- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Teach Yourself Books; 2nd Revised edition edition (1 Jan 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340867620
- ISBN-13: 978-0340867624
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 212,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Review
"[an] excellent book for beginners" -- Writing Magazine - Jun/Jul 2003 issue 20030512 "A well-structured guide...packed with valuable tips, hints and writing exercises... An excellent tutorial" -- The New Writer - May/June 2003 20030514 "a must-read" -- the good book guide 20030514 "This should be a very useful book for those aspiring writers to whom it is addressed." -- PD James 20030514 "Writing a novel is hard, but writing about how to write one is even harder. A book so full of technical advice as this one runs a risk of limiting the imagination; but Nigel Watts avoids that trap, giving the would-be novelist a licence to write with his or her own unique voice." -- DM Thomas 20030514 "There are so many aspects of the text that I applaud, that it's difficult to pick out any single passage..." -- Elizabeth North 20030514
Elizabeth North
"There are so many aspects of the text that I applaud, that it's difficult to pick out any single passage..."
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I thought that this book was a really great guide to novel-writing. I purchased it about two years ago, along with Teach yourself: Creative Writing and Teach yourself: internet for writers. I found this book to be the best of all three of them specifically for novel-writing, although Creative Writing was a good all-rounder of the writing field.
The book is fairly short, compared to some others I have read, but rich in quality and the clear skill of the author. It is written with ingenious quotes (worth remembering) and brilliant excercies to get your thirst for novel-writing into full throttle!
All-around it was a brilliant read, practical and worthy of praise, a must-have for any aspiring author.
The book is fairly short, compared to some others I have read, but rich in quality and the clear skill of the author. It is written with ingenious quotes (worth remembering) and brilliant excercies to get your thirst for novel-writing into full throttle!
All-around it was a brilliant read, practical and worthy of praise, a must-have for any aspiring author.
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are any number of books around offering help with the writing of your novel. Some are excellent, some are next to worthless. No book is going to write the novel for you - you have to do that yourself, and it will require discipline, commitment, courage, and hard work. But there are books which are useful - I've reviewed a few in my time and top of my current list are Paddy Kitchen's "The Way to Write Novels", and this book by Nigel Watts. While Kitchen will give you a big motivational boost and keep you determined, Watts offers a first class analysis of the problems and challenges you will face, offering practical, digestible advice to help you deal with these.
Watts deconstructs the novel, looking at every aspect, from plot to characterisation, from the function of storytelling to the management of conflict, from subplot and symbolism to the eight-point arc. This is a sophisticated piece of analysis, yet an analysis which is readily accessible to the reader. Kitchen's most telling points are to suggest that you should only begin writing your novel after you've lived with the idea for some time and still haven't lost interest ... and then to encourage you to give yourself permission to actually make a start. Watts' major contribution is to provide you with the tool box to start tinkering with your novel once you do start writing it. Kitchen kick starts your efforts, Watts gets you up, running, and able to fine-tune the product. Both offer practical lessons and exercises to stimulate you and get your creative gears turning.
Watts' writing is very readable. He will take you into some of the theory and psychology of the novel - remember, it really only exists once someone starts reading it - but he does not obscure his message or make it dense with academic reference. This is a book you should keep beside your notes and your work in progress, a book you can refer to stimulate your own self-criticism of your writing. Criticism and self-criticism are good if they are constructive and help you improve, but the first step is that you should enjoy the process of writing. Nigel Watts will give you the advice and the self-confidence to be self-critical. What you do after that is, of course, up to you. But if you are writing a novel, or have plans to do so, then read this book from cover to cover!
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For many years I've wanted to write a novel. I've tried a couple of times, but have ground to a halt around page Chapter 3. The last time I tried was 1996.
This publication has given me knowledge I never realised I needed, but which I know now will help me a great deal. Possibly more importantly, "Writing A Novel" has given me the motivation to finally take that blank page and make my first mark on it.
Excellent for a front-to-back read, but just as good as a reference manual.
Five golden stars - thank you Nigel Watts!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A real gem of a book.
I started writing my first book 18 months ago with absolutely no idea how to write. I lost my mum very unexpectedly and found writing out this idea that had started in a dream very... Read more
Published 3 months ago by FoxyLibrarian
Solid advice
A handy writers' guide. Not the best I've read, but up there in the top ten. Didn't enjoy the exercises so much.
Published 5 months ago by SJJones
Excellent!
This is a cleverly written book that has taken much thought. Nigel Watts writes from the heart of the matter - very hard. If you haven't got it, then buy it. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Freedom
Wonderful!
This book is full of great tips to write a novel,I would definitely buy it again!
Highly recommended to all those who would love to learn more about the craft of writing. Read more
Highly recommended to all those who would love to learn more about the craft of writing. Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2009 by Chiara Calo'
Been there. Done that.
I love it when advice backs up something I've already done or decided to do.
I've been pottering with a couple of novels for a number of years. Read more
I've been pottering with a couple of novels for a number of years. Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2009 by Ca Marsh
Whether you have writer's cramp or writer's block there is still...
Unlike a taxi driver or a neurosurgeon no lives are at risk if you lack basic skills as a novelist but your potential is. Read more
Published on 7 July 2008 by Trevor Coote
An Inspiration
This book is an inspiration, a must, for anyone who wants to write a novel. It is a guidebook that can even help published writers on their future projects. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2005 by Mr. Bahram Nassehi
For anyone with writer's block
This book is especially good for anyone who is lost for inspiration. If the Quotes and excerpts don't spark ideas for you, The ideas for building a novel and situation ideas... Read more
Published on 15 Aug 2004 by Koalabee
What you need to know is probably in here
This was my bible when everything turned to mud in the writing of my novel. Loads of technical information, inspiring quotes from other writers on the subject and plenty of... Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2003 by S E Bishop
Straightforward, easy to follow
Not the most imaginative of books on fiction writing but straightforward and easy to read. Covers agood range of topics and the exercises are quite useful.
Published on 9 Jan 2003
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