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After sending yet another revised version of my first novel out to friends/family/colleagues, I was beginning to feel overwhelmed. No matter how much work I put into the book, my readers would continue to complain of the same recurring issues.
As a first-time novelist with no professional training in writing, I was in desperate need of a guide that could clearly articulate: a. What I'm doing wrong, & b. How to fix it. And I found 'The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing' (2nd edition) from the editors of Writer's Digest. And let me tell you, it is the BEST $20 I've ever spent. In over 500 pages, it covers absolutely everything you need, from before starting, to after publishing. Though I had to trim quite a bit of fat (the first 5 chapters were reduced by ~6000 words/24 pages), the novel is flowing so much faster. And although I have lived and breathed the scenes and characters, I find my own heart racing after applying only a few of the techniques! This handbook is invaluable, and I recommend it even to experienced writers. It is a simple, fun read, but it deepens virtually every aspect of novel creation. It provides advice on: Inspiration and ideas Plot and structure Characters Writing methods/styles Genres How to avoid plot holes Write Mystery, Romance, Thriller, etc. Showing, instead of telling Raising the stakes Speeding the pace And much more! If you're in the process of writing,, absolutely give this book a read before publishing! I guarantee, if you stick to these simple guidelines, you will be maximizing on your narrative's potential. Best of luck!
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