How to Write Great Fiction by Anticipating Reader Wants

How to Write Great Fiction: Figure Out What’s Important

Suppose you are writing middle grade literature about some local children who need to prove that the old, cantankerous woman in the dilapidated mansion at the end of their neighborhood is a witch. It is a familiar tale, yet you can still mess it up if you don’t consider how to write great fiction. Don't spend half your manuscript showing the kids doing things that are only indirectly connected to your plot development, such as taking midnight strolls around her house, reading up on legends at the local library, having a seance to ask the local ghosts about the woman, asking her neighbors questions, and having fundraising bake sales to afford flashlights that the characters will use to creep into her home.

What's missing here, though? THE OLD WOMAN. In constructing all of these plot points, the writer has neglected to put the character at the center of the action on the page.

How to Write Great Fiction: Show Important Story Elements Sooner

Readers will not be interested in this story until they get to see this old crone for themselves, and learn about her that way. Readers will want to observe her interactions with the kids and work out what is so strange about her for themselves. (Letting readers participate is a cornerstone of how to write great fiction.)

Allow your audience to figure it out for themselves. This is a great example of showing over telling. Since this woman is such a crucial element of the story, the longer we wait to meet her, the less successful your book will be. The same applies to any big story element when considering how to write great fiction. 

If all your character does is talk about their misery at school, you can make the point much more quickly and elegantly by showing us a classroom scene instead of doing a lot of navel-gazing. If a girl keeps talking about her crush, introduce him on stage quickly. 

I'm fond of saying that the more a certain element is mentioned or featured in a story, the more significant it becomes. As a writer, you are always drawing reader attention through descriptive prose to those elements of your story that are most important. There are limits to this, though. If you keep referencing something but don't bring it into the story, your readers won't be satisfied. (Unless you’re writing a character like Oz, the Great and Powerful—in that case, teasing and exaggerating his reputation can lead to a shocking reveal!)

How to Write Great Fiction? Don't Leave Your Reader Wanting

Still not sure about how to write great fiction? If a reader of your fantasy novel is left wondering details about the world you've created, it not only interrupts their immersion but also means you have wasted an opportunity for your story to engage your audience. 

When writing your story—especially in the beginning—identify the key characters, locations, plot events, and other elements. Then decide if you’ve left your reader in the dark with any of them. A bit of teasing can add story tension, but too much will make them give up on their curiosity about your tale. 

Is there anything that leaves them feeling antsy and wanting to know more in an antsy, discombobulated way? If you want your reader to be fully immersed in your story, you need to treat them like guests in a luxurious hotel that anticipate all their needs—from exactly how many towels they want in the bathroom to having their favorite newspaper outside their door each morning. This should create an atmosphere where they can relax and take in the experience. 

After all, if you’re wondering how to write great fiction, you have to remember that you are providing entertainment and enchantment for a person you’re inviting into your fictional world.