707 books
—
1,254 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them” as Want to Read:
How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them
by
Each year thousands of fiction writers, from beginners to bestselling author, benefit from Sol Stein's sold-out workshops, featured appearances at writers' conferences, software for writers, on-line columns, and his popular first book for writers, Stein on Writing. Stein practices what he teaches: He is the author of nine novels, including the million-copy bestseller The M
...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
March 20th 2002
by St. Martin's Griffin
(first published 1999)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
How to Grow a Novel,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about How to Grow a Novel
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
So far as I can tell books on writing fiction break down into three genres: 1) Books by writers passing on what they've learned along the way (King) 2) Books by writers/teachers geared toward students (Burroway), and 3) Books by editors/agents that give an inside peek at the publishing industry.
Stein's How to Grow a Novel is a hybrid of all three. Before he became an editor he wrote a bestseller called The Magician and few other novels. In form and function this book reminds me very much of Dona ...more
Stein's How to Grow a Novel is a hybrid of all three. Before he became an editor he wrote a bestseller called The Magician and few other novels. In form and function this book reminds me very much of Dona ...more
I came upon this book when I was trying to find the answer to a technical question about the novel I am writing. I feel like this book gave me a complete writing workshop just when I could use it the most.
Some of the most important points:
Conflict is a necessary element for dramatic action.
You have to capture the reader from the beginning or they will never love the book.
Generalities are blurry; success lies in details that enable the reader to experience the scenes.
One plus one equals one half ...more
Some of the most important points:
Conflict is a necessary element for dramatic action.
You have to capture the reader from the beginning or they will never love the book.
Generalities are blurry; success lies in details that enable the reader to experience the scenes.
One plus one equals one half ...more
Stein writes a few gems of advice here and there, but he also lays just as many eggs; some of his advice is arbitrary, sometimes he rambles on points which could have taken half as long to make (the editor needs an editor), and his suggestions for further reading include his own book--On Writing--which he references throughout the entire text, all the while making it sound better than How to Grow a Novel, and he suggests other books written by friends, a strategy that basically undermines the au
...more
A helpful book, though Stein is a hopeless snob ever sneering down his nose at "genre fiction."
Well-written, sometimes rambling off into name-dropping tangents. It contains some useful insight but is perhaps unfocused. Part of it is how to write, part of it is general analysis of writing and publishing from the viewpoint of someone who has worked as a writer, editor, and publisher.
If you are looking for a manual or guide on how to write well, this is not it. But if you've already gotten prose under your belt, and want some insight into how an editor or publisher views a novel, this might ...more
If you are looking for a manual or guide on how to write well, this is not it. But if you've already gotten prose under your belt, and want some insight into how an editor or publisher views a novel, this might ...more
Mar 26, 2012
Jeanette "Astute Crabbist"
added it
There's some extremely valuable info here that I've not found in other books on the craft, including some useful insider info on the publishing biz. Unfortunately, you have to wade through a lot of examples and self-promotional, self-congratulatory b.s. to find the good stuff. It wouldn't be ungenerous to say the book could have been half the length. Already outdated in some ways, but still highly useful for serious people.
Great guide for writing a first, or better, novel.
Disappointing - doesn't say much that isn't covered in more depth in the excellent Stein on Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies, to which this book refers constantly. In Stein on Writing, Stein's occasional self-absorption and arrogance is easy to ignore because the advice is so clear and actionable as to be downright inspiring. In this book, the advice is thin and the arrogance takes center stage. And even if
...more
I enjoyed this book, and hoping to get more out of his earlier book, Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies. He is a bit full of himself, but there's good information here. Probably worth buying.
(Recommended in "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" for being an anecdotal guide on the common pitfals of writing a novel.)
One of those books that start out really strong & helpful, and then sort of ... fizzles towards the end, as the author pads out his material to Proper Book Length.
I'm a sucker for "how to write a novel" books and when How to Grow a Novel was on sale, I picked it up as I was interested in Stein's perspective not just as a writer but also as an editor and publisher.
There's some good stuff here and the advice is practical and precise, if sometimes contradictory. Stein both advises writers to read their own work aloud--and to not do so (because novels are read, not heard). He offers some genuinely interesting glimpses into how the book publishing business wor ...more
There's some good stuff here and the advice is practical and precise, if sometimes contradictory. Stein both advises writers to read their own work aloud--and to not do so (because novels are read, not heard). He offers some genuinely interesting glimpses into how the book publishing business wor ...more
I got the feeling that Sol Stein had a lot of great writing advice . . . but also that he'd explained most of it in Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies, and that he wasn't willing to repeat it. (In fact, in this book he gives several references like, "Just read chapter umpty-ump of Stein on Writing."
Having not read Stein on Writing, I was adrift through parts of this book. And not being interested in t ...more
Having not read Stein on Writing, I was adrift through parts of this book. And not being interested in t ...more
I don’t plan to write a novel. Sol Stein defines a writer as “someone who cannot not write”. Other than an occasional logorrheic Goodreads review, I am fairly accomplished at not writing.
I bought this because I picked it up at a book sale, opened it at random, and read a passage that horrified me. I bought the book because I was hoping for more such passages but was disappointed; this is pretty much a middling but occasionally helpful guide to writing.
As a reader, I think most of the advice Stei ...more
I bought this because I picked it up at a book sale, opened it at random, and read a passage that horrified me. I bought the book because I was hoping for more such passages but was disappointed; this is pretty much a middling but occasionally helpful guide to writing.
As a reader, I think most of the advice Stei ...more
About halfway through Stein's book, he gives us a chapter on dialogue, using the metaphor of a baseball game to explain his points. I think that metaphor fits well with my feelings on this book: overly long and self-indulgent. While Stein certainly shows his experience and knowledge with useful points, he draws them out far too long for my short attention span. I found myself thinking more about what I was going to say in this review than how his wisdom would translate to my current work-in-prog
...more
Based on other readers' reviews, I thought this book could be a useful addition to my toolkit of writing helps, to be tucked away in the dark recesses of my mind as I write my own works.
I tried valiantly to read and absorb Stein's decades of worthy experience in editing (and writing) good literature, but I kept finding myself arguing with him as I read, and discounting his words as formulaic. After three or so chapters, I couldn't take anymore and put the book on a high, back shelf. Perhaps I w ...more
I tried valiantly to read and absorb Stein's decades of worthy experience in editing (and writing) good literature, but I kept finding myself arguing with him as I read, and discounting his words as formulaic. After three or so chapters, I couldn't take anymore and put the book on a high, back shelf. Perhaps I w ...more
2.5 stars... While there are some good tidbits in here and some great writing advice, the author is an arrogant book snob who constantly talks down to genre and commercial fiction as lazy or not quality while espousing the grand qualities of his own literary works and those of his friends or clients. Rather than give information on various topics that he brings up, he simply (and constantly) points readers to his other book on writing. He also laments computers and the internet as having detrime
...more
I picked this up because I found his previous book, Stein On Writing, very helpful and enjoyable to read. Unfortunately, I found that most of the worthwhile material in this book was covered far better with wonderful concrete examples in On Writing. Quite frankly, if he didn't reference his previous work so often in How to Grow a Novel, I would have assumed that this came first and that On Writing was the follow up. I still found How to Grow a Novel to be interesting, particularly his experience
...more
A competent overview of the topic that accomplishes its goal.
It may have benefited a bit from some more specific examples; by far the best section was near the very end when Stein takes you through editing the work of two clients and the type of feedback he gave. But in general I see why this was recommended to me and will be picking up his other book that he references quite a bit in this one.
It may have benefited a bit from some more specific examples; by far the best section was near the very end when Stein takes you through editing the work of two clients and the type of feedback he gave. But in general I see why this was recommended to me and will be picking up his other book that he references quite a bit in this one.
Stein gives thoughtful and concrete guidance in how to be a better writer. He discusses some of the business end details, but also explores the craft and ways to be a better writer. At times, he references his own work quite a bit, which is sometimes helpful, and sometimes feels as if his own thoughts about his work are biased (as of course they are). Still, very helpful to hear from someone so experienced.
Practical advice
Stein writes with the authority gained from a lifetime juggling the roles of writer, editor, and publisher. He provides plain-spoken advice supported by examples and anecdotes. He asserts that the author's number one obligation is to create strong emotion on the part of the reader, and his book builds upon that premise.
Stein writes with the authority gained from a lifetime juggling the roles of writer, editor, and publisher. He provides plain-spoken advice supported by examples and anecdotes. He asserts that the author's number one obligation is to create strong emotion on the part of the reader, and his book builds upon that premise.
Fine, useful tools for an aspiring writer by an expert. Clearly expressed and encouraging.
Fabulous tips for anyone wanting to write a novel.
This book has a lot of good useful advice and guidance. It is spoilt by being too wordy and self publicising. But stick with it for the useful stuff!
Good follow up to Stein on Writing.
A lot of important advice in this book. Highly recommended.
Good book on writing.
Guidebook through the Land of Letters
Some information is quite dated (mainly about technology and word processors) but the core of the book is solid and useful to read for fiction and non-fiction writers (and avid readers as well).
Some information is quite dated (mainly about technology and word processors) but the core of the book is solid and useful to read for fiction and non-fiction writers (and avid readers as well).
This was published in 1999, so a fair amount of what it offers is out of date. If you were looking to be a novelist between 1950 and 1990, though, this would have been a great source of information. Even today, much of what it says about basic storytelling remains valid, at least for popular fiction.
One thing that is changing (thankfully) is increased diversity. Novels today don't need to be as formulaic or appeal to as large a percentage of readers as they once did because eBooks (which aren't ...more
One thing that is changing (thankfully) is increased diversity. Novels today don't need to be as formulaic or appeal to as large a percentage of readers as they once did because eBooks (which aren't ...more
Most of this book is really solid writing advice presented in a convincing way, the only flaw of which plagues all books that attempt to teach writing in a comprehensive way - the complexity of fiction writing results in far too vast a set of criteria and strategies to keep all of them in mind simultaneously while actually writing.
So really, this book probably works best if you're moments away from reading a manuscript you intend to edit and require a really good checklist to go over as you fin ...more
So really, this book probably works best if you're moments away from reading a manuscript you intend to edit and require a really good checklist to go over as you fin ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodreads Librari...: Sol Stein book w/ wrong book description | 5 | 15 | Aug 26, 2011 10:13AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Goodreads is hiring!
Born in Chicago on October 13, 1926, Stein is the son of Louis Stein and Zelda Zam Stein. The family moved to New York in 1930. In 1941, while living in the Bronx, Stein wrote his first book, "Magic Maestro Please," followed shortly by "Patriotic Magic." Stein attended DeWitt Clinton High School, where he served on the Magpie literary magazine with Richard Avedon and James Baldwin.[1] He graduated
...more
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“In our not-yet-acknowledged secret garden lie the seeds of some of our best not-yet-written stories”
—
6 likes
“I see manuscripts and books that are spoiled for the literary reader because they are one long stream of top-of-the-head writing, a writer telling a story without concern for precision or freshness in the use of language. Some of this storytelling reads as if it were spoken rather than written, stuffed with tired images that pop into the writer's head because they are so familiar. The top of the head is fit for growing hair, but not for generating fine prose.”
—
3 likes
More quotes…
