OSCAR H. WHITE

What should a Novel look like?

This is a question I pondered for a long time in my early days of writing. (And I still do almost daily…) For me, the novel/novella was something that was way out of reach and way too ambitious. I had read so many books during my childhood and my undergrad that it seemed the process of long-form prose was not worth it. I remember asking myself, when is the payoff? What is the payoff? Where do I start?

I thought that I would begin a blog series that focuses on some of the techniques and strategies that I learned about writing novels and writing in general. This may not be read by anyone, and that’s okay. If anything, I hope that my ramblings and notes can serve as reminders for myself in the future that I am accomplishing something pretty spectacular… a novel. (Here future me, go ahead and pat yourself on the back… okay, now stop… and get back to work…)

I started writing when I was in High School. Mostly poetry and prose-poetry that was never seen by anyone (hopefully that remains true) When I got done with my Associate’s degree I had started dabbling in short fiction and quickly fell in love. Short stories are one of the hardest forms of writing, but very rewarding. You can finish them in a week and show your peers in class/workshop what you have accomplished. So satisfying! But, writing something that has any hint of literary value into 10-20 pages is incredibly difficult. There is so much that has to be calculated perfectly, each seasoning added sparingly; techniques such as character development, exposition, setting description, dialogue, etc. This is not easy…

The thing is… every writer has a story that they want to tell. It is up for them to decide whether or not that story is going to take the length of a novel or the length of a poem. A mentor of mine once gave me some valuable insight on determining the length of a story: A novel has question(s) that cannot be answered in 10 pages. In my authorial youth, I didn’t quite understand this. But as my writing took off, and once I started my own novel, I understood. There are some questions that a story is incapable of shrinking down… love stories that are too intricate (complicated?)… adventures that are too monumental! You get the idea.

That being said, I wanted to discuss a writing technique that will seem redundant to some but incredibly valuable to others. This technique is called Dramatic Visualization or Narrative Exposition. This can be simply defined as: necessary description of setting, objects and characters that creates a visual scene for the audience.

Now, there was a reason that I told you about my writing history being poetry and short stories… It is because the transition from short-form to long-form was not easy. I was used to poetry, where one word or one image can sum up an entire moment or an entire emotion! Here is what made it difficult… When I started my book, I made the mistake of looking up the average length of a literary fiction novel … Big Mistake… (I will not disclose this number and save you all from torture) Soon I realized that after about 45,000 words, my story was almost finished! What was missing was Dramatic Visualization.

I realized what had gone wrong: I had treated every chapter like a short story, sparse and dry. The novelist must realize that they are essentially arranging every aspect of a full length play. The dialogue, the stage direction, the character development, the props, the transitions! Everything… You now have the creative freedom and page count to create a world for your reader. This freedom is what makes writers fall in love with writing. Your novel is not an assignment! It is a carefully planned, sculpted and carved Michelangelo.

Below I will list some techniques that helped me stay grounded in dramatic visualization as well as some books that do this extremely well:

1. Do not make things mysterious when they don’t need to be. Let your reader know exactly what’s going on and where. The Mystery (for the reader) is what is coming next in the story. They shouldn’t be confused on where they are. — Imagine your character is blindfolded. When that blind is removed, what are the first things they see? Are there people in the room? If yes, then say it! If it rains, your character is wet. If it snows, they are cold. (This also helps for character development, don’t leave your characters faceless and mysterious)
2. Stay in Scene longer than you’d like to. Ask yourself, what is the next verb? Gesture? Movement? Linger in a place longer than your audience thinks you will. Think of short term goals… Is there something that needs to happen that hasn’t happened yet? Is there aspects of setting that need a sentence or two of description?
3. Play with Psychic Distance. Use your character(s). If you are writing a first person story, your narrators mind is moving with their body through space and time. Show that spatial awareness. What does my character grab next? Do they need to use the can? Are they hungry? What are their opinions? What are they thinking or feeling emotionally? The narrator’s view of the natural world/outside world may change based on their mood.
4. Transitioning from Introspection/Retrospection. These are key. Transitions from interior monologue to exposition (or dialogue to exposition) are not easy. Play with stage direction. Be explicit with setting. Give it to the reader straight, especially at the beginning scenes! Ex. It was Thursday Night Bingo at the Assisted Living Home and the cafeteria was packed… Now your reader knows where they are and you can continue.
5. Motifs and the Mundane (Imagery). Don’t be afraid to describe something mundane with worthy detail. Sometimes, while I am writing, I find myself listing images without description, one after the other. Readers need to experience the ordinary with new perspective. Make a cup of coffee something beautiful and intriguing! Make ordinary actions intimate and personal… Though, fair warning, if you flex that poetic muscle too long, the writing becomes too flowery and your readers lose interest.

These are just a few ideas that I have been working on personally… and by no means does being half way through my own first book make me an expert. There are plenty more writing techniques and structural techniques that will help you transition to long-form. But from personal experience, I understand that the novel is a daunting task and a completely different monster compared to poems or short fiction. The detail is immense, and the more you include, the more you engage your reader. During your revision process, be aware of your audience and attempt to read your book as if you are reading it off of the shelf for the first time. 

Suggestions (books I have read recently): 

• “Butcher’s Crossing” – John E. Williams
• “The Last Picture Show” – Larry McMurtry
• “Winter in the Blood” – James Welch
• Any McCarthy…