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Product Description
A collection of articles from Writer's Digest and the Market books. The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing covers the basics of a best-selling topic: novel writing. From crafting a story and using descriptive language to breaking through writer's block, mastering genres and getting an agent, this book addresses the spectrum of issues pertinent to fiction writers. Readers will find a number of pieces by best-selling authors, including Janet Fitch, Terry Brooks, Sue Grafton, John Updike, Richard Russon, Evan Hunter, and J. A. Jance, and interviews with others, including Kurt Vonnegut and Margaret Atwood. Both novice and experienced writers will find advice in this book that speaks to their dreams of getting their novels published.
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First Sentence
Fiction writers come up with some interesting metaphors when speaking of plot. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Fiction writers come up with some interesting metaphors when speaking of plot. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book tackles novel writing in a helpful, positive way. Each chapter addresses one element, eg how to create characters. It sets out the issues the writer should be thinking of, points out the errors the novice novel writer typically makes, and explors how to avoid such pitfalls. Examples are given to illustrate the point. It is a very readable book and flows well despite the large number of different authors who contributed to its writing.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is made up of short articles covering all aspects of writing and publishing. This layout is good as it allows you to choose how you read it, i.e. dip in wherever the mood takes you or just read from front to back. I dipped in as i have kids and so don't really have long free periods.
I really liked the different styles of different authors and found most of the info to be either usefull or at least not condescending or too obvious. All the authors are listed in the index so you can skip straight to your favourite ones to see what they have to say on thier given subject.
I bought a couple of similar type books and this was the one that i kept.
Well worth a look if you want insight into novel writing etc and full of little tips that can help get the fingers going again. I really liked it.
I really liked the different styles of different authors and found most of the info to be either usefull or at least not condescending or too obvious. All the authors are listed in the index so you can skip straight to your favourite ones to see what they have to say on thier given subject.
I bought a couple of similar type books and this was the one that i kept.
Well worth a look if you want insight into novel writing etc and full of little tips that can help get the fingers going again. I really liked it.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the best book on creative writing I have ever read and I doubt a better one has been published. A bold claim perhaps, but it offers such a wealth of information in an innovative way, it would be hard to find an aspect of novel writing which is not covered.
Many writing guidebooks offer the same old, rehashed advice which anyone with half a brain would figure out - write every day, know your characters, address theme, bla blah. Anyone with enough interest to pick up such a book knows this already. This book is different; it goes much further. I could be here forever listing the many topics it covers but just a few are: how to structure the novel so that big scenes are evenly spaced, foreshadowed and with a contrasting scene on either side; writing humour; how to write novels as if they were for the screen; writing in different genres; finding an agent/publisher; and so much more. There are also some fascinating interviews with published authors.
The book's main strength is that it is written by many, many successful authors, so we are given a variety of different perspectives on the writing process. The subjective nature of novel-writing means that no one method is 'correct'; however, the authors of many handbooks seems to think their way is the only way of doing things (Stephen King in 'On Writing' springs to mind). This book offers such a wealth of information that we can use the bits that are relevant to us, and discard the bits that, to us, are total rubbish. Another strength is that the articles are written by genuinely successful authors. Many writing guidebooks are written by people who need to write such books because they haven't truly made it as a novelist, which leads one to wonder how much of an authority they are.
In summary: a truly informative, useful handbook, which can be read in snippets as each short chapter covers a different topic. Loaded with practical information and inspiration. Highly recommended.
Many writing guidebooks offer the same old, rehashed advice which anyone with half a brain would figure out - write every day, know your characters, address theme, bla blah. Anyone with enough interest to pick up such a book knows this already. This book is different; it goes much further. I could be here forever listing the many topics it covers but just a few are: how to structure the novel so that big scenes are evenly spaced, foreshadowed and with a contrasting scene on either side; writing humour; how to write novels as if they were for the screen; writing in different genres; finding an agent/publisher; and so much more. There are also some fascinating interviews with published authors.
The book's main strength is that it is written by many, many successful authors, so we are given a variety of different perspectives on the writing process. The subjective nature of novel-writing means that no one method is 'correct'; however, the authors of many handbooks seems to think their way is the only way of doing things (Stephen King in 'On Writing' springs to mind). This book offers such a wealth of information that we can use the bits that are relevant to us, and discard the bits that, to us, are total rubbish. Another strength is that the articles are written by genuinely successful authors. Many writing guidebooks are written by people who need to write such books because they haven't truly made it as a novelist, which leads one to wonder how much of an authority they are.
In summary: a truly informative, useful handbook, which can be read in snippets as each short chapter covers a different topic. Loaded with practical information and inspiration. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not really complete, and not really a handbook, but still useful
The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing is a number of chapters either written specially for this book or taken from other books by lesser known fiction authors who write about or... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Martin Turner
Interesting and useful
Having decided to embark upon writing my first novel, and having never attended any creative writing groups or courses, I found a lot of the tips and suggestions in this book very... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Val
Excellent book on writing
This is a really good book. It deals with the art, craft and business aspects of writing, each chapter being an article by a different writer, each writer being successful and... Read more
Published on 21 April 2009 by John Williams
Novel Writing
This book is just what I amlookimg for. Perfect condition and arrived in time stated
Published on 16 April 2009 by M. N. Bell
Excellent tips and packed with information
This Handbook consists of 55 distinct topics and contains a wealth of tips from experienced and successful writers. Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2008 by LXIX
the best book on writing ever published
the complete handbook of novel writing is a fantastic, incredibly useful, inspirational, hands-on advice book. The book spans indeed virtually all aspects of novel writing. Read more
Published on 15 May 2003
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