Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19767 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Customer Reviews

Useful for the total beginner
The best guide to writing a novel is to read and study the format, style and structure of existing works. I actually wrote two-thirds of my first novel, then read this. Most of it confirmed what I already knew, but still it was a worthwhile read.

This is a very comprehensive book and much of it is written in an off-beat style (as you might expect from an Idiot Guide). It's well structured and also contains a series of very useful interviews with successful authors (the interviews may have been done by email as the questions are standard and the answers vary greatly in depth).

I hadn't heard of Tom Monteleone as I think his works are better known in the US. Still, that doesn't mean he's not qualified to write about this topic. Indeed he is. He clearly knows his stuff and is a very experienced novelist.

On the downside, there is a US market emphasis here (e.g. when discussing the publishing industry), there's possibly a bit too much personal drumbeating (e.g. talking about his own works) and I took issue with the author when he mentioned that a 360 page novel is not a large book. Well, Ian Fleming's "Casino Royale" which launched James Bond is apparently only 60,000 or so words (and is generally recognised to be a novel). The debate over what constitutes a novel versus a novella is an on-going one.

Overall, if you're serious about writing a novel for the first time then you will find this publication to be useful (you should probably acquire a few other titles as well in order to acquire a 'range' of source materials).

Some of the author's tips to achieve the mammoth task are also rather useful e.g. he advises that you read the biographies of other famous novelists - after all, we do need that inspiration.

One of the best
Simple to read, clearly laid out, inspiring, thought provoking...don't let the title put you off - and if you feel a little superior about having such a title on your shelf...well, get over yourself and buy this, because it bloomin' well does what it says on the cover!! I only have two books about 'how to write' and this is one of them. I have recommended it several times over, read it several times over, and filled the margins with notes! You should always read these type of books with a particular story you want to write in mind - in that way, you'll get the most out of it, as ideas should come to you with each page that you read. And whenever you have a new idea or story in mind, bring this book out again and read it again, because it will inspire you yet again. A real must for the budding novelist that can't quite get past that mental block of where to go next, or how to write it...

Truly disappointing, waste of time & money
I'll keep this review short -- look elsewhere for help getting started on your novel, whether you are a complete novice or more into writing and looking for a kick in the pants or inspiration.

The author of this book is so steeped in justifying himself (I really am a professional writer, you know; I know you haven't heard of me, so go look at my list of publications at the back of this book. "No really, go on, I'll wait"; this is what someone asked me about being a writer at my latests cocktail party/barbecue/family picnic; this is how my old professors/editors/colleagues tried to discourage me but I prevailed) that you begin to question if this is a book to help you get a novel draft produced or therapy for the author.

Try the "for dummies" UK edition on writing a novel and getting it published -- much less dribble and more substance, and more content related to UK publishing and the writer's market. Or read anything by Lajos Egri... or, really, just about anything but Tom Monteleone's tired ramblings about his own ups and downs.