| When you’re learning how to write a good | | | | to do in the face of this big problem. That’s |
| novel, it’s critical that you understand how | | | | why having a powerful initial crisis in your novel is |
| very important it is to come up with a really | | | | so important. |
| great initial idea. You want to make sure your | | | | 3. And finally, it’s important that the crisis |
| idea intrigues and inspires you and you want it to | | | | intrigues and interests you as the novelist. It |
| hook your readers from the first page to the | | | | should be something that you care about and feel |
| last. The best way to come up with a good | | | | compelled to write about. When you feel deeply |
| novel idea that accomplishes both of these things | | | | engaged by the crisis, it will show in your writing |
| is to begin your story with a major crisis. If you | | | | and your readers will sense your genuine |
| choose the crisis using the guidelines I give below, | | | | enthusiasm. Plus, it will give you the energy and |
| I think you’ll find the resulting story idea will | | | | motivation to see your novel through to the |
| crackle with tension and excitement and will help | | | | end. When you feel excited about your novel |
| you write a page-turner that readers and | | | | idea and want to see what happens next, |
| publishers will love. A good crisis will compel your | | | | you’ll know you’re on the right track. |
| main character to make a decision to solve the | | | | Your Main Character’s Story Goal: Solve This |
| problem caused by the crisis and will give him a | | | | Problem |
| powerful motivation to succeed. It needs to be | | | | After reacting to this initial crisis, your main |
| a big enough crisis that your main character will | | | | character makes a decision that will affect him for |
| need the rest of the novel to overcome it. | | | | the rest of your novel: he decides to do |
| Make Sure Your Crisis Fits These Three Criteria | | | | whatever it takes to solve this problem and bring |
| Literary agent and published novelist Evan Marshall | | | | his life back into order again. This decision guides |
| has developed some great specific guidelines for | | | | all his future actions and propels your story |
| creating this initial crisis. If you follow these, | | | | forward with each scene. Here are a few |
| you’ll see that your initial idea deepens and | | | | thoughts on how to make this story goal most |
| intensifies into a powerful force to drive your | | | | effective, again courtesy of Evan Marshall. |
| novel forward and keep you and your readers | | | | 1. Your main character’s goal will involve |
| engaged through the end. | | | | wanting to experience relief from something |
| 1. To start, you want your crisis to fit your | | | | oppressive or problematic or his goal will be to |
| novel’s genre. Clarify what genre you’re | | | | possess something he really wants. |
| writing in and then make sure that your crisis is | | | | 2. He must succeed at this goal or there will be |
| appropriate to your genre. For example if | | | | terrible repercussions. |
| you’re writing a murder mystery, you | | | | 3. Your main character should have a worthy, |
| probably wouldn’t choose a crisis that includes | | | | admirable reason for wanting to solve this |
| an alien craft landing in the main character’s | | | | problem. You want this goal to reveal your |
| backyard. Instead, you’d start with… can | | | | character as a likeable, honorable person at their |
| you guess? A murder! | | | | core so your readers really want him to solve his |
| 2. The next requirement is that the crisis has to | | | | problem. |
| upset the balance of your main character’s | | | | 4. Your main character’s odds of succeeding |
| life so much that they are forced to do | | | | at this goal must seem next to impossible. |
| something about it. The crisis can’t be a | | | | When this main story goal has such high stakes, it |
| minor annoyance that they could just ignore; | | | | will create tremendous tension that will help you |
| it’s got to be big and life-changing. Your | | | | and your readers stay with your novel all the |
| readers will quickly get hooked into your story as | | | | way through to the last word. |
| they wonder what your main character is going | | | | |