: Re: How can I make the story less predictable? I'm working on my first novel. As I was going through the initial chapters, I felt that the story is quite simple and predictable (in the initial

@Hamm6328258

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You need two things:

conflict
interesting characters

There need to be conflict all the way. When you set up the characters, you need to show us what they are like by throwing them into situations that specifically force them to act in a way that reveals their character. If it feels predictable, have the most obvious solutions to their problems fail, and come up with more creative ones.
A predictable plot is no problem as long as the reader is invested in the characters. You need to understand why they do what they do, and if they are interesting to follow (or at least the characters they meet are), the reader will not be bored.
(It sounds as if you may have written too much backstory. See how many of the early chapters you can cut, without the story stop making sense. If there is information in there you need, try to weave it into the story by showing small hints.)

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