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Writing: A User's Manual: A practical guide to planning, starting and finishing a novel
by
David Hewson
All too often writers focus exclusively on 'what to write' rather than 'how'. This is a manual offering plain-language insight into the everyday mechanics of creating a book from hazy idea to finished manuscript. These real-world challenges - how to approach a manuscript, to manage research, to fix the right point of view - represent important and recurring obstacles every...more
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
April 10th 2012
by Bloomsbury Methuen Drama
(first published February 16th 2012)
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I think this is one of the best writing guides I have read so far.
It is divided into three sections: planning, writing, and revising. Hewson leads us through each of these sections, building with us an imaginary novel called Charlie and the Mermaid. This is, in fact, one of the most useful parts of the book. You get to see this novel taking shape, from the first spark of an idea to a completed manuscript ready to send off to an agent or publisher. I actually wish Charlie and the Mermaid was a re...more
It is divided into three sections: planning, writing, and revising. Hewson leads us through each of these sections, building with us an imaginary novel called Charlie and the Mermaid. This is, in fact, one of the most useful parts of the book. You get to see this novel taking shape, from the first spark of an idea to a completed manuscript ready to send off to an agent or publisher. I actually wish Charlie and the Mermaid was a re...more
This is one of the best writing guides that I've read. It's very down to earth, constructive and informative, without any of those American-style 'how to be a millionaire writer without lifting a finger' type promises to it. The author of the Nic Costa series of detective stories and the recent The Killing novelisation is a gifted and insightful guide, using examples from his own books and other well-known writers to show you what kind of books sell these days and how, if you put enough work in,...more
Such a great book for aspiring writers. David Hewson has the experience and know how to make this book just fantastic reading. The many examples throughout really drove the points he was making home. From planning, to writing, to publishing there is just a lot of great stuff. I think this book definitely lives up to what it states it is. It is a user's manual for writing. I've read some books that claimed to be about writing but were really just motivational nonsense. There was no substance. Thi...more
I found this book to be quite valuable in helping me consolidate my thoughts about my own book. I would highly recommend it for anyone about to embark on the arduous journey of writing a novel.
I've put a review up on my blog: http://www.displacementactivity.co.uk...
Very stimulating and down to earth. Hoping it is going to galvanize me into getting on with my writing.
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DAVID HEWSON was born in Yorkshire in 1953. He has written sixteen novels, as well as several travel books. Until 2005 he was a weekly columnist for the Sunday Times until becoming a full-time author. David lives in Kent but visits Italy frequently. All 11 of his Italian books are now in development as TV movies.
Series:
* Nic Costa
More about David Hewson...
Series:
* Nic Costa
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Jan 12, 2013 04:53am