I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Can a novel without any death be taken seriously?

Asked by: Karen Hancock

No, it does not. Consider: First, in the Western tradition at least, death is not the highest stakes. Traditionally we have placed a number of moral factors above death: dishonor, impurity, apostasy.

Can a novel have no plot?

Yes, it is possible to write a short story without a plot. Just as long as the author is able to establish character within the story, then there is no reason why there cannot be a story that does not have an explicit plot. To sum up, there are of course novels that are more plot-driven than others.

Does a novel have to be a true story?

A novel can be based on true events, but it cannot be solely a true story. If a novel only involves real events, people and locations, then it becomes creative non-fiction. This opens the author up to a host of critique if they do not adequately research or interview the people involved.

What should a novel avoid?

Avoid making common mistakes by following these writing tips:

  • Don’t write sporadically. …
  • Don’t ignore story structure. …
  • Don’t second guess yourself. …
  • Don’t abandon your first novel. …
  • Don’t pigeon-hole your process. …
  • Don’t start off slow. …
  • Don’t switch POV. …
  • Don’t create flat characters.

Can a novel have no dialogue?

You absolutely can write a story with no dialogue. You also can write a story using only dialogue. You can and may do anything you wish in a work of fiction. That’s what fiction is about.

Are novels always fiction?

Novels are usually works of fiction. However, authors can infuse actual human events and history into their works. There are also full-fledged historical novels that focus on a particular time in history. Others are semi-fictional.

What is a book called when it’s based on a true story?

From time to time, historical fiction authors incorporate real-life people and stories into their works, extending the genre beyond just fiction set in the past. Other writers base their books around a true news story or mystery, lending their imagination to a nonfiction event.

What is a book without dialogue called?

Non-Epistolary Novels Without Dialogue.

What percentage of a novel should be dialogue?

Proportion of dialogue in novels

Novel Date Percent
Murder at the vicarage 1930 59.16%
Nemesis 1971 65.10%
Elephants can remember 1972 79.38%
Postern of fate 1973 76.18%

What is writing without dialogue called?

I think the most general term is narrative: 1 A spoken or written account of connected events; a story. ‘a gripping narrative‘ 1.1 [mass noun] The narrated part of a literary work, as distinct from dialogue.

How do you write a good story without dialogue?

Shorter videos tend to work best without dialogue. The narrative is condensed, and the action on screen is enough to keep your audience enthralled. Granted, there are plenty of examples of feature-length films that succeeded without words, like A Quiet Place, or any of these other silent hits.

What is denouement in a story?

denouement, (French: “unknotting”) conclusion after the climax of a narrative in which the complexities of the plot are unraveled and the conflict is finally resolved.



What is exposition in a novel?

This is called the EXPOSITION. It is the background information on the characters and setting explained at the beginning of the story. The EXPOSITION will often have information about events that happened before the story began. The EXPOSITION is often the very first part of the PLOT.

What is a hook in story?

A hook is an opening statement (which is usually the first sentence) in an essay that attempts to grab the reader’s attention so that they want to read on.

Can a story not have an exposition?

Readers will get to know what boundaries and difficulties are present in the world of the story. Without exposition, readers would feel confused and disconnected from the story.

What is the first element of plot?

There are five essential parts of plot: 1) Exposition (introduction) – Beginning of the story; characters, background, and setting revealed. 2) Rising Action – Events in the story become complicated; the conflict is revealed. These are events between the introduction and climax.

What are the 5 elements of a novel?

A story has five basic but important elements. These five components are: the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution.



How many plot points is a novel?

7 Plot Points for Basic Story Structure

Many classic stories follow a similar basic structure made up of seven key plot points: Hook: A hook is a compelling event, usually in the first chapter, that captivates the reader and encourages them to keep reading.

How do you plot a novel?

10 Tips for Plotting Your Novel: Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Generate ideas. …
  2. Start with a simple, compelling premise. …
  3. Have a clear central conflict. …
  4. Choose your structure. …
  5. Trace out general story arcs. …
  6. Build subplots. …
  7. Think about cause and effect. …
  8. Write a detailed outline.

How many chapters are in a novel?

Most novels have between 10 to 12 chapters, but that’s not set in stone. You can have two chapters or 200 — it all depends on how comfortable you are with experimenting. Consider your dear reader.

How do you start planning a novel?

  1. Know what kind of book you want to write. The first step to planning your novel is figuring out what kind of book you want to write. …
  2. Write down your existing ideas. …
  3. Work out your essentials. …
  4. Fill in the gaps. …
  5. Make a timeline. …
  6. Cater to your readers. …
  7. Start writing your novel.
  8. What are the 4 types of plot?

    Type of Plots



    The plot used in fictions can be differentiated into four types: linear, episodic, parallel, and flashback.

    Why are novels called novels?

    The term novel is a truncation of the Italian word novella (from the plural of Latin novellus, a late variant of novus, meaning “new”), so that what is now, in most languages, a diminutive denotes historically the parent form.

    Can a narrative be first person?

    A first-person narrative is a mode of storytelling in which a storyteller recounts events from their own point of view using the first person such as “I”, “us”, “our” and “ourselves”.