Most Helpful Customer Reviews
117 of 123 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this book!, February 3, 2008
This review is from: Book in a Month: The Fool-Proof System for Writing a Novel in 30 Days (Spiral-bound)
I've been waiting for this book to be published for the last couple of months. And I was so excited to finally get it in the mail yesterday.
The actual product is even better than what I expected. I have looked at Victoria Schmidts other books and Story Structure Architect was interesting but too complicated for me.
This book is a workbook. You write in it - but its not one of those complicated workbooks that make you write backline and huge character outlines and then piece them all together later. Instead it walks you through the process of writing a novel on a daily basis. It's not a book about writing - its a book for writing. As Schmidt says in the intro "You cannot read a book on writing and then poof become an author (though books are great guides)No you must experience the act of writing to be an author...the only way you can do this is to write, from beginning to end a story. And then do it again and again. Then you will have the experience. Then you will be an author."
What differs this book from other book in a month style books is the structure. Its easy to follow, the daily tasks are manageable, it follows the classic 3 act structure. It's basically a template for writing the book you want to write. Plus it has online support if you want to be part of a community.
Writers Digest did a GREAT job in the layout and design of the book so you can write directly in it and it has a ring binder so you can lay it flat while writing.
I wanted a book to jump start my writing again as I have been out of practice. This is exactly what I needed. I know I will buy a new copy each time I write a book.
I used to buy screenwriting books to study story structure. Finally thankfully books on the craft of novel writing are focusing more on story structure too. This does not take away from the creative process but rather provides a strong framework for you to unleash your creativity.
So if you want to write a novel, buy the book, get your [...] in a chair, pick up a pen and use the book everyday for a month...you'll have a novel.
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103 of 111 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely useful, November 3, 2008
This review is from: Book in a Month: The Fool-Proof System for Writing a Novel in 30 Days (Spiral-bound)
Well, I got this book 3 weeks ago because I was finally going to bite the bullet and power through writing a book and I needed the tight deadline and accompanying rigid discipline something like this demands.
My first impression: It's fantastic, exciting, and exactly what I was looking for. The book and it's author Schmidt give quite a lot of inspiration with an angle only a book like this can have. Really, all writer-motivating books promise some sort of personal fulfillment through writing, but this is the first one I've read that puts that goal solidly within reach (30 days out). Plus, the book is meant to be a structuring guide through the process, with places to note things like subplot ideas, character sketches, story outline as well as day-by-day exercises meant to take you closer to your goal.
The difference between this BIAM and the NANOWRIMO one is that it's intended to give you something incredibly solid and usable by the end. Baty's NANO is more about an explosion of creative productivity and this one is about ordering chaos. Both lead you to a "book" in 30 days. Schmidt's makes sure your book has a solid 3 act structure that adheres to the most successful conventions of storytelling.
Why only 3 stars? Well, I'm now on day three and I haven't been able to force myself through one page of the workbook section. I read the inspirational lead in (about 64 pages), got caught up in the NANOWRIMO excitement, and now I can't stop writing long enough to follow the exercises and fill in the blanks in the book. It frankly scares me too much with it's structure and guidelines. I don't want to direct my novel-writing energy to filling out its worksheets and answering its questions.
But I can say that if I DID, I know it would improve my work and seriously help. Also, if I was having a hard time keeping track of all my ideas or focusing them into a narrative arc, this book would solve that easily.
I think this would be much better for a person's second attempt at a 30-day novel. But seriously worth the money for the inspirational intro, and the possibility of using this as a rewrite guide when i'm done (one of its intended uses).
______________________
Update:
I gave the system a more concerted effort last november, and was able to get halfway through week 2 before noting another problem (and a great benefit): I was so focused on completing the worksheets and assignments that I neglected to actually write. At one point, after slogging through a particularly long set of worksheets, I proudly turned to the next day and hit something like: "By now you should be halfway to your wordcount goal." No. In fact, I had just spent all my free time doing the busy work and NOT writing! At this point I closed the book, took a deep breath and put it away (for good). My fault, but I felt weirdly sucker-punched.
On the plus side, I got a nice outline with rough character sketches, ten scene sketches, and complete story arc out of it. But no finished novel.
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37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Helpful, April 6, 2008
This review is from: Book in a Month: The Fool-Proof System for Writing a Novel in 30 Days (Spiral-bound)
I got this book on almost a whim because I was struggling to get to the first 100 pages of my project. I was surprised to find that it motivated me and made me see some things I didn't see.
What I like about it: It really did get me out of eeking out a few hundred words and into writing much more. One of the most eye opening things was that I didn't need to do the first draft with subplots and could work them in later. I also liked the outline format because it didn't go a standard outline route that's always hung me up in the past.
What I didn't like: Some things weren't explained and left me confused. Someone else mentioned setting, but I also wanted to see an explanation of a temporary triumph.
I'm having a hard time understanding why the author didn't put the forms up on her Web site to be downloaded for reuse. Instead, we're told to buy another version of the book just to create a second project. At $22, that's expensive for a set of forms--and small forms at that.
It's a good book to use if you want to learn how to write faster, but expect to be confused by some one of the questions.
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