What is a novel? What is art? In this section of the site I'll provide you with my definitions, and offer you insights into my method of creative writing, using the layers of allegorical depth I built into my novel, Shantaram, as examples of the method.

Month by month, in a series of linked seminars in this section of the site, I'll put together the basic elements of my philosophy of art, with special emphasis on writing art. Some of my friends refer to the principles of this artistic philosophy as "Roberts' Rules of Writing", but the approach is, of course, more profound than a mere set of rules. What I hope to give you is a unique, profoundly personal, and coherent analysis of writing, as a creative art. What you as readers and writers do with that information is your free and individual choice. My purpose is simply to explain myself as an artist, and to invite anyone who's interested in the journey to enter my written world.

Okay, let's get started with a definition (Yes, I'm a definition guy), and let's start at the beginning, with the novel itself:

What is a novel?

What are the elements that must be found in any piece of writing for it to be considered a novel?

I think it fair to say that traditional definitions of the word “novel” work along these lines:

A novel is a fictitious prose story of book length.

In my view, a novel has six basic elements:

1) It must have a society of characters;

2) They must be undergoing transformations;

3) And those must be in the course of a sustained prose narrative;

4) The sustained prose narrative must be impelled by a plot;

5) And it must be unified by clearly discernible central themes;

6) And to the extent possible, it must be universalised by a complex architecture of allegorical and symbolical sub-strata.

If I write those six basic elements into a single definition, I come up with this:

A novel is a society of characters, undergoing transformations, in the course of a sustained prose narrative, which is impelled by a plot, unified by clearly discernible central themes, and universalised by a complex architecture of allegorical and symbolical sub-strata.

You won't find that definition in a book, or on anyone else's website (unless they took it from mine, which they're welcome to do). I developed the definition during many years of writing, reading, and the study of literature. In the practice of writing, I discovered each of the component parts of my definition; they were intrinsic to my expressions of the novelist's art. In my reading and study of what I consider to be the best and most profound novels, I discern each of the components that I've listed. Moreover, the very best of the best novels are those which manifest the set of criteria I've mentioned in the most profound ways.

I believe that if any one of these six basic elements is missing, we have a piece of writing that is something different to, and other than, a novel. If all six elements are present, we're very likely to be reading or studying a novel. The mere fact of the six elements being present doesn't necessarily mean that the book will be a good novel, of course.

In next month's seminar, I'll talk about the first elements of structure that I incorporated into the writing of Shantaram. I hope you'll find it interesting, and until then, I send my love and best wishes to you all.