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Showing posts with label Free eBooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Free eBooks. Show all posts

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Novel Writing: 16 Steps to Success By Evan Marshall, Foreword by Olivia Salter

Novel Writing: 16 Steps to Success By Evan Marshall

Novel Writing: 16 Steps to Success

 

By Evan Marshall

 

FOREWORD BY OLIVIA SALTER


Writing a novel is a magnificent journey that takes readers to extraordinary worlds, breathes life into memorable characters, and evokes a multitude of emotions. It is an art form that captivates us, allowing us to escape reality and immerse ourselves in a realm created solely by the writer's imagination. Yet, for aspiring novelists, embarking on this creative endeavor can often feel both exhilarating and overwhelming.

In "Novel Writing: 16 Steps to Success," Marshall Evan offers a comprehensive guide that will equip writers with the tools and techniques necessary to navigate the complex terrain of novel writing. With Marshall's extensive experience as a successful author and his innate ability to craft stories that resonate with readers, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone who dreams of bringing their ideas to life on the page.

The sixteen steps outlined in this book are not simply a formulaic approach to writing a novel. Instead, they serve as a roadmap to assist writers in developing a deep understanding of the craft while encouraging their authentic voice to shine through. Marshall emphasizes the importance of meticulous planning, character development, and plot construction, providing aspiring writers with a solid foundation upon which to build their narratives.

One of the standout qualities of Marshall's approach is his dedication to nurturing the creative process. He understands that writing a novel is not a linear journey and that it requires flexibility and adaptation. He offers practical advice on overcoming common obstacles, such as writer's block and self-doubt, while encouraging writers to embrace experimentation and take risks.

Throughout this book, Marshall's enthusiasm for storytelling is evident. His passion for his craft is infectious, and he reminds writers of the transformative power of words. He prompts readers to dig deep and tap into their own emotions to create stories that will resonate with others long after the pages have been turned.

"Novel Writing: 16 Steps to Success" is not a magical solution that guarantees instant success. Rather, it is a guide that instills discipline, perseverance, and self-belief in those who embark on the writing journey. It is a companion that offers encouragement during moments of uncertainty and celebrates each milestone achieved.

So, whether you are at the beginning of your writing career or have already penned multiple novels, this book will undoubtedly inspire you to refine your skills and continue honing your craft. Success as a novelist is not solely determined by commercial accolades or critical acclaim; it is found in the joy of bringing stories to life and connecting with readers on a profound level.

As you flip through the pages of this book, remember that writing a novel is an adventure with endless possibilities. Let "Novel Writing: 16 Steps to Success" be your guide, your companion, and your source of inspiration as you embark on this incredible journey of creative self-expression.

Happy writing!

 

Olivia Salter

12/16/2023


If you can't login to borrow, click here. Or, buy at Amazon.

  

👉Novel Writing: 16 Steps to Success at Amazon

Sunday, August 28, 2022

How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market (Reedsy Marketing Guides Book 1) by Ricardo Fayet

 

How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market (Reedsy Marketing Guides Book 1) by Ricardo Fayet

 How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market (Reedsy Marketing Guides Book 1) by Ricardo Fayet

 

 

Get your free copy of "How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market (Reedsy Marketing Guides Book 1) by Ricardo Fayet"

 

From the Publisher

Everything you need to know to start marketing your books more efficiently.

adopting a marketing mindset

Adopting the right marketing mindset

The first step to successful marketing is to adopt the right mindset. In this book, you'll discover a proper framework to approach book marketing in a systematic way.

building your author platform

Building your author platform

Before you start promoting your book, you need to build an author platform that will be able to sustain it. This book will show you how to optimize your product and packaging, build your mailing list, and start growing your readership before launch.

learning how to advertise your book

Promoting and advertising

When it's time to start bringing traffic and driving eyeballs to your book pages, you'll learn how to master the main advertising platforms such as

Facebook and BookBub.

Description

Product Description

Writing a book is hard. Marketing it can be even harder.

Marketing a book in 2021 can seem like a full-time job, what with the crazy number of things authors seem to be expected to do: social media, blog tours, advertising, price promotions, mailing lists, giveaways, you name it.

But here’s a little secret: you don’t need to do all those things to successfully set your book on the path to success. What you need is a solid plan to find the one or two tactics that will work, and start to drive sales… in a minimum amount of time. And that’s exactly what you’ll find in this book.

Instead of drowning you in information or inundating you with hundreds of different tactics and strategies that eventually prove fruitless, this book will guide you through a step-by-step framework to find the ones that actually work for you and your book, so that you can start marketing more efficiently.

In particular, you’ll learn:

✔️ How to change your mindset and sell more books with less effort.;
✔️ How to write books that guarantee a lasting, profitable career;
✔️ How to get Amazon’s Kindle Store to market your book for you;
✔️ How to get thousands of readers into your mailing list before you even release the book;
✔️ How to propel your book to the top of the charts at launch; and
✔️ How to automate your marketing so that you can spend less time marketing and more time writing,

After helping over 150,000 authors crack the marketing code through a popular weekly newsletter, Reedsy’s Co-founder Ricardo Fayet is sharing everything he’s learned over the past few years in this beginner-friendly, jargon-free guide to book marketing.

Get your copy now and benefit from all the experience of a seasoned marketing professional.

Review

"This is the most comprehensive guide or marketing book I've ever seen." -- Ben Galley, Epic & Dark Fantasy Author

"Scour the author Facebook Groups no more. Ricardo's book has answers to nearly every essential marketing question in self-publishing. I highly recommend it!" -- 
Bryan Cohen, Founder of the 5-Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge

A must read for anyone just starting out, and full of plenty of wisdom for those looking to level up. -- 
Erica Ridley, NYT & USA Today best-selling author

"This is more than a marketing guide, it's a self-help and inspirational book that can make a big difference in a writer's life." -- 
Reedsy Discovery

"A great primer for anyone looking for an overview of book marketing."
-- 
Ryan Zee, Founder of BookSweeps

"Ricardo's book is like Ricardo himself: something you're going to want to get to know: incredibly helpful and infinitely useful. This book is sure to be a part of the standard repertoire for authors!" -- 
Nick Thacker, USA Today best-selling author of the Indie Author Mastery Guides

 

 

Get your free copy of "How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market (Reedsy Marketing Guides Book 1) by Ricardo Fayet"

From the Author

In the past five years at Reedsy, we've helped tens of thousands of authors get their books out there. Many have grown to become full-time authors and make a living off their writing. I have personally consulted and worked hand in hand with hundreds of them, helping them build marketing plans, run online ads, grow their mailing lists, and develop new income streams from their writing.

This book is the result of all these years of teaching and working on marketing with authors across all genres. It compiles all the information you need to get your book in front of readers--and then get those readers to

buy it. I hope you enjoy it!

About the Author

Ricardo Fayet
Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world's top publishing talent--from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He's the author of several Reedsy Learning courses on marketing and a regular presenter at several prestigious writers' conferences: NINC, RWA Australia, and The Self Publishing Show Live, among others.


He oversees the marketing for all Reedsy products--Marketplace, Book Editor, Learning, Discovery--and is a big SEO and Facebook advertising enthusiast.

 

Ricardo Fayet is one of the four founders of Reedsy, a marketplace connecting authors to the world’s top publishing talent—from editors to cover designers, book marketers, or literary translators. He’s the author of several Reedsy Learning courses on marketing and a regular presenter at several prestigious writers’ conferences: NINC, RWA Australia, and The Self Publishing Show Live, among others.

He oversees the marketing for all Reedsy products—Marketplace, Book Editor, Learning, Discovery—and is a big SEO and Facebook advertising enthusiast.

In his spare time, he enjoys watching football (or “soccer” as y’all call it over there), and carrying tactical analyses to explain why his favorite team won, as well as referee mistake analyses when his team loses.

You can sign up to his weekly book marketing newsletter here: http://rdsy.me/newsletter 

 

 

Get your free copy of "How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market (Reedsy Marketing Guides Book 1) by Ricardo Fayet"

Saturday, August 27, 2022

The 7 Day Authors Guide To Amazon Ads (2022 Edition): Your Step-by-Step Guide To Launching, Optimizing and Scaling Amazon Ads To Reach More Readers and Sell More Books by Matthew J Holmes

 

 

The 7 Day Authors Guide To Amazon Ads (2022 Edition): Your Step-by-Step Guide To Launching, Optimizing and Scaling Amazon Ads To Reach More Readers and Sell More Books by Matthew J Holmes


Get your free copy of "The 7 Day Authors Guide To Amazon Ads (2022 Edition): Your Step-by-Step Guide To Launching, Optimizing and Scaling Amazon Ads To Reach More Readers and Sell More Books by Matthew J Holmes"

Description

Updated for 2022, The 7 day Authors Guide To Amazon Ads is the ultimate step-by-step guide to launching, optimizing and scaling Amazon Ads to reach more readers and sell more books.

Inside, you’ll discover the latest tactics and strategies I am using on a daily basis, when managing Amazon Ads for Authors, just like you.

If you’re looking for a simple system to grow your readership, earn more royalties and sell more books, without it taking up 2+ hours a day to manage, so you can focus on your writing…

You found it!

Here’s what we’re going to cover together over the next 7 days:

Day 1: Amazon Ads Foundations
Day 2: The Amazon Ads Funnel
Day 3: The Discovery Phase
Day 4: The Research Phase
Day 5: The Performance Phase
Day 6: Optimization For Growth
Day 7: Protecting Your Brand

Now, because I believe whole-heartedly that implementation is one hundred times better than theory alone, at the end of each Day, I have laid out a short Action Step for you to take.

Each Action Step will keep you moving forwards, drive momentum and solidify what you’re learning, all to ensure that you start seeing results fast.

On top of the 7 days of actionable content inside this book, you will also receive free access to my Amazon Ads Toolkit, which is already being used by hundreds of authors from around the world.

Start reading the latest, 2022 edition of The 7 Day Authors Guide To Amazon Ads today and just a week from now, you can be running profitable Amazon Ads that are selling more copies of your books, expanding your readership and ultimately, building your author career.
About the Author
 
 

 Abouts the Author


Matthew J Holmes
Matthew J Holmes Advertising your books with Amazon Ads is simple, but it’s not easy. Who doesn’t love a challenge? I know I do, especially when it comes to advertising!

Whether you’re brand new to Amazon Ads, a seasoned professional, or somewhere in between, my ultimate goal with all the content I share with authors is to provide you with a wealth of value, insights, and “ah-ah” moments.

You can find out more about my work at www.matthewjholmes.com

On a personal note, I live in England with my wife, Lori, an author of fantasy novels, along with our three children, and two whippets, Freya and Loki.

When I’m not working, you can find me in our home gym, cycling, walking the dogs, spending time with my family, or getting out and about in the English countryside.
 
 


Friday, August 26, 2022

Write Good or Die by Jonathan Maberry, Kevin J. Anderson, Scott Nicholson, M. J. Rose & David J. Montgomery (Free eBook)

 

Write Good or Die by Jonathan Maberry

 Write Good or Die 

by Jonathan Maberry, Kevin J. Anderson, Scott Nicholson, M. J. Rose & David J. Montgomery

 
 

 Description

Survival tips for 21st century writers, from best-selling authors Kevin J. Anderson, M.J. Rose, Heather Graham, J.A. Konrath, Gayle Lynds, Alexandra Sokoloff, Jonathan Maberry, and more. How to develop your craft, improve your writing, get an agent, promote your work, embrace the digital age, and prepare yourself for the coming changes in the publishing industry. Edited by Scott Nicholson.

Other contributors include Elizabeth Massie, Harley Jane Kozak, Douglas Clegg, Brandon Massey, Mur Lafferty, Dean Wesley Smith, David J. Montgomery, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Robert Kroese, and Adrienne Jones. Covering art, craft, and business.

All proceeds benefit the non-profit organization Literacy Inc., which promotes reading among teens.

 

Get your free copy of Write Good or Die by Jonathan Maberry 


 

 About the Authors

Jonathan Maberry

JONATHAN MABERRY is a NY Times bestselling suspense novelist, five-time Bram Stoker Award winner, and comic book writer. His vampire apocalypse book series, V-WARS, is being produced as a Netflix original series, starring Ian Somerhalder (LOST, VAMPIRE DIARIES) and will debut in early 2019. His other works include the Joe Ledger thrillers, Glimpse, the Rot & Ruin series, the Dead of Night series, The Wolfman, X-Files Origins: Devil’s Advocate, and many others. His YA space travel novel, Mars One, is in development for film; and his novel Glimpse and the V-Wars shared-world vampire apocalypse series are being developed for TV, as is his bestselling Joe Ledger thriller series. He is the editor of many anthologies including the X-Files, Aliens: Bug Hunt, Nights of the Living Dead (co-edited with zombie genre creator George A. Romero). His comics include Captain America, the Bram Stoker Award-winning Bad Blood, Black Panther, Punisher, Marvel Zombies Return, and more. His Rot & Ruin novels were included in the Ten Best Horror Novels for Young Adults. His first novel, Ghost Road Blues was named one of the 25 Best Horror Novels of the New Millennium. A board game version of V-Wars: A Game of Blood and Betrayal was based on his noels and comics. He was a featured expert on the History Channel’s Zombies: A Living History and True Monsters. He is one third of the very popular and mildly weird Three Guys With Beards podcast. . He is a board member of the Horror Writers Association and the president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers. Jonathan lives in Del Mar, California with his wife, Sara Jo. www.jonathanmaberry.com

 

Get your free copy of Write Good or Die by Jonathan Maberry 

 

Kevin J. Anderson

Kevin J. Anderson - Yes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. My major new fantasy trilogy starts with SPINE OF THE DRAGON, followed by VENGEWAR and GODS AND DRAGONS (editing now). My newest Dune novel with Brian Herbert is THE DUKE OF CALADAN. I also love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.

I have written more than 165 books, including 56 national or international bestsellers. I have over 23 million books in print worldwide in thirty languages. I've been nominated for the Nebula Award, Hugo Award, Bram Stoker Award, Shamus Award, and Silver Falchion Award, and I've won the SFX Readers' Choice Award, Golden Duck Award, Scribe Award, and New York Times Notable Book; in 2012 at San Diego Comic Con I received the Faust Grand Master Award for Lifetime Achievement.

I have written numerous bestselling and critically acclaimed novels in the Dune universe with Brian Herbert, as well as Star Wars and X-Files novels. In my original work, I am best known for my Saga of Seven Suns series, the Terra Incognita trilogy, the Dan Shamble, Zombie PI series, and Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives with Neil Peart. Along with my wife Rebecca Moesta, I am also the publisher of WordFire Press. Find out more about me at wordfire.com, where you can sign up for my newsletter and get some free fiction.

FOR RIGHTS INQUIRIES (Film/TV/Gaming/Foreign/Literary) please contact me directly at info (at) wordfire (dot) com, and I will put you in touch with my appropriate representative.

 

 Get your free copy of Write Good or Die by Jonathan Maberry 

 

Scott Nicholson
Scott Nicholson - Sign up for my Tao of Boo newsletter for giveaways, free books, and announcements of new releases: http://www.authorscottnicholson.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/

I believe the writer only creates half the story, and that you complete it by bringing your imagination, experience, and heart to the tale. I am happy to share the journey with you and I'm grateful for your reviews and support because that lets me keep living this crazy dream.

I've written more than 30 novels, about 80 short stories, four children's books, some comic books, screenplays, and a couple of non-fiction books, as well as five collaborations with J.R. Rain. Many of my tales are based on supernatural legends from the Southern Appalachian Mountains, and I also write mystery and suspense thrillers that are most often compared to the work of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I've branched into dark science fiction with my After, Next, and MIM*X series.

I've also published Liquid Fear and Chronic Fear with Amazon's Thomas & Mercer imprint and McFall with 47North, as well as a number of audiobooks and foreign translations. I love hearing from you, because you're the reason I do this, so let's connect! Learn more about my work at www.AuthorScottNicholson.com
 


M. J. Rose
M. J. Rose
- New York Times, USAToday, and Wall St. Journal bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother's favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice... books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.

Rose's work has appeared in many magazines including Oprah Magazine and The Adventurine and she has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, WSJ, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio.

Rose graduated from Syracuse University, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com. Rose is also the co-founder of 1001DarkNights.com and TheBlueBoxPress.com

The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Reincarnationist series.


 
 
David J. Montgomery
 David J. Montgomery
mixes his love of history and alcohol into one potent concoction through his work at ProfessorCocktail.com. He is also a nationally renowned book critic and commentator on writing and the publishing industry. Mr. Montgomery is an emeritus columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and The Daily Beast, and has written for USA Today, The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, and other fine publications. His short fiction has appeared both online and in print. A former Professor of History, he lives in the Washington, D.C. suburbs with his wife and two daughters.
 

Sunday, August 21, 2022

The Plot Dot: An eight-step visual guide to plotting unforgettable fiction and writing a book readers love. by Derek Murphy (Free eBook)

 
The Plot Dot: An eight-step visual guide to plotting unforgettable fiction and writing a book readers love. (Self-Publishing Basics 1) by Derek Murphy
 

The Plot Dot: An eight-step visual guide to plotting unforgettable fiction and writing a book readers love. 

by Derek Murphy 

 
 
 by Derek Murph
 

Description

Product Description

Writing a book doesn’t have to be so hard.


A plotting guide for fiction authors who hate outlining.

If you’ve read dozens of books on writing but still struggle with finishing or polishing your story, get stuck in the soggy middle, lose motivation to fix your book after the first draft is done, or can’t get readers to stick with your story, this book is for you.

After early criticism made me give up writing for nearly a decade, I spent years studying the craft of fiction and boiled everything into a simple, eight-step framework authors can use to improve their writing. Then I added a unique visual framework for creating powerful scenes that readers will love.

This book will help you:

✓ Organize your story so you can finish a great book, faster
✓ Unlock hidden potential in your scenes that you didn’t know was there
✓ Hook readers faster so they don’t quit too early

Whether you’re a panster or a plotter, the guided exercises in this book will help you gain greater visual clarity, plot and outline your novel, edit and revise your first draft, and renew your enthusiasm for writing fiction.

The Plot Dot makes an excellent workbook for writing retreats, is simple enough for children to use (it’s never too early to write your first novel), and introduces a new and useful way to organize your book, improve your writing, and create unforgettable scenes that will make a deep and lasting impact.

Review

"Dude. Finally implementing your structure into the beats of my story. I know you consolidated your beats down from other authors, but I really think you're on to something here. Particularly in Act 2, you can literally immediately visualize hundreds of movies you know (that worked) based on when certain beats happen." Jake Anderson

 

 
 by Derek Murph
 
 

Friday, August 19, 2022

How to Write a Great Query Letter: Insider Tips and Techniques for Success by Noah Lukeman (Free eBook)

 

How to Write a Great Query Letter: Insider Tips and Techniques for Success by Noah Lukeman (Free eBook)

 Get your free copy of "How to Write a Great Query Letter: Insider Tips and Techniques for Success by Noah Lukeman"

 Description

"Noah Lukeman, one of the top literary agents in New York, gave writers a great gift."
--James Frey (regarding The Plot Thickens)

"This will certainly help writers of any kind defeat rejection and possibly score."
--Writers.com (regarding The First Five Pages)

Many books have been written about the query letter. But few have been written by literary agents, who receive thousands of queries each year and who grapple with them on a daily basis. Even fewer books have been written by literary agents who are currently active, who are willing to write from the trenches and offer their perspective on why they reject query letters, and why they accept them.

During his last 16 years as a literary agent, New York literary agent Noah Lukeman, President of Lukeman Literary Management Ltd and author of three critically-acclaimed books on the craft of writing, has read thousands of query letters. Now, for the first time, he offers his insights on the query letter, sharing an insider's perspective, giving insights and practical tips about what works and what doesn’t.

"Lukeman’s advice is practical—and often entails multiple, time-consuming steps—without a hint of the flakiness that creeps into many writing guides."
--Publishers Weekly (regarding The Plot Thickens)

This 100,000 word file also includes for free two of Noah Lukeman’s other books--How to Land (and Keep) a Literary Agent and Ask a Literary Agent.

Get your free copy of "How to Write a Great Query Letter: Insider Tips and Techniques for Success by Noah Lukeman"

 

 

About the Author

Noah Lukeman
Noah Lukeman is an American literary agent, actor, script-writer and author of works about writing and literature. A number of his books are widely used in creative writing programmes. Lukeman also contributes to a number of newspapers and journals, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Monday, August 15, 2022

Story Alchemy: The Search for the Philosopher's Stone of Storytelling (Author's Craft Book 2) by David Sheppard (Free eBook)

 

Story Alchemy: The Search for the Philosopher's Stone of Storytelling (Author's Craft Book 2) by David Sheppard

Story Alchemy: The Search for the Philosopher's Stone of Storytelling

(Author's Craft Book 2)

 

by 

 

David Sheppard

 

 Get your free copy of "Story Alchemy: The Search for the Philosopher's Stone of Storytelling David Sheppard."

 

Description

Review

David Sheppard's Novelsmithing saved my last novel; his Story Alchemy may well save my work-in-progress. This is the most unusual book on craft I have ever read. My head is popping with new insights on the nature of storytelling, dream and memory, and the blurred line between everyday life and the world of myth. Story Alchemy gives you tools for bringing the stories up from your own psyche. This involves forays through the Iris of Time to meet your narrator, the invasion of your dreams by your characters, and the mental construction of something called a Memory Palace. For all this, the book is surprisingly practical, containing helpful templates for building a theme-based plot, step-by-step meditation techniques designed to deepen understanding of characters, and methods for visualizing scenes while writing them. However, Story Alchemy is not for the faint of heart. It will take you to the threshold of your secret self and challenge you to cross. Only you can decide whether this is a good idea. I have to say: my mind is blown. Katherine Grace Bond, author, The Summer of No RegretsDirector, TeenWrite workshopsWriting Instructor, Sky Valley Education Center

Product Description

Screenwriter? Novelist? Playwright? Write short stories? Story Alchemy presents a powerful new technique for establishing story structure and gaining insight into the entire creative process. If you thought Novelsmithing was good, you'll be blown away by Story Alchemy.

From the Back Cover

David Sheppard's Novelsmithing saved my last novel; his Story Alchemy may well save my work-in-progress. This is the most unusual book on craft I have ever read. My head is popping with new insights on the nature of storytelling, dream and memory, and the blurred line between everyday life and the world of myth. Story Alchemy gives you tools for bringing the stories up from your own psyche. This involves forays through the Iris of Time to meet your narrator, the invasion of your dreams by your characters, and the mental construction of something called a Memory Palace. For all this, the book is surprisingly practical, containing helpful templates for building a theme-based plot, step-by-step meditation techniques designed to deepen understanding of characters, and methods for visualizing scenes while writing them. However, Story Alchemy is not for the faint of heart. It will take you to the threshold of your secret self and challenge you to cross. Only you can decide whether this is a good idea. I have to say: my mind is blown. Katherine Grace Bond, author, The Summer of No RegretsDirector, TeenWrite workshopsWriting Instructor, Sky Valley Education Center

About the Author

David Sheppard

David Sheppard is a graduate of Stanford University and an author of both fiction and non-fiction. His poetry has appeared in The Paris Review and in England (The 1987 Arvon International Poetry Competition Anthology judged by Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney). While living in Colorado he was a member of the Rocky Mountain Writers Guild for seven years, participated in its Live Poets Society and Advanced Novel Workshop, and chaired its Literary Society. He founded a novel critique group that lasted ten years. He has attended the Aspen Writers Conference in Colorado and the Sierra Writing Camp in California. He has taught Novel Writing and Greek Mythology at New Mexico State University at Carlsbad in the Continuing Education Department. He has traveled throughout Western Europe and is an amateur photographer and astronomer.

 Buy David Sheppard Books at Amazon

Get your free copy of "Story Alchemy: The Search for the Philosopher's Stone of Storytelling David Sheppard."

Sunday, August 14, 2022

The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life by Noah Lukeman (Free eBook)

 

The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life by Noah Lukeman

 The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life by Noah Lukeman

 

Get your free copy of "The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life by Noah Lukeman. "

Description

Review

“One of the best-ever books about the craft of writing. It is a book that can change the world of every writer who embraces Lukeman’s ideas. His classroom on paper should be on every writer’s shelf to be read again and again.” ---Authorlink

“Full of practical common sense about how to write fiction and [he] answers many of the difficult questions first novelists ask themselves.” ---Michael Korda, author of
Making the List

“Lukeman’s advice is practical---and often entails multiple, time-consuming steps---without a hint of the flakiness that creeps into many writing guides. Though Lukeman works with books, he wisely asserts that the observations in this volume are applicable to all types of imaginary writing, from film to poetry. Indeed, it is a worthy addition to any writer’s reference shelf.” ---
Publishers Weekly

“A godsend...
The Plot Thickens is not the type of book you want to check out from the library or borrow from a friend. It is the type of book you need to purchase so it can sit on your desk, dog-eared and underlined, worn from years of overuse.” ---Prairieden.com


"One of the best-ever books about the craft of writing." (
Authorlink )

"A highly useful book that is written in an accessible style and filled with valuable examples." (
The Writer )

"A written version of the mentor you always wished you could have." (
Midwest Book Review )

"The type of book you need to purchase so it can sit on your desk, dog-eared and underlined." (
Prarieden.com )

"Lukeman understands... what makes for excellent, not just bestselling, fiction. Treat yourself to his superbly written reference guide." (
Netauthor.org )

Product Description

As a literary agent, Noah Lukeman hears thousands of book pitches a year. Often the stories sound great in concept, but never live up to their potential on the page. Lukeman shows beginning and advanced writers how to implement the fundamentals of successful plot development, such as character building and heightened suspense and conflict. Writers will find it impossible to walk away from this invaluable guide---a veritable fiction-writing workshop---without boundless new ideas.

Noah Lukeman is a New York literary agent whose clients include winners of the Pulitzer Prize and American Book Award, National Book Award finalists, Edgar Award finalists, New York Times bestselling authors, and the faculty of esteemed universities. He has worked as a manager in Artists Management Group, and is currently president of Lukeman Literary Management Ltd. He is also author of the bestselling The First Five Pages, now part of the curriculum in many universities.

“One of the best-ever books about the craft of writing. It is a book that can change the world of every writer who embraces Lukeman’s ideas. His classroom on paper should be on every writer’s shelf to be read again and again.” ---Authorlink

“Full of practical common sense about how to write fiction and [he] answers many of the difficult questions first novelists ask themselves.” ---Michael Korda, author of Making the List

“Lukeman’s advice is practical---and often entails multiple, time-consuming steps---without a hint of the flakiness that creeps into many writing guides. Though Lukeman works with books, he wisely asserts that the observations in this volume are applicable to all types of imaginary writing, from film to poetry. Indeed, it is a worthy addition to any writer’s reference shelf.” ---Publishers Weekly

“A godsend...The Plot Thickens is not the type of book you want to check out from the library or borrow from a friend. It is the type of book you need to purchase so it can sit on your desk, dog-eared and underlined, worn from years of overuse.” ---Prairieden.com

About the Author

Noah Lukeman
Noah Lukeman is an American literary agent, actor, script-writer and author of works about writing and literature. A number of his books are widely used in creative writing programmes. Lukeman also contributes to a number of newspapers and journals, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

From Publishers Weekly

Lukeman's second book on writing after 2000's The First Five Pages (a third volume on dialogue is still to come) discusses the craft of writing well-plotted fiction. Lukeman, a literary agent, rallies against the lazy and mundane that cross his desk in the form of 50,000 manuscripts submitted in the last five years. Initially, at least, he is less concerned with artfulness than the simple need to make the book compelling beyond the first few pages. He asserts that the foundation (and often the first casualty) of a book is character, and accordingly, Lukeman dedicates the first two chapters to an exhaustive list of questions a writer should ask about the "outer" and "inner" life of each character. He encourages a Dr. Frankenstein-like approach to creating realistic fictional characters: devising them with the intention of bending them to the writer's own will, but at the same time investing them with enough life that they are capable of making their own way in the world and ultimately surprising their creator. A third chapter called "Applied Characterization" discusses how to use this knowledge to form a plot. The remaining five chapters cover different aspects of plotting: "The Journey," "Suspense," "Conflict," "Context" and "Transcendency." Lukeman's advice is practical and often entails multiple, time-consuming steps without a hint of the flakiness that creeps into many writing guides. The closest he ever gets to sounding like a guru is when he sagely stresses, "Real life is the best teacher." Though Lukeman works with books, he wisely asserts that the observations in this volume are applicable to all types of imaginary writing, from film to poetry. Indeed, it is a worthy addition to any narrative writer's reference shelf.
 

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In this follow-up to the author's successful First Five Pages (2000), literary agent Lukeman focuses on the mechanics of storytelling. He introduces budding writers to the techniques of characterization (ask yourself questions about the people you've created), the various ways of generating suspense (danger, a ticking clock), and the importance of conflict. He writes from experience: he's read, he tells us, more than 50,000 manuscripts in the past half decade. Curiously, he mostly uses movies to illustrate his points, on the assumption that more of his readers will recognize his references that way. (This premise--that would-be writers won't be familiar with literary references--may strike some as slightly insulting, unintentional though it may be.) All in all, though, this is a crisply written, nicely detailed examination of the art of storytelling. Beginning writers will find plenty of practical tips and useful advice in its pages. David Pitt
 

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