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. (800) 289-0963. Second edition. For more resources for writers, visit www.writersdigest.com/books. To receive a free weekly e-mail newsletter delivering tips and updates about writing and about Writer's Digest products, register directly at http://newsletters.fwpublications.com. 14 13 12 11 10 5 4 3 2 1 Distributed in Canada by Fraser Direct 100 Armstrong Avenue Georgetown, Ontario, Canada L7G 5S4 Tel: (905) 877-4411 Distributed in the U.K. and Europe by David & Charles Brunel House, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 4PU, England Tel: (+44) 1626-323200, Fax: (+44) 1626-323319 E-mail: [email protected] Distributed in Australia by Capricorn Link P.O. Box 704, Windsor, NSW 2756 Australia Tel: (02) 4577-3555 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