The first thing you need to know about writing a novel is that there are no easy answers. There’s no magic formula for novel-writing. Every novel demands its own structure, its own pace, its own way of looking at the world. Still with me? Good. Because, as it turns out, novel writing isn’t just a…Continue reading 10 Steps to Writing a Novel
Category: publishing
The Drowning House by Elizabeth Black (or why you need an agent)
I’m currently reading a wonderful novel, Elizabeth Black’s The Drowning House. It’s a debut novel that will be published by Nan A. Talese/Doubleday in January. I received the book from the publisher a few days ago and, since the moment I opened it, I’ve had a difficult time putting it down. The novel is set…Continue reading The Drowning House by Elizabeth Black (or why you need an agent)
How to Start a Story
One of the questions I hear frequently from aspiring writers is, “How do I start a story?” Even seasoned writers have days when the story won’t come. Talking to a reporter for Interview Magazine in 1995, Martin Amis said of novel-writing, “If I come up against a brick wall, I’ll just go and play snooker…Continue reading How to Start a Story
How to Design an Ebook Cover
If your skill set runs to the literary side of things, you may find the process of creating an ebook cover to be something of a challenge. I know I did. There are a number of companies offering ebook cover creation for a fee (see bottom of post). However, if you want to save money…Continue reading How to Design an Ebook Cover
The Art of Rejection: Kathryn Stockett’s tale of never giving up
More Magazine features an essay by Kathryn Stockett, author of the wildly successful novel The Help, now a wildly successful film. It’s an old story, but worth repeating: novelist gets a zillion rejections, or 60, to be more precise, before finally landing an agent, a publisher, and a long-running spot at the top of just…Continue reading The Art of Rejection: Kathryn Stockett’s tale of never giving up