Flogging the Quill: Crafting a Novel that Sells (Paperback)

~ Ray Rhamey (Author)
Key Phrases: first sixteen lines, dialogue tags, experiential description, Ray Rhamey, Flogging the Quill, Dark Hills (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

It's a winner! For some time now, I've been a fan of Flogging the Quill, Rhamey's excellent blogsite about the how-to's of writing. Now he's compiled his expertise into a writing guide, and it's a must-have for any novelist--published or just aspiring. It's one of the most readable, entertaining books on writing out there. Whether you're writing your first novel or your twentieth, this book will provide the kick you need to start writing--and keep writing. Bestseller Tess Gerritsen

As an owner and managing editor of a publishing company, I've read many submissions that were near-misses. If the writers had had the benefit of this book, they'd be published right now. Witty, funny, and engaging, this is a must-read for the burgeoning storyteller and serious novelist, and it's a necessity for all editors who seek to nurture their writing clients. Laura Abbott, Editor/Publisher, Amber Quill Press

Learn the critical art of revision--ruthless and rigorous self-editing--from a man who understands it better than most. If you are ready to do the work, Ray Rhamey's book provides the sort of practical, sensible advice that really can help you become a better writer. Dan Conaway, Literary agent, Writers House

Product Description

Flogging the Quill is a one-book remedy for a host of beginning novelist ailments, a tune-up for published authors, and a resource for editors. Rich with advice and coaching from editor/author Ray Rhamey, Flogging the Quills primary focus is to lift a novel manuscript to a publishable, professional level. The books sections cover storytelling, determining what drives a plot, the six vital story ingredients, and tools for spotting shortcomings in a narrative. Writers also learn experiential description, how to handle the tricky character-description hurdle, staging, and overwriting. The when to tell, how to show lesson has been praised by literary agents and college teachers. If any one book can help you lift your novel to professional and publishable, this is it.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Flogging The Quill; First Edition edition (May 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0578009358
• ISBN-13: 978-0578009353
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #309,773 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A complete guide to the basic craft of writing, May 17, 2009

By	M. Inspektor - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent overview of all different aspects of the craft of writing-- from words to avoid ("of," "some") to ways to pace dialogue with beats to how to craft a compelling protagonist. The biggest weakness of this guide is also its biggest strength-- while Ray has an impressive resume, he is still at this point a student, editor, and teacher of novel writing rather than a published novelist himself. I recommend this novel especially to new writers who are having trouble with the basic elements of fiction-- I've read HOW TO WRITE THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, for example, and I think it is better for experienced novelists looking to be exceptional, while FLOGGING THE QUILL is better for new writers looking to master the technical side of novel writing. Ray is a great teacher who does a clear and comprehensive (as well as entertaining) job of bringing together advice from the best teachers in the biz and adding insights of his own.

The most useful sections to me included a helpful summery of McKee's (STORY) ideas about crafting protagonists, Ray's own epiphany about how we need to craft antagonists with motivations as complex as the protagonists, and the idea of granting characters "ghosts" and seeding future events early in the text.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable 'workshop in a book' for anyone seeking to hone their storytelling skills, June 13, 2009

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

No sector of the publishing industry is as competitive as that of fiction. The competition facing any aspiring novelist is intense and only the best, most imaginative, and technically skilled will succeed. That's why 'how to' books like Ray Rhamey's "Flogging The Quill: Crafting A Novel That Sells" is such important, practical, and recommended reading for anyone who is seeking to establish a profitable career writing fiction, regardless of the genre they choose to specialize in. Drawing upon his years of experience as an author and editor, and as the creator of the 'litblog' 'Flogging the Quill' where writers from around the world can explore the craft of storytelling, Ray Rhamey has organized his instruction manual into seven major sections: Storytelling; Description; Dialogue; Technique; Words; Workouts; and Computer Tips. An invaluable compendium that is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Flogging The Quill" will prove to be an invaluable 'workshop in a book' for anyone seeking to hone their storytelling skills and produce novels that will be able to successfully compete for publication and sales.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Investment, February 24, 2010

By	Shannon "Aspiring Author" (Maine) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been reading Ray's website, Flogging the Quill, for several months. I intended to purchase a copy of his book at some point, but it took me a while to finally make the purchase. As an aspiring author in the Internet age, I thought there was enough information out there in the blogosphere to provide me with everything I needed for my arsenal. Boy, was I wrong. I wish that I would have purchased Flogging the Quill months ago. Had I bought the book when I first learned about it, I'm confident it would have saved me a tremendous amount of time and effort in the crafting, writing, and rewriting of my first novel.

Seriously, I love this book. First of all, the size is great. Funny thing to say, I know, but hear me out...I expected a small, hand-held paperback. I was pleasantly surprised to get a large workbook. Having enough room to write notes on the pages (instead of inside of a tiny margin) was tremendously helpful. Second, the book is filled with great real-world examples that clearly explain topics. And finally, Ray's voice is incredibly easy to follow - he takes complex concepts and breaks them down into a way that just "click" and make sense.

If you are writing a novel, planning on writing or novel, or have just thought about writing a novel - invest in this book. It's well worth every dollar spent! Thanks Ray!