For an aspiring novelist, nothing is more intimidating than a blank page or computer screen. This step-by-step guide helps you get past that hurdle, start writing, and cross the finish line to first draft in only twenty-six weeks! This guide covers the entire novel-writing process--from polishing an idea to finding an agent and submitting to publishers. This practical guide takes you through the ins and outs of writing and publishing your first book, including how to: Create authentic characters, engaging plotlines, and believable settings Edit for tone, structure, and pacing Find the right agent Market and sell your work to publishers Build a career as a novelist Complete with writing exercises, inspiring examples, and expert advice from bestselling novelists, this book is an excellent starting place for anyone interested in the art, craft, and business of writing fiction.

Author and former literary agent Nathan Bransford shares his secrets for creating killer plots, fleshing out your first ideas, crafting compelling characters, and staying sane in the process. Read the guide that New York Times bestselling author Ransom Riggs called "The best how-to-write-a-novel book I've read."

Every year, thousands of romance manuscripts are submitted to publishers, but only the best are eventually published. This simple guide—written by two awardwinning romance novelists—will show readers what it takes to break into this highly competitive market and will provide them the information they need to get their manuscript out of the slush pile and onto the bookshelf. Readers will learn how to do the following techniques: build a story from premise to plot; add a fresh twist to a classic storyline; create compelling characters; write sizzling sex scenes that carry an emotional punch; research agents and markets; write a story that an editor can’t reject; and promote themselves and their work. New writers, and even experienced writers, will find the solid howto information here invaluable. This is a musthave for aspiring writers who want to write the perfect love story.

Your Expert Guide to Writing and Publishing a Novel In this revised and expanded edition of Your First Novel, novelist Laura Whitcomb, seasoned literary agent Ann Rittenberg, and her knowledgeable assistant, Camille Goldin, team up to provide you with the essential skills needed to craft the best novel you can--and the savvy business know-how to get it published. Complete with updated references, analysis of new best-selling novels, and the same detailed instruction, Whitcomb will show you how to: • Practice the craft of writing, using both your right- and left-brain • Develop a flexible card system for organizing and outlining plot • Create dynamic characters that readers love--and love to hate • Study classic novels and story structure to adapt with your ideas Featuring two new chapters on choosing your path as an author and understanding the world of self-publishing, Rittenberg and Goldin dive into the business side of publishing, including: • What agents can--and should--do for your future • Who you should target as an agent for your burgeoning career • How the mysterious auction for novels actually goes down • Why you should learn to work with your agent through thick and thin Guiding your first novel from early words to a spot on the bookshelf can be an exciting and terrifying journey, but you're not alone. Alongside the advice of industry veterans, Your First Novel Revised and Expanded also includes plenty of firsthand accounts from published authors on their journeys, including Dennis Lehane, C.J. Box, Kathleen McCleary, David Kazzie, and more.

Are you still dreaming about writing that book? Learning how to write your first novel can be overwhelming. You have to master outlining, writing, revising, and so much more...and it can be scary if you've never done it before. While it seems daunting, writing your first novel is simple when you have someone experienced to help you through it. In this writer’s guide, prolific writer M.L. Ronn shares an easy step-by-step process of writing compelling fiction that he's perfected after writing 40+ books. Write your first novel with structured advice tailored for beginners: Learn the basic building blocks of every story and how to put them together Develop an effective outline (or learn how to write without one!) Discover winning formulas that mega-bestsellers use to write their novels Navigate your novel’s “murky middle” with 7 unorthodox strategies that will get you unstuck in no time Revise your story without fear Writing your first novel is life-changing. Download this writer’s guide, follow the step-by-step instructions, and you'll wake up one morning very soon with a finished manuscript waiting for you. V1.0

Let best-selling novelist Sophie King guide you through the whole process of writing your first novel and getting it published. This revised edition takes aspiring novelists through the steps of writing a novel, from finding that initial idea, to keeping the plot going and crafting the perfect ending. With helpful exercises in each chapter you will learn how to: - Develop a brilliant idea for your first novel - Create characters that will make your novel come alive - Plot your novel so that your readers simply have to turn the page - Unravel the mysteries of viewpoint - Create realistic dialogue and settings so your readers feel they are there - Find your own voice. - Most importantly, the book includes tips and advice on how to get published. This new edition also includes a ten step guide to revision so that you can polish your novel to be the best it can be.

In Your First Novel, novelist Laura Whitcomb and seasoned literary agent Ann Rittenberg team up to provide you with the skills you need to write your dream novel and the savvy business know-how to get it published. In this all-in-one resource, you'll discover essential novel-writing techniques, such as: • How to best structure your research so that you can save time later • How to card your story before you start writing • What to consider when developing your cast of characters • How to adapt classic story structures to fit your own ideas …and insider information on what it takes to get published, including: • What agents do at those three-hour power lunches—and how it affects you • What makes an agent instantly reject a manuscript • How to correctly translate submission guidelines • What happens if you get multiple offers—or no offers at all Plus, learn about the publishing process from the firsthand accounts of such noted authors as Dennis Lehane, Kathryn Harrison, Jim Fusilli, Kathleen George, and others!