In very simple terms, dialogue is the author’s way of sharing information without expressly telling the reader this information. Before going any further, keep in mind the following: first, start writing on a new line when a different character speaks. Second, you can use single or double inverted commas when writing dialogue. Whichever you choose, remain consistent throughout your novel. The Fun...

What do characters like Scarlett O’Hara, Professor Henry Higgins and Clark Kent have in common? They are characters in fictionalised tales which live on in the minds of audiences (both readers of works of fiction and movie-goers) long after many other features of the story are forgotten. Use the suggestions made below to create characters which will be remembered in the same way. Realistic and Be...

While in the planning stages of your novel, consider whether you’ve got a proper structure in place. Roughly speaking, this means assessing your story to see if it has been divided into the ‘beginning’, ‘middle’ and ‘end’. As you will see from the explanations given below, each of these segments has its own pace and tone. The Beginning The beginning is the introduction to your story and also the...

A plot is about the elements of a story that go into making it better. As an aspiring author, however, it is wiser for you to follow a well-known formula until you have the requisite experience to know how to create unusual and intricate plots. For a start, remember that there is a difference between commercial fiction and literary fiction. Commercial fiction is usually plot driven which means th...

Sometimes, you might wonder why publishers ask for a synopsis of a novel when an author makes a submission to them. After all, what is the point of preparing a synopsis of a novel when the complete manuscript is at hand? While you may be confident that you have the whole story mapped out inside your head, the advantages of having a synopsis of your novel far outweigh the trouble you have to go thr...

The dictionary defines a theme as ‘a subject or topic on which a person speaks, writes and thinks.’ In literary terms, a theme is the message you want readers to take away from reading your novel. A theme, therefore, is the essence and backbone of your story; it is the frame on which you add other elements of storytelling like characterisation, texture and plot. The following is an explanation of ...

How many times have you finished reading a book and thought that the story might have become a great one, if only the author had worked on it a little more? If so, what you’re saying is that the author missed some important elements of storytelling when writing the novel. To avoid making the same mistake, consider the four elements of storytelling below when writing your own novel. The Element of...

Today, the average reader will not be pleased if the novel he’s reading does not contain a high degree of authenticity and detail about a particular location or subject matter. An author is expected to have done enough research to be familiar with every aspect of the world he has created in his novel. The following are five resources you can turn to when you do your research and explanations of ho...

You dream of writing a novel, but wonder if the ideas for your story will be good enough. Chances are you have already got a wealth of ideas just waiting to be used in your novel. The following are examples and suggestions to help you use these ideas and dream up characters, sub-plots and settings for your novel. Where to Find Strong Ideas? The best place to find strong ideas for your story is ...