- Paperback: 160 pages
- Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd (25 Aug 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1861266081
- ISBN-13: 978-1861266088
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 16.6 x 0.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 931,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
"Writing a Novel" offers both a practical guide for budding writers and a source of alternative approaches for the more experienced novelist. Rosemary Aitken introduces the concept of the reader contract - what the writer must undertake to do in order to satisfy the reader. Topics covered include getting started - knowing your strengths, understanding your imaginative style and creating a setting for your novel. It covers creating believable and consistent characters, both major and minor, and how to use dialogue to give information and show personality. Creating and sustaining plots and sub-plots, planning the chapters, and controlling the style and pace of the narrative is also covered. Also included is how to deal with publishers and agents.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Writing a novel is an exciting goal! Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Writing a novel is an exciting goal! Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
having read many 'help yourself' writing books I found this one very interesting and practical - with exercises and insights which have helped me very much. I particularly like the stody boxes, which helped me see where my own strengths and weaknesses lay. Not for the casual reader but recommended to anyone seriously trying to write fiction.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am still working my way through this book, but am finding it extremely useful. Don't be put off by the rather staid and methodical layout: this is a book that has been carefully put together as a no-nonsense practical guide. Having only ever read books by writers like Julia Cameron and Natalie Goldberg, who concentrate more on 'How to free your inner writer', I wanted something that was more of a workbook and a study guide. This book delivers exactly what the title promises, and from a successful, established novelist to boot. Aitken covers all the basics - characters, plotting, themes, dialogue, tenses - using a combination of advice, technical notes, and deceptively challenging 'Try It And See' exercises. Most important of all, Aitken gives you no rules; rather, this is a solid foundation that explains exactly what a novel should do and how it gets there, brick by brick, touching on all genres and a wide variety of methods. The premise of Aitken's book is this: that once you thoroughly understand the building blocks and how to use them efficiently alongside your imagination, you will be able to give yourself the freedom to write fluently and (hopefully!) well.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was attracted by the practical term appearing in the title and the fact that it is suitably short, but I think I chose wrong on both counts.
Early on in the book much place is given to settings, paces, characters and so on,with much emphasis given to 'imagining'various things and whether they will fit. Also to devizing whether you are a visual or an audial person etc. Whilst fascinating I don't think these really help with writing your novel and you could more productively spend this time reading another book.
However she is much better with more concrete areas such as controlling pace, managing chapters and dealing with agents, manuscripts etc so it is worth reading -- it is just a pity to have to wade through the heavy stuf at the outset for the few pearls it drops to get to the helpful stuff at the end.
There is what looks like an interesting 'further reading' list at the back.
I suggest getting a cheap copy like I did off Amazon Marketplace
Early on in the book much place is given to settings, paces, characters and so on,with much emphasis given to 'imagining'various things and whether they will fit. Also to devizing whether you are a visual or an audial person etc. Whilst fascinating I don't think these really help with writing your novel and you could more productively spend this time reading another book.
However she is much better with more concrete areas such as controlling pace, managing chapters and dealing with agents, manuscripts etc so it is worth reading -- it is just a pity to have to wade through the heavy stuf at the outset for the few pearls it drops to get to the helpful stuff at the end.
There is what looks like an interesting 'further reading' list at the back.
I suggest getting a cheap copy like I did off Amazon Marketplace
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