Author: Noah LukemanPublisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199575282
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 202
Book Description
Language, literature and biography.
The First Five Pages
Author: Noah LukemanPublisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1451623739
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 208
Book Description
IF YOU'RE TIRED OF REJECTION, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. Whether you are a novice writer or a veteran who has already had your work published, rejection is often a frustrating reality. Literary agents and editors receive and reject hundreds of manuscripts each month. While it's the job of these publishing professionals to be discriminating, it's the job of the writer to produce a manuscript that immediately stands out among the vast competition. And those outstanding qualities, says New York literary agent Noah Lukeman, have to be apparent from the first five pages. The First Five Pages reveals the necessary elements of good writing, whether it be fiction, nonfiction, journalism, or poetry, and points out errors to be avoided, such as * A weak opening hook * Overuse of adjectives and adverbs * Flat or forced metaphors or similes * Melodramatic, commonplace or confusing dialogue * Undeveloped characterizations and lifeless settings * Uneven pacing and lack of progression With exercises at the end of each chapter, this invaluable reference will allow novelists, journalists, poets and screenwriters alike to improve their technique as they learn to eliminate even the most subtle mistakes that are cause for rejection. The First Five Pages will help writers at every stage take their art to a higher -- and more successful -- level.
The Art of Punctuation
Author: Noah LukemanPublisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191630373
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 208
Book Description
Punctuation can make all the difference between a good piece of writing and a superb piece of writing. In The Art of Punctuation, Noah Lukeman explores and demystifies each punctuation mark in turn. From the punchiness of the full stop to the unacknowledged flexibility of the question mark, the manifold powers of punctuation are revealed in this practical yet engaging guide. All kinds of writers will find invaluable tips to help improve their clarity of thinking and expression of ideas. The Art of Punctuation will teach writers how to use punctuation to the greatest effect, regardless of the context in which they are writing. Real examples from all types of well-known writers past and present are used to illustrate specific points. Each chapter also contains practical exercises to help writers get to grips with their own writing following the advice given in the book, making it ideal of use alongside creative writing courses and for teachers. Written by a well-known and respected author of books on creative writing, The Art of Punctuation is the essential guide to using punctuation creatively and effectively.
A Dash of Style: The Art and Mastery of Punctuation
Author: Noah LukemanPublisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 0393072320
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 209
Book Description
"Takes the straitjacket off punctuation…Lukeman's wit and insight make this an instant classic." —M. J. Rose The first practical and accessible guide to the art of punctuation for creative writers. Punctuation reveals the writer: haphazard commas, for example, reveal haphazard thinking; clear, lucid breaks reveal clear, lucid thinking. Punctuation can be used to teach the writer how to think and how to write. This short, practical book shows authors the benefits that can be reaped from mastering punctuation: the art of style, sentence length, meaning, and economy of words. There are full-length chapters devoted to the period, the comma, the semicolon, the colon, quotation marks, the dash and parentheses, the paragraph and section break, and a cumulative chapter on integrating them all into "The Symphony of Punctuation." Filled with exercises and examples from literary masters (Why did Poe and Melville rely on the semicolon? Why did Hemingway embrace the period?), A Dash of Style is interactive, highly engaging, and a necessity for creative writers as well as for anyone looking to make punctuation their friend instead of their mysterious foe.
The Plot Thickens
Author: Noah LukemanPublisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 1429990848
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 244
Book Description
As a literary agent, Noah Lukeman hears thousands of book pitches a year. Often the stories sound great in concept, but never live up to their potential on the page. Lukeman shows beginning and advanced writers how to implement the fundamentals of successful plot development, such as character building and heightened suspense and conflict. Writers will find it impossible to walk away from this invaluable guide---a veritable fiction-writing workshop---without boundless new ideas. “One of the best-ever books about the craft of writing. It is a book that can change the world of every writer who embraces Lukeman's ideas. His classroom on paper should be on every writer's shelf to be read again and again.” --Authorlink
The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents
Author: Publisher: Poets & Writers Inc
ISBN:
Category : Literary agents
Languages : en
Pages : 46
Book Description
A collection of articles edited by the staff of Poets & Writers Magazine, this handy resource includes straightforward advice from professionals in the literary field and additional resources with insider tips. This practical guide will give you everything you need to understand what agents do, what you can expect from them, and how to find the best agent for you and your work: -Where agents search for new talent -Tips on how to secure an agent -What agents look for in the first few pages of a submission -How to follow up with an agent after you’ve submitted your work -The agent’s role in today’s publishing industry -How to know when the time has come to dissolve a relationship with an agent
The Writer's Book of Hope
Author: Ralph KeyesPublisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0805072357
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 236
Book Description
The author and journalist offers his best advice and encouragement, helping writers find the courage and dedication they need to continue to write despite the obstacles to success.
Author: Hallie EphronThe Creative Writer's Survival Guide
Author: John McNallyPublisher: University of Iowa Press
ISBN: 1587299496
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 290
Book Description
"I write this blurb in distress because for years I've been stealing John McNally's sharp insights into writing and publishing and passing them off as my own. Now this generous so-and-so is sharing his vast experience as a writer and editor with everyone. Worse yet, this book, despite its instructional value, is irresistibly, un-put-downably readable."---Timothy Schaffert, author, Devils in the Sugar Shop --
How To Write a Novel
Author: Joanna PennPublisher: The Creative Penn
ISBN: 1915425085
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 213
Book Description
Writing a novel will change your life. It might not be in the way that you expect, but when you hold your book in your hand and say, “I made this,” something will shift. The process of getting to that point will light a spark in your creative soul and help you discover unexpected aspects of yourself. It will be one of the things you are most proud of in your life. This book will help you get there. I’m Joanna (J.F.) Penn, award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 18 novels and novellas with nearly a million books sold in over one hundred countries. This book will help you write your first novel, or improve your creative process so you can write more books and reach more readers. It covers mindset, ideas and research, aspects of craft, how to write a first draft, and work through an editing process to a finished book. You will discover: Part 1: First Principles - Why are you writing a novel? - What has stopped you from completing a novel before? - Principles to keep in mind as you create Part 2: Ideas, Research, Plotting, and Discovery Writing - How to find and capture ideas - How to research your novel and when to stop - Outlining (or plotting) - Discovery writing (or pantsing) - What are you writing? Genre - What are you writing? Short story, novella, or novel - What are you writing? Stand-alone, series, or serial Part 3: Aspects of a Novel - Story structure - Scenes and chapters - Character: Who is the story about? - Point of view - Dialogue - Plot: What happens in the story? - Conflict - Openings and endings - Setting and World-building: Where does the story happen? - Author voice - Theme - Book or story title - Language versus story and tools versus art Part 4: Writing the first draft - Attitude to the first draft - How to write the first draft - Dictate your book - Write fast, cycle through, or write slow - Writer’s block - Writing tools and software - When is the first draft finished? Part 5: The Editing Process - Overview of the editing process - Self-editing - How to find and work with a professional editor - Beta readers, specialist readers, and sensitivity readers - Editing tools and software - Lessons learned from editing my first novel after more than a decade - When is the book finished? Conclusion If you want to (finally) write your novel, then buy How to Write a Novel today.
