Are you writing a fictional novel? Really? Is there a book inside of the book that you’re writing? Confused? Yes, I think you might be.
Today’s tip goes out to all of the fiction writers out there and really anyone who enjoys a good made-up story. Here it is, nice and simple:
Never describe a book as a “fictional novel.”
Why? Because all novels are fiction. If you’re talking about a fictional novel, you’re talking about a book that was made up inside of a book. Think about it: a fictional character is a made up person in a story. A fictional book is the same thing. (See the fictional/fictitious blog for further clarification.)
Gone Girl fans might remember the fictional novel “Amazing Amy.” “The Heart is a Milkman” is a fictional novel inside of Atlas Shrugged. “The Mad Tryst” is a fictional novel inside of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher.” I’m sure J.K. Rowling probably had some good fictional novels in the Harry Potter series to complement the world of wizardry textbooks and “Beedle and the Bard” tales. Do I need to go on?
I know you want to sounds savvy, but remember, especially if you’re talking to book people—be they readers, editors, or literary agents—tell them all about your novel, not the imaginary one inside the one you’re actually writing. It’s not meta. It’s just naïve.