structure

Especially for anyone who is just getting started, writing a book can feel like an insurmountable task. After the initial excitement that comes with the first spark of inspiration (whether that’s a plot idea, an interesting character, or just a really cool setting), comes a slump when you realize how much work it is getting those words on the page. So I’ve decided to lay out the five aspects that will help you write a decent novel.

But at the end of the day, writing a novel is just telling a story. And every story is made up of the same basic elements. There’s a lot that goes into the process of writing your book, but for anyone who doesn’t know where to start or finds themselves feeling in over their head, here is a comprehensive list of the five basic traits every story needs:

• Theme
• Plot 
• Characters
• Story Structure 
• Setting

1. Theme

No story is worth telling without a reason. What’s your reason? Classic themes include love, death, good vs. evil, coming of age, etc. Whatever story you tell, it must have a theme woven into every fiber so that when potential readers pick up your book, they have an idea of what to expect. And, more importantly, when readers finish your book, they feel fulfilled because that expectation was met. Even the best plot and the most interesting characters can be ruined if there is no driving force behind your story.

Don’t know how to pick your theme? Ask yourself a few questions:

• What would I change about the world if I could?
• What big-picture idea do I want to examine?
  • Can love change people? 
  • How can a person choose between two horrible outcomes? 
  • What is the purpose of life? 
• What is the reason this character/plot/setting needs to reach an audience?

It doesn’t have to be something huge. Not all themes are about life-altering quests or answering life’s biggest questions. Your theme is simply the purpose of your story. Metaphorically speaking, the theme is the heart of any body of work. You can say Star Wars is about Luke or Anakin or Jedi or any number of other things, but at the heart of the story, it’s about good vs. evil and the power of hope. Those are the things that keep viewers watching, even if some of them only came for the light show. 

While nurturing your theme might seem like a pain at times, it can be very helpful to have your story grounded in thematic elements while you’re struggling to plot and/or get that first copy down on paper. And the good news is, while a weak theme can tank a great character or plot, a stellar theme can lift an otherwise lacking story. So do yourself a favor and put the work in. 

2. Plot

Once you have a theme in mind, it’s time to put together a plot. I’ll touch on this more in the structure section, but in the most basic form, you need a series of events to get from point A to point B, where point B is any kind of meaningful resolution to the problem introduced at point A. 

Some writers come up with plots very naturally while others struggle to come up with a plan. If you have a hard time plotting, don’t fret. Odds are you are more interested in either character development (like me) or setting (like many fantasy authors). It’s okay to be more excited about these elements than you are about the actual events of the story as long as you understand that the plot is what moves readers through your characters and setting. 

The best way to come up with an interesting plot is to research. History is rife with possible story ideas, but research can also come in the form of reading fiction. Think of the stories you like to read most and try to find a pattern. If it’s what you love to read, it will more than likely be what you love to write. 

3. Characters

In my humble opinion, solid characters are one of the most important elements of any novel (second only to theme). Since I used Star Wars earlier, I’ll touch on it again here. The ultimate battle of good vs. evil is the first building block of the story, but Darth Vader (and later Anakin) is the reason the audience is on the edge of their seats. George Lucas told the story in non-chronological order for the explicit purpose of telling Anakin’s story. Every decision he made for the plot, setting, supporting characters, etc. revolved around telling Vader’s story in a sympathetic and engaging way. 

Nobody (at least nobody I’ve met) is interested in reading a book that has a fabulous plot if they don’t like any of the characters. Think of Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo, or Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. People don’t watch Rocky because they like boxing; they watch it because they want to witness the triumph of the human spirit against insurmountable odds. 

But I digress. Whether you have a character in mind when you start your story or you’re looking to fill a scene with players, you need to craft a deep and engaging cast. This is where archetypes come in. I’ve covered the basic archetypes in another post, but the general idea is to figure out your protagonist and antagonist (which is not always a person) and then fill in the supporting roles with people who will add to your theme, challenge your main characters, or act as entertainment. 

Whatever roles these characters take on will be specific to your story, but keep in mind that even side characters need to have a wealth of development and thought behind them. Don’t think that your hero’s best friend can get away with a few quippy remarks and zero substance. I highly recommend writing a character bio for every single one of your characters — even if they appear only on one page. Not everything you plan will end up in the final product, but the extra thought you put into crafting your characters will come through regardless.

4. Structure

I’ll be adding a dedicated post on the three-act structure soon, but for now, I just want to highlight the simplest form: 

Exposition

Introduce your setting, main characters, and a central problem. 

Rising Action

This is the part where your protagonist starts their journey. There will be many obstacles along the way whether it’s an action-packed epic or a contemporary romance. The characterizing feature of this portion is the shift of power that goes back and forth between the hero and the antagonistic force. This, in a nutshell, is how you create tension.

Climax

The tension builds to a breaking point at the climax. It is the moment in the story that changes everything. Nothing will be the same from this point on. Here are a few examples:

• Darcy proposes to Elizabeth (Pride and Prejudice)

• Harry finds out Sirius is innocent (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

• Frodo destroys The Ring (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)

The climax is generally the easiest moment to pick out in any story because it is the breaking point. When writing a novel, it is helpful to start at this point and work your way backward.

Falling Action

Falling action sees the loose ends tied up at the end of the book. It should be concise now that the tension has broken in the climax, but if there were any questions opened up at the beginning of the story (especially true for mystery and suspense), now is the time to start wrapping those up. 

Resolution

The final point in the story, the resolution should give a final answer (or not) for the question set forth at the beginning of the book: will the hero get the boy/girl? Will they defeat the villain and save the world? The resolution should be relatively quick but very fulfilling—unless of course you’re ending on a cliffhanger. 

5. Setting

I listed the setting last because your plot and characters could technically live in any setting, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Sometimes it’s the first thing you plan (especially as a science fiction or fantasy author), and that is 100% okay. But whether you have one in mind or decide on one after you’ve got a plot cooking, you need to flesh it out as much as any character. Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings are both great examples of a world so expansive and thought out that readers/watchers want to climb into the world and live there. And because of the amount of work the authors put into those worlds, they practically can. 

If you’re writing a fantasy or a science fiction, you need to be ready to write unique languages, cultures, geography, the whole nine. The more reality you inject into your world, the more readers will get pulled into your story. That means that if your story takes place in a real place, you need to do a lot of research. Don’t set your story in Arizona and then have your characters walking around in parkas, for example. It sounds obvious, but the setting is a weak point for many new writers. Research, research, research! Your readers will thank you for it and your story will thrive in the good soil of a beautiful setting. 

That’s it!

So there you have it. The basic elements of any novel. Not so scary, is it? 

There are definitely a few moving parts, but once you break it down into these five elements, it’s not so daunting. As you keep writing and practicing your skills, the planning part will come more naturally and your brain will automatically fill in the various elements so it won’t feel like such a chore. Just make sure you have a notebook, phone, or computer handy at all times to jot down your thoughts because at some point it will hit you like an exorcism and you will want to write it down before it disappears. 

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to roam around my topics. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Reach out to me directly! I’m happy to answer questions and write new posts for highly requested content. 

Happy writing!