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The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the story within [Kindle Edition]

Alan Watt
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Alan Watt wrote the first draft of his novel Diamond Dogs in just under 90 days, and later sold the North American rights for $500,000 to Little, Brown in a bidding war. The book became a national bestseller, won a slew of awards and is soon to be a major motion picture.

Get the first draft down quickly! The 90-Day Novel is a day-by-day guide through the process of getting the first draft of your novel onto the page. The 90-Day Novel was workshopped at LA Writers' Lab over three years and has helped hundreds of writers complete their work. Some of his students have gone on to become bestselling authors and win major literary awards.

The 90-Day Novel is structured into three parts. Part One describes the process of getting your story from imagination to the page and prepares you, through a few simple, powerful writing exercises to access the story within. Part Two is The 90-Day Novel, a series of 90 daily letters that will guide you through the hero's journey. Writers often tend to get stuck halfway through, mired somewhere in their "idea" of the story. The 90-Day Novel will show you how and why you got stuck, and how to get to the end of your first draft. Part Three is a compendium of stream-of-consciousness writing exercises designed to help you access the primal forces in your story, as well as the Structure Questions that will invite up images at key stages in your hero's journey.

The 90-Day Novel teaches you how to distill your plot to its nature, and clarifies the mysterious process of assembling vague disparate images into a coherent narrative. Working in this way, story structure (which is often taught as a formula) becomes a springboard, setting you free to explore the far reaches of your imagination. "There are no rules," Watt tells us. "Stay out of your left brain, and let your unconscious do the heavy lifting." The 90-Day Novel clearly articulates the process of marrying the rigor of story structure to the wildness of the imagination, and in the process reminds us of something we so often forget...that writing is actually fun.
"For years I have been fascinated by the industry legend of how Alan Watt wrote his masterful novel, Diamond Dogs, in 90 days. Now, at last, he shares his secrets. The 90-Day Novel is smart, insightful, thorough and wise. It's also one of the best books on novel-writing I have ever seen. I feel confident that anyone who takes this program seriously will have a solid manuscript to show for the effort."
- David Liss (national bestselling author and Edgar Award winner of A Conspiracy of Paper)

"The idea of bringing a first draft of a novel to fruition seemed too daunting and overwhelming to even consider until I was introduced to The 90-Day Novel. Al's methodology is deep and precise and helps unearth subconscious themes and characters in you that let the story almost tell itself."
- Rebecca de Mornay (actress/writer)




Editorial Reviews

Review

"I went $64,000 in debt for my MFA in fiction writing. After reading The 90-Day Novel I wonder why. This book will provide you with the tools missing from most writing programs." --Frank B. Wilderson III (Winner, 2008 American Book Award)


"The 90-Day Novel is a treasure trove of insight, not only for beginners or aspiring writers but for grizzled old-timers like myself."   
--- Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of The War of Art and Do The Work

From the Back Cover

Alan Watt wrote the first draft of his novel Diamond Dogs in just under 90 days, and six months later sold the North American rights to Little, Brown from $500,000 in a bidding war. In this day-by-day guide through the process of outlining and writing the first draft of your novel in 90 days, he will show:

* How to structure your novel without losing connection to your voice
* Why you are uniquely qualified to write your story
* The dilemma at the heart of your story
* How your fears are a portal into your characters
* The connection between your life themes and story themes
* Why you kept getting stuck, and how to break through

Product Details


Customer Reviews

This is the only book you'll need to write YOUR novel in 90 days! lisa cheek  |  59 reviewers made a similar statement
The MFA prof's will tell you to read some books and then go and write. Todd G. Allen  |  28 reviewers made a similar statement
Yes, I love this book. CATM  |  12 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
122 of 131 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Method that Emphasizes Process -- and Action October 11, 2010
Format:Kindle Edition
Can you write a novel in 90 days? Yes. And it will be a surprisingly good novel if you follow the precepts in Al Watt's method.

I was student of Al's in one of his well-known L.A. 90 day workshops. I came in with only a vague idea of what I wanted to accomplish. 90 days later I had a complete manuscript - one of the best stories I have written. Several of his students have gone on to publish work they produced using Al's method, which is fully laid out in this book.

Unlike other novel-writing books which concentrate on a mechanistic approach to structure, The 90-Day Novel puts its emphasis on getting -- and staying -- in touch with your story at the deepest subconscious level. Everything that's going on in your life becomes grist for the mill of the story. For the first 30 days, a series of exercises takes you through discovering (not creating) your character's wants and needs -- the wants and needs that propel him or her through an organically emerging story structure.

Gradually, you find your story coming into focus, with a beginning, middle and end seemingly emerging from nowhere. The excitement of these discoveries sustains the next 60 days of work -- where you bang out a first draft that puts texture on the bare bones of your character's journey.

Really unlike anything else out there. Al is an accomplished, award-winning novelist and screenwriter who has been through this process and knows how to coach you through your doubts and dilemmas.

Can't recommend enough.
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185 of 202 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars A bit disappointed... June 15, 2011
By G.C.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews. I have to say, based on what I expected, I'm a bit disappointed.

This book is great in terms of presenting some really thought-provoking ideas about writing a novel. I thought that the discussion of dilemma and conflict was interesting, and the overview of novel structure and structure questions were also very helpful.

However, as far as a guided workshop-in-a-book, I feel like this book failed. In his attempt to provide a tidbit of information each day, useful information was awkwardly broken up that might have been better organized into more solid chapters. The overall process felt a bit loosey-goosey, with constant reminders to "hold it all loosely" and not to lock yourself in. Honestly, I felt myself getting bored with the pre-writing exercises and just skipping around and reading the book to glean what useful tidbits I could, and coming up with my own process to complete my draft.

I also thought it was a bit strange that you're urged within the book to read Watt's novel, Diamond Dogs, which is used to illustrate many of the points made within this book. That along with the dozens of 5-star reviews from Amazon members without much in the way of a reviewer history leaves me feeling a bit taken.
Was this review helpful to you?
35 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
The process Al lays out in his 90 day approach will absolutely bring you to a finished first draft of a novel. If you have a story within- or bits and pieces of writings throughout several notebooks, Al's guidance will help you get the WHOLE story on the page. His process teaches you how to teach yourself. I highly recommend this book to every writer and will be buying several copies for the holidays. It is sure-fire sound guidance to help you get to the heart of your desire to write your story. And even better- after reading Al's book, if you have more questions or want more instruction, you can work with the author directly in the interactive group dynamic of the 90-Day Novel he offers in person and over the phone. He is a true mentor and teacher. Highly recommended reading for all writers.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars a no nonsense how to
A pretty straight forward approach to writing. Exercises help you develop characters and story in depth. Read more
Published 12 days ago by matthew a. sanabria
5.0 out of 5 stars An ongoing amazement
Reading this while loosely considering a story led me to a bigger, more satisfying, richer story that is captivating my imagination and keeping me engaged. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Suzanna Stinnett
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great How-To Book
This book gives you the tools to start, work on and finish your writing project. It's the first book I've read of its kind that does this for the reader.
Published 1 month ago by Em
3.0 out of 5 stars This is a good book
This book is worthwhile, especially for a new author trying to start his first novel. New authors need all of the tips and guidelines that they can get their hands on.
Published 1 month ago by duane a schulke
5.0 out of 5 stars The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the story within
Real help for real writers. Follow the program and succeed!!!! IT WORKS! Finish that dusty old novel sitting in the drawer or start a new one. Read more
Published 1 month ago by david
5.0 out of 5 stars Replacement For MFA programs
Today I just finished typing out and printing my 1st draft. It was due to this excellent book. My 1st draft came in at 271 pages. I wrote 1 hour and 30 minutes a day for 73 days. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Todd G. Allen
5.0 out of 5 stars Help When I Needed It Most
I have been working on a trilogy project for over two years and found myself stymied over a few of my main characters and the plot lines surrounding them. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Wendy Van Camp
5.0 out of 5 stars Structure
This is an excellent guide for structuring one's time while planning a novel. It also takes the guesswork out of what topics to write on each day. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Christine Embree
5.0 out of 5 stars Discovery
I would have to qualify my excitement by saying "ask me again in 80 days. I am a member of an unusual class led by two novelists who have been published, and who used this book... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Clarsar Stivell
5.0 out of 5 stars Solid knowledge
This book will get you there, if you do the work it outlines. I'm on my way... If you have roadblocks to getting your novel done, this book will break through them in record time. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mick C. Malkemus
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More About the Author

Alan Watt is an L.A. Times best-selling author and screenwriter. He has won a number of awards for his writing including France's 2004 Prix Printemps (best foreign novel) and the American Library Association's Alex Award. He was listed in The New York Time's New and Noteworthy book section, was a BookSense 76 pick, and a Barnes and Noble "Discover Great New Writers" recipient. He recently adapted his first novel Diamond Dogs to the big screen for French film company Quad Films (The Intouchables), and is executive producing with Alex Pettyer (I am Number Four, Magic Mike) set to star.

Mr. Watt first taught a summer creative writing workshop at UCLA in 1998, and has been teaching and lecturing on the creative process in L.A. and at colleges around the country ever since. He spent three years teaching storytelling to inner city high school students through the non-profit arm of Spoken Interludes.

He founded L.A. Writers' Lab in 2002 as a place for writers to deepen their craft by learning to marry the rigor of story structure to the wildness of their imaginations. He has taught everyone from award-winning authors and A-list screenwriters, to journalists, poets, actors, professional athletes, war veterans, housewives, doctors, lawyers, television showrunners, and anyone else with a story to tell.

In 2011 he started a two publishing companies. The 90-Day Novel Press is a publisher of books on writing. Along with The 90-Day Novel, he is also publishing The 90-Day Rewrite, The 90-Day Screenplay and The 90-Day Play, as well as My First Novel: Tales of Woe and Glory, which is a series of essays written by well-known novelists on the trials and tribulations of becoming a professional writer. All profits for My First Novel will be donated to PEN CEnter USA. Mr. Watt is also the founder of Writers Tribe Books, a publisher of literary fiction.






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