The #1 skill that will help you transform your novel and become a better writer
When I finished writing my first novel, I typed out ‘The End’, patted myself on the back and gleefully sent it out to readers for feedback. It had taken me many years to work up the dedication and willpower to sit down and finish a novel. I was so proud of myself. I thought the hard work was over and I just knew my readers were going to love it. I waited patiently for their feedback, anticipating all the praise that was about to come my way. But instead, what I got back was loads of red lines, including comments about how boring my story was and how unlikeable my main character was. Some people weren’t even able to finish reading it. They all hated my story.
Though I’ve now found critique partners who are more encouraging and sensitive, I don’t blame those first readers one bit. Looking back after all I’ve learned, a lot was missing from that novel. Most importantly, the one thing that would have made it a story was missing. My first novel was a series of scenes without purpose and with nothing connecting them. It had a flat character and no plot, which made it feel slow and boring. All of these things weren’t actually separate issues, they were a result of the fact that my novel lacked structure. The reason it lacked structure was because I didn’t know what story structure was. Story structure is the number one skill you need to learn to improve and transform your novel.
Now, ten years and two degrees later, I work as a developmental editor and book coach, helping my clients build and solidify their story structure. I love this work because I remember how many people pointed out things that were wrong in my novel, but they couldn’t articulate the root cause. I had trouble doing any meaningful edits on my story because I didn’t know how to solve the issues (and neither did my readers). That’s why I ultimately ended up shelving my first novel (and my second). It took me years of education, studying, practice and learning to truly understand story structure and all the elements that come together to create a story that’s interesting and enjoyable for readers. If you want to practice and learn one skill to improve your writing, work on learning story structure.
“There’s something buried deep within our DNA as humans that makes us respond to certain storytelling elements told in a certain order. We’ve been responding to them since our primitive ancestors drew on walls and tribes told stories around campfires.”
― Jessica Brody, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You'll Ever Need
Story structure combines and refines plot and character
Story structure is more than a framework of emotional ups and downs for your reader to experience. When you get it right, it’s a meaningful fusion of character arc and plot. Understanding story structure at a deep level, means understanding how to design relatable characters combined with a series of meaningful events (plot) that help them grow.
Story structure helps determine your pacing
When pacing slows down, it’s usually because a writer has lost the main thread of the plot and gone on a tangent. Similarly, when pacing feels too quick, it means that events are happening so fast they don’t feel believable to the reader. When you follow story structure, you’ll be hitting beats and events at just the right moment so that your story feels like it’s moving along at the right speed.
Story structure helps you meet reader expectations
Writers seeking any amount of commercial success or readership have one main job: to please and delight their readers. If your work is too experimental or strays too far from established story frameworks, you risk confusing or frustrating readers. A reader is searching for familiar plot points and story beats as they read, whether they are conscious of this or not. That’s why we have traditional and established structures for stories. We’re all familiar with them and they bring us joy and comfort when we read. It’s okay to subvert expectations in different ways, readers enjoy this as well, but there should also be something familiar about the shape of your story. Don’t think of story structure as stifling your creativity, instead, think of it as finding a way to be creative within a framework that readers expect and anticipate. If you’re into experimental structure, that’s okay, but know that this may limit the audience who will be able to connect with your work.
If you’re looking for good resources on story structure, I recommend starting with Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. If you’re looking for individualized guidance, my manuscript evaluations always focus on story structure, helping you refine your story beats, plot, theme and characterization. Get in touch to develop your novel’s story structure and learn skills you’ll be able to use for all future manuscripts!
