Table of Contents

Foreword 1 Chapter One - Developing Your Craft 5 Introduction 5 A Potted History of the Book 7 Developing the 'Write' Mindset 9 Step One 9 Step Two 10 Step Three 11 Equipment 12 Being Organised 16 When to Write 17 Where to Write 18 Rejections 19 Summary 22 Key Points 22 Exercises 23 Chapter Two - Research and Preparation 25 Introduction 25 Reading Widely 26 Target Audience 27 Getting the language right 29 Gender specific 30 Language 31 What to Write About 32 Memoirs/Autobiographies 33 Choosing Your Title 36 Getting Started 37 Writer's Block 39 Sourcing More Ideas 42 Style 44 Libel and Slander 47 Bias 48 Copyright 48 Permissions 50 Plagiarism 51 Key Points 51 Exercises 52 Suggested Reading 53 Chapter Three - Laying the Foundations of Your Novel 59 Introduction 59 Finding Story Ideas 60 Market Research 63 Deciding on a Genre 63 Basic Ingredients 66 Adding Rivalry or Competition Between Two or More People 68 Adding a Pursuit 69 Race 71 Adding Clues to Forthcoming Events - Often Called Foreshadowing 72 Flashbacks 73 Coincidence 74 Deciding on an Era 75 Research 78 Researching Process 79 Summary 80 Key Points 80 Exercises 81 Chapter Four - Crafting Your Storyline 83 Introduction 83 Structuring Your Novel 85 Length 88 Synopsis 88 Creating a Blue Print 95 Structuring Your Storyline 102 Time Span of Your Story 104 Developing Subplots 106 Characters 107 Summary 107 Key Points 107 Exercises 108 Chapter Five - Characters 109 Introduction 109 Photofit/Layout 113 Choosing the Right Kind of Name 118 Mannerisms 121 Motivations 121 Basic Emotional Needs 122 Contrast 123 Consistency 125 When to Introduce Them 126 Avoid Stereotyping 127 Creating a Believable Main Character 127 Creating a Bad Guy/Gal 130 How Many? 132 The Role of Minor Characters 135 Snob Value 135 Summary 137 Key Points 137 Exercises 138 Chapter Six - Adding Power 139 Introduction 139 Finding a Suitable Setting 140 How to Describe a Scene 143 The Five Senses 146 Setting the Atmosphere 147 Changing the Mood of a Scene 150 Atmospheric Images 150 What Makes a Page-turner? 151 Pace 154 Adding Humour 154 Creating a Sinister Side 156 Adding Power to Chapter One 158 Creating a Powerful Opening Line 160 Opening Paragraph 161 When to End Your Chapters 162 Summary 163 Key Points 163 Exercises 164 Chapter Seven - Dialogue 165 Introduction 165 How to Set Out a Conversation - Dialogue 175 Direct and Indirect Speech 176 How You Can Use Dialogue to Create Pace and Excitement 177 Shelf Life 178 Colloquialism, Dialect and the Vernacular 180 Summary 182 Key Points 182 Exercises 183 Chapter Eight - Grammar and Other Important Factors 185 Introduction 185 Adjectives 188 Metaphors 190 Nouns 190 Collective Nouns 191 Participles 191 Prepositions 192 Pronouns 192 Similes 194 Split Infinitives 194 Verbs 194 First, Second or Third Person? 198 Choosing the Right Tense 201 Can You Use Both Past and Future Tenses in the Same Novel? 203 Choosing the Right Word 204 Linking Words/Pointers 211 Sentences 212 Ambiguity 213 Paragraphs 215 Summary 216 Key Points 216 Exercises 217 Chapter Nine - Spelling, Punctuation and Other Important Considerations 219 Introduction 219 Spelling 220 Vowels 224 Punctuation 225 Apostrophes 225 Exclamation Marks 229 Full Stops/Points 230 Hyphens 230 En and Em Rules 232 Ellipsis 233 Question Marks 233 Quotation Marks 234 Brackets 235 Colons 236 Semicolons 236 Commas 237 Comma Splice 239 Repetition 240 Tautology 240 Verbosity 241 Cliches 242 Idioms 243 Foreign Words 244 Jargon 244 Parochialism 246 References to Current Events, People or Cultural Elements 246 Slang 247 Italics, Bold, Underline 247 Capitalisation 247 Abbreviations 249 Summary 251 Key Points 251 Exercises 252 Chapter Ten - Consolidating and Final Polish 253 Introduction 253 Carrying Out a Constructive Review 254 Objective/Constructive Feedback 258 Revising Your First Draft 260 Bringing Your Work Up to Standard 261 Proofreading and Editing Your Work - Why Choose a Professional? 263 Benefits of Getting Your Work Edited 265 Difference Between a Proofreader and an Editor 267 What to Look for in an Editor or a Proofreader 268 How to Set Guidelines and Instructions for Your Editor 269 Things to look out for and other advice 271 Summary 274 Key Points 275 Exercises 276 Chapter Eleven - Steps to Publication 277 Introduction 277 Synopsis for Submissions 277 Guidelines for Submissions 281 Presentation 283 Presentation Guidelines 284 Covering Letter 288 Agents 290 Royalties 291 Vanity or Subsidised Publishing 292 Self-publishing 292 E-books 293 Compiling a Blurb 295 Dealing with Rejection 296 Handling a Bad Review 299 Summary 299 Key Points 300 Exercises 301 Select Bibliography 303 Index 304

About the Author

Author of several self-help books, Rebecca Richmond enjoyed a highly successful career within global organisations. As a qualified coach and master practitioner of NLP, hypnosis and Time Line Therapy(t), she is ideally equipped to help people achieve the success they deserve. A qualified proofreader and editor, Claire Pickering enjoys helping authors achieve their goals. Having worked in the publishing industry for many years, she demonstrates expertise in editing, publishing and marketing methods that work.

Reviews

Review by Diane Donovan, Chief Reviewer, Midwest Book Review: "My Guide: How to Write a Novel is the first place a writer should turn to uncover the basics of not just writing a novel, but publishing it. In a nutshell: yes, what you get here, under one cover, is information covered elsewhere - but in expensive seminars that will far exceed the price of this primer, making My Guide a bargain in comparison. So if you want to write a novel but have no idea where to begin - begin here. What, exactly, is covered? First of all, the basics of inspiration are considered in depth; from an introductory history of the book format to the fundamentals of cultivating a book idea from nugget to germination. Nothing is left to assumption: there's no prior knowledge base taken for granted, and so those who have never written a novel before (but who do have a dream or idea) will receive encouragement that doesn't presume previous experience in either writing or publishing. First, a caveat: for all its accessibility and lively manner, My Guide: How to Write a Novel is no light treatment of its subject: it packs in eleven chapters, includes a bibliography and an index, and assumes its reader is passionate about the idea of writing, publishing and marketing a novel. So don't expect a 'quick and dirty' overview: chapters move logically and quickly to cover the nuts and bolts, offering specifics and details novel writers must know to see their book in print and develop a readership. One of the best features of My Guide: How to Write a Novel: its ability to link the writing process to exercises reinforcing basic grammar, punctuation, plot development, characterization, and beyond. This all sounds dry, but it's not: producing a novel that captivates readers is all about providing sequences of events that are alluring and readable; and if grammar is poor, punctuation is off, or action lacking, one's novel will (ultimately) fail. Chapters move in quick sequence from how to turn initial inspiration into a logical storyline to handling subplots, foreshadowing (providing clues to future events), creating consistent, believable protagonists, and understanding which elements create a page-turner versus a mundane read. Examples and quotes from successful writings are provided at each step of the process, while concluding chapter exercises encourage readers to produce their own dialogue, scenes and characters reflecting the principles of what they've just learned. These exercises do more than reinforce chapter teachings: they succeed in setting the stage for the next lesson, offering inspiration and successful outcomes to fuel a novice writer's passion for the written word. What is presented here is a logical system of sequential events that need to take place to produce a successful result - but it's a system couched in creative, inspirational choices rather than dry rote learning. And by focusing on novel production rather than general writing, Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering are able to be specific about the novel's particular elements of (and requirements for) success. You won't get as much depth and instruction from anything other than a seminar, which not only costs much more than this book, but often packs too much material into a limited time frame. The advantage of My Guide: How to Write a Novel is that it's available to consult time and again, making it an encouraging, inspirational 'must have' recommendation for any would-be writer who would create their first novel and make it a high-quality achievement." ------- Review by Jim Cox, Midwest Book Review: "A lot of people have ambitions to write the next 'Great American Novel', but very few of them have any idea as to how to go about it. That's where "My Guide: How To Write A Novel" by the team of Claire Pickering and Rebecca Richmond comes into play. This 340 page compendium is a complete and comprehensive instruction manual that is so well designed and presented that it is an ideal, almost step-by-step instructional guide that anyone can follow in creating a novel that will be publishable -- and profitable! Beginning 'Developing Your Craft (an opening chapter on how to get started), "My Guide: How To Write A Novel" is organized offers informed and informative chapters on Research and Preparation; Laying the Foundation for Your Novel; Crafting Your Storyline; Characters; Adding Power; Dialogue; Grammar and Other Important Factors; Spelling, Punctuation and Other Important Considerations; Consolidating and Final Polish. One great distinction that sets "My Guide: How To Write A Novel" above other 'how to' writing manuals is an entire chapter specifically devoted to 'Seven Steps to Publication'. An extraordinarily well crafted instruction manual that is ideal for anyone with no previous experience as a novelist, "My Guide: How To Write A Novel" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections. Ideal as a curriculum textbook for Creative Writing classes, it should be noted that "My Guide: How To Write A Novel" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.35)." -------- Amazon review by Darren (5 stars): "The best guidebook on how to write a book: We all have a book inside of us and if you want to get yours out there then this book is a must read. Everything you will ever need to know about getting your book from an idea to a hard copy and download and then into the hands of a stranger. The whole process is explained clearly from where to begin through to the finish and beyond into the world of publishing. Claire Pickering is also a brilliant editor so once you have a finished manuscript she can transform it into the perfect book you have dreamed about." ------ Amazon review by N. Trusler (4 stars): "Does what it says on the tin! As a new starter to writing books this was a must read for me. Informative, understandable easy to read, and methodical, this book has helped me through the process. A good book at great value!" ------ Amazon review by Wentworth M. Johnson (5 stars): "Not just a book, but also a must read. If you're thinking of writing a book of your own, this has to be read first. If you've written a book, read it anyway. If like me you are a published author you'll find it interesting, informative and encouraging. For an educational work My Guide: How to Write a Novel is very well written, easy to read and fast paced, yet at the same time through - it's like a good pat on the back with a handful of pertinent information." ------ Amazon review by Nicola (5 stars): "Superb! A thoroughly readable book, full of relevant information and help for any would-be authors. I found this book interesting to read and very comprehensive, covering everything I wanted to know before starting to have a go at my own writing. Inspired me to have a go!" ------- Amazon review by Sue (5 stars): "No excuse not to write now! This is a really helpful and easy to understand book and surely a must for any would-be writer who does not know where or how to start. Rebecca and Claire make it easy for you to get started and simple for you to take it step by step. Follow their instructions and you cannot go wrong!" ------ Amazon review by C. A. Leach (5.0 stars): "At last! A REALLY useful book for debut writers and published professionals alike. Authors Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering certainly know their stuff when it comes to helping writers in their time of need...and they do it superbly. Packed full of information, set out in very clear format, with accessible and reader-friendly chapters, they also provide great and relevant examples from published writers - an excellent feature! It's refreshing to read a writers' guide that doesn't continually self-promote the author of that guide - something that seems all too common of late. As a professional editor and writer myself, I will definitely recommend "My Guide:How to Write a Novel" to new clients and have already done so to clients past and current. Well done, Rebecca and Claire! Thank you for all your expertise and hard work - it was absolutely worth it!" ------- Review by Patricia Day for Readers' Favorite (5.0 stars): "My Guide: How to Write a Novel, by Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering, contains information of epic proportions in terms of being a treasure trove of 'do's and don'ts' of the writing and publishing world. Rebecca and Claire have captured all you need to know, and more, in this excellent book. Sharing their own professional knowledge in profound, often humorous ways, they answer many questions or doubts the reader might have in attempting to create their own masterpiece. Topics include Developing Your Craft; Crafting Your Storyline; Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation; Where to write; What to write; When to write; What is your Target audience? The book abounds with research resources, in which anyone can find the information, or answer they seek. With great skill, Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering outline, explain and advise on how to be the very best writer that you can be. Writer's block? Change one or more basics in your environment and you'll soon be creating again. It was reassuring to read that many of our great authors doubted their worth. Many were rejected without consideration, and yet, because they persevered and used the right tools of creativity, discipline and perseverance, we have the blessing of their labors. Rudyard Kipling, Benjamin Franklin, and Beatrix Potter suffered rebuke when publishing their work. Anne Frank and William Golding, as well as George Orwell had to overcome the negativity of the big world of publishing, too. If they succeeded against all odds, what's to say that you cannot do it, too? Personally, with the many resources given within the pages of this awesome book, I feel that if you just kept to the guidelines of this publication alone, you would be steps ahead of less-organized or disciplined writers. Truly, one of the best lay person's language books I've read on how to write, develop, correct, and publish your work. Wonderful book. Written with professionalism and humor. Great resource, just by itself." ------ Review by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite (5.0 stars): "My Guide: How to Write a Novel by Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering is the ultimate guide for the writer. It covers everything any aspiring novelist needs to know, from basic stuff like the equipment that you need, right through to actually getting that novel published. It asks the reader to answer one question - do you want to write a novel? It's a concise self-help guide, not just to writing the novel but to answering your own self-doubts - can you write? Have you got the ideas but not the ability to write them in a way that makes sense? Have you tried and failed to get published? Rebecca and Claire are there to guide you through the process, explaining every little thing along the way, even down to punctuation and explaining the correct way to use grammar. Exercises are included, not particularly to test how well you have read the book, but to tell you if you are ready to take that next big step - getting a novel published. I found My Guide: How to Write a Novel by Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering to be a helpful book. I love writing and have often wondered if I have it in me to produce a novel that is of a high enough standard. They have helped me a great deal and I think that any person out there who is even toying with the idea of writing should read this guide first. It teaches you not just to write, but how to express yourself in the best possible way and how to gather the inspiration you need, as well as making sure you understand exactly what lies ahead. Great guide." ------- Review by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite (5.0 stars): "My Guide: How to Write a Novel, by Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering, is a self-help book aimed at nurturing 'young' writers into full professionals. The book is a step-by-step guide with tips on how to write a great novel from the beginning to the very end. The authors take you, in great detail, through each step of writing from developing a storyline to getting published. My Guide: How to Write a Novel includes all the must-know tips from plotting, researching, structuring, character development, grammar and formatting, to getting published and everything in-between. My Guide: How to Write a Novel has all the small details that determine the difference between any novel and a great novel. It elaborates everything you need to know, including emotional commitment about writing a captivating novel. My Guide: How to Write a Novel is a detailed and easy-to-follow guide on the art of writing an amazing novel. The book starts you from scratch and takes you through a detailed journey that will see you come out a sought-after writer. The instructions and tips are very detailed and yet easy to follow, making this a must-read for all new and potential writers. My Guide: How to Write a Novel is a complete guide on the what, where, when, and how of writing a must-read novel. It is the ABC of writing a captivating novel and will be very useful to you whether you are new writer looking to write and publish your first novel, or a seasoned writer looking to polish your skills." ------- Review by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite (5.0 stars): "My Guide: How to Write a Novel by Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering is an informative book that gives useful tips to writers, both published and aspiring, on writing and publishing; especially to those who are thinking about getting their work published. The authors address some of the problems that writers face when they venture into publishing and the book clears up a lot of doubts about submissions, blurbs, and many more aspects that go into writing and publishing. The book is very encouraging. Debut novelists will be able to make their dreams come true by using the ideas and tips given in this book. The book provides you with the skill and techniques to improve on your existing manuscript and it also helps to develop your writing skills and make you into a good writer. The exercises at the end of each chapter are useful and provide aspiring authors with the opportunity to move on smoothly with their writing and fulfill their dreams of getting published. The coaching tips are also very useful in improving writing techniques. The authors speak about rejection, which is something most writers face when submitting their manuscripts. I found the book extremely useful. The authors have shared all the information that will help writers when they want to get their work published. It is easy to comprehend and the tips are simple; the book is fast paced. A useful book with a lot of information that is really useful for professional writers and first time writers." -------- Review by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite (5.0 stars): "I read a lot of self-help books and when I do, I want them to inform me, give me specific, practical, and above all useful information in a particular area. It helps, of course, if the book is organized and well written. My Guide: How to Write a Novel by Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering gets five stars. It meets all the criteria for becoming a great self-help classic. It is thorough, comprehensive, and very well written. I have read several books about writing, in particular writing a novel, and many of them were informative about particular areas of the process, but this book covers everything and it covers it all well. I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed. Most of all, I was inspired to dust off my own unfinished manuscript and go to work again. My Guide: How to Write a Novel has eleven chapters. There are three hundred and four pages when you include the bibliography and index. Rebecca Richmond and Clare Pickering are thorough and professional as they lay out a road map for the aspiring writer and deserve all the success and acclaim that should follow a job well done. My Guide: How to Write a Novel is not dry reading of information. There are many interesting facts about the history of writing and inspirational tidbits about famous authors. But the meat is there, too. All aspects from getting started to actual publication are covered in My Guide: How to Write a Novel. I give it five stars. Great job! It inspired me." --------- Review by Carla Leach, CAL-EDITS: "No messing! At last! A REALLY useful book for debut writers and published professionals alike. Authors Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering certainly know their stuff when it comes to helping writers in their time of need - and they do it superbly. Packed full of information, set out in very clear format, with accessible and reader-friendly chapters, they also provide great and relevant examples from published writers - an excellent feature! It's refreshing to read a writers' guide that doesn't continually self-promote the author of that guide - something that seems all too common of late. As a professional editor and writer myself, I will definitely recommend My Guide: How to Write a Novel to new clients and have already done so to clients past and current. Well done, Rebecca and Claire! Thank you for all your expertise and hard work - it was absolutely worth it!" ------- Review by Madi Preda, Authors PR: "Are you an enthusiast for the written word or an aspiring writer? The key to success is simply ensuring that you've touched all the bases in this upbeat guide. Do you have a story burning in your head but don't know where to start? Well, as the authors themselves state: 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' ~ Confucius ~ In this self-help book, Rebecca Richmond and Claire Pickering offer solid advice on the craft of writing and all the important bases on how to put words together effectively and efficiently. The two authors cover different tasks from developing the idea of your story to the roles of characters, grammar and other key factors, including spelling and punctuation. Claire and Rebecca also explain about the most important aspects of the writing process for when it comes to publication, giving you the various options as regards agents, royalties, vanity or subsidised publishing, and self-publishing. Read My Guide: How to Write A Novel and you will know how to deal with rejections and handle a bad review. You will also discover how to conduct a brainstorming session, maintain the ambition necessary to complete your book and learn how to keep your brain in gear so the art of writing goes smoothly and quickly. In their guide, the authors talk about the ins and outs of all aspects to be considered as a writer and bring their considerable experience as editorial consultants. Anyone who values writing words is in for a treat." ------ "If you are serious about writing a novel, this book is a must have, It has given me the confidence and motivation to succeed in accomplishing my ambition." (Mike) ----- "I have just bought this book through Amazon and have found it really useful. They say that there is a book in everyone of us and I am even more determined to write one with the help of this excellent guide." (Crabro) -------- "I can't praise highly enough this excellent and long-overdue asset for new and aspiring authors. It is indeed the perfect vehicle to present and promote their work and to access help and advice. I commend the team at The Writers' House UK for their outstanding work and wholeheartedly recommend its use to all." (Brendan Martin, Author of The Way to Valhalla) ------- "For all those budding writers out there, here is the book which acts as a helping hand, guiding you through the pitfalls and joys that getting your book published can present. It is witty, warm and authoritative and offers structured and supportive activities to help your thinking, creating and doing. Whether you read it from cover to cover or dip in when you need to, it deserves a place on your bookshelf or Kindle." (Dr Julie Leoni) ------ "Very readable. Can tell from the Index alone that this book is more professional and comprehensive than any others available on the market." (CAL-EDITS) ------ "Even as a published and successful author already, I still learnt things from this guide." (Maggie McCullough, Author of Jubilee Lane) ------- "An excellent and informative read. This is just the help I needed and I will start writing immediately!" (D. G. M. Trusler, Chester)