How Does First Principles Of Thinking Apply To Novel Writing?

2025-06-03 07:20:30 133

3 Answers

Ulysses
Ulysses
2025-06-06 14:26:35
Applying first principles to novel writing is like being an architect who forgets all existing blueprints and reinvents the house from scratch. I focus on three atomic units: emotion, change, and stakes. Every chapter must advance one of these. For instance, in a romance subplot, I discard clichés like love triangles and ask: What fundamentally bonds these characters? Maybe it’s shared vulnerability rather than physical attraction.

I also deconstruct world-building. Instead of copying 'Lord of the Rings'-style maps, I define rules—like how magic drains life force—and let consequences unfold logically. This approach birthed 'Brandon Sanderson’s Laws of Magic', where systemic limitations create tension.

Dialogue gets the same treatment. Rather than witty banter for its own sake, I ask: What does this exchange reveal or alter? A single line might pivot a relationship. Hemingway’s 'Hills Like White Elephants' masters this—every word carries subtext.

The downside? First principles demand ruthless editing. Scenes that don’t serve core pillars get cut, even if they’re beautifully written. But the result is stories that resonate deeper because they’re built on intentional foundations, not borrowed scaffolding.
Daniel
Daniel
2025-06-07 17:52:38
First principles thinking transformed how I outline novels. I start by identifying the bare essentials: Who suffers? Why should readers care? How does the status quo shatter? For my mystery WIP, this meant jettisoning a convoluted conspiracy in favor of a primal fear—a parent searching for a missing child. The rest emerged from that emotional core.

This method also reshapes character arcs. Instead of a redemption trope, I dissected what 'redemption' truly requires: acknowledgment, sacrifice, and unpredictable consequences. 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan does this brilliantly—Briony’s guilt isn’t resolved neatly; it lingers painfully.

World-building benefits too. In sci-fi, I now ask: What physical laws would make interstellar travel plausible yet perilous? 'The Three-Body Problem' excels here by grounding aliens in astrophysics, not arbitrary tech.

First principles aren’t about originality for its own sake. They’re about authenticity. When every element exists for a reason, readers feel the difference—even if they can’t articulate why.
Riley
Riley
2025-06-09 21:26:06
First principles thinking in novel writing means breaking down storytelling to its core elements and rebuilding it from the ground up. I approach it by stripping away tropes and conventions to ask: What makes a story compelling? Character desire, conflict, and transformation. For example, instead of defaulting to a 'chosen one' plot, I might start with a raw human need—like belonging—and construct a unique narrative around it.

This method helped me realize even fantastical worlds need emotional truth. When drafting, I constantly question why a scene exists, whether dialogue serves character or plot, and if themes emerge organically. It’s labor-intensive but leads to fresher stories. 'The Martian' by Andy Weir is a great example—it reduces survival to basic problems and solutions, making sci-fi feel startlingly real.
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