

Even if you’re writing a futuristic sci-fi novel or a fantasy epic, use scientific and/or historical research to give your created world a realistic grounding.X Research source X Expert Source Grant Faulkner, MA In any case, do enough research to make sure that your novel feels believable, no matter the subject matter. Research for a historical fiction set during the Revolutionary War, for example, may be more copious than that for a young adult novel inspired by your own experiences. The amount of research you need to do will depend on the novel you write. 8 January 2019.ĭo research before and during your writing process. Spend time creating profiles for your characters so you can really flesh out what their personalities are like.Many novelists describe thinking of their characters as real people, asking themselves what the characters would do in a given situation and doing their best to stay "true" to the characters.Envision each character fully, even if you don’t end up utilizing them in great detail. Secondary characters may not need to be fleshed out so fully, but they still need to be humanized to some degree.If you have a primary antagonist to counter and conflict with your protagonist, they need to be three dimensional and relatable, even if they’re acting as the "bad guy" in your story.There can also be more than one protagonist. Protagonists don't necessarily have to be likable, but they are usually relatable in some way so that readers stay interested in the story. In most novels the most important character is the protagonist, so flesh them out with recognizable personality traits and thought patterns. Create memorable characters to populate your world.
