What is it that makes a book good even while the main character is going through their training?

Question

I'm having problems with my own book. I think it starts out with a kick, but then get dull as he goes through his training. Can someone help me?

Answer 1

The answer is simple - you have no subplots or back stories. You get those by having characters in a book whose lives rub up against your main character's at times and go their own way at other times. Nobody has just one thing going in their life. Everybody's life touches other lives - family, friends etc. Not everybody is going to like your protagonist and some characters are going to provide the conflict in your story as well others who will provide the resolution.

It sounds to me like you started writing without doing good character studies. Stop writing for a while and start working on your character studies. Use file cards to gather as much info on each character as you can. The more you know about their lives, the more backstories will pop into your head.

Then I recommend an outline. Use one color for your main plot and one color for each backstory or subplot you pop in. With different colors for each character's story, it's easy to keep track of them and move things around so that they revolve off the main plot like spokes the hub of a wheel. Your main plot is the hub - your subplots are the spokes.

That should help you over the dull parts. As any author will tell you, it's all in the way you "craft" your story. Pax - C

Answer 2

You haven't thought your book through long enough to establish key plot points, backstory, or any other writing devices which will help carry you through the book.

The other factor is enthusiasm and passion for your work. If you don't have it, how can you possibly finish your book?

Most writers who are absolutely 100% COMMITTED to their books understand the highs and lows of writing a novel. But they also understand that writing doesn't come easy, nor does it come quick.

It takes time and patience to be a real good writer. Most people don't have that. They can't understand why some people would spend their life writing a novel.

And those who want to be writers, don't always get there. They start out good, but sometimes--in the middle--they fade away.

I have many such novels where things have gotten good, but sometimes, I get bitten by the lazy bug and just want to skip over one particular section (or 200 pages) and just get to the heart of the story.

But it doesn't take long for me to realize what I've done, and so I have to go back and fix it. And that usually requires several months of rewriting and restructuring that part of the novel.

But I am a dedicated author because I *know* that writing such books will take a long time. Coincidentally, I started one such book in 2004. It's been 3 years now and I'm still at it. I suspect it will take me 2-3 more years to finish--in 6-week intervals.

Am I procrastinating? 1,409 pages so far, is hardly that. This book's storyline is taking longer than I thought. But once I'm finished, it'll be one of the *largest* novels ever done in modern memory.

And mine.

It's not bragging rights. It's simply because I am a good writer, a good plotman, and I know what is needed for this book.

And so will you--once you get past the bumps in the road.

Answer 3

Hmm, I'm interested as long as you have plenty of kick-butt things to say. This could be a point in your story that you explain more of your character's background if you already haven't done so. You may want to add a side story that sparks people's interests.
And I know that you have thought your story through, just keep in mind that you can always go back over it.
Hope that helped! =]

Answer 4

A great antihero like Snape everyone wonders about him and can debate weather or not he is good. I love Snape.