FANTASTIC!
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If you have written a book, or are well on the way to writing one, keep this magical little book by your side. Not only is it inspirational, it is full of non-patronising wisdom that makes you want to look at your work with new eyes, and make it reveal the potential you know it has. Don't buy 'how to write a damn good novel' by James Frey, its banal, basic and trite - it is a shame they wasted a good tree. If you are serious about your writing and making it the best you can, buy this one and forget all others, it's a real gem.
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Indispensable fundamentals for newbies to writing
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It's worth clarifying that if you've read any other `how to write' books, this one probably won't give you a great deal more. But for a first time budding writer, eager to get started and unsure of where to begin, this is an absolute winner.
The book covers a lot of ground - from choosing your genre, to the specifics of plot theory - and thankfully is an easy read in itself. I finished it in a couple of days, having highlighted and scribbled on almost every page, and felt an infinitely more informed writer afterwards. Writing a whole novel didn't seem half so daunting armed with the right techniques to things like plot structuring, characterisation etc.
Following this book, I went on to read a more specialist `how to' book in my genre (chick lit) and found plenty of overlaps, but the second was a lot easier to absorb thanks to the groundwork made by `How to Write a Blockbuster'.
The author establishes her credibility from the beginning and I appreciated her straightforward, non-patronising, positive style.
For anyone who likes to just sit down and write off the bat, you might find the planning suggestions too rigid. (But then you probably wouldn't even look for this kind of book in the first place.)
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Don't let the title put you off
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No aspiring writer should be without a copy of "How to write a blockbuster." Full of good, practical advice this little gem covers everything from how to choose the right genre, how best to use feedback, all the way through to editing your work.
The layout is clear and unfussy and written in easy-to-understand language. It's pitch-perfect and non-patronising, not only covering the bascis of good novel writing; from explaining what a hiatus and a segue are, to showing how your story might fit on the 3 Act Graph, but also providing an insider's view of a publishing house and offering guidance on how to submit to an agent.
Read, studied, consulted and exploited, my own personal copy has been colorfully highlighted in many places.
If you're serious about becoming a successful writer this reference book will go a large part of the way to helping you achieve your goal.
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The best present you could give yourself as a writer!
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If you buy one book on writing, buy this one, won't you? It is FANTASTIC!
Lee Weatherly and Helen Corner know their stuff and explain it so logically and their caring natures and personalities shine through. I am amazed they give so much away for the price of the book!
The exercises in the book have raised my level of writing ten fold. They have also given me wondrous treasures for the books I am currently writing. Thank you!
The layout of the book is so well done and full of riches, you can't put it down, greedy for the next gift.
Any level of writer will read, reread and refer to this book to ensure their highest levels of writing are maintained and that they walk into the industry, or proceed in it, informed.
WOW! Buy it!
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Much better than most
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This book actually tells you how to write better. I learnt a lot from this book. Instead of just saying 'show don't tell', this book explains *why*, when it might be better to tell and, most importantly, how to spot 'telling' in your writing. Not as easy as you might think. And certainly not as easy as most people who write these kind of books seem to think as usually this isn't something that is explained.
What I learnt from this book is how to spot the parts of the ms that need sharpening. Indispensible.
The second half - about submitting to agents etc - was less revelatory. But then, is there much new to say about that?
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