what frightens people in general, you’ll have a place to start. Get out a notebook and jot down some of those things that elicit a feeling of dread — creepy crawlies, things that go bump in the night, and even something as simple as the dark. Then expand on these things. Keep your notebook with you and keep track of those things that cause you to jump. If you’re afraid of it, chances are someone else is too.

You’ll also have to choose a monster. Start by deciding if you’re interested in creating a human monster or the more supernatural variety. If your “bad guy” is human, he needs to be absolutely terrifying. He must be so far beyond what is considered normal human behavior that your readers are really and truly freaked out. Otherwise, you might find yourself in the wrong genre.

If you choose werewolves, vampires, or other supernatural monsters, you’ll need to be equally careful, but for different reasons. These monsters have all been done before (just take a look at your local bookstore), so attracting an audience and keeping them entertained can be a challenge. Try to put a new spin on some old favorites and you might have found your niche.

Setting is as important in horror novels as it is in any other type of book. You’ll be tempted to use the old favorites — graveyard, dark basement, lonely attic — but try to think outside the box. Everyone expects something bad to happen in a graveyard. Try using a sunlit garden or resort beach. If you are using traditional horror locations, try to do something unique to catch and hold the interest of your reader.

Using Gore in Horror Fiction

There’s often a debate regarding how graphic a horror novel should be. It’s really a matter of satisfying your audience while staying within the bounds of good taste. If you’re writing for children or young people, you need to be cautious. While even children like to be scared, you don’t want to be too explicit. Keep your descriptions general and use vague terms when crafting horror for children.

Adults expect more of everything. They pick up a novel described as “horror” and they expect more gore and more fear. Almost anything goes when writing for an audience comprised purely of adults, so let your fingers fly and create intricate and explicit scenes while writing. However, don’t be gross. If you can’t write well enough to avoid being vulgar, then you probably shouldn’t be tackling a genre as challenging as horror.

The horror genre is exciting, thrilling, and terrifying. It involves creating engaging plots, frightening your readers, and generally having a good time. If you choose to write horror fiction, you will find that you have almost limitless possibilities.

Writing a Novel: The Western Fiction Genre

There are dozens of fiction genres on the market, from science fiction to fantasy. Western fiction is really part of the historic fiction genre, but it is distinctive enough to warrant its own category. The popularity of western fiction dates back to the dime novels of the late 1800s. They were considered romantic to those living on the east coast and featured gunslingers, heroes, and the exoticism of the Wild West.

What is Western Fiction?

It might be simple to state that a book, which claims to be western fiction, must take place west of the Mississippi River before the dawn of the 20th century. This might be an accurate description, but if you want to write western fiction, you’ll have to become aware of what fans of this intriguing genre are looking for in a good book.

Avid readers of western fiction will know whether you’re even attempting to be historically accurate. They’ll notice those errors that could have been avoided by a few minutes of research and won’t be very forgiving. Before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), do yourself a favor and sit down for a little research session.

You’ll want to get the right feel for your book. Westerns will naturally be rougher and less refined than an historic novel set in Victorian England, for example. The characters will be tougher, nature less forgiving, and the tows much simpler.

Finally, you need to make sure that you’re focusing on your hero (or heroine, as the case may be). Westerns are typically about the journey of the hero and less about-facing some great evil. While there’s nothing wrong with having a “big-bad” in your story, readers of western fiction are looking for more than a showdown. They’re intelligent people who are searching for realistic characters, plot, and an exciting conclusion. Don’t let them down.

Can I Use Historic Figures in My Novel?

The idea behind using historic figures in western fiction is a valid one. You’ll engage readers who know something about your real-life character and get the chance to enlighten those people who maybe didn’t even know Annie Oakley or Bill the Kid were real people. And it can be fun and exciting to recreate characters from centuries past.

However, choosing to include historic characters in your book can also present difficulties you may not be prepared for. Generally, fans of western fiction will know a great deal about historic characters. If you get something wrong, people are going to notice, and these people are going to be annoyed.

If you want to include historic characters without incurring the wrath of your readers, do so sparingly and with care. Unless you’re willing to do countless hours of research and spend many hours refining your ideas, don’t write about well-documented events. Look through the known history of Billy the Kid (or whoever the character is) and look for lapses. If there’s a period of time when little or nothing was recorded, that’s where you can get creative, at least within reason. Don’t change important dates or locations, but if you can sneak in some of your own details here and there, you’ll have a more interesting book.

Western fiction is exciting, rough, and fun. Pick your era, do your research, and start writing. Before you know it, you’ll have become an author within the western fiction genre.

Writing a Novel: The Historical Fiction Genre

Any novel that is set in the past is considered an historical novel. The historical fiction genre often overlaps with other genres. For example, it’s quite possible to write historical fiction that is also romantic, or adventure fiction that is set in an historical setting. Historical fiction can be one of the most entertaining genres and has nearly limitless options.

What Time Period Should I Use For My Historical Fiction Novel?

What era do you like? Really, you can use any time period at all. And you can set your novel anywhere in the world. There are no limits. You can write about cavemen, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, or even the Industrial Age. You can write a tale set in India, or perhaps Victorian England. You could devise a story that revolves around the Inca or the Mayan, giving your readers a glimpse into some truly exotic cultures. Perhaps you’ll decide to tackle western fiction. You can let your imagination take flight.

Sometimes there are so many choices that you, as a writer, may not be able to choose. In this case you might want to come up with your basic story first. You can then determine which time period and place best suits your plot.

The Rules of Historical Fiction

It can seem that with so much variety and so many available time periods that rules would not apply. However, quite the opposite is true. Historical fiction can be tricky, especially because very often you’ll have an audience that already has some knowledge of the era you’ve chosen.

The only way to keep your readers happy is to follow the rules of the era. And this means research. Once you have determined your era and location, you have to learn everything you can. Discover the intricacies of the location, perhaps even visiting your chosen locale, if it’s feasible. If you want your audience to stick with you until the very end, you’ll have to make sure your locations are real and believable.

Learn everything you can about the way people behaved in the era you’ve chosen. Try to determine correct language patterns, behavior, and dress. Make detailed notes and perhaps even try your hand at sketching your locations and people. Search for authentic details to bring your story to life.

Be careful of using real characters from history. While it’s great fun to try to capture the spirit of historical figures, it’s also far too easy to turn them into something that is far from historically accurate. If you do decide to include historical figures, keep their roles in your stories to a minimum. Your readers will appreciate it.

Historical fiction should be fun and exciting. Choose an engaging plot, intertwine it with historical facts and figures, and get creative. Before you know it, you’ll have mastered the basics of writing fiction and have at least started writing your first book.

Writing a Novel: The Crime Fiction Genre

Crime fiction is often related to, but not the same as, mystery fiction. If you can see yourself creating an engaging plot that revolves around who committed a crime, why they did it, and how they pulled it off, then you might be the perfect fit for this exciting genre.

What is Crime Fiction?

Crime has existed for thousands upon thousands of years. It’s no surprise, then, that crime fiction is not a new genre. Early crime fiction, at least in its modern day form, can be dated back to the 19th century. Edgar Allen Poe was one of the very first crime fiction writers, and is often credited with inventing the very first ‘detective’ character.

The crime stories of Edgar Allen Poe had a great influence on later writers. He created tales where the detective (though this word was not in use at the time) would follow a series of clues to uncover the details of the crime. Often, the audience was left to try to piece together the clues right until the very end of the story.

One of the most popular crime fiction writers, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, often used this model when he created perhaps the most famous of all detectives, Sherlock Holmes. Using the works of both Poe and Doyle as models of how crime fiction should be structured, it can be said that crime fiction is a genre that details crimes and their detection, sometimes with emphasize on criminals and their motives.

The Sub-Genres of Crime Fiction

Crime fiction has evolved substantially since the time of Edgar Allen Poe. Today, crime fiction is often divided into several sub-genres, since it is difficult to fit all ‘crime fiction’ into a single category. The ‘standard’ crime fiction novel, if there is a standard at all, might be detective fiction. This sub-genre typically involves discovering who did it and how they did it.

A variation of these them is the inverted detective story. These tend to focus less on who did it and more on catching the ‘who’ in question. These tales often involve a great deal of adventure and drama, sometimes crossing over into the adventure fiction genre.

Some of the other sub-genres in crime fiction include:

• Police fiction;
• Legal drama;
• Capers;
• Spy stories; and
• Psychological thrillers.

Many crime fiction writing styles don’t fit neatly into one sub-genre. There is a great deal of variety, and something this can be confusing to a new writer. If you’re interested in writing a crime fiction novel, choose your favorite sub-genre and start reading (this can be consider your ‘research’). When you’re ready, put pen to paper. Before you know it, you’ll be writing your first book.

Writing a Novel: The Adventure Fiction Genre

Adventure fiction is probably one of the oldest fiction genres. When cavemen sat around the fire, telling each other their hunting tales, but exaggerating them until they bore little resemblance to the truth, they were telling tales of the adventure fiction genre. This genre can be fun and exciting, but unless you have a real passion for adventure and its many components, you should probably look to another genre when writing your book.

What is Adventure Fiction?

It is sometimes difficult to define adventure fiction, because it can so easily slip into another genre. Indeed, it is possible to write a fantasy adventure, a crime adventure, or a science fiction adventure. Many authors combine the elements of different styles to come up with something unique and thrilling, while at the same time trying to stay true to the adventure genre.

Perhaps a good description for adventure fiction might simply be a tale that places the hero (or heroine) in nearly constant peril while dealing with nearly constant mayhem or chaos. So, if you were to write a book that started out in this style, but then had several chapters where not much in the way of peril or chaos happened, your story might not be termed adventure fiction.

Adventure fiction absolutely requires a villain. And your readers will expect this villain to have a serious and negative effect on your hero. The hero in an adventure story usually has everything thrown at him all of the time. He has to rely on his skills and wits to get him out of any situation, because there is no ‘magical’ rescuing or long-lost friend to save the day. He has to be the one to save the day, or your audience will regulate your so-called adventure story to the back of their bookshelves.

Adventure Fiction Takes Many Forms

The decision to write an adventure novel doesn’t mean that you’ve suddenly limited in your options. Adventure can be woven into almost any setting. If you like spies and secret agents, then write an adventure story that has your hero trying to track down an elusive and brilliant spy.

Adventure novels can center around disasters, such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, or perhaps around terrorism. War is always a popular topic, and adventure themes are quite easily woven into these settings. And if you enjoy the paranormal, try your hand at writing a paranormal adventure book.

There are so many choices when it comes to writing an adventure novel. Consider some of these as potential ideas when you finally sit down to put pen to paper:

• High finance or big business;
• Techno-thrillers;
• Legal stories;
• Aliens;
• Political or religious tales; or
• Adventures on the high seas.

Adventure fiction is fast-paced and entertaining. If you can write a novel that moves quickly, has an engaging plot, and never stops supplying your audience with action, then the adventure genre might be for you. If it is, then get started.

Writing a Novel: The Literary Fiction Genre

One of the newer ‘genres’ is the literary fiction book. This type of book is often difficult to define, and books written in this style usually fall into another category as well. In addition, this style can be difficult to master, and only those who truly wish to write one of these novels should even attempt it.

What is Literary Fiction?

Literary fiction wasn’t really defined as a genre until the 1970s. At this point, literary fiction was said to be fiction that had literary merit. This definition still exists, but it can be difficult to understand. At its most basic, literary fiction focuses on character, style, and psychological depth. Plot may or may not be important. On the other hand, mainstream fiction is driven by plot or narrative.

This definition leaves much room for interpretation, and literary fiction is a rather subjective genre, if it can be called a genre at all. Literary fiction is the type of fiction that often wins literary awards, so if you are confused as to what qualifies as literary fiction, take a look at some past winners of these awards.

One thing all literary fiction has in common is the focus on human nature. These books might also be classified as fantasy, science fiction, or mystery, but they will also speak strongly to society. For example, one of the most famous of literary writers, Charles Dickens, described how dark society could be. His book weren’t always fun, and they didn’t necessarily entertain, but they did address aspects of human nature. Therefore, they are literary fiction.

Should You Write Literary Fiction?

This is a difficult question to answer. Perhaps, yes, you could write a literary fiction book. But that doesn’t mean you should. First evaluate your interest in the genre. Do you enjoy reading literary classics? Do you find authors such as Charles Dickens, Alexander Dumas, or Roald Dahl engaging enough to read an entire book written in that style? If the answer is ‘no’ then you should probably readdress your desire to write literary fiction. Either that, or be continually faced with writer’s block.

If you truly have a burning desire to create a great work of literary fiction, then do so. But you have to want it, or your book will fall far short of a literary classic. Though this type of fiction may seem challenging, remember that it can also be liberating. When writing literary fiction, you are free to incorporate other genres as well. Perhaps you’ll write a romance that is also literary fiction, or even a western. You never know until you try.

Writing a Novel: The Science Fiction Genre

Science fiction is fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances. This genre could also include major social or environmental changes, and frequently involves space or time travel, and sometimes life on other planets.

Science fiction is a popular and entertaining genre, but it is one that presents its own unique challenges. If you’re considering writing a science fiction book, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.

The Worlds of Science Fiction

Science fiction, like fantasy, usually requires the creation of its own world. This world may resemble our world, or it might be radically different. It might take place in the future, or even in an alternate reality. Regardless of when or where your novel takes place, your world has to make sense. It has to be believable, or your readers will abandon you.

You have to be careful with your science fiction world. If it looks too much like our world, your book will strike your audience as more of a fantasy novel. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if your goal is to write a science fiction book, you’ll need to pay particular attention to the world you create.

Some research into the fields of astronomy or biology will not be wasted. Check your facts, and don’t break the rules. Bend them as far as you can, but keep everything plausible. You don’t want to get too far from reality, or your audience will trade you in for the nearest comic book.

The Creatures of Science Fiction

The creatures you create must be realistic and plausible, just like the world they inhabit. The plants and animals that you come up with must have some basis in scientific fact, at least on some level, or your readers will go elsewhere for their science fiction.

If you really need inspiration, look to the ocean. We have some spectacular creatures right here on our own planet, hidden in the depths of the sea. Some of them would make wonderful additions to a science fiction world. Just be sure they fit into the reality you are creating.

Make Your Story Believable

Science fiction can be a tricky thing. The true science fiction fan just isn’t easy to fool. They know too much, they’ve read too much, and they expect a lot from you, as an author. They need a complex and engaging plot, and you’ll need to grab them with facts and details.

Before you put pen to paper, research everything. Make sure that every piece of science that you address in your book is rooted in fact. Pour over scientific texts and be up to date on the most recent research. Write a book that can draw in those people who have a PhD in physics, chemistry, or biology. If you can do that, you’ve got your winner.

Science fiction is not always an easy genre to write. It can provide challenges you haven’t even thought of yet. And if it’s your first book, then you’ll face even greater difficulties as you try to find your way. But if you master the basics of writing fiction, avoid common mistakes, and trust in your story, you’ll eventually be left with a rich and believable novel.