Want to Know How to Write a Good Novel? The Secret is in the Crisis

There's an essential step to writing a really goodthem into the story from the beginning. They'll
novel that many new writers overlook. Once youwant to keep reading to see what the main
understand this idea, your writing will be muchcharacter will do to address this intense crisis. See
more dynamic and powerful and you will be ablehow it works?
to hook your readers into your story so they3. Finally, the crisis you choose must be compelling
won't want to put down your book until the lastto you as the writer. It should engage your
page. Here's how to write a good novel yourcuriosity and make you want to see what
readers will love: make sure you introduce ahappens next. It should be a crisis that you would
major crisis at the beginning of your story. Whenwant to read about if you picked up this book at
you choose this crisis wisely, it will be the catalystthe bookstore. When you're riveted by the initial
that drives your novel forward with power andcrisis, it will spark your imagination and keep you
will make your readers anxious to find out whatinterested and motivated throughout the process
happens next. The crisis needs to create a bigof writing your novel. And your readers will sense
enough problem that it will take the whole novelyour enthusiasm and interest and feel the same
for your main character to overcome it. A goodway about your book.
crisis will intrigue you as the writer and motivateHow Will Your Main Character Solve This Problem?
your main character to make the all-importantNow your main character has to decide what
decision to do whatever it takes to solve thethey are going to do in response to this crisis. As
problem this crisis presents.there is no other option, the main character must
A Compelling Crisis Needs These Three Elementschoose to address this problem and overcome it.
Evan Marshall, the literary agent and publishedAs a result, your main character has a powerful
novelist, gives some great advice for developingmotivation that will drive your story forward as
your novel's initial crisis. You want to make surethey continually seek to achieve this goal. Evan
your crisis includes these three key elements toMarshall gives several helpful tips to make this
make it powerful enough to drive your storystory goal most effective:
forward from the beginning to the end.1. This story goal will have your main character
1. To begin, your crisis should be appropriate toseeking relief from some problem or striving to
the genre you're writing in. This requires you togain possession of something he really wants.
clarify your genre, always a good idea at the2. If he fails at this goal, there will be dire
outset of writing a novel. Then make sure yourconsequences.
crisis fits your chosen genre. For example, in a3. Your main character's motivation should reveal
political thriller, the initial crisis shouldn't be that thehim as a person your readers will like and admire.
main character's fiancee breaks up with him.He chooses to solve this problem for the right
Instead, your main character might intercept areasons so your readers identify with him and will
letter indicating a plot against a charismaticbe rooting for his success.
European leader.4. It must feel next to impossible for your main
2. Second, you have to make the crisis bigcharacter to succeed at this goal. By raising the
enough that it creates a major problem for yourstakes in this way, you will give your novel idea
main character. It can't be something minor thattremendous power. The tension and desire to see
your main character could choose to ignore. It hashow it will all come out will motivate you and your
to be something that he must take action toreaders to stick with your novel until the very
resolve. Your readers will sense this and feel theend.
tension of the situation and that's what will hook