Written by Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman, How Not to Write a Novel is a useful book for aspiring authors and fiction writers who wish to improve their skills. As much as a book on writing techniques full of suggestions and theories on creating perfect plot lines and intriguing characters may be useful, How Not to Write a Novel is not such a book. Instead, it outlines common fiction writing mistakes that many writers make without realizing it, and by highlighting the mistakes, offers excellent advice to all authors for better fiction writing.
Fiction Writing Examples for Novice Writers
How Not to Write a Novel uses examples to illustrate different kinds of common fiction writing mistakes, and explanations for why those examples are a detriment to the novel of which they are a part. Accompanying these writing examples are various well-compiled lists and explanations of writing faux pas for any writer to avoid.
How Not to Write a Novel emphasizes the needs and expectations of the reader that an author should be aware of in order to write a novel that makes the reader want to keep reading. Readers must sympathize with the characters, care about what happens next, and overall be engrossed in the story – Mittelmark and Newman successfully stress this point with various examples.
How Not to Write a Novel is a functional and enjoyable read for new and experienced authors. It not only gives examples of bad writing, but includes examples of funny bad writing that are sure to make a reader laugh as they point out the mistakes.
How to Publish a Novel, Editors’ Advice
Mittelmark and Newman do not leave the reader – the aspiring or improving novelist – with only a mess of writing mistakes from which to learn, but give advice on publishing that novel. How Not to Write a Novel includes choice samples of painfully bad query letters, and advice on how to get a manuscript into the hands of editors, agents, and other publishing professionals.
Howard Mittelmark and Sandra Newman are themselves publishing professionals. Having written fiction, as well as edited, solicited and sold books, and taught writing courses, they have seen each writing mistake represented within How Not to Write a Novel. It is therefore a great book of advice from editors and writers to all authors who have room for improvement.
Moreover, How Not to Write a Novel encourages aspiring novelists to keep writing. If it is an aspiring writer’s passion and goal to write the greatest novel of the century, this valuable book will not stand in his or her way.
Michelle Wright - Michelle is an avid reader and writer, with a focus on book, film and music reviews, gluten free recipes, and fiction writing "how-tos."
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