First time novel mishaps
Ask yourself WHY: why you want to write this book, why the characters need certain traits, why you're the best person to write this particular story.
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Is your life filled with kooky characters, crazy schemes and outlandish commentary from the peanut gallery?
My guess is no. You’re probably leading a rather ordinary life, with rather ordinary characters, and your days are likely mostly just fine. Some become exceptional, and on other days you go down the rabbit hole of anxiety and worry and angst, but on the whole, you’ve got a fine life.
Right?
So why do so many first novels feature extreme protagonists, with every character coming from a totally fucked-up family? Why do so many first novels feature harrowing past relationships full of abuse and neglect, with characters yearning for normal enduring love? Why do so many first novels think you have to shock to win over readers?
Can’t there be likable characters who are happy but still face conflict and crisis and figure a way to a reasonable resolution?
Absolutely!
I read a lot of books, work with a lot of writers and edit manuscripts, and I’ve noticed a troubling trend. Too many first books go way off the deep end when they don’t need to.
The thing about writing a book is that you can have a kernel of an idea—and it’s a GOOD idea—and you need the patience and stick-to-it-ive-ness to see it through to a satisfying outcome. That takes planning and thought, which many of us don’t have time for.
But we make time to revise. And we make time to query. And we make time to keep pushing forward to get someone to notice us, so why—WHY!—won’t we take the time in the crafting stage to really make a great book that no one else could write, and where the story is remarkable?
Maybe we don’t expect it of ourselves. Or think we can’t pull it off. Maybe we don’t believe good writing with relatively happy characters will sell.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned upon completing my third novel (second that will meet the world, the first is in a dark drawer and may never see the light), and am about to start on my fourth, it’s this: an author must write the book they desperately want to write, and it’d better be a book they desperately want to read, too.
Because you’re going to be pals with this story for a long, long time. There’s the writing and the revising, the pitching and the revising, the publishing and the marketing and the hawking the book long past when you’ve lost interest and moved on to another project. You’re going to be linked to this book forever—so you’d better love it.
And if you write a bunch of crazy characters with haphazard things befalling them, you might get annoyed. Worse, your readers might, too.
I love talking about WOMAN OF VALOR, my first published novel (which, by the way, is going on sale in e-book format later this week!!) I finished writing it two years ago, but I can still talk about Sally and Barry and John and Batya and how the story came to be and not get bored.
And I’m utterly fascinated with CAVE OF SECRETS, my novel due out later this year, and that journey has only just begun. Now that I’m working on the planning and plot points for my next novel, I’m open to all sorts of creative possibilities. It’s exciting!!
I’m not writing this to judge other writers. I’ll be honest—the first version of WOMAN OF VALOR that I wrote featured a protagonist who was whiny and complaining about her life. I hated her. She was so typical.
So when I got serious about writing a book that could be in the world, I changed her. I wanted her to LOVE her life—even as it got hard, even as incredibly terrifying challenges came before her.
And that seems to be revolutionary in the world of books. A character who loves her life. Who is relatively happy with her choices. Who isn’t perfect, but is cool with the status quo most of the time.
There’s still suspense, conflict, crisis and all the things in WOMAN OF VALOR. It’s a page-turner, I’m told. (If you read it, let me know what you think! And please leave a review anywhere!!)
Wherever you are in your writing, consider the why behind your characters. Why do they have this quirk? Why do they hate their parents? Why do they have an annoying best friend? Have good reasons for giving them these traits—and don’t be afraid to make them relatable, likable, approachable.
Resources for Writers
Announcing a new program: the Publish & Prosper Mastermind, led by yours truly and my friend and fellow writer, Heidi McIntyre. This is for authors looking to work on book marketing strategy and implementation and author branding. Learn more here!
A few other new opportunities to write with me! One is a Creative Writing for Beginners class online, beginning March 5th. Register here.
The other is an in-person series of Rosh Hodesh women’s writing workshops at Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Register here.
Thanks to Danny Hankner of Story Unlikely for inviting me to contribute this article to his beautiful publication. Check it out!
Thanks to Kat Caldwell for interviewing me on her Pencils & Lipstick podcast.
I loved talking with Robin Colucci on the Author’s Corner podcast. And, Dianne Burckhardt, on her Living the Next Chapter Podcast, too!
Thanks for reading!! I’m sending a huge hug of gratitude to my paid subscribers for supporting this effort to provide useful publishing and writing guidance on a weekly basis. Our next paid subscriber writing coaching call will be March 27, 2024, 12-1 p.m. ET. Mark your calendars!
And this month’s paid subscriber book giveaway will be The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. Become a paid subscriber to qualify for the drawing!
Love Always, Lynne
Such great advice, Lynne! I found it encouraging as I'm currently writing a novel about a group of teachers. They've got flaws, sure, but they're just people who are trying to make a difference in the world which makes them inherently likeable (I think).
Just purchased a copy of Woman of Valor. Looking forward to reading it!
Lynne, I hear what you're saying. I even struggle with why there has to be tension and/or conflict. With all the tension and conflict in our lives today, I don't understand why someone wouldn't want to just relax and read a pleasant story?