by Ruth Belena

Created on: June 09, 2009   Last Updated: July 12, 2009

Fiction writing does not rely only on imagination, it takes skill and knowledge to write a novel. You need to have a good idea of how a novel should be planned, how to construct a compelling plot, and how to create fascinating characters. The best way to write a better novel than you see on the shelves is to gain better understanding from reading, and to know what is good or bad about what you read.

The challenge in writing any form of fiction is to engage readers in the plot, make them care about the characters and feel real emotions. Not all novels manage to do that.

Some people who work in the publishing industry today can tell immediately if a writer has never actually read any contemporary fiction. Thriller writer Ken Follett previously worked for a book publisher, in an editorial job, and was able to see exactly what works best in novels. He is an international best selling author.

Read as much as you can written in any genre of your choice. Novels that are not of a particularly high standard, as well as high quality writing, can give you real insight into how to write. Reading poor quality novels will inspire you, because you know you can write a better novel.

If you are into horror, science fiction and fantasy novels, you will be familiar with the ideal type of setting and what sort of action should take place. You may be inspired to write a novel that is superior to the works of authors whose serial books all feature a similar plot, involving the same stock characters. You can let your imagination run free and write an unique novel, with an unpredictable plot, featuring some unforgettable characters.

Romantic novels can also vary in quality. Many of them follow a somewhat similar plot of two people meeting by chance, falling in love, losing each other, getting together in the end. There is still plenty of scope in romantic fiction for good character development, and for creating original situations for those characters.

Historical novels must be true to the spirit of a former age, while having contemporary appeal. If you read some recent historical fiction, you may think you could write a novel that is more authentic in detail, but it must be exciting or intriguing enough to meet the current demands of the book market.

Crime fiction can quickly become outdated by changes in use of new technology, and scientific methods used for identifying criminals from limited evidence. If you have inside knowledge of police work, or experience of the legal profession, you may think you can write a better crime novel or a good piece of modern detective fiction. You will still need to read a great many novels in that genre to understand the general format and structure required for those works.

However much you admire the style of a great classic novel, you can only write a novel that is relevant to readers now. Modern fiction can be set in the past, but it can never be written in the same style as someone writing two hundred years ago, or even fifty years ago.

The inspiration to write a novel often comes from reading books by other authors, and it is necessary to read a lot before you can start to write a novel. You can write a better novel than the ones you see on the shelves, but only if you take some of those books down from the shelf, and you read them.

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