Three Rules for Writing a Novel: A Guide to Story Development

389 Pages·1997·177.52 MB·English

by  William Noble

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Noble, William.
Three rules for writing a
novel
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Books by William Noble
The Complete Guide to Wn'ter5' Con efrences and Workshops
Forest Dale. Vermont 1997
Show, Don' t Tell, Middlebury, Vermont, 1991
Bookbanning in America, Middlebury, Vermont, 1990
Make That Scene, Middlebury, Vermont, 1988
Shut Up!" He Explained, Middlebury, Vermont, 1987
Steal This Plot (with June Noble)
Middlebury, Vermont, 1985
The Psychiatric Fix (with June Noble) , New York, 1981
,
New York, 1980
The Private Me (with June Noble)
How to Live With Other People 's Children
(with June Noble, New York, 1978
The Custody Trap (with June Noble), New York, 1975
Books by William Noble
Tlw Complete Guide to Writers' Con Orences and Workshops
Forest Dale. Vermont 1997
Show, Don' t Tell, Middlebury, Vermont, 1991
Bookbanning in America, Middlebury, Vermont, 1990
Make That Scene, Middlebury, Vermont, 1988
Shut Up!" He Explained, Middlebury, Vermont, 1987
Steal This Plot (with June Noble)
Middlebury, Vermont, 1985
The Psychiatric Fix (with _June Noble), New York, 1981
The Private Me (with June Noble), New York, 1980
How to Live With Other Peoples Children
(with jure Noble, New York, l9'78
The Custody Trap (with June Noble) , New York, 1975
DAVENPUH I PUBLKJ UBHAf
321 MAIN STFIEET
DAVENPORT. IOWA 52801
T h r e e
Rules f o r
Writing
Novel
A Guide to Story Development
William Noble
Paul S. Eriksson. Publisher
Forest Dale. Vermont
l
For David and Nicole Grosvenor
© Copyright 1997 by William Noble
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
form without permission in writing from Paul S. Eriksson, Published
Forest Dale. Vermont 05745
Manufactured in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Noble. William
Three rules for writing a novel: a guide to story development /
by William Noble
Includes index
ISBN 0-8397-8050-8
Authorship. 2. Fiction-Technique. 3. Plots (Drama, novel, etc.)
4. Setting (Literature) 5. Dialogue. I. Title
PN218.N64 1997
808.3-dc21
97-18127
Contents
Introduction 3
The Eye of the Writer 6
Rule One: What's Happening
Structuring the Story 19
Motivating the Story 31
1. Vengeance 31
2. Catastrophe 36
3. Love and Hate 42
4. The Chase 48
5. Grief and Loss 53
6. Rebellion 59
65
7. Betrayal
8. Persecution 71
9. Self-Sacrifice 82
10. Survival 93
11. Rivalry 104
12. Discovery (Quest) 11 5
13. Ambition 127
14. Spicing the Story 140
Contents
Rule Two: Where Am I?
1. Setting the Story 158
2. Creating a "Sense of Place" 171
3. How Many Details? 179
4. The Value of an Imperfect Memory 186
5. How Muc h Research? 193
6. Mixing and Matching 201
7. Using Time to Establish the Setting 208
8. Sensory Details, Se n o r y Images 214
9. Conflict / Harmony 221
10. Mood and Atmosphere As Influenced by
Physical Description 228
11. The Importance of Tone 235
12. The Nature of Nature 242
13. The Music of Words 249
Rule Three: Who Am I ?
1. Dialogue Is... 257
2. Connecting the Dots 270
3. Suppose We Want to Create Tension 282
4. Would He / She Say That? 294
5. Do I Show. Do I Tell? 306
6. He Says... or Does He? 312
7. Should He Gesture. Too? 319
8. What About Transitions and Flashbacks? 326
9. Suppose I Want to Talk to Myself? 334
10. How Do I Handle Questions and Answers? 342
11. What About Terms of Art and Slang? 349
2. Suppose I Qpen With Dialogue? Suppose I Close?
357
Should I Be Aware of th Rh thm of M Dialogue?
366
y
e Y
Index 373
Three
Rules for
Writing a
Novel