Structuring Your Novel: From Basic Idea to Finished Manuscript

by Robert C. Meredith

Here's the bestselling guide that teaches aspiring novelists how to employ the 14 structural elements common to all novels.

Structuring Your Novel shows you how to employ the techniques used by professional novelists in writing a novel of your own. Fourteen elements of structure--the one found in most successful novels--are described and illustrated through excerpts from seven popular works, ranging from Henry Fielding's epic tale Tom Jones to Harper Lee's modern classic To Kill a Mockingbird. From the very first chapter, the exercises in this book get you started on your own novel and guide you in developing your theme, refining your plot, rounding out your characters, and completing you story.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1972

Reviews

[John Desaulniers, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was personal. It belonged to my dad, purchased in 1974, the year he retired from the Army. He purchased many other creative writing books, but he never wrote a novel. He died in August of 2020.

The book is a very well written one for new novelists and I would definitely recommend it. The way my edition (the 1972 version) was written, the book provides all the key points in bold type to summarize what every novelist -- new and experienced -- would want to checklist through in writing their book.

Particularly intriguing is the authors' appreciation for intangibles of the writer, particularly the subconscious and even unconscious ways àn author interacts with his story. It was refreshing to see a book that was most likely a text for a college class speak of the intuitive elements of an author the way more popular books and even memes address those facets of writing.

Occasionally, the tone of the book was slightly condescending, but for the most part the authors are very supportive of those wanting to become writers. If you're thinking about it, pick up a copy.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s strange to read old writing advice books and realize how far the industry of “teaching writing” has come in the last 50 years.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful, in some measure, but relies heavily on analysing other novels. My comment at the time I read it was that most novelists need a plan of attack, some way of getting past that point where the thing gets stuck. I think Meredith does offer this, if you're prepared to do the detailed work.

[Paul Bard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meredith and Fitzgerald in their classic book Structuring Your Novel share 14 elements of crafting novel structure from traditional novels from Tom Jones to The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Each chapter has 2 sets of exercises, 1 to write, the other to test knowledge. If you don’t read the books they use then it has many spoilers.

Chapter 1 says the way to test a novel idea is to say the idea, the intention, the attitude, and why the attitude is strong, clear and meaningful, and what your purpose is, excluding proving, pointing in the direction of the novel, and which you are qualified or willing to research.

Chapter 2 says you develop the basic conflict by selecting a title, protagonist, settings, significance of the settings, atmosphere of the settings, a chief motivating force and tangible objective, then select one of the 10 principles for placing a protagonist in conflict from the chapter. The 10 principles of conflict are:

Protagonist vs change in environment, vs strange new environment, vs conflict with other environs, vs desire to change, vs conquering environment, vs escape from environment, vs change in protagonist, vs character conflict with environment, vs unwanted in environment, vs unsuitability to environment, vs change in environment, vs environment.

Chapter 11 discusses holding the readers interest by knowing the audience, having a friend who represents that audience to read, being qualified to write for that audience, makes direct or indirect promises, has interesting ideas, is plausible and structured, has action on every page. Additionally, hold the reader’s interest via the time bomb, a complication that must be resolved in a certain amount of time, principles 5 - end on a cliffhanger - and 7 - the subject appeals to an instinctive interest of some kind.

What do they mean by craftsmanship? Chapters 12 and 13 answer that question by presenting checklists to analyze your novel to make sure it is appealing and fresh, avoiding cliche, stereotype, repetition, abrupt or long transition, and so on.

Appendix 1 lists the common elements of structure, “all traditional novels…”

Throughout the book relies on Tom Jones, Madame Bovary, The Pearl, The Spy who Came in from the Cold, From Here to Eternity, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the Grapes of Wrath.

Excellent, accessible textbook. Start anywhere or use it as a workshop. Justly one of the best books written on the topic.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for the casual student of writing. The title of this book is somewhat misleading because it's not strictly about structure. It's about how to write a completed (and completely thought-out) novel. It's dense, it's written like a textbook, and it's worth the challenge if you want to think deeply about crafting a novel.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Structuring Your Novel" was enormously helpful during my prewriting phase. The advice to choose either a character-driven novel OR a plot-driven novel, but not both for the first time out of the gate, was instrumental in getting me over my initial terror of trying to write a novel. I intend to revisit it during a later revision round.

[Jesús Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best book I've read so far about writing. It gives precise advice on how to write, how a novel is structured, what different narrators can be used, how to create conflict, etc. I am sure I will be going back to it in the future, I highly recommend it to those curious about creative writing, particularly novel writing.

[Mira Domsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't read the whole thing. A bit outdated, but with some very structured exercises. Makes everything kind of cut and dry, but it's kind of refreshing to find a book about writing that isn't going for that atrsy ethereal thing.

[Mark Cheathem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good advice.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent how-to book. Worth rereading before first revision.