The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
Author: James Thayer
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2016-09-17
Genre:
ISBN: 9781537361185

The New York Times Book Review said James Thayer's "writing is smooth and clear. It wastes no words, and it has a rhythm that only confident stylists achieve." The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel is a practical, step-by-step manual on how to craft your novel. The Essential Guide presents a set of tools for large issues such a story development and scene construction (Kirkus Reviews said Thayer's novels are "superbly crafted,") and it also examines techniques that will make your sentence-by-sentence writing shine "Thayer's prose is clear and clean," said the Seattle Times. How do the masters do it? The Essential Guide shows you the techniques of writers such as John Grisham, Maeve Binchy, Jeffery Deaver, and Charles Dickens. What makes their novels hard to put down? How do Mario Puzo, Sinclair Lewis, Patricia Cornwell, and Tom Wolfe make their stories so riveting and their prose so good? The Essential Guide sets out their techniques in concise detail. Just beginning your novel? Or in the middle of the novel and needing some guidance? The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel will show you the way. Among the many topics: The six traits necessary for a successful protagonist and three more traits that will make him or her stand out. Twenty-two techniques that will make your character's dialogue compelling. Creating dynamic settings that advance the story. Point of view-a critical skill--made easy. Five pace-killers and how to avoid them. Plotting the novel using the advantage shift. Constructing scenes to propel the reader to the next scene. "Thayer writes a vivid tale," the Cleveland Plain Dealer said. In The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel, he'll help you write your own vivid tale.

The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published

The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published
Author: Arielle Eckstut
Publisher: Workman Publishing
Total Pages: 544
Release: 2010-11-04
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 076116085X

Now updated for 2015! The best, most comprehensive guide for writers is now revised and updated, with new sections on ebooks, self-publishing, crowd-funding through Kickstarter, blogging, increasing visibility via online marketing, micropublishing, the power of social media and author websites, and more—making The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published more vital than ever for anyone who wants to mine that great idea and turn it into a successfully published book. Written by experts with twenty-five books between them as well as many years’ experience as a literary agent (Eckstut) and a book doctor (Sterry), this nuts-and-bolts guide demystifies every step of the publishing process: how to come up with a blockbuster title, create a selling proposal, find the right agent, understand a book contract, and develop marketing and publicity savvy. Includes interviews with hundreds of publishing insiders and authors, including Seth Godin, Neil Gaiman, Amy Bloom, Margaret Atwood, Leonard Lopate, plus agents, editors, and booksellers; sidebars featuring real-life publishing success stories; sample proposals, query letters, and an entirely updated resources and publishers directory.

The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing

The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing
Author: Thomas S. Kane
Publisher: OXFORD University Press
Total Pages: 451
Release: 2003-01-01
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 9780195167450

Whether you're composing a letter, writing a school thesis, or starting a novel, The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing offers expert advice on how to think more creatively, how to conjure up ideas from scratch, and how to express those ideas clearly and elegantly. No matter where you find yourself in the writing process - from the daunting blank page to the rough draft that needs shaping to the small but important questions of punctuation - you'll find what you need in this one handy, all-inclusive volume.

Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes

Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes
Author: Raymond Obstfeld
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2000-08-01
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 9780898799736

Writing page-turning fiction depends on your ability to create rock-solid, believable scenes. Scenes act as dynamic structures that thrust both your characters and readers forward through conflict, baiting them with goals that may–&break;In Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes, Raymond Obstfeld leads you through the creation process, examining all the elements that go into making scenes successful, cohesive and compelling. Tackling topics like finding a scene's "hot spot," identifying its dominating purpose and avoiding a cliched ending, Obstfeld provides essential reading for novice and novelist alike. Using examples from film, short stories, and best-selling fiction, he documents why and how scenes work. You'll learn: &break;&break; what is (and isn't) a scene&break; how to make scenes memorable&break; how to use point of view&break; how to focus on character, plot and theme&break; how to make scenes pay off&break; how to structure a scene&break; how to use setting&break; how to revise a scene&break; the importance of first impressions &break;&break;Every page of Novelist's Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes opens a new window of opportunity for writers by offering valuable insight, articulate advice and expert examples. It's a reference, a road map and a romp, all rolled into one. So go on–make a scene. And make it unforgettable.

Before You Write Your Novel

Before You Write Your Novel
Author: James McCreet
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 215
Release: 2016-03-17
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1317286634

Previously available as "Before You Write a Word", Before You Write Your Novel sets out the essential techniques and approaches that lay the perfect foundation for writing your first novel. This concise and readable guide addresses the major stumbling blocks of fiction writing: the importance of planning and structure. This book covers the essential components of novel writing including narrative, story, plot, pace, chronology, character arc and engagement techniques, as well as research, story building, plotting and editing. Using an open and honest approach, feeding from his own experience as a published novelist and creative writing teacher, James McCreet offers a guide to the structural mechanisms of the novel, helping you plan a first draft through to a finished novel.

Fiction Writing

Fiction Writing
Author: Richard Skinner
Publisher: Robert Hale Limited
Total Pages: 176
Release: 2009
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 9780709086468

Drawing from his own experiences as a novelist and creative writing tutor, Richard Skinner takes you through the process of writing a novel—from ways of generating ideas and beginning the actual process of writing, through to producing a final draft. The book is a both a guide and an aid to writing a novel. The first part—the guide—offers solid practical suggestions for writers who are just getting started on a long piece of fiction. The second part of the book—the aid—operates more like a troubleshooting gallery for those who are well into a long piece of fiction. Eschewing formulas and prescriptions, Skinner encourages readers to think differently about issues as they arise by means of lateral thinking, oblique strategies, aphorisms, and quotations, and offers a range of ideas about the art of writing that stretches beyond the bounds of fiction.

Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays

Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays
Author: Windy Harris
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2017-09-19
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1440350892

Write It Short, Sell It Now Short stories and personal essays have never been hotter--or more crucial for a successful writing career. Earning bylines in magazines and literary journals is a terrific way to get noticed and earn future opportunities in both short- and long-form writing. Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays capitalizes on the popularity of these genres by instructing on the two key steps to publishing short works: crafting excellent pieces and successfully submitting them. You'll learn how to: • Develop different craft elements--including point of view, character, dialogue, scene writing, and more--specifically for short stories and essays. • Recognize the qualities of excellent short works, using examples from recently published stories and essays in major journals. • Understand the business of writing short, from categorizing your work and meeting submission guidelines to networking and submitting to writing contests. • Master the five-step process for submitting and selling like a pro. Featuring advice and examples from a multitude of published authors, Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays is a must-have for any writer's bookshelf.

The Scientist’s Guide to Writing, 2nd Edition

The Scientist’s Guide to Writing, 2nd Edition
Author: Stephen B. Heard
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2022-02-08
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0691219184

"This is a new edition of The Scientists Guide to Writing, published in 2016. As a reminder the book provided practical advice on writing, covering topics including how to generate and maintain writing momentum, tips on structuring a scientific paper, revising a first draft, handling citations, responding to peer reviews, and managing coauthorships, among other topics. For the 2nd edtition, Heard has made several changes, specifically: - expanding the chapter on writing in English for non-native speakers - adding two chapters: one on efficient and effective reading and one on selecting the right journal and how to use preprint sites. - doubled the number of exercises - various other add-ons to existing chapters, including information on reporting statistical results, handling disagreement among peer reviewers, and managing co-authorships"--

Writing Irresistible Kidlit

Writing Irresistible Kidlit
Author: Mary Kole
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2012-12-04
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1599635763

Captivate the hearts and minds of young adult readers! Writing for young adult (YA) and middle grade (MG) audiences isn't just "kid's stuff" anymore--it's kidlit! The YA and MG book markets are healthier and more robust than ever, and that means the competition is fiercer, too. In Writing Irresistible Kidlit, literary agent Mary Kole shares her expertise on writing novels for young adult and middle grade readers and teaches you how to: • Recognize the differences between middle grade and young adult audiences and how it impacts your writing. • Tailor your manuscript's tone, length, and content to your readership. • Avoid common mistakes and cliches that are prevalent in YA and MG fiction, in respect to characters, story ideas, plot structure and more. • Develop themes and ideas in your novel that will strike emotional chords. Mary Kole's candid commentary and insightful observations, as well as a collection of book excerpts and personal insights from bestselling authors and editors who specialize in the children's book market, are invaluable tools for your kidlit career. If you want the skills, techniques, and know-how you need to craft memorable stories for teens and tweens, Writing Irresistible Kidlit can give them to you.

This Year You Write Your Novel

This Year You Write Your Novel
Author: Walter Mosley
Publisher: Little, Brown
Total Pages: 67
Release: 2009-01-08
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0316040436

"A straightforward, friendly guide for aspiring writers" (Los Angeles Times): No more excuses. With award-winning author Walter Mosley as your guide, you can write a novel now. "Let the lawn get shaggy and the paint peel from the walls," bestselling novelist Walter Mosley advises. In this invaluable book of tips, practical advice, and wisdom, Mosley promises that the writer-in-waiting can finish their novel in one year. Intended as both inspiration and instruction, this book provides the tools to turn out a first draft painlessly and then revise it into something finer. Mosley teaches you how to: Create a daily writing regimen to fit any writer's needs -- and how to stick to it. Determine the narrative voice that's right for every writer's style. Hook readers with dynamic characters. Get past those first challenging sentences and into the heart of a story. And much more. "No-nonsense advice that is sure to set beginning writers along the righteous path to real authorhood." --Seattle Post-Intelligencer