If you ask a group of five hundred people, “What is the greatest novel ever written?” you will be met with five hundred different answers. The truth is, what one person considers a “great novel” may the “worst novel ever written” to someone else.
However, what most people actually mean when they say a novel is “great” is that they found it captivating. It engaged them and made a lasting impact in their minds. I can’t tell you the secret to writing the greatest novel ever written (but if someone figures it out, be sure to let me know!), but here are ten building blocks to writing a captivating story.
1. A Compelling Hook
The hook is the opening of the novel that immediately grabs the reader’s attention. It can come as early as the first sentence, or maybe the cliffhanger to the first scene. Ultimately, the goal is to grab the reader’s attention immediately. And while it may be tempting to begin the novel with descriptions of the protagonist’s appearance, or long paragraphs of backstory, this will rarely engage the reader the entire way through. Instead, the key is to start the novel in the middle of the action, with an opening sentence that sparks the reader’s curiosity to read more.
2. Palpable Conflict and Tension
The novel’s conflict is the obstacle your character faces that hinders them from achieving their goal. For example, the protagonist must defeat the monster to save the princess. Or, the protagonist must overcome a past betrayal before they can learn to love again. The conflict, as a result, creates tension, or the anticipation or uncertainty between your protagonist and the world around them, or another character. Will the protagonist defeat the monster? Will the protagonist let down their emotional walls and kiss the love interest? The key is to tighten and loosen the tension to keep the reader guessing. If there is no doubt that the protagonist can defeat the dragon, the win is not as satisfying as it would be if there is a point when it seems the dragon might win.
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3. A Complete Character Arc
The protagonist’s character arc is their transformation from who they are at the beginning of the story to who they are at the end. Spoiler alert: They will never be exactly the same. Throughout the novel, the protagonist goes on an emotional journey—they grow, succeed, fail, face obstacles, and overcome them. This journey ultimately shapes the character into who they are in the end. If they are exactly the same as who they were in the beginning, then why should readers care about the character’s journey at all?
4. Natural and Gripping Dialogue
Natural dialogue feels real to the reader because it is the way real people speak. In a natural conversation among friends, real people use contractions (“won’t” instead of “will not”), interrupt each other (as denoted by em-dashes “—”), and sometimes trail off their sentences (as denoted by ellipses “. . .” ). However, gripping dialogue adds another layer on top of the natural dialogue. Perhaps you might add subtext, where a character says one thing but their body language says the opposite. Or, a conversation might revolve around omission, where one or more characters skirt around talking about a particular topic. These layers add dimension to dialogue, and therefore, makes the conversation much more interesting.
5. Concrete Description
Description is used to add details about the setting and characters so the reader can experience it in their minds. It is what transports readers into your protagonist’s world so that they may perceive it through your character’s eyes. The key to concrete description, however, is specificity: Instead of writing about a “car,” instead try writing about “an old, beat-up pickup truck.” Concrete imagery evokes the five senses—sight, taste, sound, touch, and smell. Use sensory-evoking words to paint a picture for your reader so that they, too, might see what your characters (and you!) see.
6. An Atmospheric Setting
Atmosphere is when imagery of the novel’s setting or environment, and the objects within it, is used to create the overall mood of a story or evoke an emotion in the reader. For example, the atmosphere of a thriller novel might involve thunderstorms, misty graveyards, or dim taverns to create a mood that is dreary and grim. On the other hand, a romantic comedy in a big city might evoke a mood of joy through imagery like a sunrise through an apartment window, blush-colored flowers, or cozy purple slippers.
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7. Effective Pacing
Pacing is the speed at which the events of the story unfold. There are times when the pacing should be fast, such as a blood-pumping fight scene, and other times when the pacing should slow down and linger on a particular moment, such as when the two love interests have their first heart-to-heart conversation. However, if the pacing is too quick during key events, such as when the protagonist must overcome obstacles, readers may feel cheated, or feel the events worked out too easily. On the other hand, if the pacing seems to drag during moments where there is little action, such as the protagonist deciding whether to have tea or coffee, you may risk losing the reader’s attention.
8. A Distinct Narrative Voice
Voice is the unique personality and attitude that sets the tone or mood of the novel. This can be evoked through the voice of the author, character, or narrator. Every writer has their own unique way of stringing their words into sentences that make the novel unique. The protagonist adds another layer to the narrative voice, as they have their own personality, attitude, and distinct way of speaking. An epic fantasy might have a strong, majestic narrative voice while a small-town romance novel might involve a sarcastic, sweet, or irreverent narrative voice.
9. Themes and Symbolism
A theme is the message the writer wants the reader to take away from the novel. Think about it like this: In two or three words, what is your novel about? This isn’t referring to the plot but rather the central idea: Love conquers all. Power corrupts. Good wins over evil. In order to convey these themes, writers sprinkle symbolism throughout the novel that captures the theme and makes it tangible. Symbolism is often used in colors, objects, animals, characters, or situations that illustrate the overarching theme. For example, the green light in The Great Gatsby symbolizes the theme of the American Dream.
10. A Satisfying Conclusion
What signifies a satisfying ending to the novel depends largely on the book’s genre. In a romantic comedy, for instance, the love interests overcome all the obstacles that are keeping them apart, and now they can finally be together. In an epic fantasy, the novel might end on a cliffhanger that leaves the reader scrambling for the sequel. In a thriller, perhaps the murder is believed to be solved until the very last page when the reader realizes the threat is not over yet. In general, the writer must take care to tie up all loose ends and answer all the reader’s questions—unless the writer tantalizes the reader with a promise that their questions will be answered in a sequel.
When you construct your novel using these ten building blocks, you will have a strong foundation to crafting a novel that evokes emotions and resonates with readers. Remember, the best novels are those that leave a lasting impression.
