Digital Issue: 2009 Novel Writing
This special newsstand-only issue is now available for download! Discover Techniques and Inpiration to Start Writing Your Novel TODAY!
Table of Contents
[GETTING STARTED]
UPFRONT
Trying (Too Hard) Not to Be Obvious o Questions & Quandaries
PLOTTING A NOVEL GROUP
by Marie Lamba
Writing a novel doesn't have to be a solitary endeavor. Here's one group of writers who've learned to get by with a little help from their friends.
WRITE LIKE YOUR LITERARY HEROES
by Mort Castle
Reshape, revise and reimagine the writing styles of the masters to find your own successful voice.
WHAT'S HOT IN POPULAR FICTION?
by Michael J. Vaughn
Keep up with the latest trends in fiction with this comprehensive genre-by-genre market report.
WHERE TO BEGIN?
by Nancy Kress
Don't know where in the timeline to begin your tale? Here are five different places to start your work.
RESEARCHING YOUR HISTORICAL NOVEL
by Rosemarie Ostler
Uses these eight indispensable resources to bring your period fiction to life.
[CRAFT & INSPIRATION]
THE NOVELIST'S SURVIVAL KIT
by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
Take stock of these essential elements for getting your book going.
GETTING YOUR ACT(S) TOGETHER
by Ridley Pearson
Use this time-honored method from the ancient Greeks to give form to your fiction.
PUTTING DIALOGUE TO WORK
by James Scott Bell
Dialogue isn't just for moving a story along-use it to manipulate mood, change pace and deepen theme.
12 RANDOM (BUT USEFUL) THOUGHTS ABOUT DIALOGUE
by Michael Levin
Mind these lesser-known truths about what your characters say, and avoid writing same-old, same-old conversations in your fiction.
BRING BACKGROUND TO THE FOREGROUND
by Steve Almond
Is your beginning too cryptic or just plain confusing? Hook your readers early in your story with the details that will make them want to keep reading.
UNDERSTANDING THIRD PERSON
by Susan Breen
Which variation of third person point of view should you use in your story?
BETTER LEFT UNSAID
by Nancy Kress
Know what to leave out of your tale to keep your stories lean and, ultimately, more satisfying.
THE VIEWPOINT INTRUDER
by Kristen Johnson Ingram
Point-of-view characters tend to try to overstep their boundaries. Here's how to keep them in check.
PACE YOURSELF
by Nancy Kress
How fast should your story unfold? Learn how to hook readers and move your fiction along.
[REVISION & SELF-EDITING]
NOVEL REVISION FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
Revising your novel doesn't have to be drudgery. Here are 10 steps to a relatively pain-free rewrite.
GET YOUR PLOT BACK ON TRACK
by Laura Whitcomb
Rescue your story from plot pitfalls.
ADAPTING A SHORT STORY INTO A NOVEL
by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
Transform your story into a novel using these proven techniques.
FROM ZERO TO HERO
by Dawn Wilson
Is your main character getting off track? Here's how to turn your protagonist back into a character that readers will root for.
[GETTING IT OUT THERE]
THE M WORD
by Scott Francis
"Marketing" doesn't have to be a dirty word. Learn to promote your writing without selling out.
WORKING FOR THE MAN
by Tim Waggoner
How to sharpen your genre-writing skills as a work-for-hire novelist.
STATUS SEEKERS AND STORYTELLERS
by Donald Maass
How to promote yourself and find success while remaining focused on what's important: your writing.
EMBRACING BOOK CLUBS
by John Shors
Want to impact your book sales and promote a loyal following? Reaching out to book clubs may be the key.
Table of Contents
[GETTING STARTED]
UPFRONT
Trying (Too Hard) Not to Be Obvious o Questions & Quandaries
PLOTTING A NOVEL GROUP
by Marie Lamba
Writing a novel doesn't have to be a solitary endeavor. Here's one group of writers who've learned to get by with a little help from their friends.
WRITE LIKE YOUR LITERARY HEROES
by Mort Castle
Reshape, revise and reimagine the writing styles of the masters to find your own successful voice.
WHAT'S HOT IN POPULAR FICTION?
by Michael J. Vaughn
Keep up with the latest trends in fiction with this comprehensive genre-by-genre market report.
WHERE TO BEGIN?
by Nancy Kress
Don't know where in the timeline to begin your tale? Here are five different places to start your work.
RESEARCHING YOUR HISTORICAL NOVEL
by Rosemarie Ostler
Uses these eight indispensable resources to bring your period fiction to life.
[CRAFT & INSPIRATION]
THE NOVELIST'S SURVIVAL KIT
by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
Take stock of these essential elements for getting your book going.
GETTING YOUR ACT(S) TOGETHER
by Ridley Pearson
Use this time-honored method from the ancient Greeks to give form to your fiction.
PUTTING DIALOGUE TO WORK
by James Scott Bell
Dialogue isn't just for moving a story along-use it to manipulate mood, change pace and deepen theme.
12 RANDOM (BUT USEFUL) THOUGHTS ABOUT DIALOGUE
by Michael Levin
Mind these lesser-known truths about what your characters say, and avoid writing same-old, same-old conversations in your fiction.
BRING BACKGROUND TO THE FOREGROUND
by Steve Almond
Is your beginning too cryptic or just plain confusing? Hook your readers early in your story with the details that will make them want to keep reading.
UNDERSTANDING THIRD PERSON
by Susan Breen
Which variation of third person point of view should you use in your story?
BETTER LEFT UNSAID
by Nancy Kress
Know what to leave out of your tale to keep your stories lean and, ultimately, more satisfying.
THE VIEWPOINT INTRUDER
by Kristen Johnson Ingram
Point-of-view characters tend to try to overstep their boundaries. Here's how to keep them in check.
PACE YOURSELF
by Nancy Kress
How fast should your story unfold? Learn how to hook readers and move your fiction along.
[REVISION & SELF-EDITING]
NOVEL REVISION FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
Revising your novel doesn't have to be drudgery. Here are 10 steps to a relatively pain-free rewrite.
GET YOUR PLOT BACK ON TRACK
by Laura Whitcomb
Rescue your story from plot pitfalls.
ADAPTING A SHORT STORY INTO A NOVEL
by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
Transform your story into a novel using these proven techniques.
FROM ZERO TO HERO
by Dawn Wilson
Is your main character getting off track? Here's how to turn your protagonist back into a character that readers will root for.
[GETTING IT OUT THERE]
THE M WORD
by Scott Francis
"Marketing" doesn't have to be a dirty word. Learn to promote your writing without selling out.
WORKING FOR THE MAN
by Tim Waggoner
How to sharpen your genre-writing skills as a work-for-hire novelist.
STATUS SEEKERS AND STORYTELLERS
by Donald Maass
How to promote yourself and find success while remaining focused on what's important: your writing.
EMBRACING BOOK CLUBS
by John Shors
Want to impact your book sales and promote a loyal following? Reaching out to book clubs may be the key.
