The Writer's Digest Handbook of Novel Writing

by Writer's Digest Books and Meg Leder

Book Overview

Get advice from the best in the business on every part of the novel writing and publishing process In "The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, 2nd Edition," you'll learn from the invaluable advice of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898795079
• ISBN13: 9780898795073
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

WHOA- A whealth of info!

I'm not sure where to start when describing this book. This book is awesome- I think that I'll be a Pulitzer prize winner before I know it. (A man can dream........) This book offers everything from the idea of writing to the publication of what you write. I'll have it faithfully beside me during every step of my writing process; all the way to that Pulitzer. Unbelievable buy-

Inspiration For Would Be Writers

Since I have yet to write "the great American novel," I probably cannot critique a book such as THE COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF NOVEL WRITING, since I have yet to have a book published. I do want to write a novel one day, and I have been doing quite a bit of writing and rewriting. I have also been doing quite a bit of reading of novels and books on writing theory and have taken part in writing workshops. All of these things have been helpful, particularly the writing workshops. Yet as I write, I do have questions about what I am doing, and like to read practical advice from writers who have been published. THE COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF NOVEL WRITING is such a resource. It contains articles about writing theory and craft, information about genres, and the various markets. The articles have been published in WRITER'S DIGEST magazine and most are penned by well known writers. I am finding the book to be a great reference tool. I have found the book particularly helpful when I have a question about some aspect of writing or need advice and inspiration to keep writing. In the past year I have found that nothing is as helpful as being in a workshop atmosphere, but at those times when I need the advice of an expert, quite often the answer is at my fingertips in this book.

Diverse Goldmine

Any aspiring writer should be grateful for this anthology to study. Although the considerable diversity here does not a completely unified voice make, each article (previously published in Writer's Digest) has tips and inspirations for the aspiring novelist. From Richard Russo's exploration of place and character to mystery novelist Sue Grafton's use of a journal to get her right brain going-from Jeanne Cavelos's observation that horror is a genre uniquely dependent upon emotion-and what scares you is the secret source of fear-this book is a diverse gold mine of writing technique nuggets. Here you will find James Patrick Kelly talking about the need to "murder your darlings"-the phrase that Stephen King borrows in his On Writing book. Helpful boxes of related books, how to write proposals and Evan Marshall's chapter on novel synopses (which I didn't even know existed!) for agents; personal anecdotes and articulate easy-to-read tips from authors either great or best-selling or both make this a useful, inspiring, and exciting book-perhaps the best overall I have read on the craft of fiction. How does screenwriting relate to novel writing? How do you create a believable character? How do you integrate exposition? How do you create suspense? How do you revise or deal with criticism? What means emotion and motivation? These are the kinds of core questions addressed in this fun technique book.

You?ll write better after reading this

Complete Handbook of Novel Writing is a collection of articles and interviews with successful novelists. Notable authors include Octavia Butler, Margaret Atwood, John Updike, and James Patterson. The individual chapters are pithy yet comprehensive. I particularly liked the chapters on using specific details and what makes them work, point of view, editing tips, and helpful hints on specific genres: fantasy, mystery, horror, suspense, romance, and Christian fiction. Much valuable information here that writers can return to for reminders as their writing skills mature.This book will get you writing and keep your writing at a higher level.~review by Joan Mazza, author of six books, including Dreaming Your Real Self and Exploring Your Sexual Self.

One of the Best Tools on the Market

If you're even thinking about writing a book, you need "The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing." This comprehensive guide contains over 400 pages of everything you need to know about writing, publishing and marketing your work. Each section of this book covers vital aspects of the craft every writer should follow: Part I: The CraftGet started by understanding plot, story flow, point of view, characters and dialogue. Part II: The ArtUnderstand the rules of fiction, turn true life to fiction, connect emotion and get in tune with your reader's senses. Part III: The ProcessFind out how to get started on your novel, jumpstart your creativity, revise your novel and deal with criticism. Part IV: The GenresGet to know your audience, create realistic characters and keep the suspense going throughout your novel. Plus, tips on writing horror, fantasy, romance and Christian fiction. Part V: The MarketplaceUse these insider tips for finding agents and editors. Study the debate of fee-charging agents. Learn the ins and outs of the market. Tools for book proposals, a novel synopsis, getting your work published and help with the electronic publishing world. Part VI: The InterviewsRead interviews with the hottest, most accomplished authors, including Margaret Atwood, Maeve Binchy, Tom Clancy, Joyce Carol Oates, James Patterson, Kurt Vonnegut and more. You could easily read this book from cover-to-cover or flip through it as a reference as your writing progresses. This is, by far, one of the strongest writing how-to books on the market. If you only purchase one writing book this year, make it "The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing." Head to the bookstore, run through the pages and you'll instantly be hooked.