The Beginner's Guide to Writing a Novel: How to Prepare Your First Book for Publication PDF
Preview The Beginner's Guide to Writing a Novel: How to Prepare Your First Book for Publication
If you want to know how . . . Awaken the Writer Within Release your creativity and find your true writer’s voice Writing a Children’s Book How to write for children and get published Creative Writing Use your imagination, develop your writing skills and get published The Writer’s Guide to Getting Published howtobooks Please send for a free copy of the latest catalogue: How To Books Spring Hill House, Spring Hill Road, Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1RX, United Kingdom Published by How To Content, A division of How To Books Ltd, Spring Hill House, Spring Hill Road, Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1RX, United Kingdom. Tel: (01865) 375794. Fax: (01865) 379162. Contents List of illustrations ix Preface xi Acknowledgements xiii Foreword by Diane Pearson xv 1 Taking Those First Vital Steps 1 The reasons novelists write 1 Being professional 2 Being methodical 5 Novels are easier to publish than short stories 9 They’ll take so much time! A fallacy 9 Studying the market 10 Studying the craft 14 Discussion points 15 2 Finding the Right Story 17 Looking for ideas everywhere 17 An example 20 Plotting 21 Doing research 25 Discussion points 29 3 Creating the Right Characters 30 Choosing your cast with care 30 Fleshing out characters 32 Working out relationships and conflicts 41 Discussion points 42 4 Getting Ready to Start 44 Choosing the right title 44 Using the right viewpoints 46 Establishing your voice 49 Getting the beginning right 50 Discussion points 56 v vi / T H E B EG I NN E R ’ S GU I D E T O WR I T I NG A NOV E L 5 Looks and Language 58 Presentation matters 58 Making language work for you 65 Using grammar, punctuation and spelling 67 Using vocabulary, slang and dialect 69 Using dialogue 72 Discussion points 74 6 Setting the Scene 75 Paying attention to detail 75 Checking the facts 76 Teasing the senses 78 Using description and flashbacks 78 The middle must be compulsive reading 83 Useful reference books 85 Discussion points 87 7 The Overall View 88 Avoiding writer’s block 88 Directing your scenes 90 Controlling the pace 91 Considering the overall pattern 92 Keeping the pages turning 97 Cliffhanging techniques 99 Writing a satisfying ending 100 Discussion points 101 8 Submitting Your Work 102 Final polishing 102 Using an agent 106 Entering competitions 107 Choosing the right publisher 108 Preparing proposals, outlines and synopses 109 Multiple submissions 113 Discussion points 116 CON T EN T S / vii 9 Working with Other Writers 117 Different methods 117 Books and magazines 118 Joining home study courses 120 Obtaining professional criticism 120 Networking 121 Joining writers’ groups 121 Attending courses, workshops and weekends 124 Resources on the Internet 125 Discussion points 125 10 Being Published 126 Contracts, copyright and legal matters 126 The process of publication 128 Book jackets 129 Publicity in many guises 130 Advances, royalties and subsidiary rights 136 Public Lending Right 137 Allowable expenses 137 Income tax and VAT 139 Final tips and words of encouragement 140 Discussion points 142 Appendix 1 – Sources of Quotes 143 Appendix 2 – List of UK publishers 147 Appendix 3 – Internet Sites 151 Glossary 159 Useful Addresses 168 Further Reading 177 Index 187 This page intentionally left blank List of Illustrations 1 Two character profiles 34 2 An edited page of a script 61 3 A title page 63 4 An example of poor layout 66 5 An example of good layout 66 6 Keeping track of scenes 93 7 The peaks and troughs of one plot 96 8 Adding two subplots 96 9 Publicity aids you can organise 133 10 Simple income and expenditure records 138 ix
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