Taylor Bennett is a dandelion-wishing, world-traveling lover of books, words, and stories. Based in the PNW, she dreams of seeing the world and writing stories set in unique locations.
Although she dreams of traveling to many different places, her favorite destination thus far (aside from her charming hometown in Oregon) is Lahaina, Hawaii. Her love for this tropical hamlet led her to write about it, hence her debut YA novel, Porch Swing Girl, the first in a series of books set in Hawaii.
Do you have a treasured childhood book—one that you’ve reread half a dozen times, even though you’re far outside the target age range? Or maybe one of your latest reads touched your heart in ways you never knew a book was capable of…even though the story was first published generations ago. But why? How?
How do a select few authors manage to create books that continue to impact the lives of others hundreds of years after their publication date? How can some writers publish a children’s book that ends up touching the lives of millions of adults?
Did these authors simply fall into fame, their books magically becoming so popular that they became instant classics? No! The authors of these books worked long and hard at their craft until they learned how to write stories that transcend the ages and touch the hearts of people around the globe.
And we can learn to do that too.
If you’ve ever dreamt of becoming a modern-day C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, or L.M. Montgomery, you, too, must learn how to write timeless fiction. (You also might want to consider using only your first and middle initials when you publish…) But what is timeless fiction, and how can we learn to write it well?
Here are the two main components of timeless fiction:
Timeless Fiction Makes Us Feel
Chances are, whether your go-to classic is Little Women, The Hobbit, or something else entirely, you’d have little trouble explaining why everyone in the world should read that book. Whether you love a certain book because of its endearing characters, sidesplittingly funny scenes, a pulse-pounding plot, or breathtakingly beautiful prose, you probably picked it based on one particular criterion: What does this book make me feel?
Whether the book in question lifts your spirits, quiets your fears, or simply reminds you that there is always light to be found amid darkness, chances are you love it for that very reason. Timeless fiction evokes universal emotions in those who read it; books that stand the test of time do so because the thoughts and feelings expressed by their characters aren’t much different than our own. Therefore, as authors, we must look beyond our character’s tangible objectives and discover the heart behind why they want what they want. Think about these beloved literary heroes and heroines:
Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables) wants to be loved and accepted
Jo March (Little Women) dreams of making her mark on the world and doing great things
Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit) wants to have an adventure . . . but he also really wants to be comfortable at home
We’ve probably all wanted each of these three things at some point in our lives. Consequently, we can relate with these characters on a deeply personal level. That, in itself, is the making of a truly timeless tale.
Timeless Fiction Helps Us Grow
There’s another important aspect involved in writing a novel that will stand the test of time. If we want out books to impact readers not just while they’re reading but for years to come, we must show our readers that change is possible—that we have the power to overcome our circumstances and live the amazing, unafraid lives that we’re capable of living.
As authors, we should strive to include messages in our stories that blur the lines between fiction and reality. Even fantasy stories should include real-life lessons that help us grow.
Of course, writing timeless fiction isn’t as simple as slapping a moral at the end of your story to tie everything together with a nice, neat bow (pro tip: DON’T DO THAT) because one of the key aspects of timeless fiction is its subtlety. You might not realize why you fall in love with a certain book until the second, third, or even tenth time you’ve read it. If you read Winnie-the-Pooh as a child, you might not have picked up on the important messages A.A. Milne wove into his delightful stories about the gang in the Hundred Acre Wood. But those who read the series as adults are quick to recognize messages of friendship, love, and bravery, to name only a few. Powerful books contain powerful words—and the most powerful words of all are those that teach us something new, whether it’s about ourselves or the world around us.
Get Ready to Write
So, as we set off on a quest to create stories that will be read and loved by people around the globe and for years to come, we must ask ourselves a series of questions:
What is important to me? (Freedom, hope, love, etc.)
How can I share the importance of that subject with others through my writing?
What does my ideal reader want or need to feel? How can I create characters that have those same wants and needs?
How can my story help my ideal reader grow?
What novel feels “timeless” to you?
PS—if thinking about an “ideal” reader is something new to you, check out Shan’s great article on it here: https://goteenwriters.com/2015/06/05/the-audience-within-the-audience/
Hi Taylor! I think the Chronicles of Narnia will forever be at the top of my classic favorites. C.S. Lewis did such a good job making me feel and showing character growth.
I will diffidently keep these questions in mind as I brainstorm, thanks!
You are so welcome!! Thank YOU, Alana ?
Hi, Taylor! I love your books! Some timeless books I love are The Green Ember series and Harry Potter. And maybe even yours! I could read all of those over and over.
Oh my goodness that is one of the kindest things anyone could ever say to me. THANK YOU so much!!
The Harry Potter series is definitely on that “timeless” list for me. As are Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Also, The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey. I’ll be re-reading those for years, I think!
Ooh I’ve never heard of The Expanse series…I’ll have to look that up. Thanks for having me on, Steph! ?
There’s lots of language, so might not be the best fit for you!
I love Anne of Green Gables so much! I don’t reread many books, but I have reread the Anne Series many times. I am actually very identical to Anne in multiple aspects (not just appearance-wise) and my best friend and I often play Anne and Diana, as she bears qualities of Anne’s bosom friend. I also think Harry Potter, Keeper of the Lost Cities, and all of Gail Carson Levine’s amazing books are great at developing characters and making you feel what they feel and want what they want. Not to mention all the tragedy that you feel when it occurs to the characters. Thank you for the great post! I can’t wait to weave these concepts into my own stories!
Thank YOU!! Also, I agree about Anne…she’s just one of those characters that one can’t but fall in love with.
You and your friend playing Anne and Diana is so cute!
I agree, Gail Carson Levine’s books are amazing! When I read Ella Enchanted I remember l getting mad and wanting to punch Hattie a lot. I also would squeak with excitement at certain points, but I do that with a lot of books. 😉
I reread Ella Enchanted a few times…and I don’t even know how many times I’ve reread my favorite, sweet, romantic chapters. (Chapter 20-21…I believe)
P.S.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who squeaks at awesome parts in books ☺
A few of my timeless books are Anne of Green Gables and L.M. Montgomery’s other series, Emily of New Moon. I also love The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente (I’ve read it at least eight times). And the Chronicles of Narnia, of course 😉
Ooh yes!! I haven’t read the Emily series yet, but it’s definitely on my TBR.
Hi Taylor! Thank you for this lovely and insightful post! Some of my go-to timeless tales include Narnia, All-of-a-Kind Family, Jane Austen’s novels, and The Wingfeather Saga. Yet there are quite a few more! It’s really interesting to think about WHAT makes the stories timeless… Thank you for awakening this new field of thought!
You are so welcome!! Thank you for reading ?
I’ve always loved Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones series, even though I’m kind of a little too old for the age level, ?. I also love The Hobbit, and the Lord of The Rings (I just got those for my birthday in May, I’m 3 or 4 chapters into the Return of the King!) and The Chronicles of Narnia is on my To-Be-Read list! ? I also like The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which I’ve read at least three times.
I have about 20 books on my shelf that still need read, yet I still want to buy more books, lol!
Thank you, Taylor! Any Jane Austen novel feels timeless to me-I love her work. What feels timeless to you?
I think some of my timeless books are Ella Enchanted, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Blood of Kings Trilogy, The Mapmaker Chronicles, and The Four Kingdoms and Beyond.
I am a book lover 🙂
The Mapmaker Chronicles are by A.L.Tait.
The Four Kingdoms and Beyond are by Melanie Cellier. 😉