How to Write a Novel: 47 Rules for Writing a Stupendously Awesome Novel That You Will Love Forever

Let me put this out there first: If you are one of the thousands of people who've been visiting Nathan's blog for the last several years, getting all those free goodies and tips, then if you are a decent human being and not a soul-sucking leech, you need to pony up and buy this book. Even if the book sucked.

But, it DOESN'T suck. Some of it is common sense (you're not going to make mountains of money writing books) and some is practical advice (don't chase trends), and some is kind of a shared spirit of camaraderie. Like: "After all, what is the point of writing a novel if not to settle old grudges by taking veiled swipes at people who've wronged you?"

It covers everything from knowing your genre - and why this is important, to the basics show more (plot, character, voice). What a killer first page actually means and why many authors get it wrong. Editing and revising. Making backups, on the theory that what if you got robbed on the way back to your apartment which is on fire? Even on getting started again, if life has interfered with your novel for XX days/weeks/months, because that whole "write every day" thing works great for independently wealthy novelists who never, ever get sick or who have friends or family who want attention from time to time.

If you write, some of these things you probably already do right, and some of it... We all need reminders. And easy ways to test if we're doing it right. Those things are included here. I laughed, I nodded my head, I highlighted my copy like a fiend. If you write - even if you are writing a memoir - this book can help you. show less

Nathan Bransford has been an agent and a fiction-writer, and his experience comes through in this book. From the first "rule" of the 47 ("BELIEVE!") to the last ("Obey the Ten Commandments for the Happy Writer," which begin with "Enjoy the Present" and end with "Keep Writing"), this book was 100% encouraging, concretely helpful, and fun to read. It is also easy to read and understand. That's not to say that Bransford says it's easy to write one's novel—he readily recognizes the difficulty of the task. His approach, however, is simple and straightforward, and his illustration of less-accessible rules with popular-culture examples most people will know works very well. I just bought my copy this past weekend, and have already bought a show more second as a gift for a writing friend—who's also read it and loved it. show less

Maybe best for a beginning writer, someone looking to write their first novel and being a bit overwhelmed by how to start. Anyone who has written a novel might find some useful tips and ideas, but perhaps have already developed their writing routine.

Mr. Bransford writes in an entertaining, light, humorous style, and he gets his points across without belaboring anything. Each rule is well-considered and concisely defined. A fast read and a great reference tool for when you get stuck on a certain part of the novel writing process.

Not a lot of detail but some good points to keep you focused. It's more a slap on the back and a "C'mon mate" than anything else. It did help clear the mind of a lot of clutter built up from reading so many books on writing technique etc that can be so overwhelming that one goes into paralysis.

Like "Save the Cat," this is a reference book that one does not really "finish." Great advice and insight. Extremely glad someone recommended it to me.