From First Draft To Finished Novel: A Writer's Guide To Cohesive Story Building (Paperback)

~ Karen S Wiesner (Author)
Key Phrases: finished novel, tip sheet, dead drop, Story Plan Checklist, First Draft, Strengthening the Foundation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Features detailed examples from published novels to illustrate story-building principles.

Includes more than 20 original worksheets and checklists that touch on everything from brainstorming to character development to plot conflicts to editing and polishing.

From First Draft to Finished Novel carefully explores each of stage of story development from brainstorming and outlining to drafting and revision. Writers will learn how to turn an idea into a rich, textured story by layering core story elements, such as plot and character, to create a cohesive, seamless novel. From a thorough look at the fundamentals of writing to comprehensive story building techniques, as well as submission guidelines and etiquette, this must-have guide will see writers through the entire novel writing process from start to finish.

About the Author

Karen Wiesner is the author of the best-selling First Draft in 30 Days, as well as more than forty novels and has been named a leading romance writer by The Writer Magazine. She is author of the Gypsy Road Series, the Angelfire trilogy, Dare to Love series, and the Wounded Warriors series. www.karenwiesner.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books (September 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582975515
• ISBN-13: 978-1582975511
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,050 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for writers, October 13, 2008

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Karen Wiesner is a prolific author! She's written 56 fiction and nonfiction books in the past ten years and has eleven more titles in the works. She's been nominated for or won sixty-eight awards. Her book, First Draft in 30 Days, is a bestseller.

From that first idea to the finished product, Karen Wiesner helps writers write the novel they've always wanted to write. Wiesner believes writing a novel is much like building a house and uses the analogy to help the reader visualize the process.

Wiesner will help the reader/writer:

* brainstorm the novel idea
* with the research process
* create a solid working outline for the story
* create a story checklist that will help you remember those necessary details
* write a cohesive first draft of the novel
* with the revisions
* finish the final editing and polishing of the novel

Wiesner delves into the workings of writing the novel and also helps with the necessary and often dreaded query letter, synopsis, cover letter and partial manuscript to be sent to the agent or editor.

From First Draft to Finished Novel is a wonderful addition to the writer's reference library Wiesner makes things as easy as possible for the reader. She includes a glossary of terms, story plan checklist exercises, editing and polishing exercises and various worksheets. Her writing is concise and easily understood, even for the novice writer.

The book is laid out in a readable manner and includes information and directions to help move along the writing process. Not everyone will use everything Wiesner puts forth, but that's not the idea. The information is offered and can be used if it's wanted or needed.

My only criticism is the repeated comparison of writing a novel to building a house. I found it distracting and interfered with my reading/studying of the book.

Armchair Interviews says: Want to write a novel? From First Draft to Finished Novel would be a good reference source in helping you with that dream.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great! Great! Great! Perfect to use with First Draft in 30 Days, October 7, 2008

By	WriterInAZ (AZ United States) - See all my reviews

I read this book and 'First Draft in 30 Days'. They're not set up to require you to buy both, but they compliment each other very well. I got just as much helpful info from each book, not repeats like I've found from other 'series'.

I can't say enough good things about this book. I can now figure out where my issues are in each MS, prop up the middles and get them cohesive. While I may have been able to eventually get published with out the help of these books, I don't think it would have happened any time soon.

At first glance, her method looks a bit complicated. But after reading the book all the way through, and starting at the beginning, It is rather very simple.

There are some things I use (99%) while I discard the items that don't work for me.

As for typing in the worksheets into Word myself, It took me about a half an hour. I typed them up once(customized to my tastes), as master copies, and now I'll be able to use them for any book I decide to write.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Self Help for Writers, January 28, 2009

By	James W. Harris IV "& Paulette L. Harris" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Karen Wiesner has done a great job for beginning to accomplished writers.
She has written a self help guide to cohesive story building and I found her book to be very helpful to me in my own work. You can use suggested pages to create your own personal help over and over. Her advice and explanations are easy to apply and understand as she encourages the reader. I would recommend this to writers of all levels. You will learn step by step to write a novel in a surprisingly short time.

Paulette L. Harris
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