3 How should we write about self-fulfillment to interest our readers when writing novels?

by : 314 (Yang Chen)

Authors know that they need to write self-fulfillment factors when writing their novels in order to interest their readers. But for some authors, they don't know what to write about apart from making the main character stronger and stronger, and defeating a constant onslaught of enemies.

Actually, finding self-fulfillment factors to write about is quite easy. To summarize it in one sentence, "Write about what people lack."

As for what's lacking, this means what the readers lack. Of course, the author can also view him or herself as a reader as well. Take a look at what you yourself lack, what you want to get better at, and how you want to improve yourself.

Without a doubt, becoming stronger, improving combat strength, obtaining more power, and becoming stronger through fights are things that most male readers enjoy reading. Most authors can figure this part out on their own as well.

Apart from the above, most readers also want to become richer. As for why it's most and not all readers, that's because there's some avid readers like Bill Gates who probably won't care too much about obtaining money being an interesting factor in a story.

The third self-fulfillment factor that's easy for authors to think about is to find love with a man or woman of your dreams. You want to obtain such a lover all the more so because you don't have the ability to do so in real life. This is also why novels with handsome or beautiful characters are so popular and common.

The three factors listed above could be said to be the most basic desires of all. But actually, apart from these, what we want, or perhaps I should say what we regret not having, there's actually so many examples out there. Allow me to give a few examples.

To be respected and understood by others. This is a rather subconscious desire, but it's actually a very basic desire as well.

Immortality, to never die or get ill. Humans have been dreaming about this for the past thousands of years.

Being able to fly or possess all sorts of wondrous abilities. Almost all of us have secretly dreamed about such things since childhood.

Obtaining some sort of miracle. Receiving something wonderful without having to work hard. While this may be slightly negative and overused, the average reader is accepting of this cliché.

Having one's country or people become stronger. Perhaps many people will think that this dream is rather foolish or naïve, and feel that it's fine as long as they're living a good life, but actually, who would dislike seeing their country become stronger in fiction?

These feelings of lacking something in real life cause readers to strongly desire to read fiction. This also helped to create all sorts of classical clichés and genres. Novels about constant fighting, history, the mystical, or modern life… Aren't all these genres born of our own desires?

So, if you don't know what interesting self-fulfillment factors to write about, why not stop and think for a little while? Ever since you were young, what regrets have you had in your life, and what do you feel like you're lacking?