I want to write a popular book, the greatest novel ever written. Where do I start? What is the secret? Why do certain names like Stephen King and James Patterson draw crowds of people? Why would someone read fiction by Clive Cussler and nobody wants to read my book? Name recognition is a wonderful boon to those who have it - but they are a minority to be sure. Thousands of great novels lay undiscovered and writers abandon great works because they need to get a "real" job that pays the bills. Life is unfair.
Are you a writer, trying to break into this competitive space? Do you have a great idea; perhaps a partly finished or even (gasp) a completely finished piece of fiction and you don't know how to proceed to the next level? I am happy to tell you that you should be very happy to be alive in the 21st century. Popular books are not the only ones being read today, and unknown writers have endless opportunities to have their work discovered. Fiction is just as popular as ever, even if book sales don't show it. What could be the cause?
Online novels. Online reading is one of many chances for readers to discover great fiction without going to a book store and often without spending any money at all. There are apps also, there are downloadable e-books, there are lending platforms that act like digital libraries and share works of authors. Online fiction is simply a wonderful advantage of living in the technology age that we live in. For readers it really is the best time to be alive. Imagine only 100 years ago, people would share books at school due to lack of family funds. And today we can find thousands of books that fit in a single device smaller than a single novel. Ah, what a time to be alive!
For you, the writer, this is very good news also. We don't have to think about 100 years ago - we can just go back twenty years. If you were and author twenty years ago and you wrote a fabulous piece of science fiction you had completed only the very first part of an arduous journey. You had to contact an agent and a publisher and get tests printed and decide on how large the scale of printing would be - first run, second run, etc. That was IF you could get someone to read it and agree to publish it for you. Enter the internet. Today you can produce literature and post it immediately. You can even post on some websites on a schedule; so you produce a chapter each week and you can get instant feedback from readers around the world.
You, the writer, can find an audience for your work by making it available online. Online fiction may never make you rich, in fact I love to find the free stuff - I'm not interested in paying for untested works. I want to read a novel and if I like it then I have made a friend. The author will be on my list and I will read their next book and their next. That is what makes literature great, the reading of fiction - not the paying for fiction. Find some fiction to read online. Read a free book. And then go write one yourself. It could be my next great read.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Do you like classic novels
Do you like classic novels? If you do not like classics, what other novel books do you like to read? Perhaps you like to read mystery fiction, crime fiction or romantic fiction. How many classics are in your library? I have met people who can quote famous lines from classic novels, can tell you the personalities of the main characters and how the plot twists and turns. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.
I have to be honest that I do not seem to be able to remember the ending of any book that I have read. Some people (like my husband) seem to have a photographic memory and can recall every book and movie they have ever read or watched. I am not that gifted.
One story I do like though is a classical story that is popular in Canada, namely, Anne of Green Gables. This fiction novel was written in 1908 by the Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. It is a story of a young orphan girl that was adopted by an elderly brother and sister living in Prince Edward Island, located in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Anne is a redheaded, freckle-faced girl who loves to read and uses her imagination to see the best in any situation. She uses big, descriptive words and her spontaneous character makes me laugh. The story follows her life from adoption to adulthood.
Many movies and TV series have been produced about Anne. Some are solely based on the novel; others are loosely based on it. For someone like myself, I am quite happy reading or watching any version of the story whereas others find it extremely frustrating if the production does not adhere to the book. My “movie amnesia” keeps me very content with watching whatever version friends want to watch.
Another classic that I read a number of years ago was A Tale of Two Cities. The author is Charles Dickens. It is a historical novel (though you could also say that it is romance fiction or suspense fiction) set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. When I began to read this novel, I almost did not make it past the first three pages! The description of a carriage being pulled through mud almost made me quit! The book was quite thick and though it is a historical classic, I couldn’t bear to read something so slow and painful.
However, much to my surprise, once I got past the first few pages and my imagination began to work, I found myself unable to put it down. The ending escapes me but I know that I enjoyed it much more than I thought I ever would.
This has taught me that a classic is very much a classic no matter how it is presented. Whether it is by novel only or if it is turned into a movie or TV series, a classic stands the test of time. By reading famous novels or by watching highly acclaimed productions, you are taken to a different point in time and can learn about the customs and thinking of people of that era. And you become a more rounded out individual that can speak intelligently about well-known literature.
No matter what your reading preference, I would encourage you to read a classic novel, either on-line or paperback. You will enjoy it as many others have done for years before you.
I have to be honest that I do not seem to be able to remember the ending of any book that I have read. Some people (like my husband) seem to have a photographic memory and can recall every book and movie they have ever read or watched. I am not that gifted.
One story I do like though is a classical story that is popular in Canada, namely, Anne of Green Gables. This fiction novel was written in 1908 by the Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. It is a story of a young orphan girl that was adopted by an elderly brother and sister living in Prince Edward Island, located in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Anne is a redheaded, freckle-faced girl who loves to read and uses her imagination to see the best in any situation. She uses big, descriptive words and her spontaneous character makes me laugh. The story follows her life from adoption to adulthood.
Many movies and TV series have been produced about Anne. Some are solely based on the novel; others are loosely based on it. For someone like myself, I am quite happy reading or watching any version of the story whereas others find it extremely frustrating if the production does not adhere to the book. My “movie amnesia” keeps me very content with watching whatever version friends want to watch.
Another classic that I read a number of years ago was A Tale of Two Cities. The author is Charles Dickens. It is a historical novel (though you could also say that it is romance fiction or suspense fiction) set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. When I began to read this novel, I almost did not make it past the first three pages! The description of a carriage being pulled through mud almost made me quit! The book was quite thick and though it is a historical classic, I couldn’t bear to read something so slow and painful.
However, much to my surprise, once I got past the first few pages and my imagination began to work, I found myself unable to put it down. The ending escapes me but I know that I enjoyed it much more than I thought I ever would.
This has taught me that a classic is very much a classic no matter how it is presented. Whether it is by novel only or if it is turned into a movie or TV series, a classic stands the test of time. By reading famous novels or by watching highly acclaimed productions, you are taken to a different point in time and can learn about the customs and thinking of people of that era. And you become a more rounded out individual that can speak intelligently about well-known literature.
No matter what your reading preference, I would encourage you to read a classic novel, either on-line or paperback. You will enjoy it as many others have done for years before you.
How to begin to write
Recently, I was thinking back to my English classes at high school. For one particular assignment, my English teacher instructed us to write about some event in our past. We were only 13 years old at the time; not a lot of years lived to have acquired too many interesting events in our life, but all of us were able to find something to write about without much trouble.
I chose to write about some of my experiences from when I was six years old and living on an island in the West Indies. As I wrote, everything was vivid in my memory: the sights, the sounds, the smells, the tastes and the people. And for once in my school days, the words just flowed effortlessly from my pen. I wrote about the games that I played and that other older children played; the different activities at a school fair that my sister and I attended one afternoon; some of the culture and habits of the local people and so forth.
One reason why I remember that assignment so well is that even though I thought that other assignments I had done in my English class had been better than that one, my English teacher did not. He gave me the highest mark I ever received in his class.
This reminds me of the advice given to writers to “write what is in you!” To take some events that have happened to you, or friends and family, and turn it into a fiction novel. To develop a character in your fiction writing and endow him or her with habits and personality traits of people you know or have met.
But isn’t that cheating you may ask? Not at all! Many writers do it! Just think of the James Bond fiction series. Its author Ian Fleming is said to have given several of his own personal traits to the main character James Bond and to have based him on one or more persons that he knew!
The crime fiction novelist, the late Dick Francis was a former steeplechase jockey so it is no surprise that when he became a writer, his novels centered on horse racing.
One of my favorite authors, John Grisham, was a practicing lawyer, so it is no surprise that he wrote many legal thrillers. The list could go on, but whether you read romantic fiction, suspense fiction, horror fiction, crime fiction or mystery fiction, there is a very good chance that the author is basing some of his characters or some of the events on people or events he or she knows or has experienced personally. And there is no harm in that! Just like when I wrote my school assignment, I could write far more vividly because I was writing about something I knew, not that I had to devise or imagine. The lesson I learned at that time: when you write about what you know, it can add life to your writing!
Sometimes, though, life can be stranger than fiction. A friend of mine knew one man who had a particularly horrible experience in one country in Africa, which ended up with him fleeing for his life. He later wrote a fiction novel based on his experiences, sent it to a publisher and received back a message saying that they could not publish his novel as, though the plot was excellent, it was too incredible for people to believe! If he had the Internet when he wrote it, at least he could have written his book as an online novel!
So there is no need to reinvent the wheel. As a saying goes, “there is nothing new under the sun!” Keep drawing on your personal experiences and knowledge as a source for your own fiction writing and see how this brings your writing to life!
I chose to write about some of my experiences from when I was six years old and living on an island in the West Indies. As I wrote, everything was vivid in my memory: the sights, the sounds, the smells, the tastes and the people. And for once in my school days, the words just flowed effortlessly from my pen. I wrote about the games that I played and that other older children played; the different activities at a school fair that my sister and I attended one afternoon; some of the culture and habits of the local people and so forth.
One reason why I remember that assignment so well is that even though I thought that other assignments I had done in my English class had been better than that one, my English teacher did not. He gave me the highest mark I ever received in his class.
This reminds me of the advice given to writers to “write what is in you!” To take some events that have happened to you, or friends and family, and turn it into a fiction novel. To develop a character in your fiction writing and endow him or her with habits and personality traits of people you know or have met.
But isn’t that cheating you may ask? Not at all! Many writers do it! Just think of the James Bond fiction series. Its author Ian Fleming is said to have given several of his own personal traits to the main character James Bond and to have based him on one or more persons that he knew!
The crime fiction novelist, the late Dick Francis was a former steeplechase jockey so it is no surprise that when he became a writer, his novels centered on horse racing.
One of my favorite authors, John Grisham, was a practicing lawyer, so it is no surprise that he wrote many legal thrillers. The list could go on, but whether you read romantic fiction, suspense fiction, horror fiction, crime fiction or mystery fiction, there is a very good chance that the author is basing some of his characters or some of the events on people or events he or she knows or has experienced personally. And there is no harm in that! Just like when I wrote my school assignment, I could write far more vividly because I was writing about something I knew, not that I had to devise or imagine. The lesson I learned at that time: when you write about what you know, it can add life to your writing!
Sometimes, though, life can be stranger than fiction. A friend of mine knew one man who had a particularly horrible experience in one country in Africa, which ended up with him fleeing for his life. He later wrote a fiction novel based on his experiences, sent it to a publisher and received back a message saying that they could not publish his novel as, though the plot was excellent, it was too incredible for people to believe! If he had the Internet when he wrote it, at least he could have written his book as an online novel!
So there is no need to reinvent the wheel. As a saying goes, “there is nothing new under the sun!” Keep drawing on your personal experiences and knowledge as a source for your own fiction writing and see how this brings your writing to life!
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Writing Help
On the internet today there is endless suggestions and advice for writers. How can we sort through all of the advice and find what will work for us? I guess this seems like an ironic thing to read about right now? How do I write an article about finding good help without sounding like the only one giving good help? Well, it's actually quite simple - I am going to tell you that the answer is not in this article and it is not in the top 1000 you can find online. The simple answer for this question is different for each of us.
When I think of great literature I think of classic novels that I had to read in school. Artists like Shakespeare and Steinbeck and Hemmingway. Did these men have difficulties with opening lines, writing dialogue that was believable, and plot? Maybe they did. They wrote great fiction, and when I read a novel I want to read great fiction. It's important for you to remember as you sit down to write your science fiction fan fiction, that other writers also suffered as you suffer now. Nobody thinks they have the book that every single person is going to love, and no author writes fiction without some block, or some struggle, or some frustration. Shakespeare was human, he likely sat and struggled. He likely re-wrote sections and his friends likely bugged him. Don't be so hard on yourself, when writing fiction you have to create. Creation is hard.
Online books are no easier. It does not matter if you are posting something for people to read free, or to read online, or if you are getting paid per word - or even if you are just planning to write and never show anyone; the fact of the matter is that writers get blocked sometimes. So how can you fix the problem?
If you have found more than five suggestions on how to fix the problem I can tell you right now that you are trying too hard to fix the problem. Novels are not an easy thing to create - if it as easy, everyone would be doing it. Now we can read online, but that content still has to be created somewhere. We are relying on writers like you to come up with new fiction. Don't quit, take a break and get some fresh eyes on your project. Re-think a character if you have to. Consider what a change to the setting could do for you. A major change like character or setting could mean hours of re-writes, but better hours of work than leaving a work unfinished.
What about your chosen genre? Have you been trying to hard? Great literature is effort, but it should not be a strain. If you are straining to keep things in place, then maybe you need to make a change. Are you writing a thriller but you just can't keep it scary? Why not switch the concept to a romance fiction, or to a comedy? Is your science fiction just too technical and driving you insane? Write a chapter of comedy right into the middle of it. See how you like it. You may throw it out after, but it could keep your tone light and give you a break from the heavy work of writing.
Find what makes you happy. Find a way to release. Go for a walk, go to the beach, paint with your fingers, or bake some cupcakes. There is no right answer for everyone. But do not give up in creating fiction. Your readers are counting on you. Stick with it!
When I think of great literature I think of classic novels that I had to read in school. Artists like Shakespeare and Steinbeck and Hemmingway. Did these men have difficulties with opening lines, writing dialogue that was believable, and plot? Maybe they did. They wrote great fiction, and when I read a novel I want to read great fiction. It's important for you to remember as you sit down to write your science fiction fan fiction, that other writers also suffered as you suffer now. Nobody thinks they have the book that every single person is going to love, and no author writes fiction without some block, or some struggle, or some frustration. Shakespeare was human, he likely sat and struggled. He likely re-wrote sections and his friends likely bugged him. Don't be so hard on yourself, when writing fiction you have to create. Creation is hard.
Online books are no easier. It does not matter if you are posting something for people to read free, or to read online, or if you are getting paid per word - or even if you are just planning to write and never show anyone; the fact of the matter is that writers get blocked sometimes. So how can you fix the problem?
If you have found more than five suggestions on how to fix the problem I can tell you right now that you are trying too hard to fix the problem. Novels are not an easy thing to create - if it as easy, everyone would be doing it. Now we can read online, but that content still has to be created somewhere. We are relying on writers like you to come up with new fiction. Don't quit, take a break and get some fresh eyes on your project. Re-think a character if you have to. Consider what a change to the setting could do for you. A major change like character or setting could mean hours of re-writes, but better hours of work than leaving a work unfinished.
What about your chosen genre? Have you been trying to hard? Great literature is effort, but it should not be a strain. If you are straining to keep things in place, then maybe you need to make a change. Are you writing a thriller but you just can't keep it scary? Why not switch the concept to a romance fiction, or to a comedy? Is your science fiction just too technical and driving you insane? Write a chapter of comedy right into the middle of it. See how you like it. You may throw it out after, but it could keep your tone light and give you a break from the heavy work of writing.
Find what makes you happy. Find a way to release. Go for a walk, go to the beach, paint with your fingers, or bake some cupcakes. There is no right answer for everyone. But do not give up in creating fiction. Your readers are counting on you. Stick with it!
Believable or Not?
A good author wants the plot to be believable. Characters should be believable. The problem faced should also be believable. Popular books and great literature normally follows this pattern. Forbidden love forces young lovers to hide their relationship from their family - Romeo and Juliet. An evil King, or a crooked politician is the story as old as time - inspiring great literature from the Three Musketeers all the way to Hemingway and Steinbeck. These are believable characters following the problems of a believable situation. So how do we create this for our novel?
When people read novels they want the fiction to be so close to reality that it deceives them into believing this could actually happen. Of course, this is not always the case. Much science fiction is simply ridiculous and could never happen - but the stories, if told well, still make this seem possible. The age of online reading has made this possibility seem even more real, since we can add to popular books the endless barrage of fan fiction and analysis. Since the advent of the internet, online reading has made it possible for anyone with a keyboard to become a contributor to online novels.
So do you want your novel to have a believable plot? If you are writing a children's book the answer may be "no". You could write a long novel about a caterpillar who wants to be an elephant. For ridiculous fiction the reality is not important.
But imagine you want to write a great romance novel. You have to begin with characters that seems real. They have to have believable lives and problems and the story cannot take place in a fairy land with bean stalks and giants. Our main character needs flaws and weaknesses - like every human you have ever met. Creating a perfect character does not mean the character will be perfect.
Of course if this is a romance novel about fairy's and giants then you can disregard the last part - but we are discussing here the illusion of reality in our fictional novel. When someone reads our novel they want to be whisked away to a believable place that might exist; because if it does exist then that means there is the slim chance that they could live this life also. They can find true love, or experience a real adventure. That is on your shoulders as the author, make the story seem real.
I believe you ca do it, if millions of crazy Star Wars fans can believe the reality of something like that, then certainly you can make a story seem real if you write about what you know. Don't include details of things that are beyond your grasp. If you have never been to a beach, don't set your novel on the beach. If you don't understand the laws of thermodynamics, then don't introduce any rocket scientists into your novel. It's not impossible, with research, to include things you don't understand; but why not stick with what you know for now. If you are a waitress, write about a waitress. It will be real, it will be believable, and the literature world will thank you.
When people read novels they want the fiction to be so close to reality that it deceives them into believing this could actually happen. Of course, this is not always the case. Much science fiction is simply ridiculous and could never happen - but the stories, if told well, still make this seem possible. The age of online reading has made this possibility seem even more real, since we can add to popular books the endless barrage of fan fiction and analysis. Since the advent of the internet, online reading has made it possible for anyone with a keyboard to become a contributor to online novels.
So do you want your novel to have a believable plot? If you are writing a children's book the answer may be "no". You could write a long novel about a caterpillar who wants to be an elephant. For ridiculous fiction the reality is not important.
But imagine you want to write a great romance novel. You have to begin with characters that seems real. They have to have believable lives and problems and the story cannot take place in a fairy land with bean stalks and giants. Our main character needs flaws and weaknesses - like every human you have ever met. Creating a perfect character does not mean the character will be perfect.
Of course if this is a romance novel about fairy's and giants then you can disregard the last part - but we are discussing here the illusion of reality in our fictional novel. When someone reads our novel they want to be whisked away to a believable place that might exist; because if it does exist then that means there is the slim chance that they could live this life also. They can find true love, or experience a real adventure. That is on your shoulders as the author, make the story seem real.
I believe you ca do it, if millions of crazy Star Wars fans can believe the reality of something like that, then certainly you can make a story seem real if you write about what you know. Don't include details of things that are beyond your grasp. If you have never been to a beach, don't set your novel on the beach. If you don't understand the laws of thermodynamics, then don't introduce any rocket scientists into your novel. It's not impossible, with research, to include things you don't understand; but why not stick with what you know for now. If you are a waitress, write about a waitress. It will be real, it will be believable, and the literature world will thank you.
The Travel Dilemma
Can you imagine being stuck in 1990 and you need to jump on a plane to travel around the world having to make a decision about which book you are going to take? Let's face it, onboard entertainment wasn't what it is today and you wanted a good novel, maybe two. But those things are heavy and choosing just two is difficult. What if you didn't like one? You have to finish it, you only have two. Or you cold shell out big bucks at an airport for another. What a disaster. Thank you technology!
Today we travel with a device that weighs nothing more regardless of how many books we put on it. I prefer doing my reading from a nine inch tablet, but in a pinch I could use my phone. Epub files are so easy and reading a novel has never been easier.
But there is a newer option also, and it's one I have been exploring a little bit out of curiosity. Just like books have been replaced with digital files, I wonder if those won't soon pass along to web-based platforms. I mean, I always have data now - and reading a book takes very little data. So why not just read the book online and save myself the hassle of downloading a file? If I don't like the book I can simply navigate away and find another. Online reading seems to have it's perks.
It has caught on in other countries and other languages so it makes sense that soon it will be a legitimate contender in English too - online fiction. I have not seen any classic literature posted in this format yet but I'm sure it won't be long. For now the sites I have been using have not had popular books either; only amateur works of fiction. But I quite enjoy finding something new. Online books written by someone unknown is fascinating to me, I feel like a literature teacher who has found a gem in my student's homework assignment. And other times I feel like the student needs a home tutor. Some of them are bad, and when that happens I love the fact that I can quit and find another. Simple!
Another big draw for me is the price. I don't know if everyone is like this, but I love getting something for free. Free fiction is so intriguing. I've bought my share of books in the past, but why can't I read a book for free? No download, no cost, no app, no heavy book to carry. For a new author the draw is similarly intriguing. Post a novel online and allow people to read it. Free fiction will draw readers, and if I'm writing a book that is what I want; readers. My last name is not Shakespeare or King. I may never get a publishing deal - but if I post fiction online and let people read for free then maybe my book will reach an audience. That's something pretty special. That's something that was not available to writers twenty years ago.
And then next time I'm on a plane I won't have a tough decision to make since I will do my reading online and then the sky really is the limit.
Today we travel with a device that weighs nothing more regardless of how many books we put on it. I prefer doing my reading from a nine inch tablet, but in a pinch I could use my phone. Epub files are so easy and reading a novel has never been easier.
But there is a newer option also, and it's one I have been exploring a little bit out of curiosity. Just like books have been replaced with digital files, I wonder if those won't soon pass along to web-based platforms. I mean, I always have data now - and reading a book takes very little data. So why not just read the book online and save myself the hassle of downloading a file? If I don't like the book I can simply navigate away and find another. Online reading seems to have it's perks.
It has caught on in other countries and other languages so it makes sense that soon it will be a legitimate contender in English too - online fiction. I have not seen any classic literature posted in this format yet but I'm sure it won't be long. For now the sites I have been using have not had popular books either; only amateur works of fiction. But I quite enjoy finding something new. Online books written by someone unknown is fascinating to me, I feel like a literature teacher who has found a gem in my student's homework assignment. And other times I feel like the student needs a home tutor. Some of them are bad, and when that happens I love the fact that I can quit and find another. Simple!
Another big draw for me is the price. I don't know if everyone is like this, but I love getting something for free. Free fiction is so intriguing. I've bought my share of books in the past, but why can't I read a book for free? No download, no cost, no app, no heavy book to carry. For a new author the draw is similarly intriguing. Post a novel online and allow people to read it. Free fiction will draw readers, and if I'm writing a book that is what I want; readers. My last name is not Shakespeare or King. I may never get a publishing deal - but if I post fiction online and let people read for free then maybe my book will reach an audience. That's something pretty special. That's something that was not available to writers twenty years ago.
And then next time I'm on a plane I won't have a tough decision to make since I will do my reading online and then the sky really is the limit.
Monday, January 15, 2018
Parts of a Novel
Which part of your novel is the most important? The beginning? The end? The plot? The characters? Well if you are a reader you likely already know the answer is "all of the above". As a fiction reader you want to be entertained by believable characters and a thrilling plot. Popular books require good characters and a beginning that grabs our attention. The ending is not as critical, since it could be delayed over a series of books. But eventually the writer is going to have to consider an ending that satisfies the reader. The longer we wait for an ending, the better it needs to be.
As a side note: just because the world is moving to online books and online reading, where readers can discover free books online does not mean we can ignore the fundamental need for good writing. If you want to read a novel, whether it is online fiction or in a book; you want your time to be well spent.
Romance fiction may not need to rely on a plot as much as a science fiction story, but the reverse could be said for good character development. Each genre has it's strengths and weaknesses, but if we focus on writing a well-rounded story with good characters then we can be sure we will entertain the reader.
The first sentence. Unless you know you have an amazing first line, be assured yours will change by the time the book is complete. Research "fiction first line" on the web and see what I mean. There are some great first lines from amazing novels. A first line grabs attention and makes the reader want to keep reading. Or maybe it is intentionally misleading, or prophetic. Perhaps all you have is a great first line - well that may be enough to get you to create great literature. Write that great first sentence and then see what happens.
Develop the characters. Real people are difficult to describe in words. The author needs to visualize them and know them, know how they will respond to outside influences and emotions. How do we describe our character in the novel? I gave this assignment to some students once and got very two-dimensional descriptions like tall, fat, ugly, nice, mean. It does not good to describe your character as tall. How tall is she? Is she taller than every boy she ever danced with? Was she self-conscious about her height, and this made her shrug a little? How do we know the boy is nice? Do we have evidence of it shown in some action? Making the reader infer qualities rather than telling them makes the difference between a children's book and a real novel.
Literature is an art and creating it makes the author an artist. There is certainly no way to say this is for sure the right way to do things and that is the wrong way. Focus on creating a great first sentence. Have a plot that makes sense an can be followed logically. Create characters that are believable and that our reader can identify with - so that they cheer for the character (or cheer against him is good too). You are on your way to writing a great novel.
As a side note: just because the world is moving to online books and online reading, where readers can discover free books online does not mean we can ignore the fundamental need for good writing. If you want to read a novel, whether it is online fiction or in a book; you want your time to be well spent.
Romance fiction may not need to rely on a plot as much as a science fiction story, but the reverse could be said for good character development. Each genre has it's strengths and weaknesses, but if we focus on writing a well-rounded story with good characters then we can be sure we will entertain the reader.
The first sentence. Unless you know you have an amazing first line, be assured yours will change by the time the book is complete. Research "fiction first line" on the web and see what I mean. There are some great first lines from amazing novels. A first line grabs attention and makes the reader want to keep reading. Or maybe it is intentionally misleading, or prophetic. Perhaps all you have is a great first line - well that may be enough to get you to create great literature. Write that great first sentence and then see what happens.
Develop the characters. Real people are difficult to describe in words. The author needs to visualize them and know them, know how they will respond to outside influences and emotions. How do we describe our character in the novel? I gave this assignment to some students once and got very two-dimensional descriptions like tall, fat, ugly, nice, mean. It does not good to describe your character as tall. How tall is she? Is she taller than every boy she ever danced with? Was she self-conscious about her height, and this made her shrug a little? How do we know the boy is nice? Do we have evidence of it shown in some action? Making the reader infer qualities rather than telling them makes the difference between a children's book and a real novel.
Literature is an art and creating it makes the author an artist. There is certainly no way to say this is for sure the right way to do things and that is the wrong way. Focus on creating a great first sentence. Have a plot that makes sense an can be followed logically. Create characters that are believable and that our reader can identify with - so that they cheer for the character (or cheer against him is good too). You are on your way to writing a great novel.
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