6 Things Every Author Should Put In Their Novel (But Probably Won’t)

1. The weather 

Wherever you are in the world, you can be sure of one thing - the weather. It could be sunny, raining, snowing, howling a gale, or all of these at once. It is one of the many constants in life. And just as it affects us, it should also impact on our stories and characters. It could be a large splash or just a wee ripple but it should be there nonetheless. Weather is a constant theme in George Martin’s, A Song of Ice and Fire - Winter is Coming anyone?  The same can be said for the Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive with a huge violent storm blowing across the planet every few days. 

2. Music

We all listen to music: rap, pop, punk, country, grunge. The list is endless. It’s part of what makes us human. Your characters should be no different. Consider getting your protagonists to have a conversation about music, or perhaps they could listen to their favorite song on the radio. In one of my recent novels the main character was into The Cure and The Smiths. In another, I had John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High drifting along the sands of Mars.

If you want to check out my novel - Jack Strong and the Red Giant - about a 12 year old boy's adventures on a spaceship check out the link below:

Jack Strong and the Red Giant

3. Food

Food, food, glorious food! We all love it. Indian food, American food, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, British (come on, fish n chips is a culinary classic!). The list only grows, especially as more countries and cultures are exposed to globalization and social media. Food is quite literally what makes the world go around. Without it we would whither away and die, not just physically but also spiritually. My books are full of food. In Jack Strong and the Red Giant the spaceship magically creates mountains of whatever food you wish for, whilst in the opening chapters of my recent novel it is the very absence of food that drives the story.

If you like what I have to say about writing, why not check out my podcast 'What! The Heys' where I take weekly deep dives in the worlds of writing and literature:

 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1021147

4. Honest Relationships 

We are all in relationships, whether we realize it or not. We are sons, daughters, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends… the list goes on. But just as no snowflake is like another, so too are the bonds that bind us. Some relationships are honest, positive, and kind, whilst others are nasty, worn-out things that sap our strength and wear us down. The great books have these in store: George and Lenny in Of Mice and Men, Harry and Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, and Gatsby and Daisy in The Great Gatsby. 

5. Trauma

Everyone is getting over something. It could be that they were bullied when they were at school, abused, or haunted by the tragic death of a parent or sibling. To accurately portray the world we are living in authors need to include such trauma in their work. In my first novel, Jack Strong and the Red Giant, the protagonist is haunted by his experiences at the hands of the school bully, whilst in Deadfall the main character is trying to drink away memories of a violent sexual assault. By the end of the story these struggles have been overcome. Why? Because we all struggle against some vast unbreaking wave - but here’s the thing - the vast majority of us quietly succeed every day and put whatever is troubling us behind us. It’s a part of what makes us human.

If you like what I have to say about writing, feel free to check out my poetry collection on life in modern China:

Made in China

6. Death 

At first, it’s a distant speck in the sky that can only be observed with a telescope. But with every passing year it gets closer and closer until it’s practically right beside us. This profoundly affects the way we think and the actions we take. It terrifies some of us into believing in God, whilst others brush it off like autumn foliage. This view of death should be reflected in your characters too. What do they think about what lies beyond? How will they respond to a sudden death of a friend or a member of their family? Does it make them fearful, brave, or perhaps even philosophical about the afterlife?