The Craft of Novel Writing: A Practical Guide

by Dianne Doubtfire

Paperback, 1981 New Revised Edition, Schoken Books. 86 pages by Diane Doubtfire. New Revised Edition, published in Great Britain by Allison & Busby 1981. Out of Print.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Elina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the late 1980's edition in Finnish. This is one of the books that tell people what to do, but not how to do it. It also offers some rather rigid rules, that in truth don't apply to every writer and situation. There are a few good points however.

Not my favorite writing guide, but I guess it's ok.

[Austin Neaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a new author, looking for a book to teach you something about writing a Novel, then this book is worth checking out... some of the information about publishing is outdated (but that's a small part of the book)... I thought the rest was good advice.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books on novel writing and this for me is one of the best. It covers all of the essentials in a simple fashion; whereas most modern books over complicate them leaving you not knowing where to begin. I highly recommend this book for any new beginner.

[Salsabil Otaibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

هو كتاب قصير , غير عميق ودون اسهاب, فقط يحوي الارشادات الرئيسية لكتابة الرواية, وهو مكتوب بأسلوب عملي ومباشر, وهو ثري بملاحظات مهمة وقيمة, والكاتبة لها خبرة ومخزون معرفي كبير في مجال كتابة الرواية. لا يقرأ هذا الكتاب من يرغب بمعرفة كيف تكتب الرواية وإنما من يرغب بمعرفة كيف تقرأ الرواية أيضاً, حيث أن الكتاب يساعد على تحليل الرواية والنظر للروايات بشكل مختلف وتقييمها على أساس واضح. أ

تستطيع بالطبع عندما تقرأ رواية ما أن تقرر إذا كانت جيدة أم لا, ولكنك لن تستطيع وضع يدك على ما يجعلها كذلك بالتحديد, ولكن مع هذا الكتاب ستستطيع تحديد الخصائص والصفات المحددة للرواية الجيدة, وكذلك الانتباه للأخطاء التي تجعلها أقل جودة. أ

[Grace Jolliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this book several times and each time I do I find something useful. Some may consider it outdated but there is so much that is useful that the dating doesn't matter. What counts is the information and advice on the sheer nuts and bolts of writing a novel.

Like the title says this book is about the craft of writing, just that, so if you want up to date info on publishing then look for something different. But, if you are a writer who wants to focus in on craft and are looking for help structuring your book, or deciding on point of view, theme etc. then this is a vital addition to your collection.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but clearly written volume giving some essential suggestions and guidelines for writers who want to embark on a novel. Nothing stood out as new to me, but there were plenty of useful reminders. The whole is written in a friendly tone, and while the advice about typewriters is obviously out-of-date in the 21st century, the majority of the advice still holds, thirty-five years after publication.

Recommended to anyone considering novel-writing, as a great introduction that covers just about everything necessary to know.

[Lindsay Nell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful introductory book for beginner writers and established ones as well. It was easy to read and follow. It is one of my favourite non-fiction books on my bookshelf.

[SB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, simple and sweet advice with examples, although some of it is quite outdated. I think there's something that everything can learn (or be reminded of) by reading this.

[Elizabeth Montague · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but dated.

[Shirin · Rating 5 out of 5]

خیلی نکات خوب و ریزی رو گفته بود نویسنده و مثال هم اورده برای هر نکته از نویسنده های بزرگ
من خیلی دوستش داشتم و برام کاربردی بود

[Diana Jaques · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say about this book is that if you ever want to write a novel/book of your own, definitely read this before you start.

This book is brimming with advice. From finding the theme to working arrangements, Dianne Doubtfire has you covered. With every page you stat to understand all of the little things that go into writing your own novel/book.

Quotes from other inspiring authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Gustave Flaubert, John Updike and many more have filled these pages giving some insight to how other authors feel about writing.

I can't stress enough how life changing this book is.
Every aspiring author should own a copy.

Hats off to Diane Doubtfire.

[Vaarna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a very clear view on writing. Dianne Doubtfire doesn't stray from her subject, but keeps to the essentials and offers plenty of useful advice. I took plenty of notes while reading, which is generally a sign for me that the book has a lot to say, and this is coming from someone who's read a lot of writing manuals. The structure of the book works excellently in its simplicity.

It's odd to see that a book close to 30 years in age can still be this useful. Of course many things in publishing have changed since, especially the way computers have revolutionized editing, and the outdated advice does lower my score somewhat. Nevertheless, this is one writing manual I would like to buy in the future. I recommend it especially to those, who're new to the craft.

[Eve Lumerto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every aspiring writer should read this book. It was so helpful for me when I was just a beginner. It's great because it's pretty timeless and gives you the basic principles in such a concise manner. If you need to check your direction, it's really easy with this book.

[Stewart]

This year. Same isbn, different cover

[Beliphaty · Rating 4 out of 5]

البته فارسيش رو خوندم : "فن رمان نويسي" ‏

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight to the point, easily understood yet detailed. Really smart and just what I needed.