Sunday, February 9, 2020

The Truth Behind Those Fantastic Great Novels

Along with representing romance and women's fiction (truthfully the greatest genres in the world), I also emphasize education and attempting to bridge the gap between the writers and the editor/agent side of things. Today, I wanted to do just that. I am here to give you the true secret for great success in writing. 

I really want to shed the light on the single thing that makes your story great. That single thing that makes your story that ultimate money maker and the story that people want to talk about.

It seems that lately, whenever I get online to see what is going on in publishing, what writing chapters and conferences are promoting for workshops and guest speakers, what people are arguing will make their story so much better, there is a lot of differing opinions. Everyone has what is truly the thing that will make that book the ultimate best seller. 

Some agents and some publications talk about how they can teach anyone to write the ultimate query letter that will not only get you a contract but a huge deal from a publisher. Cha Ching!!!!! $$$$$$

Others do full workshops on how authors intentionally sit down and add specific literary devices to their story such as alliteration and assonance and that is what makes the story great. 

I just read over the weekend a full discussion on where to put the acknowledgements in the book. Some believed putting it up front to act as if it was an endorsement from some celebrity and others talked about putting it in the back to allow the reader to get right into the book.

And yet, all of these people are missing the true thing that makes those great novels GREAT!

I will give you a hint - If you sit in any editor/agent panel at a conference, some writer will ask the panel what we want in a story and I can guarantee that one of us will give you the key to the universe and publishing success. And yet, you all leave that panel and head off to a workshop on "writing the great opening line that will get you a 6-figure deal contract!"

So here it is.

WRITE A GREAT NOVEL.

That's it. Learn how to write and write a great story. Know how to plot a story that truly goes somewhere with a purpose. Learn how to create characters that are real, believable, have a purpose and are three-dimensional. Learn how to develop and utilize conflict in your story effectively. Learn how to write sentences that are more than a string of words between a capital letter and an end punctuation mark. Understand that writers DO NOT stop in the middle of writing and intentionally add alliteration because they think it will be great. Know and understand how to use dialogue to do something more than to have characters talk or because you have written too long of an informational paragraph. 

WRITE A GREAT NOVEL.

And yes, this means you have to learn to write before you publish.


5 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I 100% agree with you. This is part of the reason why there are so many flaws with the self-publishing market. There is just this assumption that if you type it and put it out for sale, you are a great author.

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  3. (Corrected post)
    This post is great. Can't agree more. So, I know you have touched on this question before, but would you mind doing so again? Thank-you in advance. If a writer wants to learn to write well --the steps that come after mastering good punctuation, proper grammar, and putting down thoughts in a sensible and meaningful order, what is the very next step or where should the writer go to learn the creative aspects of writing a "good" novel? Where does a writer go to grow? The possibilities are endless, mind-numbing, and many are dubious. I would love to have/make/find a plan of steps that will guide me into continually moving forward and upward in my writing skills, except after the basics, I am unsure and nervous about where to collect my next information.
    Again, thanks for all you teach us! Kate M.

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