The Ultimate Novel Writing Guide
If you like this website, you will love the Ultimate Guide to Novel Writing. Put simply, if the information freely available online is the "tip", the Ultimate Guide is truly the iceberg.
Interested? Then read on...
Are You Serious About Novel Writing Success?
Of course you are. And that's why you need the best fiction writing advice available.
Raw talent alone is not enough to make it as a published writer. I've been helping newcomers for many years, and I have yet to meet a writer without potential. A willingness to work at it isn't enough, either - though it's crucial, of course.
So what does separate those who make it in novel writing from those who don't? In my experience, the number one factor is this...
Professional writers have mastered the "rules" of writing a novel - and learned when to break them, too. Amateur writers have not.
When manuscripts are rejected by agents, it is nearly always down to one of the "classic" mistakes:
- Weak characterization
- A plot full of holes
- Poor pacing
- Inconsistent handling of viewpoint
- Clunky dialogue
- Overwritten prose
- And so on...
With the help of the Ultimate Guide to Novel Writing you, too, can become a master of your craft and get agents to say "yes".
What Makes the Ultimate Guide Different?
Two words: breadth and depth...
The Ultimate Guide to Novel Writing is broad because it covers areas that most writing guides barely mention, if they mention them at all (theme is a good example). And the guide is deep because it doesn't just skim the surface of a subject but gets right down to its core - and that's the kind of knowledge you need if you want to make it as a novel writer.
I have devoted my working life to studying and teaching the art and craft of how to write a novel.
You know all those "how to" books you see in the shops? Well, I've read them all - including all the out-of-print ones.
And you know those fiction writing courses that often come with a hefty price tag? Well, I've taken quite a few in my time and have even tutored my own.
In short, you won't have to do all the hard work of figuring out how great fiction is constructed because I've already done it for you...
I have kept all the good advice that I've encountered in my studies (all those time-tested techniques that come up again and again). I've dumped all the misleading or plain wrong advice (there's a lot of that around, I'm afraid, especially online). I've added plenty of my own thoughts and theories on how to write fiction that sells (based on reading and analyzing many thousands of novels). And I have packaged all the information into a seriously-detailed yet easily-understood writing guide.
(You can read more about me here)
A Closer Look at the Ultimate Guide to Novel Writing
The Ultimate Guide will teach you everything you need to know to write a novel, in the order you need to know it.
No more searching in vain for quality information online. No more conflicting or misleading or incomplete advice. Just a wealth of in-depth, time-tested techniques at your fingertips.
The Ultimate Guide to Novel Writing adds up to over 500 pages of quality information - information you can read through once to get the "big picture" of how to write a novel, and then dip into time and again.
And it's easy to navigate, too...
There is a detailed contents page that is "clickable" - meaning you can jump straight to the section you want. The guide is fully searchable too. And you are free, of course, to print it out if you wish and study in the old-fashioned way.
The Ultimate Guide to Novel Writing in Detail
Like I said, the guide is over 500 pages long (or over 165,000 words, in case you think I've filled it up with a lot of white space and pointless pictures).
It consists of 16 sections. Broadly speaking, they cover similar ground to the material on the website - though in far, far greater depth, of course. Plus there is loads of material not found on the site at all.
Here are the contents of the 16 sections in detail. Not all of the headings will make sense right now, but they will when you read the guide itself...
1. The Novel Writing Process
INTRODUCTION
WHY WRITING A NOVEL ISN’T LIKE BAKING A CAKE
STEP 1: GET READY TO BECOME A WRITER
STEP 2: DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF NOVEL TO WRITE
STEP 3: BRAINSTORM FOR IDEAS
STEP 4: ROAD-TEST THE IDEA
STEP 5: WRITE A DETAILED PLAN
STEP 6: PUT TOGETHER THE “FINAL PLAN"
Creating a Final Plan
Novels and Time
PLANNING A NOVEL VS. WRITING A NOVEL
STEP 7: WRITE YOUR NOVEL
Writing a First Draft
Revising your Novel
Revising for Content
Revising for Style
Two Ways of Writing a Novel
STEP 8: SELL YOUR NOVEL
BEYOND THE NOVEL WRITING PROCESS
THE IMPORTANCE OF READING
Why Reading Novels is Important
How to Read Novels
BREAKING THE RULES
2. Becoming A Writer
INTRODUCTION
THE KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL NOVEL WRITING
Talent
A Love of Reading
Imagination and Curiosity
A Willingness to Work Hard
A Knowledge of the Novel Writing “Rules”
WHY WRITE A NOVEL?
The Challenge
Exploring Unrealized Possibilities
The Chance to Play God
Catharsis
CAN YOU MAKE MONEY WRITING NOVELS?
ARE NOVELS DEAD?
The Future of Paper
Are Bookshops Dead?
Is Traditional Publishing Dead?
So Are Novels Dead?
WRITING NOVELS WITH HONESTY
BE THE BEST WRITER YOU CAN BE
FINDING THE TIME TO WRITE
HOW LONG DOES WRITING A NOVEL TAKE?
How Long Is a Novel?
So How Long Will It Take?
AN OUTLINE FOR WRITING A NOVEL IN ONE YEAR
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
GETTING ORGANIZED
3. Getting Creative
HARNESSING YOUR CREATIVITY
Introducing the Artist and the Craftsman
Using the Artist and Craftsman to Find Ideas
Using the Artist and Craftsman to Plan a Novel
Using the Artist and Craftsman to Write a Novel
Using the Artist and Craftsman to Revise a Novel
More Ways to Get Creative
Don’t Give In to Self-Doubt
Learn From Criticism
Don’t Talk About Your Writing
Don’t Fire Before Taking Aim
Train the Artist
Allow Yourself to Daydream
Don’t Be a Perfectionist
Learn to Look Forward to Writing
Learn to Quieten the Conscious Mind
Let the Artist Play
BEATING WRITER’S BLOCK
Take your Time
Keep your Eyes on the Road Ahead
Write in the Right Environment
Plan What to Say in Advance
Don’t Write your Novel in Order
Prepare for Tomorrow Today
Take the Chapter out for a Walk
Work means Work
Write as Badly as you Want
Do Something Different
Be Easy on Yourself
Don't Forget to Have Fun
4. Types of Novel
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS GENRE FICTION?
WHAT IS LITERARY FICTION?
In Literary Fiction, Character Comes Before Plot
Literary Fiction Is More Meaningful
In Literary Fiction, “Fine” Writing Is Essential
In Literary Fiction, Anything Goes
WHAT IS MAINSTREAM FICTION?
Mainstream Fiction Is Genre or Literary Fiction That Sells Well
Mainstream Fiction Is Genre Fiction That Breaks Too Many Rules
Mainstream Fiction Is a Category All By Itself
A SUMMARY OF YOUR OPTIONS
WHAT IS A NOVEL’S PURPOSE?
Why Do We Read Novels?
How Does This Help With Writing Novels?
A GUIDE TO THE FICTION GENRES
Mystery and Crime Fiction
Thrillers and Suspense Novels
Horror Fiction
Romantic Fiction
Women’s Fiction
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Other Genres of Fiction
Historical Fiction
Action/Adventure Novels
Westerns
Children’s and Young Adult Fiction
GENRE FICTION AND CONVENTIONS
Learning the Conventions
Breaking the Conventions
5. Finding Ideas
INTRODUCTION
WHAT ARE NOVEL IDEAS?
WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM?
FINDING IDEAS 1: BRAINSTORMING
Finding Ideas for Characters
Finding Ideas for Plots
Finding Ideas for Themes
Finding Ideas for Settings
FINDING IDEAS 2: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Worked Example 1
Worked Example 2
ARE YOUR IDEAS ANY GOOD?
ROAD-TESTING AN IDEA
WRITING AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL FICTION
The Trouble with Autobiographical Fiction
How to Write About What You Know
Use Your Own Specialized Knowledge
Use Fragments From Your Experiences
Use the Emotional Truths Behind Your Experiences
ONE NOVEL, ONE IDEA
6. Theme and Symbolism
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS THEME?
WHY THEME MATTERS
Theme Adds Dimension
Theme Helps Readers to Understand
Theme Is Curative
THEME AND THE WRITING PROCESS
How to Handle Theme when Finding Ideas
How to Handle Theme when Planning
How to Handle Theme when Writing
How to Handle Theme when Revising
THEME: A FINAL CAVEAT
ALL ABOUT SYMBOLISM
What Is Symbolism?
Symbolism in Novels
Why Use Symbolism?
Where to Use Symbolism
Symbolizing a Character’s Goal
Symbolizing a Character’s Feelings
Symbolism as Suggestion
How to Handle Symbolism
7. Creating Characters
INTRODUCTION
CHARACTER VS. PLOT
TYPES OF CHARACTER
The Four Main Types of Character
Major and Minor Characters
Round Characters
What Are Round Characters?
How Are Round Characters Created?
Flat Characters
What Makes Characters Flat?
Making Flat Characters Memorable
Balancing Your Cast
THE FIRST RULE OF CHARACTER CREATION
Make Characters Charismatic
Make Characters Likeable
Make Characters Interesting
Make Characters Both Ordinary and Extraordinary
Make Characters Well-Motivated
Make Characters Dynamic
Make Characters Good At What They Do
Make Your Characters A Little Unhappy
Final Thoughts
HEROES AND VILLAINS
How to Create Loveable Characters
How to Create Hateable Characters
But Don’t Overdo It
ROMANTIC AND REALISTIC CHARACTERS
Romantic Fictional Characters
Realistic Fictional Characters
Romantic Realism, Realistic Romanticism
STEP 1: GETTING TO KNOW CHARACTERS
What Is Their Name?
Four Tips for Finding the Perfect Name
How Old Are They?
What Do They Look Like?
Do They Use Any Props?
How Do They Speak?
What Are They Like As a Person?
What Do They Like and Dislike?
Who Do They Know?
Where Do They Live?
What Do They Do?
What About Their Past?
What Is Their Role in the Story?
STEP 2: BRINGING CHARACTERS TO LIFE
How to Bring Fictional Characters to Life
Six Ways of Characterizing
How They Look
What They Do
What They Say
What They Think
The Opinions of Others
What They Want – and Why
Revealing Characters Gradually
CREATING UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS
Making Characters Memorable
Making Characters Believable
LETTING GO OF FICTIONAL CHARACTERS
Why Do Writers Get So Attached to Characters?
Not Ending at the End
Writing Bad Sequels
8. Understanding Point of View
INTRODUCTION
THE IMPORTANCE OF MASTERING POINT OF VIEW
UNDERSTANDING THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW
The Author and the Narrator
The Narrator’s Role
The Viewpoint Character
The Protagonist
UNDERSTANDING FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW
The Author and the Narrator
The Viewpoint Character
The Protagonist
WRITING IN THE THIRD PERSON
Worked Example
WRITING IN THE FIRST PERSON
Worked Example
CHOOSING A VIEWPOINT CHARACTER
Who to Choose as a Protagonist
Who to Choose as a Viewpoint Character
WRITING A MULTIPLE VIEWPOINT NOVEL
The Pros and Cons of Multiple Viewpoint Novels
Writing a Third Person Multiple Viewpoint Novel
Writing a First Person Multiple Viewpoint Novel
When and How To Switch Viewpoints
Multiple Viewpoint Novels and Subplots
9. Choosing a Point of View
INTRODUCTION
THE PROS AND CONS OF FIRST PERSON
First Person Point of View is More Straightforward
First Person Point of View is More Intimate
First Person Point of View is Less Immediate
First Person Point of View Can be Claustrophobic
First Person Point of View is Less Objective
First Person Point of View is Less Versatile
THE PROS AND CONS OF THIRD PERSON
Third Person Point of View is Less Straightforward
Third Person Point of View is Less Intimate
Third Person Point of View is More Immediate
Third Person Point of View is Less Claustrophobic
Third Person Point of View is More Objective
Third Person Point of View Gives you More Freedom
SO WHICH POINT OF VIEW IS BEST?
LESS COMMON VIEWPOINTS
The First Person Observer
The Unreliable Narrator
Third Person “Cinematic” & “Character” Viewpoints
The Epistolary Novel
Third Person Omniscient Point of View
What Sets an Omniscient Narrator Apart?
Does Omniscience Have a Place Today?
Second Person Point of View
OTHER CHOICES
Past Tense vs. Present Tense
Mixing it Up
10. Plotting a Novel
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS A PLOT?
OVERALL PLOT STRUCTURE
HOW TO HOOK THE READER
What Makes a Page Turner?
Where Do Compelling Questions Come From?
PLOTTING THE NOVEL’S BEGINNING
An Introduction to Beginnings
Step 1: Start With the Status Quo
Step 2: And Then Something Happens
Step 3: The Character Makes a Decision to Act
Beginning a Novel “In Media Res”
Beginning a Novel Chronologically
“In Media Res” In Action
PLOTTING THE NOVEL’S MIDDLE
An Introduction to Middles
Introducing “Mini Plots”
Step 1: The First Mini Plot
Step 2: More Mini Plots
Step 3: Rock Bottom
PLOTTING THE NOVEL’S ENDING
An Introduction to Endings
Step 1: Reaction
Step 2: Rebirth
Step 3: Seizing the Prize (or Not)
Step 4: The New Status Quo
“Deus Ex Machina” Endings
Happy Endings
RECAP OF THE 10 STEPS
PLOT DIAGRAM
11. Advanced Plotting
INTRODUCTION
ADDING SUBPLOTS
What Are Subplots?
Why Are Subplots Important?
How to Handle Subplots
FORESHADOWING
Why Foreshadow?
Nine Examples of Foreshadowing
How to Foreshadow
BACKSTORY AND EXPOSITION
What Is Exposition?
How to Handle Exposition
FLASHBACKS
What Are Flashbacks?
How to Handle Flashbacks
ON CHARACTERS CHANGING
No Change
Massive Change
Subtle Change
MIXING UP THE CHRONOLOGY
Beginning a Plot “In Media Res”
Starting Any Scene “In Media Res”
Other Ways to Change the Chronology
WRITING A PLOT YOUR OWN WAY
12. Narrative Structure
INTRODUCTION
THE ELEMENTS OF FICTION
Action
Dialogue
Narration
Description
Thoughts and Feelings
Background Information
SHOWING AND TELLING
What Is Showing?
What Is Telling?
When to Show and When to Tell
CONTROLLING THE PACE
When to Speed Up and When to Slow Down
How to Control Pace
Showing vs. Telling
Showing vs. Really Showing
WRITING TO LENGTH
ANATOMY OF A NOVEL
Chapters
Parts
Prologues
Epilogues
Titles
Where Do Titles Come From?
What Makes a Good Title?
Breaking the Rules
13. Building the Setting
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS SETTING?
The Eight Elements of Setting
The Central Location
The Wider Geography
Particular Buildings, Etc
Activities and Occupations
The Flora and Fauna
The Weather
Local Customs, Etc
Soul
Giving Setting Focus
FICTIONAL SETTINGS VS. REAL SETTINGS
STEP 1: GETTING TO KNOW THE SETTING
STEP 2: BRINGING THE SETTING TO LIFE
Revealing Setting in the Right Order
The Importance of Gradual Revelation
Who is Doing the Describing?
14. Writing Prose
INTRODUCTION
FINDING YOUR WRITING VOICE
WRITING SIMPLY
PROSE WRITING 101
Don’t Overuse Adjectives and Adverbs
Avoid Writing In the Passive Voice
Avoid Using Weak Qualifiers
Avoid Using Unnecessary Words
State Things In the Positive, Not the Negative
Prefer the Concrete to the Abstract
Prefer Simple Words to Fancy Ones
Rearrange Sentences for Strength
THE ART OF DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
Details, Details, Details
Use the Best Details you Can Imagine
Don’t Use Too Many Details
Show Details in Motion
Engaging the Senses
Sight
Smell
Sound
Taste
Touch
The Sixth Sense
Similes and Metaphors
The Basics
When to Use Similes and Metaphors
Other Figures of Speech
Personification
Hyperbole
Onomatopoeia
Cadence
Alliteration
Allusion
Worked Example
WRITING WITH VARIETY
ON READABILITY
15. Writing Dialogue
INTRODUCTION
THE KING OF DIALOGUE RULES
GIVING DIALOGUE A PURPOSE
Dialogue Should Drive the Story Forward
Dialogue Should Characterize
Dialogue Should Provide Information
KEEPING DIALOGUE CONCISE
MAKING DIALOGUE FLOW
Watch your Use of Tags
Vary the Length of the Lines
Break Up the Dialogue With Prose
STOPPING CHARACTERS ALL SOUNDING THE SAME
Who Are They?
What Is Their Personal Vocabulary?
What Are They Like at a Party?
Who Are They Talking to?
AUTHENTIC DIALOGUE
Five Ways to Write Authentic Dialogue
INDIRECT DIALOGUE
The Problem
The Solution
PUNCTUATING DIALOGUE
16. Writing About Sex
INTRODUCTION
RULE #1 – SEX IS NOT COMPULSORY
RULE #2 – YOU’RE NOT WRITING A MANUAL
RULE #3 – PORNOGRAPHY IS NOT SEXY
RULE #4 – VIEWPOINT IS KEY
RULE #5 – SEX DOESN’T START IN THE BEDROOM
RULE #6 – THE SEX DOESN’T HAVE TO BE GREAT
RULE #7 – CALL A SPADE A SPADE
RULE #8 – DON’T FORGET THE MOOD MUSIC
RULE #9 – IT NEED NOT TAKE TWO TO TANGO
FINAL THOUGHTS
Click this link to read a sample from the Ultimate Guide to Writing a Novel (opens in new window)
A Few Testimonials...
(The original emails are kept on file)
"Harvey, this is the best ever writers site I have been to and everything I could possibly need and want is all in one complete site. I don't have to deal with conflicting information and your Ultimate Guide is a great add-on for writers so they don't have to buy many different books. It is also well worth the price you are charging for excellent advice."
Rebecca Anne Dillon, Wolverhampton, UK
"Hi Harvey. I would like to thank you for the greatest writing website that has ever been created...your work over the last 12 months has helped me to improve my writing skills as a future novelist. In all honestly, if I am ever to write a published novel it will be because of this website of yours."
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"Wow! All I can say is Wow! I've been reading your information in detail for the last two and half to three hours and I've learned more in that short time than many of the half day classes I've attended. I mean, already some of the points you made, especially in the characterization section, have prompted new insights into how to flesh out my main character. Even though I love my main character - I created him after all - he was still kind of a cardboard cut-out to me. Already you've jump started the creative juices....so thanks a million!"
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Pricing and Ordering
Before getting down to business, please be aware of the following:
In the unlikely event that you are less than delighted with your purchase, I will refund your money in full within 30 days. No questions, no quibbles, just a simple refund - guaranteed. The eBook is available for download immediately after payment - even at 3 in the morning! Payment is in US Dollars, but the amount will be converted to your local currency during checkout. (You will see the amount in your own currency on the "Review Your Payment" page, before you commit to paying.) Payment is through PayPal and is therefore 100% secure. You can use your PayPal account to pay or, if you don't have one, your credit or debit card
So how much am I charging for over 500 pages of premium novel writing information?
The Ultimate Guide to Novel Writing costs just $49.95
Remember, the eBook is over 500 pages long and will be the only writing guide you will ever need. Studying and teaching the art and craft of novel writing has been my lifetime's work, and every helpful technique that has ever been devised is contained in the Ultimate Guide.
Also remember that I offer a full money back guarantee if you are less than delighted. (To date, nobody has ever taken me up on it.)
And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me - I work on the website full time and check my emails regularly.
- Harvey
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