The Art and Craft of Novel Writing (Paperback)

~ Oakley Hall (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Story Pr (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884910025
• ISBN-13: 978-1884910029
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #824,810 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A clear yet informative book for the beginner., May 28, 1999

By A Customer

One can be assured the professional novelist will not enjoy this book, but Oakley Hall does not write for such a reader. Instead, this work is an outline for someone who has never written a novel before. Especially helpful are the varied literary examples which are accompanied by clear notes printed in the margins. The format helps the reader see what beginning writers often miss--the elements of effect writing. Individuals who have never attempted a novel before (and even those who have never written before) will gain insight from Hall's advice.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful for the would-be novelist, July 21, 1998

By	Jadxia Lauron "aka Jade Lauron" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This book "polishes" up any sprawling draft in progress. While it is decidedly weak in helping with matters of plotting and publishing, I have found this book to be infinitely useful when putting the final details on any of my literary works. Of special worth are the sections on dialogue, characterization, and use of indirection for dramatic effect. It also teaches how to write good "romantic" scenes without being too vulgar.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not that bad, December 5, 2000

By A Customer

This isn't as awful as everyone says. It's one of the few books I've found that deals exclusively with the demands of novel writing. Many books on fiction writing do not address the demands of writing a novel which separate the craft from that of writing short fiction. (Even some books purportedly about writing a novel slip into this "fiction is fiction" trap.)

The sections cover the basic skills needed to write a decent novel and provide excellent examples.