Will Write for Shoes: How to Write a Chick Lit Novel

by Cathy Yardley

* What is Chick Lit exactly?* How do I write a Chick Lit novel?* What are the steps I need to take to get published? Once dismissed as a fad by the popular press and literary community, the women's fiction genre called Chick Lit is now one of the hottest growing markets for new writers. In Will Write for Shoes, veteran Chick Lit and romance author Cathy Yardley addresses the common questions (and misconceptions) about the genre. Based on years of teaching about commercial women's fiction, this definitive guide provides invaluable tips and step-by-step methods for writing and selling a successful Chick Lit novel. Features * The history of Chick Lit* A blueprint for writing a Chick Lit novel* New trends in the genre* Tips and tools for breaking into the market* FAQs and miscellanea A directory of agents and publishers who acquire Chick Lit, sample submission materials, and online resources make this fun and comprehensive manual a must-have for all women who want to write a Chick Lit novel.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Chick Lit, Reference, Self Help, How To

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Cathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin's, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and that sometimes being a little wrong is just right.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read dozens of writing books over the years (maybe even a hundred) and this is one of the very few that actually helped me. I highly recommend this book to anyone trying to structure a book, not just chick lit but any book. Cathy Yardley offers up a "map" that is extremely useful for finding your way through mess of a first draft.

[Jay Fingers · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Just so you know, the full title of romance author Cathy Yardley’s how-to book is Will Write for Shoes: How to Write A Chick Lit Novel . Does it strike you as odd that I would read such a book? It shouldn’t – especially if you’ve already read my novel GUESTLIST.

In the weeks leading up to GUESTLIST’s release, whenever most people asked what genre it would fall into, I would say, without hesitation, “chick lit.” That response was usually followed by a look of utter perplexity.

But think about it. GUESTLIST is the story of a young woman who moves to New York City and attempts to adjust to life in her new surroundings. She begins looking for love (or, at least, companionship) and struggles to find a foothold in her career. Isn’t that basically what most chick lit books are about?

Of course, at the time I’d been ingesting a healthy diet of work by writers like Candace Bushnell, Aliya S. King, Lauren Weisberger, Helen Fielding, Amy Sohn, and Erica Kennedy, so that heavily impacted my work. But ultimately I felt compelled to tell this type of story. And truth be told, I’m sure I will tell a similar tale again.

I’m not the first black man to embark on this journey. Look at Omar Tyree. Though I couldn’t really get into Flyy Girl , I can’t deny the man’s success. Sixteen published novels, many of them bestsellers. Further, the man is a pioneer in the urban lit game. Still, I think it may be a bit jarring for people to see a black male writer admitting that penning chick lit is in his wheelhouse.

Well, lemme tell you right now, Dear Readers, I am that Black Male Writer. Not only that but I want to elevate my craft, and that is why I picked up Mrs. Yardley’s book. Like most books I’ve gotten these days, I found Will Write for Shoes at Book Off, and after seeing the title I knew it would make its way into my personal library.

So, on to the review, which pretty much boils down to one question: is the book helpful? In my opinion, yes, it is.

Yardley gives the reader an overview of chick lit history before delving into the conventions and mechanics of the genre. What I liked is that Yardley aims to educate writers about chick lit before encouraging them to play with the genre’s conventions. For example, most chick lit stories take place in glitzy, fast-paced metropolitan areas (such as New York City). But what if your story took place in, say, rural Idaho? See?

The book also talks about finding and refining one’s writing voice, and gives helpful tips on plotting the course of one’s story. It’s all great advice and would help anyone, from novices to seasoned writers, and I can certainly see myself using the book as a resource in the future.

The latter half of Will Write for Shoes focuses on breaking into the world of traditional publishing. How to find and query agents, determining which publishing house would be the best fit for your novel, etc. While very informative and interesting, these later chapters really didn’t have much to offer an independently published author such as myself. Still, the material is very helpful and, while not exhaustive, certainly complete enough.

All in all, I feel that Will Write for Shoes is a great source of information for those who wish to write in the genre of chick lit. It will probably inspire some to pick up some of the notable works in the genre (I know I want to get into Nick Hornby’s work, though he’s categorized at “dick lit” or “lad lit”) and it will certainly help those struggling with to get their WIPs off the ground.

Yardley’s voice is pleasant, personable, and easy-going. As I said, I’ll definitely be picking up this book again and again. Though I’m not writing for shoes, at least I have a guide to help me write about them.

[Soquel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little outdated but still had some helpful chapters.

[Suzie Quint · Rating 1 out of 5]

Allow me to preface my review with my criteria regarding writing books that lay claim to a particular focus. If a book claims to tell you how to write dialog, for instance, and three chapters are about dialog and then it devolves into advice about writing in general, I’m not going to be impressed, no matter how good the in-general advice is. Like fiction, the book makes a specific promise in the title and the beginning pages. Whatever else the book does, I expect it to payoff that specific promise. In a book like Will Write for Shoes, I expect the lion’s portion of the book to be genre specific. Silly me.

See the full review at http://suziequint.blogspot.com/2012/0...

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this while visiting another library in my system, and couldn't resist taking it home. I don't actually write chick lit, but there's enough overlap between that genre and my slice-of-life stories that the concept appealed, and I always enjoy reading more books about writing. I ended up really enjoying this, and I found it helpful in various ways.

The book breaks down the development of the genre and its various offshoots in a way that will be helpful for reader's advisory at the library, and the author shared interesting reflections about how to write chick lit, while also acknowledging and respecting the range of topics, settings, characters, and content norms that different authors choose between. The author summarizes general elements of the genre without being prescriptive, and even though this 2007 publication is quite dated now, almost all of the advice still applies.

The second half of the book focuses on the writing and publishing processes. I found this much less interesting, since most of it was general writing advice that I've read elsewhere numerous times, and very little of it was truly genre-specific. I would have been interested in more details directly about the genre, since I've never read a book like this before and wanted more unique content, but I'm glad that I got to read this. I read the only copy in my library system that is still circulating, and I'm thankful that I came across this when I did.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book when I was doing some research on Chick Lit, and although the term may have its own contentious issues, it still is a distinct style and form, regardless of what it’s called. I found this book to be helpful, both in the writing craft and in developing a sense of who you are a writer and what you choose to write. I’m a big believer that, as writers, we should always write what we are passionate about. This book gives you a break down of all the elements of writing from plotting to drafting, editing and developing characters. There are sample letters to help you prepare a pitch and lists of agents and publishers. It is geared to an American publishing scene, but then again, that scene and readership is pretty huge. I’m not sure if all the agents are still around, but Yardley gives you great advice on how to look for a good agent, so if you’re in another part of the world, you can use her advice. The wrtiting style is humorous and it’s like having a chat with Cathy in a cafe. She has fabulous voice that makes you laugh—you can see why she’s a successful Chick Lit author.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than I thought it would be. I skipped the Chick Lit specific parts (the brief intro and history at the front) and only read the middle section on plotting a novel. I really like Yardley's voice (will definitely be reading her books in the future) so this flew by.

Nothing ground breaking, but if you're looking for a good introduction to plotting, this is fantastic. Hits all major points and includes some books to read for a deeper dive into the subjects. Honestly, the part about writing scenes is the best mini-synopsis of Scene and Structure I've read.
I think it's 99 cents on Amazon and well-worth that price if you are somewhat of a newbie.

I guess the one negative point is that this book doesn't have much that sets it out as specifically for Chick Lit, despite the title. But...I'm not sure why you'd read a book from twenty years ago for a guide to writing Women's Fiction anyways.

[Sinead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little out of date, understandable as it was published in 2006. The first half of the book is really helpful. Cathy provides a structure you can work off to write your chick lit novel and she answers some of the most common questions first time romance writers have. The second section of the book about publishing houses etc is the part that’s dated. Publishing has changed a lot in the past 10 years. I definitely think an updated version of the book would be of great benefit to aspiring authors.

[Baca Buku · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been useful in defining chick lit for me. I thought it might also be a sort of writing manual, but except for a brief look into technique, it's not that. I wish I could use the information at the end about agents and traditional publishing, but since I intend to publish independently, I admit I just skimmed through that section. The synopsis, however, gave me an idea of how to go about it.

[Kerry Crisley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, detailed, and motivating guide for aspiring novelists. Gives practical advice with real examples. A great starting place!

[Sasha Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some out dated resources but overall useful and good information.

[Ciara · Rating 3 out of 5]

just like the title says: a basic how-to on writing a chick lit novel. i picked it up out of idle curiosity & found it far more helpful than i ever would have imagined. there's a lot solid advice in here for writing just about any kind of fiction. i especially appreciated the insights on pacing & outlining a plot. it sounds like cathy yardley & i are of one mind when it comes to compulsive writerly habits, & i really enjoyed reading about her process, even though i have never read any of her books. i doubt that i personally will write a chick lit novel anytime soon, but this book gave me a greater appreciation for the genre. i realized that i enjoy chick lit as a guilty pleasure because it is really fast-paced, & it helped me understand the way pacing plays such an integral role in so much genre fiction. it was also kind of refreshing to hear a writer's take on the business side of things (she suggests several times that chick lit can be a reasonably lucrative field for a new author--though this book was published in 2006, & the publishing industry is constantly changing, so take that with a grain of salt).

one reviewer pointed out that this is a good book for someone who hasn't started writing her novel yet, or for someone who has finished a manuscript & doesn't know how to go about finding an agent or publisher, but not so helpful for those halfway through writing a book. i can relate to that. i was about a quarter of the way through writing a novel when i picked this up, & all of the insights on plotting & pacing kind of stopped my book in its tracks. i was feeling a little stuck with my story & cathy's tips helped me realize that i started too deep into the plot & needed to go back & write more of a beginning for my characters. & i have since re-conceptualized some other key elements of my story. so...that's not a bad thing, but it was kind of a bummer when i had been on a roll with my writing. so you have been warned: don't read this when you are halfway through writing your book.

[Krazybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Write for Shoes is a great resource for anyone who is considering writing chick lit (but it can also be useful for writers of any genre). Ms. Yardley has a humorous style to present a wealth of information about everything from what is and what is not chick lit, how to develop your chick lit story, and how to market and sell your chick lit novel. She doesn't sugarcoat anything, but it is perhaps tied up with a pink bow in a pair of stilettos, with titles such as "Warning: Period of Time When Your Life Will Necessarily Suck: Revisions" and "Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes... The Crapshoot That is Selling Your Novel."

Keep in mind that this was written about 8 years ago, so some of the information on publishers and agents may be outdated, but it is still a great guide for a new chick lit writer.

(Ms. Yardley sent me a signed copy of this book years ago after I "met" her on an online forum for work-at-home moms when I mentioned that I was interested in writing. This was years before I became a book review blogger. After a recent move, I uncovered this while unpacking, read it again, and knew it deserved a review.)

A copy was gifted, but I was not required to write a review.

[Claire Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I wasn't fully on board with was the definition of Chick Lit. Even though Yardley herself admitted that traditional Chick Lit was not the only type, she kept coming back to the definition of looking for boyfriend in a fast-paced urban setting.

Other than that, the book reads like a dream. What kind of character can you have? What is plot? How do you outline? What if you don't want to outline? How should your setting interplay with the other elements of your story? She also includes information on how to query your book, where to find agents and publishers, as well as a list of freuently asked questions.

There's a laundry list of references to other Chick Lit novels, with not many (if any) excerpts. Some reviewers seemed to dislike this, but I found it worked. Especially since many of the examples were about what the books as a whole were doing. I also think the list of books could be used as a sample of what's out there for aspiring CHick Lit writers to read up on.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read and reread this book at least twice. It's a fantastic, helpful and humorous book on approaching the wonderful (and sometimes, scary) world of writing - specifically chick lit or women's fiction, whatever you prefer to call the genre. Determined to proclaim to the world that Chick Lit is NOT Dead, this book offers surefire methods to get you brainstorming, pen moving and then knocking on a publisher's door (in your fave stilettos, of course). Filled with great tips on character building - what to do and what not to do; plot, setting, conflict, story telling vs. showing, endings and more, this book made me feel excited about writing and armed with the devices for how to do so, I began to pen my first novel after this book. I own this book becuase I often go back to it for help, inspiration, humor and just a reminder of some of the core facets of fiction writing.

[Gemini Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I work with authors across multiple genres guiding them in writing and publishing. I picked up this book as research for a client. At first it was jolly! Easy to read and a Chick Lit tone that amused. But this became tiresome in the context of a guidebook. Lots of references to other people's writing but very few examples. This is indeed a guide book as it tells you where to go to get the information you might need for crafting your Chick Lit novel but it is very thin on writing content examples. However, it does have an excellent resources section at the back for helping budding authors to find a Lit agent or submit directly to a publisher.

[A. T. Adlen · Rating 4 out of 5]

At a very recent library excursion, I picked this book up availing to use it as a guide for "what NOT to do".
I was pleasant surprised! It is actually a very smart, concise cut-through-the-bull kind of writing resource (which I have noticed over the years is hard to come by).

If you are on the fence about reaching for this book because you are nervous about likening your work to Chick-lit, I recommend giving it a look? If anything it helps give a more broad exploration of a "trendy" genre (a trend over 30 years old) and serves as a gentle push off of the high horses where snooty high brow writers among us often make permanent real estate.

....get over yourselves!

[Lynn Blackmar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some good information about writing Chick Lit, but much of it is standard advice of writing books. A good half of the book is on publishing, and not on writing, so I think some of this could have been referred out to other resources in favor of a deeper treatment of writing specifically chick lit. For example, the types of Chick Lit were summarized in a couple pages, but there was a whole chapter on querying. While the advice is fair for querying specifically chick lit, the book title and summary indicates it's purpose is writing, and I felt it was lacking on that topic.

[Michelle Ham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really getting into the whole reading about the craft of writing a novel, when it seemed to abruptly shift to the whole business side of things - getting an agent and so forth. Plenty of good info and her mind seems to work the same way as mine - just a bit light on. Am now on the look-out for a more comprehensive guide - perhaps the Weekend Novelist, which she refers to.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the title suggests that this book is aimed at Chick Lit writes exclusively, I found it to be a helpful resource for writing in general. The overall feel of this book is light hearted and breezy, yet manages to pack in pleanty of good sound advice and helpful tips both for getting your story writen and getting it published.

[Kiesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

an excellent source for aspiring chick- lit authors . Its an easy enjoyable read that throughly explains the charactristics, and how one should go about in becoming a sucessful author. Although the chick Lit Genre is the focus of this book. I think that all aspiring authors can benefit from this book.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is awesome for those who have the dream of becoming a chick lit author - a guilty pleasure of mine! Such a good resource book and also has tips on writing groups and basic plot outlines for any type of novel. Thanks Lynn for this recommendation!

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only gave this book 1 star because i dont know why i read it. i am not planning on writing a chic lit book or any book for that matter. there were some good references to books in there that i might pick up and read.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

The chick lit history and trends part was quite interesting and fun. The guide for writing didn't give me anything really new. The breaking into the market part was not really useful for anybody outside the US.

[Maria]

I'll write for shoes! (And socks.)

[Ghym · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. Even though I am not a chick-lit fan, per se, this has a lot of good advice for those looking to write a novel.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

so far, useful.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good info on finding an agent and a lot of resources. Seemed to primarily take material from other sources, such as "the weekend novelist"

[Nita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads needs a category for "I skimmed it." Knew I wasn't writing Chick Lit and confirmed this fact after skimming the first few pages. It's probably a great resource for someone who is.

[Livia Blackburne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I share some tips from the book here:

http://blog.liviablackburne.com/2009/...