By M. Graae

It’s been said that “everyone has a book in him,” and when journalists get together, they joke about “having half a novel tucked away in my desk at work. One of these days….” The truth is, very few people will ever write a novel, and fewer still will write a novel that is marketable. It is a rare breed indeed that actually creates a novel that is eventually published and achieves any degree of success. Why is that the case? What makes a serious writer different from everyone else who wants to write a novel? What is the first step in becoming that serious writer?

Virtually no one would attempt to build a house without first learning basic carpentry and architectural skills. Then why is it that so many people attempt to write a novel without learning the craft of novel-writing, or without even knowing what a novel is? Perhaps this question has no rational answer, but it does underline the first step in the novel-writing process: Realizing that fiction writing is a craft, and as such it requires skills that must be learned. (The actual writing of a novel is one of the more advanced stages in the process.)

When we say “the craft of writing” we mean all the techniques that combine to create a novel, which is no less than a long, fictional, dramatic written narrative depicting some aspect of the lives of fictional people. In other words, the “craft” is the “what” and the “how” of the novel, and we have to know what parts compose something, and how they are assembled, before we can create that something. This is as true of a novel as it is of your sister’s amazing cherry pie or your brother’s sure-fire fishing lures. The writer’s creativity, imagination, language skills and vocabulary, in conjunction with his or her knowledge of the craft of fiction writing, ultimately combine to result in an effective novel. It is nothing short of alchemy, and yet it is possible.

Recognizing that writing is a craft requires that a fledgling writer must realize that a novel is composed of certain elements, which are in turn manipulated through a set of conventions. (Of course, when one achieves mastery of these elements and conventions, one is then free to experiment, which can result in novels that are anything but traditional. The key word here is “mastery.”) The elements of a novel, that is, the basics that must be thoroughly studied and understood before one seriously attempts to write a novel, include a fully developed main character, somewhat developed secondary characters, a plot and usually subplots, setting and sequence, theme, voice and tone. Most beginning writers will spend a lot of time practicing these elements, writing many a short story or vignette in order to hone their writing skills in these areas. Even more difficult to identify and learn are the writing skills associated with the conventions of writing. These are the techniques a writer uses to achieve certain aspects of the novel that simulate real life…even in a fantasy. To have some concept of the craft of writing, one must understand that a novelist, among other things, attempts to: bring characters to life; present events through a character’s perspective, or point of view; create forward motion in the plot; render dialogue believable; integrate dialogue with narrative; vary the pace of the novel; craft effective scenes; create, for the reader, the sense of “being there,” and other goals too numerous to mention here. Writing a novel is a big undertaking, which requires a writer to bring together many threads in order to produce a beautiful, well-constructed fabric of dreams.

Notice that we have not even yet mentioned the phrase, “an idea for a novel.” As a practical matter, the concept of “novel,” and all the skills necessary to produce it, must come first. Beginning writers might consider jotting down ideas for novels in a notebook or journal. These ideas may become powerful catalysts for creating a novel as a writer becomes familiar with the daunting task of understanding, learning…and honoring…the craft of writing.

2. Learning the Basic Skills of Fiction Writing (The Elements)

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