Rhetoric in a Novel

In class, I remember a time when I talked about the difference in rhetoric in novels compared to the rhetoric used by politicians. We read an assigned reading that stated a lot of rules to use in order to be a convincing writer. The author of the reading proceeded to state how rhetoric and the art of persuasive writing is dying suggesting there must be a change. I thought about how all of his rules did not apply to novels. When I asked that question, Mr. Strickland said that there is a distinct difference between novels and informative writing. I pondered this question more, and came to the conclusion that this mindset is wrong. Isn't a novel trying to persuade you of an idea? Isn't it using the same ethos, pathos, and logos we have spent many class periods talking about? I feel that more than anything the purpose of a novel is to convince individuals. It is meant to convince people who are reading that they are taken to a different world where they are side by side the character, and living and breathing the lives of the characters.  I feel that if there are any rules that should apply to convincing writing, it should apply to novels too. That is why I feel that the author of that article was completely wrong. Those rules the author stated might sound ideal on paper, but the foundation of his article was not applicable to the true meaning of conviction of writing persuasively.