The complete handbook of novel writing : everything you need to know about creating & selling your work

558 Pages·2010·2.09 MB·English

by  Writer's Digest Editors

2ND EDITION

the

Complete Handbook of
Novel Writing

Everything you need to know
about creating & selling your work
THE EDITORS OF WRITER'S DIGEST
The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, 2nd edition. Copyright © 2010 by the Editors of
Writer's Digest. Manufactured in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No other part of this
book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information
storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who
may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Writer's Digest Books, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.,
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. [phone]. Second edition.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The complete handbook of novel writing / the editors of Writer's Digest Books.
— 2nd ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-58297-958-8 (pbk.: alk. paper)
eISBN 13: 978-1-5996-3181-3
1. Fiction — Authorship — Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Writer's Digest Books (Firm)
PN3365.C65 2010
808.3 — dc22
Designed by: Terri Woesner
2010014528
Edited by: Melissa Hill
Production coordinated by: Mark Griffin
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part One THE ART AND CRAFT OF A STRONG NARRATIVE
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: INSPIRATION & IDEAS
1. Taming the Beast by N.M. Kelby
Ideas can start out running wild; train them onto the page.
2. Mastering Fiction's First Rule by Jack M. Bickham
Understanding the “show, don't tell” rule.
3. Beyond Basic Blunders by Jerry B. Jenkins
Learn fixes for big-picture writing errors.
4. Fire Up Your Fiction by Donald Maass

Four techniques to get your passion onto the page 5. Why Real-Life
Stories Often Don't Make Good Fiction by Alyce Miller
Turning true stories into fiction
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: PLOT & STRUCTURE
6. The Philosophy of Plot by James N. Frey
How to effectively plot your fiction
7. The Plot Thickens by Monica Wood

How to use complication to raise your plot stakes 8. What I Stole
From the Movies by Les Standiford
Using scenes to give your writing momentum.
9. Getting Your Act(s) Together by Ridley Pearson
Use this time-honored method to give form to your fiction.
10. Nailing the Conclusion by Michael Orlofsky
Creating an ending that satisfies your reader.
11. Why Setting Matters by Lisa Lenard-Cook
Build your story's mood, point of view, and credibility.
12. Location, Location, Location: Depicting Character
Through Place by Richard Russo
Enhancing characters through settings.
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: CHARACTERS
13. Character Study by Alice Hoffman
Find out how to make characters that take on a life of their own.
14. Four-Dimensional Characters by Stephanie Kay Bendel
Crafting characters who are real on the page.
15. Seven Tools for Talk by James Scott Bell
How to create authentic dialogue.
16. The Best POV for Your Story by Nancy Kress
Determine whose eyes the reader will see your story through.
17. Emotion: Fiction's Connecting Link by Kathy Jacobson
Enriching your writing by utilizing emotion.
18. Sense & Sensuality by Janet Fitch
Exercises to help you stimulate your readers' senses.
19. Killer-Diller Details Bring Fiction to Life by Donna Levin
Using detail to engage your readers.
20. The Fifty-Page Dash by David King
Hooking your readers from the start.
21. Pace Yourself by Nancy Kress
Decide how fast your story should unfold.
22. The Perfect Title by Steve Almond
Write the perfect words to introduce your story.
23. What Your Story Says by Nancy Kress
Using theme to make your work successful.
Part Two THE WRITING PROCESS
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: GETTING STARTED
24. Baby Steps by Bill O'Hanlon
Stop obsessing. Start writing a book in fifteen minutes a day.
25. Write Like Poe by Mort Castle
Reshape, revise, and reimagine using great literary styles.
26. Breaking Through Writer's Block by Octavia E. Butler
How one famous writer beats writer's block.
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: RITUALS & METHODS
27. The Use of the Journal in Writing a Novel by Sue Grafton
Using a working journal to improve your novel.
28. Research in Fiction by Karen Dionne
Strike that right balance of fact in your fiction.
29. Your Novel Blueprint by Karen S. Wiesner
Take some tips from the worksite to build your novel.
30. Map Your Novel by N.M. Kelby
Create the framework for your story to grow on.
31. Rough Up Your First Draft by Elizabeth Sims
Get messy with your first draft to get to the good stuff.
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: REVISION & EDITING
32. A Four-Step Plan for Revision by Raymond Obstfeld
Step-by-step guidance for revising your novel.
33. Dealing With Criticism by Laura Hendrie
How to use feedback to improve your writing.
Part Three EXPLORING NOVEL GENRES
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: STYLE & CRAFT
34. Literary Lust vs. Commercial Cash by Jodi Picoult
Can a writer can have both clout and money?
35. Writing the World of Fantasy by Terry Brooks
Creating fantasy that speaks to the human condition.
36. Story Structures for Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson
Scott Card
Discover which aspect of your story matters most.
37. Innovation in Horror by Jeanne Cavelos
Writing creative and original horror.
38. Write This, Not That by Elizabeth Sims
Forget formulas. Infuse your mystery with suspense.
39. The Who in Whodunits by J.A. Jance
Creating vivid characters for your mysteries.
40. Writing Killer Suspense by Carol Davis Luce
Four techniques to add suspense to your writing.
41. Clues, Red Herrings, & Misdirection by Hallie Ephron
Write the meat and potatoes of mystery.
42. Inside Christian Fiction by Penelope J. Stokes
Navigating the world of Christian publishing.
43. What Is Christian Romance? by Gail Gaymer Martin
Find out what's allowed in this popular genre.
44. The Basics of Romance by Rita Clay Estrada and Rita
Gallagher
Learning the fundamentals of romance.
45. Sexual Tension & Love Scenes by Leigh Michaels
Craft these crucial romantic elements.
46. Crafting History Into Fiction by James Alexander Thom
Distill rumor to create compelling fiction.
Part Four FINDING & CULTIVATING A MARKET FOR YOUR
WORK
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: PUBLISHING
47. A Step-By-Step Guide to the Publishing Process by Jerry D
Simmons
How it works — and how you can play an influential role.
48. “Study the Market!” by Michael Seidman
Learning an editor's tastes and particular needs.
49. Outstanding Book Proposals by Don Prues
Find the keys to developing a novel proposal.
50. Building a Solid Three-Paragraph Query by Ann Rittenberg
Write a query letter that sets you apart from the pack.
51. Producing a Knockout Novel Synopsis by Evan Marshall
The basics of a good synopsis.
52. Make Rejection Into a Plan of Action by Wendy Burt-Thomas
Here's what you can glean from specific negative responses.
53. Your Power Platform by Christina Katz
Smart strategies for becoming visible, marketable and viable.
54. Novelists Need Platforms, Too by Jane Friedman
Why it's in your best interest to promote your work.
55. The Must-Have Online Marketing Plan by M.J. Rose
How to get your audience's attention.
56. Finding the Perfect Editor by Mark Peters
Finding the right editor has some similarities to online dating.
57. The Future Role of Agents by Jane Friedman
What can you expect from agents in years to come?
58. How to Decipher Agency Contracts by Howard Zaharoff
Negotiate terms that will benefit your writing.
59. Straight Expectations by Jane Friedman
Here's our take on self-publishing as we know it.
60. An Agent's Perspective on Self-Publishing by Andrea Hurst
Weigh your options and know what you're up against.
61. The Growing Community of Self-Publishing by Joe Wikert
What the changing landscape means for writers.
Part Five INTERVIEWS WITH NOVELISTS
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: READERS
62. A Conversation With Tom Clancy by Katie Struckel Brogan
Tom Clancy on plotting and the use of technical details.
63. Crafting Characters With Elizabeth George by David A.
Fryxell
Elizabeth George on the writing and research process.
64. Find Identity With Joyce Carol Oates by Katie Struckel
Brogan
Examining the differences between novels and short stories.
65. John Updike: Still More to Say by Kelly Nickell
John Updike on writing ordinary lives.
66. Kurt Vonnegut on Flouting the Rules by Kelly Nickell
Kurt Vonnegut on breaking rules and remembering the readers.
67. In Anne Tyler's Writing World by Jessica Strawser
A testament to longevity and the purity of the written word.
68. A Conversation With Stephen King & Jerry Jenkins by
Jessica Strawser
Finding parallels, polarity, and candid insights.
69. Cory Doctorow: On Revolutionary Road by Christina Katz
See how risks online can reap rewards in print.
BEST-SELLING ADVICE: PURPOSE
70. Audrey Niff enegger's Artistic Liberties by Jessica Strawser
How do you follow up a hit? Embrace the freedom to create.
71. Shock & Awe: Chuck Palahniuk by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
A mild-mannered author delves into the dark side.
72. Dave Eggers: Going His Own Way by Kristin D. Godsey
A testament to the power of staying true to your voice.
73. Master of Tragicomedy: Richard Russo by Jane Friedman
On finding validation and writing screenplays.
74. Unlocking the Door: Margaret Atwood by Kristin D. Godsey
Finding your voice and the beauty of multitasking.
75. James Patterson's Trademark Success by Diana Page
Jordan
“Brand” and “factory” might not seem like terms of endearment.
76. Megan McCafferty: A Crossover Success by Lauren Mosko
Thirty pages, a dream, and some old-fashioned teen angst.
77. Brock Clarke's Delicious Satire by Maria Schneider
Challenging the memoir craze and questioning publishing.
Permissions
Part One
THE ART AND CRAFT OF A STRONG
NARRATIVE