What should I keep in mind while writing a "situation" novel?

Question · Mar 15, 2012

I'm not sure what this kind of story is really called, so I'll just call it a "situation" novel... the type of story that follows MC who's been dropped into some kind of (often outrageous) situation.

An example: a guy fresh out of university/college starts working at some kind of run-down office. Employee 1 hates him for taking the position he wanted to be promoted to, Employee 2 happens to be a dangerous stalker, the boss is lazy and makes the guy pick up her slack, etc. The story is an account of the drama, humour and romance that happens at this office, as perceived by the MC. The events that happen aren’t episodic because every incident has a ripple-effect, but there’s no unifying goal. It's like a slice-of-life novel but with more intense conflict.
^This isn't a real story, just an example (and not a particularly outrageous one at that, haha -- the characters will naturally be more interesting).

Has anyone got any tips for writing this kind of novel without being boring? And is there a name for this, or is it still slice-of-life?

n3onkn1ght · Mar 15, 2012

That's how Stephen King writes. If you haven't already gotten fifty thousand recommendations for his memoir, On Writing, from board members yet, I recommend you pick it up. It's filled with lots of good info for someone who writes situationally.

Arch Stanton · Mar 15, 2012

I write the same way. I come up with a situation, and then let characters (I don't even know them before I start in most cases) respond organically to the "situation".

Outlining kills my creativity, although I will add notes as I go.

As far as boring, that depends on the writing. If your novel is nothing but these three characters in that room for a day, it will be exciting if the writing surprises and amuses.

I find that my characters often direct the first draft. Oh sure, I have my ideas and the emotion I want to impart, but they lead the way many times.

Start writing your novel and have the characters riff off each other. It seems to me this idea you have requires strong dialogue skills. If you have them, great. If not, stay away from using names too often, and cut, cut, cut.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 15, 2012

I tend to believe that all stories are situational. Boring just means a lack of conflict.

But there's a difference, I think, in what you;re saying, and what Stephen King does. King uses an opening situation, but doesn't make a plot of it, doesn't outline the novel itself as situational.

But you have to have story, not situation. This means a beginning, a middle, and an end. It means conflict, and it means some kind of resolution.

The lead character has a want something, or has to have some problem to solve, or has to have some question to answer. The ending must answer the beginning.

Situation isn't story, and plot isn't story. Story is situation resolved, and plot is no more than synopsis of story.

dangerousbill · Mar 15, 2012

Question said:
Has anyone got any tips for writing this kind of novel without being boring? And is there a name for this, or is it still slice-of-life?

Basically, you've described a setting only. The example you've described, for instance, could end up being a mystery, suspense, romance, erotica, humor, religious, etc. It depends where the characters take it.

If it's a series of dramatic interactions among characters, built around a thin central plot, call it 'episodic'. This is often a good structure for humor.

backslashbaby · Mar 16, 2012

It still sounds too goal-less, imho. The goal really can be thin if you are planning on emphasizing the journey, so that's my suggestion. Just think of a question/conflict, or maybe even a big event, to center the plot around.

My novel WIP is similar, except the MC has an easy thing she'd want to solve or figure out. Then she gets into all kinds of trouble in fairly random ways, emphasizing the bizarre, with dark humor

So she still wants to figure out the original question, but she also has to clean up all sorts of messes along the way. It's great fun, imho

My favorite parts are the random ones, but the reader still feels that there is a focus, if that makes sense, because of the overall goal.

You don't want readers asking what the main point is supposed to be, even if the best parts aren't very related to the main point. I agree that it works best with humor or theme-related stuff like satire, allegories, etc.

What should I keep in mind while writing a "situation" novel?

Question

Soon I will be invincible

n3onkn1ght

Arch Stanton

New kid, be gentle!

Jamesaritchie

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

backslashbaby

*

What should I keep in mind while writing a "situation" novel?

Question

Soon I will be invincible

n3onkn1ght

Arch Stanton

New kid, be gentle!

Jamesaritchie

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

backslashbaby

~~~~*~~~~

*