How to Write Best Selling Fiction [Hardcover]

Dean R. Koontz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1981

From dust jacket notes: "...In this book, Dean Koontz, whose own books have sold more than 25 million copies, shares his insight into the publishing world and shows writers how to write the kind of book that a publisher can promote as a lead title - a well-written, thoroughly researched, complex, wide-appeal novel that can sell the millions of copies necessary to finance an extensive advertising and promotion campaign. Koontz takes a practical, detailed approach to the art, craft, and business of novel writing. You'll learn how to structure a story for greatest reader appeal, how to provide depth of characterization without slowing the pace, and how to recognize and use the sort of theme that is timely and appealing. Plus you'll receive thorough instruction on other writing techniques as they apply to today's novel, including background, viewpoint, scene setting, transitions, and dialogue. On the business side, Koontz gives an insider's view of how to deal profitably with editors and agents, advice on contracts, and tips on paperback and book club sales, foreign rights, and film rights. His final advice to writers is to read, read, read. To help you get started, he supplies a list of today's best-sellers which will provide further insight into the kind of novel that will succeed today...."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 309 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books; 1st edition (September 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089879045X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898790450
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania where I graduated from Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University). When I was a senior in college, I won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition and have been writing ever since. My first job after graduation was with the Appalachian Poverty Program, where I was expected to counsel and tutor underprivileged children on a one-to-one basis. During my first day on the job, I discovered that the previous occupier of my position had been beaten up by the very kids he had been trying to help and had landed in the hospital for several weeks. The following year was filled with challenge but also tension, and I was more highly motivated than ever to build a career as a writer. I wrote nights and weekends, which I continued to do after leaving the poverty program and going to work as an English teacher in a suburban school district outside Harrisburg. After a year and a half in that position, my wife, Gerda, made me an offer I couldn't refuse: "I'll support you for five years," she said, "and if you can't make it as a writer in that time, you'll never make it." By the end of those five years, Gerda had quit her job to run the business end of my writing career. Gerda and I, along with our dog, Trixie, live in southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PACKED WITH USEFUL INFORMATION, June 19, 2000

By 

"justicewriter" - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Write Best Selling Fiction (Hardcover)

I like the premise that Koontz starts with here: that your goal as a writer should be to have as many people as possible read your book. That is my goal as a writer, and I found the book incredibly helpful and insightful. Obviously, Koontz knows what he's talking about, with millions of books in print.

This is a very practical guide: long on examples and practical lists and short on voodoo and magic. Koontz breaks writing down into understandable pieces, whereas some writing books I've read spend far too much time on touchy-feely things that are hard to understand or emulate.

There is much practical advice here, not only in the writing of best-sellers, but also in the business of books, dealing with contracts and agents, etc. There's even a reading list of books and authors that will inspire the aspiring novelist.

My one complaint is that, even in the 20 years since this was written, the publishing industry has changed dramatically. I would LOVE to see Koontz update this tome with a 21st century edition, addressing some of the changes he's seen in the course of his career. I'd also like to see an updated reading list...I wonder which authors Koontz would praise now?

An excellent resource for writers, even if you have to pay quite a bit for it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I've changed my mind - wish I could put five stars on this book and not three., August 23, 2007

By 

Daniel - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Write Best Selling Fiction (Hardcover)

OK, I have been changing my review of this book for a couple of times. The first time I considered it was a three stars book because I was expecting someting else. Then I read the book again and I changed my mind about it. This is the third time I read it and now I can say this book is mind blowing. If you want to write bestsellers this as a good place to come and learn.

I just love how the author defends commercial writing and put it above the so-called "art writing". In recent times I've come across people and schools that look down at commercial writing and think their "artful writing" is much more valuable. I think not. Koontz proves his case by talking about some of the most successful writers of all times. Does Dickens sound familiar. Well, he's just one example of many.

Also, there are hidden jewels in this text. For example, I bought a dvd workshop that talks about a very exclusive method to develop a plot. This workshop claims that you will find this method in very few places. They sell this workshop with some degree of hype. Well Koontz explains the whole thing in a couple of pages -no hype, just the truth about the plot points common to all good and selling fiction. So, with Koontz you get the very best information on how to grow a plot without hype.

Another example of the secrets in this book has to do with methodology. Like it or not, the most difficult aspect to grasp about writing is methodology. How does a writer create? How does a writer come up with story ideas? Well, I have had to search in many many books on this topic. After searching a lot I found some very good ideas on the best methods to write stories. Then I came back and read Koontz again... and guess what? Yes! Some of those methods are right here.

I really don't know why the first time I read Koonts work I didn't see how rich and valuable it was. It has gone way up in my list of favorite creative writing books. It is now close to "Techniques of the Selling Writer" by Swain -which is still the best book I've found on creative writing so far.


Now, as time has passed I can see why many people like it. If you ask me, all I can say is that the book is not so much about techniques of effective writing. The book does address some techniques but the real main subject of this book is way of thinking about good selling fiction. The author presents a series of arguments to support his idea of what he calls "main stream fiction". On the one hand there are the "academic creative writing" books. Koonz gives reasons why you should run in the opposite direction when ever that kind of books and approach to writing is trying to influence you. On the other hand there are the "formulaic genre books" such as mystery novels, romance novels, etc. Koonz gives reasons why you should not under any circumstance choose that path.

Without "academic fiction" and "genre fiction" what do we have left? Main stream fiction. The rest of the book is an explanation of how main stream fiction differs from "academic fiction" and "genre fiction".

In some ways this book has a high dosis of Zen for writers. It is about your approach to writing and how to turn your writing into the most popular writing it can ever be.

Table of content.

1. A brief explanation of the author purpose.
2. Writing the great American novel.
3. The changing marketplace.
4. Creating and structuring a story line.
5. Action, action, action.
6. Heroes and heroines.
7. Creating believable characters.
8. Achieving plausibility through believable character motivation.
9. Background.
10. Grammar and Syntax.
11. Style.
12. Two Genres: Science Fiction and Mysteries.
13. A few more pitfalls to avoid.
14. Selling what you write.
15. Read, read, read.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars required reading for writers, December 7, 2002

By 

David Group (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Write Best Selling Fiction (Hardcover)

This is the Bible for anyone who wants to write good commercial fiction. His no-b.s. approach to writing is refreshing in an area filled with mediocre books. This book may be expensive and hard to find (it should be updated, or at least brought back in print), but is well worth the effort in tracking it down, as much of what he says is still valid.