Writing a Novel by Nigel Watts, 0844231061, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

Whether you have writer's cramp or writer's block there is still something here for you

Unlike a taxi driver or a neurosurgeon no lives are at risk if you lack basic skills as a novelist but your potential is. Nigel Watts' concise guide to writing a novel is really a training manual providing the techniques required once you have an idea and are on the point of beginning, or have already started, your work. There is little about the commercial side because the message of the book is that you should write for yourself, for pleasure, for the love of language, fantasy and creativity, and that marketing is something to be considered afterwards. Instead, he takes the writer through the creative process from the initial idea and blank paper through to the final packaging for publication via the periods of inspiration or the affliction of writer's block, the pitfalls of stereotypes and clichÃ©s. Although the book reads like a series of lectures this is no bad thing for each chapter deals with a different aspect of novel writing: theme, characterisation, plot, style and so on. There is a terrific chapter on `The Personality of the Writer' in which it is beautifully explained how the writer physically and mentally sees the world and how this shapes his or her writing.
In summary, Nigel Watts' guide is didactic without being condescending, and manages to be encouraging and motivational throughout. It is often humorous and is littered with witty and apposite aphorisms from famous authors. There is something here for everyone including, I believe, experienced writers.

Great book, but read it critically

This is a concise and extremely informative book that's an ideal starting point for those looking to produce a commercial-grade novel. Nigel Watts doesn't waste a single word when categorically describing the areas that writers should concentrate on. It covers all the basic skills by describing tangible techniques and truths involved in the production of novels. Note the use of "basic" there.

I would advise you to read the book critically, however. Watts paints with a broad brush (as he must in a book that's as all-encompassing as this). I found myself applying the rules he discusses to popular novels and disagreeing. But this is all part of the educative experience. Of course, it's WHY and HOW those novels break the rules that allows us to learn even more about the craft of novel writing.

Note that this book is almost entirely about the mechanics of writing, rather than the business side of things (agents, publishers, promotion etc). However, there are many other books that look at that side of things in-depth.

If the book has a failing, it is that it's too concise and doesn't elaborate more. It can be like a whistle-stop tour of technique and occasionally I wish the author would slow-up and perhaps describe something in more depth. But it's a true "teaching" book, which I guess is what the "Teach Yourself" series is all about.

Great guide

I thought that this book was a really great guide to novel-writing. I purchased it about two years ago, along with Teach yourself: Creative Writing and Teach yourself: internet for writers. I found this book to be the best of all three of them specifically for novel-writing, although Creative Writing was a good all-rounder of the writing field.

The book is fairly short, compared to some others I have read, but rich in quality and the clear skill of the author. It is written with ingenious quotes (worth remembering) and brilliant excercies to get your thirst for novel-writing into full throttle!

All-around it was a brilliant read, practical and worthy of praise, a must-have for any aspiring author.

An Inspiration

This book is an inspiration, a must, for anyone who wants to write a novel. It is a guidebook that can even help published writers on their future projects.

I have tried to find and to contact Nigel Watts, unfortunately so far have not succeeded. I would love to meet this man to thank him personally.

One of my favourites of the genre

There are any number of books around offering help with the writing of your novel. Some are excellent, some are next to worthless. No book is going to write the novel for you - you have to do that yourself, and it will require discipline, commitment, courage, and hard work. But there are books which are useful - I've reviewed a few in my time and top of my current list are Paddy Kitchen's "The Way to Write Novels", and this book by Nigel Watts. While Kitchen will give you a big motivational boost and keep you determined, Watts offers a first class analysis of the problems and challenges you will face, offering practical, digestible advice to help you deal with these.

Watts deconstructs the novel, looking at every aspect, from plot to characterisation, from the function of storytelling to the management of conflict, from subplot and symbolism to the eight-point arc. This is a sophisticated piece of analysis, yet an analysis which is readily accessible to the reader. Kitchen's most telling points are to suggest that you should only begin writing your novel after you've lived with the idea for some time and still haven't lost interest ... and then to encourage you to give yourself permission to actually make a start. Watts' major contribution is to provide you with the tool box to start tinkering with your novel once you do start writing it. Kitchen kick starts your efforts, Watts gets you up, running, and able to fine-tune the product. Both offer practical lessons and exercises to stimulate you and get your creative gears turning.

Watts' writing is very readable. He will take you into some of the theory and psychology of the novel - remember, it really only exists once someone starts reading it - but he does not obscure his message or make it dense with academic reference. This is a book you should keep beside your notes and your work in progress, a book you can refer to stimulate your own self-criticism of your writing. Criticism and self-criticism are good if they are constructive and help you improve, but the first step is that you should enjoy the process of writing. Nigel Watts will give you the advice and the self-confidence to be self-critical. What you do after that is, of course, up to you. But if you are writing a novel, or have plans to do so, then read this book from cover to cover!

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