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Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure (Foundations of Fiction) Paperback – March 13, 2014
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Award-winning author Janice Hardy (and founder of the popular writing site, Fiction University) takes you step-by-step through plotting and writing a novel with her book Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure. She'll show you how to find and develop ideas, brainstorm stories from that first spark of inspiration to a complete story, develop the right characters, setting, plot, as well as teach you how to identify where your novel fits in the market, and if your idea has what it takes to be a series.
With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure offers ten self-guided workshops with more than 100 different exercises to help you craft a solid novel. Each workshop builds upon the other to flesh out your idea as much or as little as you need to start writing (useful for both plotters and pantsers). You'll find multiple options that allow you to find the right process that works for you.
Learn how to:
- Create compelling characters readers will love
- Choose the right point of view for your story
- Determine the conflicts that will drive your plot (and keep readers hooked!)
- Find the best writing process for your writing style
- Create a solid plot from the spark of your idea
- Craft your one-sentence pitch
- Create your summary hook blurb (which makes writing query letters and cover copy easier)
- Develop a solid working synopsis
- Print length328 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMarch 13, 2014
- Dimensions6 x 0.74 x 9 inches
- ISBN-10099153641X
- ISBN-13978-0991536412
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About the Author
Janice is also the founder of Fiction University, a site dedicated to helpingwriters improve their craft. Her popular Foundations of Fiction seriesincludes "Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure," a self-guidedworkshop for plotting a novel, the companion "Plotting Your NovelWorkbook," and the Revising Your Novel: First Draft toFinished Draft series. Her Skill Builders series includes "UnderstandingShow,Don't Tell (And Really Getting It)," and "Understanding Conflict(And What It Really Means)," focusing on common problem areas forwriters.
As J.T. Hardy, she writes fantasy and science fiction for adults. The first book in her Grace Harper series is "Blood Ties."
Janice loves talking with writers and encourages questions of all types - eventhe weird ones. She lives in Central Florida with her husband, two cats,one yard zombie, and a very nervous freshwater eel. You can visit heronline at JaniceHardy.com or chat with her about writing atFiction-University.com.
Product details
- Publisher : Janice Hardy (March 13, 2014)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 328 pages
- ISBN-10 : 099153641X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0991536412
- Item Weight : 15.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.74 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #240,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #388 in Authorship Reference
- #651 in Writing Skill Reference (Books)
- #1,059 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars. Her novels include "The Shifter," "Blue Fire," and "Darkfall" from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. "The Shifter," was chosen for the 2014 list of "Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read" from the Georgia Center for the Book. It was also shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize (2011), and The Truman Award (2011).
Janice is also the founder of Fiction University, a site dedicated to helping writers improve their craft. Her popular Foundations of Fiction series includes "Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure," a self-guided workshop for plotting a novel, the companion "Plotting Your Novel Workbook," and the Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft series. Her Skill Builders series includes "Understanding Show, Don't Tell (And Really Getting It)," and "Understanding Conflict (And What It Really Means)," focusing on common problem areas for writers.
As J.T. Hardy, she writes fantasy and science fiction for adults. The first book in her Grace Harper series is "Blood Ties."
Janice loves talking with writers and encourages questions of all types – even the weird ones. She lives in Central Florida with her husband, two cats, one yard zombie, and a very nervous freshwater eel. You can visit her online at www.JaniceHardy.com or chat with her about writing at Fiction-University.com.
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I have already taken a few ideas (the book provides great suggestions for coming up with ideas) and following the book's guidance, used the process to "test" them to decide if the idea will sustain an entire book. Janice takes the frustration out of the process and makes it fun again. Thank you Janice!
We become captivated by the epiphany with ideas that trigger to us on how said idea(s) would be great for a novel. And when there's a maelstrom of ideas, we're often paralyzed on what to do, or we drift off into a different direction.
Hardy's book on plotting your novel is the lighthouse you need to bring you back home in the event you wander off. And it's okay to wander off sometimes to collect and become inspired by things as you develop your novel. We all need that glue so we're not disappointed when that "million dollar idea" turns out to be lackluster.
For all levels, this is a significant resource for actionable steps. Her Skillbuilder Series books can help you flesh things out even more.
I own them all. This one helps both pantsers and plotters, and anyone within those two. Keep in mind that those types are just concepts of identification that can be explored of how you prefer to assess writing.
And because of that beacon of light Hardy provides, I'm more assured to fluctuate around things. Her books provide an excitement where even though the editing process can be daunting, it's not so bad. Commit to taking those actionable steps and considerations she mentions to ease any anxiety you may have. Especially if you want to get that passion out before editing.
I've come to be joyful in my chaotic creativity because I know how to channel it now. This book is that resource to help that channeling.
Now for the workbook -- you might be asking if it's required? If you have to pick one, go with this one as the workbook is a companion piece. The info in this book is good, and it's not the end of the world if you can't get the companion piece. I wish said piece had an e-book format, but I'm content with my paper back!
Check out her Fiction University website and blog posts as well! Thank you Hardy!
This book really is a workshop that teaches you how to plan and write your novel. The author covers everything from characters to plotting and even teaches you how to write your blurb or pitch. The author shows you how to do it and then discusses it. She offers many examples and "something to think about" prompts and she shows you how to get the most benefit from the exercises. You will learn how to plan and write your novel that includes theme, a great hook, inciting incident, plot points, characters fully fleshed out with distinct wants needs, flaws and motivatation. You will learn how to connect the dots and put it all together so that when you finish the book and exercises you will have something worthwhile already written- enough to work with so that you can then write or revise a fantastic novel that has all
of the elements of great fiction. Janice Hardy is one of the best writing instructors I've come across and she has a rare gift. She is able to show you what so many others have told you. I promise you that many lightbulbs will go off as you read her book. If you want to plan a tight, perfectly paced novel, read Janice Hardy's book and please don't skip the exercises.
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