It’s important for writers to consider how much time will be covered in their novel for their characters. Why is this so? Because, novels and novellas, as is true for most movies and plays, focus on (usually) one character responding to a situation that has come to their attention near the start of the story.

This is basic, traditional, expected story structure. Of course there are going to be exceptions; any experimental structure will veer outside this “formula.” But it’s true that, for most stories, Michael Hauge’s description applies: A novel is about one character pursuing a short-term goal.

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