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How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-By-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling
 
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How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-By-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling [Hardcover]

James N. Frey (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
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How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-By-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling + How to Write a Damn Good Novel II + The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 192 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press (Dec 1987)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0312010443
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312010447
  • Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.7 x 2.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 28,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #2 in  Books > Reference > Writing > Fiction

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James N. Frey
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-By-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling
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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews
5 star:
 (12)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow., 10 Mar 2005
By A Customer
This review is from: How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-By-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling (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.

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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but not great, 20 July 2007
This review is from: How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-By-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling (Hardcover)
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.
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69 of 75 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A 'bible' for the would-be author, 3 Feb 2004
This review is from: How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-By-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling (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

5.0 out of 5 stars 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 6 days ago by SuMa

5.0 out of 5 stars 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 1 month ago by H. Jenkins

5.0 out of 5 stars 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 5 months ago by M. Jones

4.0 out of 5 stars 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 17 months ago by Yannis Theocharis

5.0 out of 5 stars 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
Published 21 months ago by Red Uakari

5.0 out of 5 stars 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

5.0 out of 5 stars 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

5.0 out of 5 stars 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

5.0 out of 5 stars Best!!
This book is great!!! It helped me finish my novel. Very informative
Published on 9 Nov 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars THE GOD OF BOOKS ON WRITING!!!
This is the the best book anyone can ever read on writing novels! His chapters about unique characters are not up to par for today's standards, but they function well enough.
Published on 22 Mar 1999

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