The magic formula?
Author James McCreet considers what makes a great book so readable
Not all books are equal. We all have our favourites – the ones we return to over and over again because they retain the capacity to delight and entertain even after they no longer surprise us. But what makes these books so good? It must be something more than an ineffable alchemy of talent or inspiration.
Naturally, tastes differ. Lolita is not to everybody’s liking. Nor is The Da Vinci Code. Still, I believe there are common characteristics that enhance the readability of any book. If you can take them into account when you plan and write your novel, you’ll have a better proposition to sell, and happier readers.
The idea
The most difficult element of a novel is also the most powerful. The idea is not the story (which is a longer journey) but the single proposition from which the entire novel grows. It’s the germ which, when presented to a potential reader, elicits the response, ‘Oh, I’d love to read that!’ It may be something entirely original, or it could be a variation on a theme: a classic investigation, a compelling romance or a vivid fantasy world.
Good ideas are difficult because anything new or original is difficult.
As the author, you need to explore the one source that other writers don’t have access to: your own experience, thoughts, personality and reading history. That’s where your great idea is. It’s easy enough to write a pastiche or a homage or another brick in the generic wall. Your advantage is your uniqueness.