Novel Study: Decoding the Secrets and Structures of Contemporary Fiction

It’s not magic, it’s craft

Most writing advice is designed to help you get from an idea to a finished draft, focusing on general principles and conventional wisdom that can flatten out creative storytelling and unique voices. In Novel Study, Kristen Tate delves into the techniques used by today’s most successful novelists and translates them into practical tools you can use in your own work.

Through close reading and structural analysis of examples from a diverse range of contemporary novelists-including Ann Patchett, N.K. Jemisin, Tana French, Casey McQuiston, and Rebecca Roanhorse-Novel Study addresses common challenges faced by fiction writers:

How to write a captivating opening chapterHow to maximize plot suspenseHow to effectively manage multiple point-of-view charactersHow to create immersive settings and authentic dialogueHow to craft sentences that resonate

Each chapter begins with a key question and ends with concrete takeaways you can immediately apply to your writing.

Novel Study includes nine full-color charts and graphs that illustrate many of the techniques discussed. You’ll be able to see at a glance how successful novelists structure their narratives, manage chronology, and balance different elements of their storytelling.

Beyond insights and techniques, Novel Study offers tips and templates to help you build your own Novel Study files, tailored to the works and authors you admire.

There isn’t a single way to tell a successful story. There is no secret formula or magic template that will make it easy to write a novel. But the right tools can unlock your creativity and lead to a manuscript that surprises you and delights your readers.