Is Your Novel Underperforming? 5 Reasons Why
This guide summarizes the key points from Carl Duncan’s video on potential issues holding back your novel’s potential.
1. You Aren’t Building Up Your Scenes
- The Problem: A weak scene might not be weak in itself. The issue may lie in what precedes it.
- The Fix: Focus on building anticipation and setting the stage for impactful moments. The events leading up to a scene are crucial.
- Example: A first kiss scene needs a foundation: a "meet cute," awkward conversations, and established relationship dynamics. Fix the build-up, not just the kiss itself.
2. You’re Starting at the Wrong Point
- The Problem: Novels capture a slice of characters’ lives. Starting too early, before the "exciting events," can bog down the story.
- The Fix: Begin closer to the central, most interesting conflict or events.
- Consider: Are you making the reader wait too long for the "good stuff?" Would another starting point be more engaging?
3. Focusing on Originality Instead of Using What Works
- The Point: Tropes, plot structures, and character archetypes exist because they often work.
- The Risk: Obsessive originality can lead to abandoning proven techniques, potentially resulting in a less effective story.
- A Balanced Approach: Don’t force tropes, but recognize their value. If your novel has plot problems, examine it in light of established structures like the hero’s journey. Missing key elements might be the solution. Use conventions as tools, not templates.
4. It Lacks a Clear Premise
- The Premise Defined: The central idea, the elevator pitch. Not quite a theme, not quite a synopsis, but the core concept guiding the novel.
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Examples:
- The Count of Monte Cristo: Revenge.
- Brave New World: A pacified world under authoritarian control.
- Twilight: Sparkly teenage vampires and werewolves.
- Why It Matters: A premise provides focus, helping you decide what to include and exclude. It creates coherence.
- The Fix: Define your novel’s central idea. Cut anything that doesn’t advance that premise.
5. Baggage ("Kill Your Darlings")
- The Problem: Scenes, characters, or plot points you love but don’t serve the story’s central premise.
- The Solution: Be willing to cut elements, even beloved ones, that detract from the core idea. Writing involves destruction as well as creation.
- The Priority: Your love for the story’s premise should outweigh your affection for individual parts. Sometimes, cutting baggage can even lead to a beneficial change in the novel’s focus.
Citations:
Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share