Search results
- What makes a book good? Is it a great story idea? A memorable protagonist? An inimitable writing style?
www.masterclass.com/articles/the-elements-of-a-good-book
People also ask
What makes a good novel?
What makes a great literature?
What makes a great book?
What makes a good writing piece?
What makes good fiction versus good poetry?
What makes a good story?
Aug 9, 2021 · What makes a book good? Is it a great story idea? A memorable protagonist? An inimitable writing style? Great books contain all these elements and more.
- Excellent Storytelling
- Excellent Writing
- The Final Word on What Defines A Great Book
Expert storytelling transports readers to new worlds, invites them to live unfamiliar lives, and inspires them to think more deeply about their reality. This skill lies at the heart of what defines a great book. And to perfect this skill, you need to master your genre, character development, worldbuilding, and more. What follows is a checklist of a...
You know what else defines a great book? The expert execution of mad writing skills. Because what good is an incredible story if you can’t convey the full masterpiece in your mind to the reader holding your book? Here’s your checklist for leveling up your writing.
Whew. A lot of stuff. But you can handle it. Just take it bit by bit, and remember that Dabble’s here whenever you need us. Check out DabbleU for articles that will help you master the skills we just discussed. (I linked about a million of them in this article to get you started.) Download our free ebook, Let’s Write a Book, for step-by-step guidan...
- Abi Wurdeman
- LINGUISTIC POIGNANCY — THE APOGEE OF LITERARY ELEMENTS. Poets know that every single word is an opportunity to increase a poem’s vibrancy. We have much less linguistic leeway than prose writers because poems consist of so few words on each page.
- ILLUMINATING IMAGERY — THE SENSATION OF WORDS. Imagery is the foundation of imagination. Books without it or that use it sparingly are lifeless, like fluorescent light glowing on linoleum by the Sprite cooler in a gas station after midnight.
- PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY — THE DEPTH OF WORDS. Most readers can jab at a novel’s theme — usually something about life, love, and death. Most readers can also confidently point at a non-fiction book’s subject — This book’s about seeing ourselves as consumers and stuff like that, and now I really think I should clean out the garage and use those things I bought, you know?
- SONIC POWER — HOW WORDS SOUND. Sonic power deserves its own ode, though it’s technically one component of the linguistic poignancy literary element. Language is musical even when read mutely on the page, and poetic writing sings in the mind.
- Great works may present and explain something about their own times, but also observe something larger and lasting about the human condition. A great work does convey the writer’s intentions, quite clearly, contrary to what some contemporary theorists argue.
- Great literature is based on ideas that are startling, unexpected, unusual, weighty. or new. Great literature makes us see or think things we never did before.
- Great literature is fine art. As such, it is aesthetically marvelous. Either the style of a great work is incredibly interesting and beautiful, or the drama leaves us breathless, or the characters or scenes are so expertly drawn.
- Great literature is complex enough to offer us something new every time we read it, especially at different stages of our lives. Like all great art, great works are based contrast and tension—not just conflicting characters, but also conflicting ideas, images, and viewpoints, allowing room for readers to entertain all sides, not just one idea the writer may be featuring.
- Plot. Does the novel have a plot? Without a plot it is difficult to keep a reader interested. A plot involves a protagonist with a worthy story goal. [Read The Story Goal – The Key To Creating A Solid Plot Structure]
- Characters. Do I care about what happens to the protagonist and the antagonist? If a reader fails to make me care for one of these characters, I will not carry on reading the book.
- Viewpoint. Has the writer chosen a viewpoint that suits the story? Most stories are written in third person past tense. For example, ‘He cradled the baby as Freda screamed.’
- Dialogue. Is there enough dialogue in the book? I believe the book should have at least 50% of its pages filled with characters communicating. Being stuck in a character’s thought processes is agonising for long periods of time.
Dec 2, 2021 · In fiction, the story must be believable (even if it’s impossible), and in nonfiction, accurate research can make or break a writer. Thought-provoking or emotionally inspiring: Perhaps the most important quality of good writing is how the reader responds to it.
Nov 17, 2021 · Fiction stories have captured our collective imagination for centuries. Learning to write fiction can be an incredibly rewarding and exciting journey for new writers. Understanding the basic elements of fiction books and stories will go a long way in preparing you to write your own pieces. Explore.
