Summary of "10 Reasons Your Novel is Boring!"
Quick summary
Ellen Brock (novel editor) lists 10 common reasons novels feel boring and gives practical fixes. Core advice: make writing specific and surprising in ways that feel earned, keep readers asking questions, give dialogue and scenes multiple purposes, make stakes and motivations feel real and urgent, and don’t forget to entertain — then use editing to amplify all of the above.
Make writing specific, surprising, and earned. Keep readers curious. Give scenes and dialogue multiple purposes. Make stakes and motivations feel urgent. Use revision to amplify voice, specificity, and entertainment.
The 10 causes (with concise fixes)
1. Writing is too generic
- Problem: Overused phrasing and clichés that wash over readers.
- Fix: Use specific, sensory, viewpoint-driven language and small personal turns of phrase that reveal voice.
2. Chapter endings are too tidy
- Problem: Wrapping everything up each chapter removes the urge to turn pages.
- Fix: End chapters with a question, an emotional reaction, or a change of plan to create curiosity.
3. Big questions get answered before new ones are raised
- Problem: Resolving plotlines without leaving or creating new stakes makes the story feel “finished.”
- Fix: Overlap questions and goals so when one resolves others remain or arise (e.g., romance + money + antagonist identity).
4. Dialogue only functions on one level
- Problem: Conversations that exist only to convey information feel flat.
- Fix: Give dialogue subtext — layer different agendas (writer’s info, POV character’s goal, other character’s goal), hidden motives, and natural evasions.
5. Plot events feel random
- Problem: Surprise events or solutions with no setup make the world feel lawless or like a cheat.
- Fix: Foreshadow skills, obstacles, and outcomes; set up plausible solutions and consequences.
6. Emotions replace introspection
- Problem: Telling “he was sad” instead of showing thought makes readers passive.
- Fix: Show inner reasoning, conflicting thoughts, and implied feeling so readers actively interpret the character’s inner life.
7. Low stakes
- Problem: No compelling loss or payoff for the protagonist → reader apathy.
- Fix: Ensure stakes feel deeply important to the character and are presented as likely or firm consequences if they fail.
8. Character motivation isn’t clear
- Problem: Goals without underlying human drives feel arbitrary.
- Fix: Tie external goals to basic human motivations (security, belonging, love, freedom) so actions make emotional sense.
9. Scenes lack momentum
- Problem: Scenes that only convey info or linger without consequences stall the story.
- Fix: Make every scene move plot or character forward (or backward) and leave the character with something to react to or a new problem to solve.
10. You forgot to be entertaining
- Problem: Obsessing over rules and “perfect” structure can make writing rigid and dull.
- Fix: Prioritize reader engagement and voice; break rules when it increases entertainment; inject personality and fun.
Additional creative and process notes
- Aim for multi-layered craft: voice, subtext, pacing, stakes, and editing all work together.
- Editing is essential: first drafts will often be generic or obvious; revision is where originality, specificity, and stronger reactions emerge.
- Consider your reader: think about who they are and what they find entertaining when you make craft choices.
Creator / contributor
- Ellen Brock — novel editor (video presenter)
Category
Art and Creativity
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