When it comes to fiction writing, simple is best.

Too often, new writers want to do something new and original to capture an agent or publisher’s attention. They create over-the-top characters, put them into unbelievable situations, and describe every encounter and setting with Victorian-era poetry. They break all the rules because they’re convinced their unique approach to novels will wow their readers.

That rarely works.

Here’s the hard truth that many new writers struggle to understand–the rules exist for a reason, and understanding (and applying) those rules will increase your chance of signing a book deal (and selling more copies of your book). By understanding and applying basic fiction-writing rules, you’ll capture your readers attention and keep it until the end.

When it comes to fiction, remember to K.I.S.S.: Keep It Simple, Stupid (or Silly, if you prefer).

At it’s heart, a great novel includes three main things:

1. Believable characters. Stereotypes won’t cut it. Neither will random characters thrown into situations they’d never find themselves in. Characters don’t need to be off the wall, they need to be multi-dimensional and believable (even if the reader can’t relate, she should at least understand the character’s motivations).

2. A structured, forward-moving plot. If your characters don’t have goals–if they aren’t actively working toward something–your readers will lose interest. But it’s not enough to have them struggling over and over and over again toward the same thing (that would move the plot backward). Give the characters something to work toward and keep adding new plot points.

3. Appropriate showing. Novelists have heard “show don’t tell,” but showing in and of itself isn’t enough. The showing needs to be appropriate to the characters and the time period. Six year-old children don’t talk in complete paragraphs with three-syllable words. Turn-of-the-century characters don’t say groovy.

Don’t worry about unique plot twists or unconventional points-of-view until after you have a few novels under your belt. Instead, master these basic fiction-writing elements and you’ll create stories people will want to read.

K.I.S.S.