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How Not to Write a Novel
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Every week, agents and publishers receive hundreds of manuscripts from would-be authors. Of these, less than one percent will make it into print. David Armstrong was one of the lucky ones -- his first crime novel plucked from the slush pile and published to acclaim. But it rapidly became clear to Armstrong that being a published novelist is not always as glamorous as it
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How to outsell your own not very successful novels with a 'how to' book.
A book that claims to be the antidote to How to... books. In fact it is really a memoir of the author who has published four novels and achieved, by his own measure, mediocre success. As a quick and slightly humourous read it is worth five out of ten. The author comes across as conceited, dressing up his anger and arrogance in fake modesty and self-deprecation. Reviews on Amazon warned me of the continous plugging of his ...more
A book that claims to be the antidote to How to... books. In fact it is really a memoir of the author who has published four novels and achieved, by his own measure, mediocre success. As a quick and slightly humourous read it is worth five out of ten. The author comes across as conceited, dressing up his anger and arrogance in fake modesty and self-deprecation. Reviews on Amazon warned me of the continous plugging of his ...more
Parts made me weep with laughter. Other parts made me nod in sad recognition. While this is not the most practical writing guide out there, it is definitely the most fun.
I picked this book up yesterday and this morning I recieved my fourth rejection letter for my novel: it seemed like the perfekt time to start reading it. Even if I am so lucky to get my novel published at some point (I'm starting to lose hope, but whatever), this is pretty much what I can look forward to.
I guess it's not that bad? I did very much like that this is written by a midlist author who had stayed a midlist author (well, I don't know what he is now, but at the time of the writing. I've ...more
I guess it's not that bad? I did very much like that this is written by a midlist author who had stayed a midlist author (well, I don't know what he is now, but at the time of the writing. I've ...more
This is an eye-opening book about the world of writing and publishing, written by a self-confessed 'midlist' author. David Armstrong published a few crime novels, before being dropped by his publisher and subsequently his agent, due to low sales. In the book, Armstrong presents how for every Stephen King or J.K. Rowling, there are at least 1,000 writers like himself, who have been published, have sold a couple of thousand books, but have remained in the background, 'jostling' with other books
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Hilarious and eye-wateringly on target. Sounds like comedy but it is so accurate and apposite.
Funny,direct and interesting.
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David Armstrong was born in Birmingham and now lives in Shropshire. He left secondary school without qualifications but later went on to read English at university in Cardiff. His first novel was short-listed for the Crime Writers' Association Best First Crime Novel and since then his work has continued to receive critical acclaim. Small Vices is his fifth novel.
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