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Novelist's Boot Camp: 101 Ways to Take Your Book From Boring to Bestseller
Take Command of Your Novel! It's time to plan and execute a writing strategy that's in sync with your ultimate mission getting published. In Novelist's Boot Camp , author Todd A. Stone , a former assistant professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, draws on his experience as novelist, writing instructor, and military officer to help get you and your writing into tip-top shape. This boot-camp-in-a-book includes 101 carefully crafted drills designed to show you how Plus, there's a twelve-week boot camp battle plan that you can use to stay the course and finish your novel. Novelist's Boot Camp provides you with all the ammunition you need to approach your work with dedication, confidence, and skill. Now, report for duty and start writing that bestseller!
309 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2006
8 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 19, 2025
Before I begin, a disclaimer: about halfway through the book I switched to skimming. (It wasn't happening for me but I wanted to give it a chance, okay, I've owned it for yonks and lately I've been feeling sorry for it.) I only read past a header if the topic interested me. This didn't happen very many times.
Now then!
I don't know who this book is for.
It seems intended for absolute beginners, it gives you the very very basics, but, if you don't even know the very very basics when you're preparing to write your first novel--or maybe first anything--more than likely you wouldn't be writing a bestseller no matter who told you how.
(And I don't mean to be rude, but this gentleman published only two other books, one through a small press and the other self-published, okay, clearly he is not the authority on writing bestsellers.)
Of course the military angle is a gimmick and nothing more. I don't know what a "real" one would look like, but, not this.
My two favourite parts were these:
1. A section on voice near the end, in which he advises you to break all the rules. I enjoyed it both because I agree and because early on, he insists that you should do exactly as he says, all the time, forever.
2. The discovery that either he doesn't know that a "master story summary" is an outline actually, or else he decided to give it a manlier name (oh gosh he loved an "alpha male", long before that was mainstream) like my friend who called pens "ink sticks".
Honestly, sorry to this man but there are better books out there for just about any type of writer you could ever want or hope to be. It isn't offensively bad, it's just... pablum. It's pablum, man.
Now then!
I don't know who this book is for.
It seems intended for absolute beginners, it gives you the very very basics, but, if you don't even know the very very basics when you're preparing to write your first novel--or maybe first anything--more than likely you wouldn't be writing a bestseller no matter who told you how.
(And I don't mean to be rude, but this gentleman published only two other books, one through a small press and the other self-published, okay, clearly he is not the authority on writing bestsellers.)
Of course the military angle is a gimmick and nothing more. I don't know what a "real" one would look like, but, not this.
My two favourite parts were these:
1. A section on voice near the end, in which he advises you to break all the rules. I enjoyed it both because I agree and because early on, he insists that you should do exactly as he says, all the time, forever.
2. The discovery that either he doesn't know that a "master story summary" is an outline actually, or else he decided to give it a manlier name (oh gosh he loved an "alpha male", long before that was mainstream) like my friend who called pens "ink sticks".
Honestly, sorry to this man but there are better books out there for just about any type of writer you could ever want or hope to be. It isn't offensively bad, it's just... pablum. It's pablum, man.
January 15, 2014
I'm saddened to write this review because I really wanted to like this book. I wanted this book to push me ahead, help me over the bar, give me information that, while not new, it was still written in such a way as to invigorate me and urge me forward. I was in love with the idea that if I wrote along with this book every day/week (as suggested in the appendix), that at the end of it, I would have a finished draft.
Novelist's Boot Camp really let me down.
It's ordered by Missions and Drills. Each Mission has several Drills within it. Each Drill is, unfortunately, nothing more than a blog article, information written in the span of what would be any vague, high-level blog post found on any writer's blog. It's nothing new. It's nothing specific. It's all rehash rah-rah of what most middle-to-advanced writers already know. The Drills don't offer anything new.
For the new writer, this may have exactly what you need.
For the middle-advanced writer, go to Amazon, read the table of contents, look at the 'map', then go to the Appendix (all available under the Look Inside feature). From that, you will have all the information contained within the book to write a novel in 12 weeks.
Or, if you want inspiration, if you want a cheerleader in your camp, get this book.
If you want a book that you can follow and write along with, knowing at the end of a set time (as in twelve weeks enumerated in the appendix), get The 90 Day Novel by Alan Watt. At least The 90 Day Novel gives you specific questions to answer to help you focus your mind to get a novel written and gives you guidelines and guide posts to help you get the book written in 90 days.
Novelist's Boot Camp has some good information, but it's not in-depth enough to satisfy my thirst for more on how to write a novel or to provide guidance. There aren't any nifty tools and ideas I don't already know, and certainly not for the expense of ordering the physical book at hardcover price.
Beginning writers may gain something from it. More advanced writers, you might want to borrow from the library.
Novelist's Boot Camp really let me down.
It's ordered by Missions and Drills. Each Mission has several Drills within it. Each Drill is, unfortunately, nothing more than a blog article, information written in the span of what would be any vague, high-level blog post found on any writer's blog. It's nothing new. It's nothing specific. It's all rehash rah-rah of what most middle-to-advanced writers already know. The Drills don't offer anything new.
For the new writer, this may have exactly what you need.
For the middle-advanced writer, go to Amazon, read the table of contents, look at the 'map', then go to the Appendix (all available under the Look Inside feature). From that, you will have all the information contained within the book to write a novel in 12 weeks.
Or, if you want inspiration, if you want a cheerleader in your camp, get this book.
If you want a book that you can follow and write along with, knowing at the end of a set time (as in twelve weeks enumerated in the appendix), get The 90 Day Novel by Alan Watt. At least The 90 Day Novel gives you specific questions to answer to help you focus your mind to get a novel written and gives you guidelines and guide posts to help you get the book written in 90 days.
Novelist's Boot Camp has some good information, but it's not in-depth enough to satisfy my thirst for more on how to write a novel or to provide guidance. There aren't any nifty tools and ideas I don't already know, and certainly not for the expense of ordering the physical book at hardcover price.
Beginning writers may gain something from it. More advanced writers, you might want to borrow from the library.
January 15, 2013
I've taken a couple of the author's workshops based on the principles found in this book. Then I read the book.
As a woman (perhaps) I sometimes found the theme - bootcamp with military metaphors for the writing principles involved - sometimes a little wearying.
However, there are many principles within the book which have helped me get a grip with my own processes much quicker than other books (and courses have done)and which I have taken through with my own writing ever since. I particularly found the drafting and now the revision systems given helpful. For the later, Stone provides a 7 pass process for revision which makes easy work of it. Different learning and writing styles are catered for - we can choose from index card summaries, to using maps, spreadsheets, notebooks, scribbled manuscripts, whatever floats our boat. The main emphasis for writers is that writing is a process, and requires a little discipline to produce from those processes.
As a woman (perhaps) I sometimes found the theme - bootcamp with military metaphors for the writing principles involved - sometimes a little wearying.
However, there are many principles within the book which have helped me get a grip with my own processes much quicker than other books (and courses have done)and which I have taken through with my own writing ever since. I particularly found the drafting and now the revision systems given helpful. For the later, Stone provides a 7 pass process for revision which makes easy work of it. Different learning and writing styles are catered for - we can choose from index card summaries, to using maps, spreadsheets, notebooks, scribbled manuscripts, whatever floats our boat. The main emphasis for writers is that writing is a process, and requires a little discipline to produce from those processes.
March 15, 2012
Pretty one-genre oriented. If you write mainstream fiction, this book is your kick in the shins. If you write Lit Fic.... it doesn't always present the best advice. This book promises that you'll have a novel written by the time you're done reading, but I bought this at least five years ago and all I got out of it was a character list. There is some good advice presented without, but not enough to really help a newbie or someone who doesn't know how to PUT those characters on the page in the first place.
Writers don't always need push ups (though it helps blood circulation). Some times they need thorough instructions with that slap in the face.
If you're reading this as a piece of fiction however, it is quite excellent.
Writers don't always need push ups (though it helps blood circulation). Some times they need thorough instructions with that slap in the face.
If you're reading this as a piece of fiction however, it is quite excellent.
July 29, 2012
I'm not sure why this book didn't click for me. I didn't care much for the format which includes a lot of bullet lists. Content-wise, the advice in the book isn't bad, but it's all pretty basic. Nothing I haven't seen elsewhere.
September 19, 2022
This is one of the most complete guides for writing a novel that I've come across. It doesn't pontificate on the craft (though there is value in that). There's a single objective throughout this guide: finishing a novel.
For beginners, this is a great resource. It'll get you into the right mindset and put you through the paces of plotting, drafting, and revising.
For intermediate writers, there's still some value here. I've written four books and this guide had great insights about outlining and revising that had me frantically scribbling in my notebook.
More advanced (i.e. published) writers might not get as much value here, but it could serve as a good back-to-basics exercise.
For beginners, this is a great resource. It'll get you into the right mindset and put you through the paces of plotting, drafting, and revising.
For intermediate writers, there's still some value here. I've written four books and this guide had great insights about outlining and revising that had me frantically scribbling in my notebook.
More advanced (i.e. published) writers might not get as much value here, but it could serve as a good back-to-basics exercise.
September 3, 2020
The author, a former educator at the US Military Academy, has created a useful military-themed handbook for beginners and advanced novelists. You’ll find pithy battle plans and missions instead of chapters. The author explains fiction concepts in no-nonsense plain English with interesting military terms and examples. “Drills” are 1-3 pages, quick to find and easy to digest. The handsome book is cleverly illustrated in military motif. You’ll focus like boot camp!
May 10, 2009
I'm halfway through this book and I can already tell it's exactly what I need. And I'm a published author (Bantam Dell). The beginning chapters are a bit basic (but hey, it's good to be reminded about what we THINK we know!) but once you get to the middle with Stone's charts and drills and lists--it's just great. Admittedly, I'm not an organized writer. I'm a pantser who's becoming a plotter under duress (ie: contracts and deadlines). Stone's unique military perspective on creating a novel (he's ex-Army Airborne and ex-West Point assistant professor) is super for writers like me. (I love his NO WHINING!)
I wouldn't suggest BOOT CAMP for someone who's thinking about writing a fiction novel but has yet to try. Read Dwight Swain's TECHNQIUES OF THE SELLING WRITER first. BOOT CAMP works well for the writer who already has a good idea of characters, plot and conflict--and may even have a first draft or several chapters done--and just doesn't know how to make the book better or where to go from there.
Stone is coming south to my local RWA chapter to do an in-person workshop in January. Can't wait for that. He teaches in a kilt, did you know?
I wouldn't suggest BOOT CAMP for someone who's thinking about writing a fiction novel but has yet to try. Read Dwight Swain's TECHNQIUES OF THE SELLING WRITER first. BOOT CAMP works well for the writer who already has a good idea of characters, plot and conflict--and may even have a first draft or several chapters done--and just doesn't know how to make the book better or where to go from there.
Stone is coming south to my local RWA chapter to do an in-person workshop in January. Can't wait for that. He teaches in a kilt, did you know?
September 3, 2011
I'd have a more formed opinion if I hadn't been reading this since probably last November. It's done now, and it wasn't awful. Like a lot of books, I notice the typos creeping in toward the end. In this case just two or three in the whole book, but they're there nonetheless. My original theory was people would miss typos toward the end of the book as the plot takes over, but this is a lesson by lesson thing, there's honestly not what you'd call plot or momentum involved. So, looks like I need a more refined theory. That or a more basic theory - typos creep in toward the end of the book.
As to the actual book, I liked it fine, if you like prescriptive "do this" advice, it's got plenty of that, and if you read it while revising, the lessons also would apply pretty well.
--Brian.
As to the actual book, I liked it fine, if you like prescriptive "do this" advice, it's got plenty of that, and if you read it while revising, the lessons also would apply pretty well.
--Brian.
November 3, 2013
BLECH--I don't like anything that makes things out to be "boot camp." I think there's this strange part of America that enjoys making things into difficult, hard, knuckle chewing work. Writing isn't necessarily penning the breaths of angels, but it's also not meant to be three days in hell either. It takes patient work and focus. I was given this book, and I read it, and it's. . .pretty useless.
December 27, 2009
At first glance, this book might seem kitschy. But look again, especially at the later part of the book, which is packed with useful drills and exercises. It's practical advice delivered in a fun and unique format.
September 2, 2007
Could be a good resource for writers, but I had a hard time following it step by step. Guess I can only write my own way.
January 24, 2009
I really liked the approach of this book for novel-writing helps. Each task is simple. The book has a fun style.
December 22, 2010
Love the layout, simple tips.
October 26, 2012
As a beginning novelist with no prior experience and a lack of discipline, this book helped immensely. I was able to complete my first ever first draft! Awesome! Now on to editing...
January 28, 2013
I have a copy of this somewhere. I do remember it as being very useful. I'll have to see if I can find it and read it again.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews