How Do Authors Fill Out Space In A Book? - 10 Practical Ways

You just finished an excellent piece of writing and are excited to get it published… But… Shoot! You just realized you need to fill up more pages! Now your mind is blank and you are staring at your screen– unable to get how and where to add content… such that it does not ruin the quality and essence of your story! Don’t worry we have your back. In this article, we will share some useful tips and tricks that will get your creative juices flowing again.

Why is it Important to Fill Out Space in a Book?

Following discussed are some of the major reasons that explain: Why is it important to fill out space in a book?

Your Publisher Requirements: 

When you reach out to publishers to get your book published, they may have an issue with the word count. Publishers sometimes have their length requirements-- set for different genres and types of books. In situations like such, authors are required to add more content to their book, to reach the benchmark.

Story’s Pacing and Structure: 

The more organized your writing is, the more it will connect to your audience. Readers love to read books that are easy to follow. You can add descriptions and add subplots to improve the structure of your book. Because a poor story structure can be a reason for why your book isn't selling. 

Expanding on Themes: 

This means taking a central idea or message in your story and making sure it appears throughout your book in different ways.

For example: 

• Add parts in the story that revolve around the theme

• Add conversations among the characters related to the theme

• Set up places and characters to represent the theme… etc.

To Build a New World: 

When you want the readers to imagine a new world– as in fantasy and fiction, you need to be very creative. 

You should add all major and minor details in such a way that the reader begins to picture the scene. 

For example, if you are writing a book about your life, you must pin point to each detail to build a world around the story. 

Clarifying and Elaborating: 

While trying to make your book informative, keep in mind that the book should be easily understandable to your audience. You need to explain things more clearly and in greater detail, especially when dealing with complex ideas. 

How to Fill Out Space in a Book?

Now that we have discussed “why” the authors need to fill out space in their book, it is time to see “how” exactly they manage to do this. What tricks do they use to make every page worth reading? You may also consider hiring an editor to help you with this. 

Following are some common practices that help authors fill out space effectively.

Incorporate Subplots:

We all come across books that we love for their subplots. These are the extra storylines that run alongside the main plot. Authors include these subplots to boost audience engagement. For instance, in a mystery novel, a romantic subplot can make the story more interesting by adding an emotional touch to the story. 

Character Development:

Authors can add details about the characters– telling who the characters are, where they come from, and how they grow. Details regarding their backgrounds and motivations, make characters appear more realistic. Readers become more attached to their journeys and feel connected to their stories. This makes your writing more engaging and emotionally impactful.

Descriptive Writing:

Adding descriptions and details in your writing brings your story to life. By describing settings, characters, and actions, authors help readers picture the world they are creating. Good descriptive writing also sets the mood and tone of the story, making it more engaging and powerful. This is one of the most effective techniques, authors use to fill out space in their books. 

Dialogues Creation:

Dialogues are important for showing how the characters get along. They also help move the story forward. Through conversations, characters can share their thoughts and change the direction of the story. For instance, a heated argument can show hidden tensions. A casual chat might reveal key details. 

Besides, there are ghostwriters with different pricing models who are skilled in creating good dialogues. Good dialogue also makes the story feel more engaging and helps the readers connect with the characters. It also helps in increasing the word count of your book. 

Internal Monologues:

Internal monologues give a peek into a character’s thoughts and feelings. You can use this technique to fill out space in your book by adding what’s going on inside a character’s head. Consider a guy pointing a gun at an innocent girl. 

Suddenly some strange thoughts start popping in his head. Say,  he begins to think– “Should I shoot this girl? What if I let her go… How would the boss react if he got to know what I did? Or should I just do what I’m told…” By sharing these private thoughts, readers feel deeply connected to the scene. This approach builds a stronger connection between the reader and the characters.

Backstory and Flashbacks:

Backstory and flashbacks bring concreteness to the current story, while also increasing the overall length. You can use these to show how past events shape the characters and their situations. For example, a character experiencing fears, nightmares, depression, or anxiety might have experienced bad childhood traumas or abuse as a child. This technique helps readers connect with the characters on a deeper level.

World-Building:

Authors use world-building to fill out space in their books- often based on fantasy or science fiction. Adding rich details can make your story more engaging and interesting. For example, in a fantasy novel, an author might describe a unique magical system or the political structure of a kingdom. These details don’t just fill up pages— they help readers imagine the world more vividly and make the story feel more complete.  

Pacing and Structure:

Authors use pacing and structure to fill out space in a book by balancing how quickly the story moves and how it’s organized. They mix fast, action-packed scenes with slower, more reflective moments to keep readers engaged. For instance, an author might include a quieter chapter where characters process their experiences after a thrilling chase scene. 

Moreover, structuring or formatting is an essential convention in writing. This helps to fill out the book by adding depth and keeping the reader interested throughout.

Foreshadowing Method:

Foreshadowing is a way of giving hints at what will happen later in the story. This builds suspense and makes the readers curious. For example, if a character makes a spooky comment or a strange object appears early on… it might hint at important events to come. When these hints turn out to be important later, it gives readers a satisfying "aha" moment. This technique makes the story more engaging and helps tie everything together, making the plot feel more connected and exciting.

Expanded Perspectives:

Authors use expanded perspectives to fill space in a book by showing the story from different characters' points of view. For example, switching between the hero's and the villain's perspectives gives more detail about the plot and adds extra content to the book. This way, the author can show what different characters are thinking and feeling, making the story more complete. Offering multiple viewpoints makes the story more interesting and engaging for readers.

These detailed techniques help authors enhance their books by filling out space– while ensuring that the content is meaningful and contributes to the overall quality of the book. 

Struggling to fill out space in your book? Consider hiring an editor!

Even with all the tips you’ve picked up, it’s normal to hit a snag. You might consider using AI for filling the spaces. But some common AI writing mistakes can make your writing dull and boring. That’s where a professional editor can make a difference. 

The expert team at Brilliant Media is here to assist you. Share your manuscript and outline your needs– and brilliantly skilled editors will enhance your writing to meet your objectives. Brilliant Media offers affordable payment plans to suit your budget. Reach out today to have your book ready to be published!