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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I actually read "How to Write a Damn Good Novel II" (aka "How to Write Damn Good Fiction") first, and was so impressed with it that I ordered this guide as well. I was sadly disappointed, although it was interesting to see how his ideas have evolved from the first to the second book (he actually directly contradicts himself on a couple of occasions, although on at least one of those, he does indicate that he has changed his mind since he wrote the first guide).
This book may be useful for the writer who is a complete novice and lacking confidence, as it lays down some fairly direct guidelines that are likely to prevent the follower committing the worst of potential writing sins. However, it's pretty basic stuff, and the more you write, the better idea you'll get of when you can break the "rules" and still intrigue and entertain your readers. I think the most offputting thing about this guide is the number of times you catch yourself thinking of great novels that have enjoyed both critical and commercial success which appear to break the rules he has laid down. This may be why I preferred "How to Write a Damn Good Novel II", as it seems that he has recognised some of his mistakes in the second guide, and also gives illustrations as to how this or that effect was achieved in this or that well known novel.
May be worth a read for context, but I'd recommend skipping directing to his second guide.
This book may be useful for the writer who is a complete novice and lacking confidence, as it lays down some fairly direct guidelines that are likely to prevent the follower committing the worst of potential writing sins. However, it's pretty basic stuff, and the more you write, the better idea you'll get of when you can break the "rules" and still intrigue and entertain your readers. I think the most offputting thing about this guide is the number of times you catch yourself thinking of great novels that have enjoyed both critical and commercial success which appear to break the rules he has laid down. This may be why I preferred "How to Write a Damn Good Novel II", as it seems that he has recognised some of his mistakes in the second guide, and also gives illustrations as to how this or that effect was achieved in this or that well known novel.
May be worth a read for context, but I'd recommend skipping directing to his second guide.
55 of 58 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've read several books about writing. This is the most direct, the most practical, and the easiest to read. It's very hard to describe just how positive I am about this book. The strength of it isn't that it gives you secret tips known only by the elite, but that it tells you things that are so obvious that you feel you should have known them all along. Except you didn't. But now you do.
Frey covers such banal topics as premise, conflict, character and dialogue and shows you in a few brief examples that it's so very easy to go wrong on these.
Very, very, helpful.
69 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having already read John Braine's book and thoroughly enjoyed it, I thought I'd try another perspective and one whih also had good reviews. As soon as I started to read ' How to write a damn good novel' I realised I found THE book to help any aspiring author. It's extremely well written and the rules/structure of writing are very clearly described and very well illustrated by example.
I genuinely feel ready to begin writing now, but I wont be putting this book on the shelf just yet. I can't imagine any novice (novel) writer being dissatisfied with this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very useful
A short book and that is one of its virtues. A very good, and to the point guide to creative writing. Read more
Published 19 months ago by The Emperor
True to its Title!
JNF is a genius. I never read a book on writing as lucid, clear and unputdownable. In my opinion it is inspiring and makes you want to sit down and start to write now. Read more
Published 21 months ago by SuMa
Brilliantly practical!
I bought 'How to Write a Damn Good Novel 2' in a charity shop for about a pound. I was transfixed by incisive and practical insights and began to see how I could move from my... Read more
Published 23 months ago by H. Jenkins
Mr Frey! Very good Mr Frey!
I was writing for at least five or six years before I bought this book. The cheesy title put me off. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2010 by M. Jones
Good and very enjoyable introduction.
This is a very eloquently written, introductory book about creative writing. The author has a humorous and very enjoyable writing style and you will sometimes find yourself... Read more
Published on 8 April 2009 by Yannis Theocharis
A gem
The unpromising title belies a very wise book.
I get the impression that James N. Frey has put absolutely everything that is necessary to a novice author into his book and... Read more
I get the impression that James N. Frey has put absolutely everything that is necessary to a novice author into his book and... Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2008 by Red Uakari
A true work of genius on the art of writing.
This is a fantastic book - my copy has been scribbed in, underlined, circled and written all over. I find it such an invaluable tool to write. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2006 by Z. Phoenix
Perfect
This book is short, sweet and to the point. I think someone else summed it up by noting, what he tells you seems so blooming obvious but you probably never realised it until you... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2006 by Mr. C. Down
Magnificent
This book is great, it is very helpfull; full of techniques and the "do's and dont's" of 'dramatic novel writing'. Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2005
Best!!
This book is great!!! It helped me finish my novel. Very informative
Published on 9 Nov 1999
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