Can Teachers Help You Write a Better Novel? Here’s How
Writing a novel is a deeply personal journey, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one. Many aspiring authors wonder: Can teachers actually help me improve my storytelling? The answer is a resounding yes—whether you’re drafting your debut novel or polishing your tenth manuscript, educators bring unique skills and perspectives to the table. Here’s how teachers of all backgrounds can become unexpected allies in your creative process.
—
1. English Teachers: Masters of Structure and Language
Your high school English teacher might seem like an unlikely collaborator, but their expertise in grammar, pacing, and narrative structure can transform your rough draft into a polished manuscript. For example, they can:
– Spot inconsistencies in tense, point of view, or character voice.
– Flag clichés or repetitive phrasing that weaken your prose.
– Suggest edits to improve flow, like trimming redundant scenes or tightening dialogue.
Even bestselling authors rely on editors to refine their work—think of an English teacher as your first line of defense against avoidable mistakes. One writer shared how her former professor helped rework a chaotic subplot: “She asked me, ‘What’s the emotional core of this story?’ That question alone cut 50 unnecessary pages.”
—
2. Creative Writing Professors: Guides to Originality
If you’ve taken a creative writing class, you already know these instructors specialize in pushing boundaries. They excel at helping writers:
– Develop multidimensional characters by asking probing questions (“Why does your protagonist fear commitment? Dig deeper than ‘her parents divorced.’”).
– Experiment with unconventional formats, such as non-linear timelines or unreliable narrators.
– Overcome writer’s block through prompts, exercises, or even assigning “creative homework” tailored to your project.
A romance novelist once credited her college mentor with helping her break free from predictable tropes: “He challenged me to write the meet-cute scene five different ways. The fifth version became the opening chapter.”
—
3. Subject-Specific Teachers: Unlikely Worldbuilding Consultants
Is your novel set in 18th-century France? Does your protagonist solve crimes using forensic botany? Teachers in specialized fields can provide accuracy and depth:
– History teachers ensure your setting reflects the politics, slang, and daily life of the era.
– Science teachers fact-check technical details (e.g., how long it takes to analyze DNA or what a Mars colony’s infrastructure might require).
– Art or music teachers help describe creative processes authentically, whether your character is painting a mural or composing a symphony.
One fantasy author working on a magic system based on thermodynamics admitted, “My physics teacher spent an hour explaining entropy so I could make my wizard’s powers believable.”
—
4. Psychology or Sociology Teachers: Character Motivation Experts
Compelling characters feel human, and that means understanding their fears, biases, and desires. Educators in social sciences can:
– Analyze character relationships through frameworks like family systems theory or social hierarchy dynamics.
– Suggest realistic reactions to trauma, grief, or conflict based on psychological research.
– Highlight unconscious biases in your writing—for instance, why a “feisty Latina” stereotype might feel reductive.
A mystery writer revised her antagonist’s backstory after a psychology professor pointed out, “Sociopaths rarely see themselves as villains. What’s his self-justification?”
—
5. How to Approach Teachers for Help
Not sure how to ask? Here’s how to make the collaboration smooth and respectful:
– Be specific. Instead of saying, “Can you read my 80,000-word novel?” ask for feedback on a chapter, a character arc, or a technical detail.
– Respect their time. Offer to buy coffee or acknowledge their help in your book’s acknowledgments.
– Stay open to criticism. Teachers aim to challenge you, not flatter you. If they suggest killing a beloved subplot, hear them out.
Many teachers enjoy these projects—it’s a chance to see theory applied creatively. As one literature professor put it, “Helping students write fiction reminds me why I fell in love with stories in the first place.”
—
Final Thought: Writing Is a Team Sport
While novels are born from individual imagination, refining them often takes a village. Teachers, with their diverse expertise, can fill gaps in your knowledge, question assumptions you didn’t realize you’d made, and ultimately help you tell a story that resonates. So, before you dismiss your old biology teacher or creative writing tutor as irrelevant to your “serious” work, consider this: Some of the greatest novels in history were shaped by collaboration. Yours could be next.
Now, go ask for that feedback—and keep writing.
Please indicate: Thinking In Educating » Can Teachers Help You Write a Better Novel