or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
53 used & new from $4.66

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing (Paperback)

~ Editors Of Writers Digest Books (Editor) "Fiction writers come up with some interesting metaphors when speaking of plot..." (more)
Key Phrases: writing humorous fiction, murder your darlings, grammatical third person, New York, Writer's Digest, Stephen King (more...)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

List Price: $17.99
Price: $12.23 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $5.76 (32%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Wednesday, February 10? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
29 new from $5.29 24 used from $4.66

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover --  
Paperback $12.23  

Frequently Bought Together

The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing + Fiction Writer's Workshop + Writing Fiction Step by Step
Price For All Three: $33.28

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing by Editors Of Writers Digest Books

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Fiction Writer's Workshop by Josip Novakovich

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Writing Fiction Step by Step by Josip Novakovich

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Your First Novel: An Author Agent Team Share the Keys to Achieving Your Dream

Your First Novel: An Author Agent Team Share the Keys to Achieving Your Dream

by Laura Whitcomb
4.9 out of 5 stars (20)  $11.55
Fiction Writer's Workshop

Fiction Writer's Workshop

by Josip Novakovich
4.8 out of 5 stars (24)  $11.55
Writing Fiction Step by Step

Writing Fiction Step by Step

by Josip Novakovich
4.2 out of 5 stars (8)  $9.50
Plot & Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish) (Write Great Fiction)

Plot & Structure: (Techniques And Exercises For Crafting A Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish) (Write Great Fiction)

by James Scott Bell
4.7 out of 5 stars (94)  $11.55
Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints (Write Great Fiction)

Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints (Write Great Fiction)

by Nancy Kress
4.5 out of 5 stars (23)  $11.55
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing is a compilation of the best articles and interviews from Writer's Digest magazine, books, and annuals. Aspiring authors will find articles on the craft, art, and process of fiction writing from such authors as: Sue Grafton, Terry Brooks, Richard Russo, Janet Fitch, Octavia Butler, Tom Clancy, John Updike and more.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Writers Digest Books (July 15, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1582971595
  • ISBN-13: 978-1582971599
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,948 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #76 in  Books > Reference > Writing > Fiction

Inside This Book (learn more)





Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Tools on the Market, August 15, 2002
If you're even thinking about writing a book, you need "The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing." This comprehensive guide contains over 400 pages of everything you need to know about writing, publishing and marketing your work.

Each section of this book covers vital aspects of the craft every writer should follow:

Part I: The Craft
Get started by understanding plot, story flow, point of view, characters and dialogue.

Part II: The Art
Understand the rules of fiction, turn true life to fiction, connect emotion and get in tune with your reader's senses.

Part III: The Process
Find out how to get started on your novel, jumpstart your creativity, revise your novel and deal with criticism.

Part IV: The Genres
Get to know your audience, create realistic characters and keep the suspense going throughout your novel. Plus, tips on writing horror, fantasy, romance and Christian fiction.

Part V: The Marketplace
Use these insider tips for finding agents and editors. Study the debate of fee-charging agents. Learn the ins and outs of the market. Tools for book proposals, a novel synopsis, getting your work published and help with the electronic publishing world.

Part VI: The Interviews
Read interviews with the hottest, most accomplished authors, including Margaret Atwood, Maeve Binchy, Tom Clancy, Joyce Carol Oates, James Patterson, Kurt Vonnegut and more.

You could easily read this book from cover-to-cover or flip through it as a reference as your writing progresses. This is, by far, one of the strongest writing how-to books on the market.

If you only purchase one writing book this year, make it "The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing." Head to the bookstore, run through the pages and you'll instantly be hooked.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Diverse Goldmine, February 27, 2003
By Dorion Sagan (East Coast, USA and Toronto) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Any aspiring writer should be grateful for this anthology to study. Although the considerable diversity here does not a completely unified voice make, each article (previously published in Writer's Digest) has tips and inspirations for the aspiring novelist. From Richard Russo's exploration of place and character to mystery novelist Sue Grafton's use of a journal to get her right brain going-from Jeanne Cavelos's observation that horror is a genre uniquely dependent upon emotion-and what scares you is the secret source of fear-this book is a diverse gold mine of writing technique nuggets. Here you will find James Patrick Kelly talking about the need to "murder your darlings"-the phrase that Stephen King borrows in his On Writing book. Helpful boxes of related books, how to write proposals and Evan Marshall's chapter on novel synopses (which I didn't even know existed!) for agents; personal anecdotes and articulate easy-to-read tips from authors either great or best-selling or both make this a useful, inspiring, and exciting book-perhaps the best overall I have read on the craft of fiction. How does screenwriting relate to novel writing? How do you create a believable character? How do you integrate exposition? How do you create suspense? How do you revise or deal with criticism? What means emotion and motivation? These are the kinds of core questions addressed in this fun technique book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Youll write better after reading this, September 7, 2002
Complete Handbook of Novel Writing is a collection of articles and interviews with successful novelists. Notable authors include Octavia Butler, Margaret Atwood, John Updike, and James Patterson. The individual chapters are pithy yet comprehensive. I particularly liked the chapters on using specific details and what makes them work, point of view, editing tips, and helpful hints on specific genres: fantasy, mystery, horror, suspense, romance, and Christian fiction. Much valuable information here that writers can return to for reminders as their writing skills mature.

This book will get you writing and keep your writing at a higher level.

~review by Joan Mazza, author of six books, including Dreaming Your Real Self and Exploring Your Sexual Self.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource
This book was a big help to me. It was concise and helpful without being overbearing.
Published 10 months ago by Paul M. Storment

4.0 out of 5 stars uneven, but still very valuable writer's resource
The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing from Writer's Digest Books is an anthology of essays and interviews intended to be a one-stop shop for writing novels. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Tom L. Waters

3.0 out of 5 stars An okay book
I am an author and found this book to be somewhat useful. It is well written and gives you much to think about but would research others.
Published 16 months ago by christ with us

5.0 out of 5 stars the Greatest Fiction book out
This I would have to say is the Greatest Book on Writing Fiction. This book is like the solid base you can establish. Read more
Published 17 months ago by True disciple

5.0 out of 5 stars Novelist Must Read!
You want to be a novelist, but are afraid of failure--right?! This is the book you want to read. It's chock full of endless interviews and information from the best in the... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Rick Gabriel

5.0 out of 5 stars WHOA- A whealth of info!
I'm not sure where to start when describing this book. This book is awesome- I think that I'll be a Pulitzer prize winner before I know it. (A man can dream........ Read more
Published on December 29, 2006 by T. L. Roberts

3.0 out of 5 stars A Compilation Full of Good Advice
I generally don't care for compilations, especially about the writing business. I was forced to read this one for a class I took and I found it to be surprisingly helpful in some... Read more
Published on November 3, 2006 by N. Wheeler

5.0 out of 5 stars Alot of very smart information, for anyone who wants to write!
Despite a less than attention grabbing cover, the chapters by various published authors are information packed.

This book makes you want to write. Read more
Published on March 20, 2006 by B Gutz

4.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing: Everything You Need to Know About Creating & Selling Your Work
Very practical and very readable. Not at all pedantic. Chapters are generally short, but packed with information. Read more
Published on September 19, 2005 by J. Rubano

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration For Would Be Writers
Since I have yet to write "the great American novel," I probably cannot critique a book such as THE COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF NOVEL WRITING, since I have yet to have a book published... Read more
Published on January 28, 2004 by Timothy Kearney

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   



So You'd Like to...


Create a guide

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.