Troubleshooting Your Novel

Author: Steven James
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 159963984X
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 369

Book Description
Take your story to the next level of excellence! You've completed the first draft of your novel--now what? Chances are, it's not perfect...at least not yet. In order to increase your chances of getting a literary agent, selling your manuscript to a publisher, or garnering an audience for your self-published work, you need targeted, practical instruction on tackling the problem areas and weak spots in your story. You need Troubleshooting Your Novel. In this hand-on, easy-to-use guide, award-winning author Steven James provides helpful techniques and checklists, timesaving tricks of the trade, and hundreds of questions for manuscript analysis and revision. You'll learn how to: • ADJUST elements of story progression, from causality, tension, and setbacks to plot twists, climaxes, and endings. • DEVELOP authentic, riveting characters by exploring their attitudes, desires, beliefs, and more. • LEARN narrative techniques for elements such as dialogue, flashbacks, suspense, voice, subtext, and flow. • ENSURE reader engagement by aligning with their expectations, fulfilling promises, and instilling trust. • CHECK issues with context and continuity. You owe your book more than just a polish and a proofread. Strengthen your story, prepare it for the marketplace, and make it the best it can be with Troubleshooting Your Novel.

Troubleshooting the Cast

Author: Ed Jaworowski
Publisher: Stackpole Books
ISBN: 9780811729420
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 94

Book Description
An expert diagnoses 32 common casting problems and shows how to fix them.

Story Trumps Structure

Author: Steven James
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1599636514
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 305

Book Description
Don't limit your fiction - LIBERATE IT All too often, following the "rules" of writing can constrict rather than inspire you. With Story Trumps Structure, you can shed those rules - about three-act structure, rising action, outlining, and more - to craft your most powerful, emotional, and gripping stories. Award-winning novelist Steven James explains how to trust the narrative process to make your story believable, compelling, and engaging, and debunks the common myths that hold writers back from creating their best work. • Ditch your outline and learn to write organically. • Set up promises for readers - and deliver on them. • Discover how to craft a satisfying climax. • Master the subtleties of characterization. • Add mind-blowing twists to your fiction. When you focus on what lies at the heart of story - tension, desire, crisis, escalation, struggle, discovery - rather than plot templates and formulas, you'll begin to break out of the box and write fiction that resonates with your readers. Story Trumps Structure will transform the way you think about stories and the way you write them, forever.

How to Write a Novel

Author: Nathan Bransford
Publisher: Nathan Bransford
ISBN: 173414940X
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 188

Book Description
Author and former literary agent Nathan Bransford shares his secrets for creating killer plots, fleshing out your first ideas, crafting compelling characters, and staying sane in the process. Read the guide that New York Times bestselling author Ransom Riggs called "The best how-to-write-a-novel book I've read."

Hot Season

Author: Susan DeFreitas
Publisher: Harvard Square Editions
ISBN: 9781941861288
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 212

Book Description
In the tinder-dry Southwest, three eco-minded roommates--students at Deep Canyon College, known for its radical politics--are looking for love, adventure, and the promise of a bigger life that led them West. But when the FBI comes to town in pursuit of an alum wanted for "politically motivated crimes of property," rumor has it that undercover agents are enrolled in classes, making the college dating scene just a bit more sketchy than usual. Katie, an incoming freshman, will discover a passion for activism that will put her future in jeopardy; Jenna, in her second semester, will find herself seduced by deception; and Rell, a senior, will discover her voice, her calling, and love where she least expects it.

Story Sparks

Author: Denise Jaden
Publisher: New World Library
ISBN: 1608685098
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 186

Book Description
Find rock-solid story ideas before you start writing Anyone who has been hamster-wheeling a story idea for years or has hundreds of pages exploring various approaches on their hard drive knows that there must be a better way. There is. Young adult novelist Denise Jaden shows exactly how to create the captivating stories that prevent dispiriting wasted time. Busting the “visitation from the muses” myth, she shows that inspiration is a skill writers can learn by understanding how story ideas work (or don’t), fertilizing the ground for fresh and sound ideas, and moving swiftly through stuck points. Practical and inspiring, Jaden’s approach celebrates the imaginative sparks that make innovations of all kinds possible while pinpointing the precise tools writers need to fan their unique creative flames.

Supplies

Author: Julia Cameron
Publisher: Tarcher
ISBN: 9781585420667
Category : Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
With The Artist's Date Book, Julia Cameron and Elizabeth Cameron Evans gave readers an illustrated book of provocative tasks to guide them in the Artists' date. Now, Supplies provides an owner's and driver's manual of spiritual wisdom for the creative drive. Highlighted with illustrations by Elizabeth Cameron Evans and text by Julia Cameron, this is a whimsical, entertaining, and inspiring volume that leads readers toward authentic growth, to renewal, and confidence.

DIY MFA

Author: Gabriela Pereira
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1599639343
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Book Description
Get the Knowledge Without the College! You are a writer. You dream of sharing your words with the world, and you're willing to put in the hard work to achieve success. You may have even considered earning your MFA, but for whatever reason--tuition costs, the time commitment, or other responsibilities--you've never been able to do it. Or maybe you've been looking for a self-guided approach so you don't have to go back to school. This book is for you. DIY MFA is the do-it-yourself alternative to a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. By combining the three main components of a traditional MFA--writing, reading, and community--it teaches you how to craft compelling stories, engage your readers, and publish your work. Inside you'll learn how to: • Set customized goals for writing and learning. • Generate ideas on demand. • Outline your book from beginning to end. • Breathe life into your characters. • Master point of view, voice, dialogue, and more. • Read with a "writer's eye" to emulate the techniques of others. • Network like a pro, get the most out of writing workshops, and submit your work successfully. Writing belongs to everyone--not only those who earn a degree. With DIY MFA, you can take charge of your writing, produce high-quality work, get published, and build a writing career.

The Art of Character

Author: David Corbett
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 014312157X
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 418

Book Description
Former private investigator and New York Times notable author David Corbett offers a unique and indispensable toolkit for creating characters that come vividly to life on the page and linger in memory. Corbett provides an inventive, inspiring, and vastly entertaining blueprint to all the elements of characterization-from initial inspiration to realization-with special insights into the power of secrets and contradictions, the embodiment of roles, managing the "tyranny of motive," and mastering crucial techniques required for memorable dialogue and unforgettable scenes. This is a how-to guide for both aspiring and accomplished writers that renders all other books of its kind obsolete.

Going Wide: Self-Publishing Your Books Outside The Amazon Ecosystem

Author: M.K. Williams
Publisher: M.K. Williams Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 1952084105
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 102

Book Description
Use this concise how-to-guide by M.K. Williams to bring your self-published books beyond the Amazon ecosystem Everyone is going wide... here's how: The buzzy term in the self-publishing space right now is, "wide." I was doing this before it was a thing. As more authors hear about the benefits of self-publishing on multiple platforms, I find myself on the receiving end of many panicked emails. While the concept is easy to understand the execution requires planning and patience. For those who want to get their book out to as many readers and retailers as possible, I have the tools you need to create than plan. I've condensed my years of experience and best advice into this short and actionable book to help you go from Amazon-Only to Wide Author. This book will cover strategy, platforms, opting out of exclusivity, and marketing for success. Get your free planners throughout the book to help you make and stick to your plan. Ready to go wide?