Somerset Maugham famously said that there are three rules for writing. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are. Even so, we keep trying. In a post on Writers in the Storm, Sandy Vaile says there are four things your novel needs to work. “In my experience, it doesn’t matter when or how much you like to plan your stories, so long as you nail four critical aspects,” Vaile says. “Having a fabulous idea is just the beginning.”
Vaile’s four key elements are:
- Idea transformation. It’s great to have an idea, but in the rush to start writing, we often neglect to develop that great concept into a story. “An idea is not a plot, no matter how amazing,” Vaile notes. Take your time to brainstorm your idea, following the “what if” questions again and again until you have an idea of your story’s conflict and plot threads that intrigue you.
- Story purpose. Your story’s purpose is the reason you’re writing it and it’s the end goal for your character. “Understanding why you want to write a particular story will sustain you through the inevitable questioning of its worth, and being clear about where it’s going will prevent you from meandering so far from the core plot that you lose steam and come to a halt,” Vaile says. Find a message that inspires you.
- Driven characters. Dig deep to discover your main character’s “why”: Why they are in this situation; why they desperately want to achieve the goal; why they are the perfect person to put in this situation.
- Character-driven conflicts. Once you understand your main character’s motivation and goals, create obstacles to that goal and challenges that hit their flaws.
