What is a Novel's Purpose?

What is a novel for? What is the point of them?comfort from knowing that we are not alone.
Why do we bother to read them, much lessMore often, an author will shed fresh, unexpected
write them? Yes, I know these sound like stupidlight on an issue, and our understanding of that
questions, but the answers really will help you toissue is deepened or even changed, making us
write better novels.grow as a person.
The first question to answer is "Why Do WeWhat Is A Novel's Purpose? They entertain us
Read Novels?" It seems to me there are twoand they help us to understand. Fine. But how
reasons.does that help with the business of novel writing?
Firstly, entertainment and escape.I'll tell you.
This is perhaps the biggest motivation behind usBroadly speaking, novels fall into two groups. On
picking up a good novel - they take us awayone side you have category fiction, or genre
from our everyday lives and concerns. Novels fillfiction. On the other side is literary fiction.
time that might otherwise be filled with boredom,Still speaking broadly, genre fiction is seen as
and they offer a temporary escape from ourproviding plenty of entertainment but not too
workaday worlds.many insights. With literary fiction, you get plenty
The second reason we read fiction is that itof insights into the human condition but not so
offers us insights into the human condition.much entertainment.
From the day we are born to the day we die, weBut it seems to me if you are serious about
are all on a quest. We might not always know it,novel writing, you need to provide entertainment
but all of us are struggling to understand thisand insights, whatever kind of novel you plan to
world we call home and what it takes to get by inwrite.
it.On one level you must write a page-turning plot
Much of our understanding, of course, comesfull of twists and turns and some well-paced
from our first-hand experiences. But it also comesaction. That's entertainment.
from hearing about the experiences of others...andOn another level, you need to create a cast of
reading a good novel is one of the best waysfully rounded, believable characters who are
there is to tap into what our fellow humans thinkstruggling to overcome some very human
and feel about this world and our place in it.problems. The way they deal with these problems
All good novels have something to say about onewill provide the reader with insights into the
aspect or another of the human condition - abouthuman condition, insights which will stay with them
how to find true love, about the horrors of war,long after they have turned the final page.
about a million things. Sometimes when we readWhen you're writing novels, providing too much
these thoughts and insights, we will have arrivedentertainment and not enough understanding - or
at similar conclusions ourselves, and we takevice versa - is a trap you must always avoid.