How to Write Your Best Book

I was struggling with my novel. I knew something wasn't right about my book (see my previous blog posts). Even reading it myself I knew I'd gone wrong somewhere but I couldn't put my finger on it.

So, I asked a published author what they do.

Science Fiction author, Scott McGlasson, who wrote Nock pointed me in the direction of K. M. Weiland's book, Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success. I'm not really someone who reads 'How to' books, not since Sol Stein was talking about using language to suit your character. He said that kindergarten teachers don't use 'big words'. (I teach the kids about phonemes and digraphs, but anyway.) I wasn't too chuffed by the characterisation.

K.M. Weiland's book has been amazing!

I now know what was wrong with my book: conflict! There wasn't any! Apart from the main plot, there was no conflict in scenes, between characters. There was nothing to encourage the reader to keep reading.

I've been scribbling some new scenes since reading K. M. Weiland's book and there is more conflict, plot progression and characterisation in those few scenes than in my entire 4th draft!

I'm now focusing on following K.M. Weiland's tips and I'm replotting the novel. I'm trying to let everything I've read so far guide the path of the story. I know where I want my characters to end up, but I'm looking more about the conflict in each scene, if the story moves forward because of my plot and if we learn something about the characters. I'm also looking at character arc, which I think my first drafts lacked.

I find character arc quite difficult. I like my characters, like my children, and I don't think they need to change. However, that's the problem. They do need to change because that's what happens in books.

Take Lexi for example. She's bold and fearless, she's impulsive
and inquisitive but this means she gets into risky situations. I'm trying to make her arc so that she learns to think before she acts. She's going to get into a situation where she thinks being bold and impulsive is the right thing to do, but it has disastrous consequences so she self reflects and realises that she needs to change.

But, that hasn't happened in the drafts so far. I'm going to be able to do that now I'm being really reflective and plotting this new novel in lots of detail.

That's where I am at the moment, thinking about all of this. It's making my head spin a little bit but I am enjoying the challenge. Hopefully, I will create a story that's fun and different and page turner-ing!