101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists: Insider Secrets from Top Writers [Paperback]

Andrew McAleer (Author), Bill Pronzini (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

This title focuses on the behaviors necessary to succeed in the dog-eat-dog world of fiction writing by asking successful authors how they practice their craft. Readers will learn how to adopt those habits on their quest to become novelists. The book will inspire, nourish, and provide the needed kick in the pants to turn the wannabes into doers! The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists is full of ?aha? experiences as the reader uncovers the collected wisdom from the cream of today?s fiction writers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Andrew McAleer is the author of several books and an editor. Andrew is an active member of the Private Eye Writers of America and has contributed to numerous publications. President of the Boston Authors Club and teaches at Boston College.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Adams Media (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598695894
• ISBN-13: 978-1598695892
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Covers the following success factors well: creative, orginal, good storyteller, voracious reader, passionate, and disciplined!, November 3, 2008

By 

Jeff Lippincott "JLIPPIN" (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists: Insider Secrets from Top Writers (Paperback)

I liked this book a lot. Besides books on small business and nonprofit management/fundraising, I love to check out good books on writing. I don't find many new ones that are good because they all seem to say pretty much the same ol same ol. But this one, the one being reviewed, seemed to rise above the pile and stand out. I found it to be worthy of a review.

If you are lucky enough to get hold of this book, then you will be able to read it and learn that successful writers are good at the following:

>>Be creative
>>Be original
>>Be a good storyteller
>>Be a voracious reader
>>Be passionate
>>Be disciplined
>>Be a marketer (self promoter & promoter of your books)
>>Be a strategic planner (write something that will sell)

The book is split into four parts: (1) Passion, (2) Creativity, (3) Discipline, and (4) The Business. I found the first three parts to be great. Take a look at the Search Inside feature provided by Amazon to examine the Table of Contents for this book. It is a fairly detailed TOC and you will learn a lot about what is covered.

I thought the first three parts of the book were very well done. They were well written and well organized. My only criticism of the book comes with regard to Part IV. Times are changing in the writing world. With the advent of PCs, POD publishing options, and the Internet, writers are no longer required to play flunky to publishers. The author partly acknowledges this. But he does not explain it in graphic detail and fully inform the reader of how things are today (at least in my opinion). Where was the chapter on blogging? Where's the chapter on Myspace? Where was the chapter on strategic planning? And where was the chapter on writing a good book or two that you simply give away or sell from your Web site in order to create an author platform (self promotion tool)?

Other books you may want to read to supplement this book's Part IV include: "The Web Savvy Writer" (websavvywriter dot com), "The Author's Guide to Building an Online Platform" (ISBN: 1884956823), and "The IndieAuthor Guide" (ISBN: 1434857689). 5 stars!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Writers Really Need, November 18, 2008

By 

M. Ockfen "MOCK" (Billings, MT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists: Insider Secrets from Top Writers (Paperback)

After years of toying with the idea of becoming a "novelist," I have decided to get serious about it. So my first step was to look through books on the subject. I am not dumb regarding the subject; so many books were far too trite to warrant purchasing. THIS book was an exception. The quotes from various authors would be enough to justify owning this book, but the advice from the author is also somewhat unconventional and has already helped me to organize my thoughts and get words on paper in what promises to be an excellent use of my time - and that's really what this process is all about.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, quick snippets, January 18, 2009

By 

S. Fiori - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists: Insider Secrets from Top Writers (Paperback)

Don't expect a large book that goes into detail about how to construct a successful plot, or even the characteristics of one. It is all very general advice, your usual, but each "habit" includes good advice from successful writers. That's what makes this book helpful; it gives you a look into the mindset of published, best-selling and award-winning writers. I don't get the feeling it's meant to be read front-to-cover, rather it's just something that you can open up if you need advice on any part or stage of writing. It is more of a reference than a book, but it can be taken either way. I recommend it; it's simplicity makes it readable and valuable.