The Four Keys to Successful Novel Writing

Have you ever wondered what successful novel writing takes? More to the point, have you wondered whether you have what it takes?

I should start out by saying that the purpose of this article isn't to put you off writing a novel.

On the contrary, it is hopefully to convince you that creative writing isn't some highbrow art reserved for the intellectual elite, but rather something that any reasonably intelligent and creative person can succeed in. And yes, that means you!

The reason I'm confident that everyone reading this does possess the four keys to successful novel writing is simple. None of you would have made it this far if you didn't truly believe that novel writing is something you can realistically do well in.

1. Successful Novel Writing Takes Talent

I'm not talking genius here. You don't need to be able to write like a poet and know all the long words in the dictionary. As a matter of fact, these things could be a disadvantage, given that there is a lot to be said for a simple writing style.

You really just need two things...

First, you need a good grasp of the basics of grammar and punctuation. Yes, I know it's unfashionable nowadays to pay much mind to these things when texting and chatting online, but you can't get away with it if you want to be a professional writer.

A publisher won't reject your novel on the strength of the odd mistake here and there. But every mistake is another doubt in his or her mind. So if grammar and punctuation aren't your strongest suits, take my advice and buy a good guide to each of them.

The second thing you need (and this is more important) is a kind of musical fluency with language. In other words, you need to be able to read a passage of prose and know if it sounds right, or if the words still need tinkering with to make them flow.

Few writers, by the way, have the talent to make the words sound perfect the first time around, so don't worry if your first drafts are clunky - that's normal. But you do need this ability to transform prose from clunky to effortless over the course of several revisions.

Put simply, you need a good ear - but like I said, I doubt you would be reading this material at all if you were the literary equivalent of tone deaf. And the best part is that the more you use your ear as you write your novel, the more finely tuned it will become.

2. Successful Novel Writing Takes a Love of Reading

It doesn't matter what kind of novels you read – if you prefer Anne Rice to Jane Austen, or John Grisham to Dostoevsky, good for you. (You must always read the books you love, not the books the cultural snobs say you should love.) But you need to love reading novels of some description.

A lot of writers were avid readers as children, but don't worry if you didn't come to appreciate fiction until later in life. So long as you appreciate it now, you can tick the second box.

Why is a love of reading important? Because reading novels teaches you so much, particularly now that you are studying the art and craft of novel writing and so will read books with a more analytical eye.

Plus, a love of fiction means that you are passionate about fiction – and without that you can hardly be passionate about writing it.