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"Frey expands on his earlier take on the art of novel writing. His focus here is on dramatic fiction. Using examples from a broad range of fiction, he shows what these works have in common and how writers can learn from the authors to improve their own writing. Some of the areas discussed are developing characters, creating suspense, using a strong narrative voice, and understanding the author/reader contract . . . A good choice for the writing shelf. It is a clear-headed study, with a bit of humor and solid advice. Anyone who owns the first book should have this one, but it can also stand on its own."--"Library Journal"
Product Description
"Damn good" fiction is dramatic fiction, whether by Hemingway or Grisham, Le Carre or Ludlum, Austen or Dickens. Despite their differences, these authors' works share common elements: strong narrative lines, fascinating characters, steadily building conflicts, and satisfying conclusions. James N. Frey's How to Write a Damn Good Novel is one of the most widely used guides ever published for aspiring authors who wish to write dramatic fiction. Now, in How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II, Frey offers powerful advanced techniques to build suspense, create fresher, more interesting characters, and achieve greater reader sympathy, empathy, and identification. Frey also warns against the pseudo-rules often inflicted upon writers, rules such as "The author must always be invisible" and "You must stick to a single viewpoint in a scene, " which cramp the imagination and deaden the narrative. He focuses instead on promises that the author makes to the reader - promises about character, narrative voice, story type, and so on, which must be kept if the reader is to be satisfied. Honest, and often painfully funny about the way writers sometimes fail their readers and themselves, How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II should be on every fiction writer's shelf.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a literary agent I have given copies of the first edition to many of my clients: it has helped them all. I wish this second edition was available from a British publisher. It's practical and down-to-earth, concise, and always keeps one aim in mind: to help you write a novel that will be a) saleable and b)readable. You need the two to come together to achieve real success in the marketplace. There are very many books about how to write, but I think this is one of the best in that all the advice is easily applied...
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a great little gem of a book, but fans of Mr Frey watch out: This is republished as "How to write a damn good fiction", so don't buy it if you've already got that one - the text is identical and you only end up having to return one...
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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Accomplished writer and lecturer James N Frey returns to his successful 'How to Write' with this succinct guide. While the book only contains about 150 pages it includes very useful anecdotes and advice, references and examples all with Freys light splash of humour throughout.
Accomplished writer and lecturer James N Frey returns to his successful 'How to Write' with this succinct guide. While the book only contains about 150 pages it includes very useful anecdotes and advice, references and examples all with Freys light splash of humour throughout.
Although published in 1994 in America it has now been published in the UK by Macmillan in 2002 under the same title with a grey keyboard on a blue background as the more 'professional' looking cover.
Written more for people who feel they have a grasp of the basics of writing creativity, structure, language, dialogue etc. and want know more, this book delivers very well. Dispensing with what Frey describes as the 'pseudo-rules' of a lot of other writing guide books he encourages and guides instead of trying to inhibit your creativity. All round an excellent book from a very good teacher.
The one thing none of these books can do of course is criticise any work you have produced and although they help you do this for yourself with a new perspective, better armed with a mind more aware of the common mistakes, try to get a few people from differing backgrounds to read your work if possible and listen to what they have to say about it. Nothing beats a second pair of eyes picking up the things you hadn't noticed before.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A book that works
Nice written, easy to follow and fun to read. Makes writing joyful. Have a lot of good advices and a structure You can apply on Your own idea.
Published 22 days ago by JHB
A must have book for fiction writers
A damn good book. I recommend it 100%. It is essential reading for writers and was recommended to me by published novelists.
BUT BEWARE. Read more
BUT BEWARE. Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2008 by DIB
Practical and easy to read
This is a gem.
The design and chapter layout is good and follows a logical progression. This helps the reader to build an excellent mind map of his advice. Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2005 by Agarack
Advanced Advice
You know the basics, you have the grammar down, the characterization, the plot, the lot - then this is what you want! Read more
Published on 1 July 2003 by AKB
Perfect for more advanced writers
Hard-hitting, no-nonsense advice that does the job. This gives excellent guidelines for writers who find writers' guides sometimes a little basic. Read more
Published on 9 April 2003 by Mr. Paul J. Bradshaw
Damn good book on writing.
I read this book first, then book I. Both are equally good. This book, Al Zuckerman's How to Write a Blockbuster, Dwight Swain's Techniques of the Sellling Writer, and Chris... Read more
Published on 8 Jun 1999
Some excellent innsight as to the truth of novel writing
The only thing wrong with this book is its emphasis on premise. I dont think anyone needs to focus on premise as heavily as he does--a good novel will develope its own premise... Read more
Published on 22 Mar 1999
A must-have for serious writers!
A practical yet far from basic how-to guide, this book concentrates on advanced techniques for fiction writers. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 1998
Better and better!
Who says sequels are necessarily inferior? James Frey
shows even more straightforward, hard-hitting techniques
that will leave even the experienced writer looking... Read more
shows even more straightforward, hard-hitting techniques
that will leave even the experienced writer looking... Read more
Published on 3 Dec 1995
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