How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II receives mostly positive reviews, with readers praising its practical advice, engaging style, and focus on advanced writing techniques. Many find it useful for improving character development, plot structure, and overall storytelling. The book's emphasis on premise and avoiding common writing pitfalls is particularly appreciated. Some readers note that it works well as a standalone guide, while others recommend reading it alongside the first volume. A few criticisms include dated references and occasional repetitiveness.
Embrace the Power of Premise: Your Novel's Foundation
Master the Art of Suspense to Keep Readers Hooked
Create Memorable Characters: From Wimps to Wackos
Develop a Strong Narrative Voice for Authenticity
Establish and Maintain the Author-Reader Contract
Avoid the Seven Deadly Mistakes of Fiction Writing
Write with Passion and Persistence to Achieve Success
Premise is the fiction writer's chisel.
Defining premise. A premise is a concise statement of what happens to the characters as a result of the core conflict in the story. It serves as a guiding principle for your novel, helping you shape your fictional material and create a focused, dramatically powerful story.
Types and applications. There are three types of premises:
Chain reaction: A series of events leading to a climax and resolution
Opposing forces: Two forces pitted against each other, with one emerging victorious
Situational: Examining the effects of a situation on multiple characters
By articulating your premise, you can test each complication in your story, ensuring it contributes to proving the premise. This helps maintain focus and coherence throughout your novel.
Suspense in the first sense is a form of curiosity. The writer raises story questions the reader is curious about.
Creating suspense. Suspense is achieved by creating a state of uncertainty, anxiety, or apprehension in the reader. This can be done through:
Raising story questions that pique the reader's curiosity
Putting sympathetic characters in menacing situations
"Lighting the fuse" - establishing a time constraint or impending danger
Techniques for building suspense:
Use specific, concrete details to create vivid scenes
Develop characters readers care about
Introduce conflicts and obstacles that escalate throughout the story
Use pacing to control the flow of information and tension
By mastering these techniques, you can keep your readers engaged and invested in your story from beginning to end.
Great characters are so extraordinarily interesting that if you met them at a cocktail party you'd later want to tell others about them.
Developing dynamic characters. To create truly memorable characters, focus on making them:
Dynamic and driven by strong desires or motivations
Competent in their chosen field or area of expertise
Slightly "wacky" or eccentric to add color and interest
Contrasting with both other characters and their settings
Character creation techniques:
Write detailed character biographies
Give characters conflicting emotions and desires
Create dual-natured characters with contrasting personalities
Use exaggeration to emphasize unique traits
By crafting characters with depth, complexity, and a touch of the extraordinary, you'll create a cast that readers will remember long after they've finished your novel.
The narrator as agent has a habit of defying the author's plans and taking on a definite personality of his own. And in the best fiction, so he should.
Crafting a distinctive voice. A strong narrative voice creates trust with the reader and allows them to become fully immersed in the story. To develop your narrative voice:
Choose a persona that fits your story and genre
Use specific, concrete details to establish authority
Allow the narrator's personality to shine through
Experiment with different voices and viewpoints
Voice development exercises:
Study authors with strong narrative voices
Practice writing the same passage in different voices
Imitate voices you admire, then adapt them to your own style
Remember that the "invisible author" is a myth. A strong, distinctive narrative voice can greatly enhance your storytelling and create a more engaging experience for your readers.
You promise a damn good novel; your reader pays damn good money for it. But there's more to it than that. Much more.
Understanding the contract. The author-reader contract is an implicit agreement between you and your audience. It includes:
Delivering the type of story promised (genre, style, tone)
Maintaining consistency in narrative voice and point of view
Playing fair with the reader (no cheap tricks or deus ex machina)
Fulfilling the expectations set up at the beginning of the story
Honoring the contract:
Clearly establish the type of story you're telling from the outset
Maintain consistency in style, tone, and narrative approach
Avoid breaking the "rules" you've established without good reason
Deliver a satisfying conclusion that fulfills the promises made
By respecting the author-reader contract, you build trust with your audience and create a more satisfying reading experience.
Writing is painful. Writing is hard work. Writing is sometimes a bitch. To be a damn good novelist you will have to write with pain, you will have to work hard, and you will have to do it despite the fact that it's a bitch.
The seven deadly mistakes:
Timidity: Failing to take risks or face criticism
Trying to be literary: Imitating "great" writers instead of developing your own voice
Ego-writing: Focusing on self-expression rather than engaging the reader
Failure to learn to re-dream the dream: Inability to revise and reimagine your work
Failure to keep faith with yourself: Giving up in the face of rejection or setbacks
Wrong lifestyle: Not prioritizing writing or creating a conducive environment
Failure to produce: Succumbing to writer's block or procrastination
Overcoming these mistakes:
Embrace criticism and use it to improve your craft
Focus on mastering the principles of storytelling before experimenting
Write for your readers, not just for yourself
Learn to revise and reimagine your work based on feedback
Persist through rejection and setbacks
Create a lifestyle that supports your writing goals
Establish a consistent writing routine and stick to it
By avoiding these common pitfalls, you'll be better positioned to succeed as a novelist and create truly engaging works of fiction.
Anyone with a passionate desire will succeed if he gives himself to it fully, knuckles down and masters the craft, works hard, has good teachers and reliable readers, learns how to re-dream the dream and rewrite in answer to criticism, and actively pursues the selling of the script in a businesslike manner. I guarantee it 100 percent.
Keys to success. To become a successful novelist, you must:
Cultivate a passionate desire to write
Fully commit to mastering the craft
Work hard and consistently
Seek out good teachers and reliable readers
Learn to revise and reimagine your work based on feedback
Approach the business side of writing professionally
Benefits of pursuing fiction writing:
Personal growth and self-discovery
The potential for financial success and recognition
The ability to impact readers' lives through your stories
The satisfaction of creating enduring works of art
Remember that success in writing is a journey, not a destination. By approaching your craft with passion, persistence, and a willingness to learn and grow, you can overcome obstacles and achieve your goals as a novelist.