How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them

Cover......Page 1
Copyright page......Page 8
Contents......Page 11
Acknowledgments......Page 13
Preface: For the Reader Who Is Also a Writer......Page 15
The Responsibilities of the Writer......Page 21
1  The Reader Is Looking for an Experience......Page 23
2  Is Conflict a Necessity?......Page 39
3  Capturing the Reader......Page 49
4  Success Lies in Seeing the Details......Page 74
5  Characters Who Are Characters......Page 86
6  Backstage: Where Writers Get Their Plots......Page 97
7  Our Native Language Is Not Dialogue......Page 110
8  Getting Intimate with the Reader: Advanced Point of View......Page 128
9  Do You Promise to Tell the Truth, So Help You?......Page 143
10  Where Writers Go Wrong......Page 147
11  How to Pilot Words Precisely......Page 159
12  You Have All the Time You Need......Page 168
13  Revision as Opportunity—and Danger......Page 170
14  Some Fundamentals for Emigrants from Nonfiction......Page 182
Before Beginning to Write......Page 183
Keep in Mind While Writing......Page 184
If You Get Stuck......Page 185
Revising Drafts......Page 186
15  A Few Guidelines for Living Forever......Page 192
The Responsibilities of the Publisher......Page 197
16  The Prospect Before Us......Page 199
17  Putting Out to the World......Page 207
18  Midlist, and Other Fictions of Publishing......Page 213
Envoi......Page 223
19  Welcome to the 21st Century......Page 225
Practical Matters......Page 233
20  Appendix One: The Little Things That Damage the Writer\'s Authority......Page 235
Typefaces......Page 237
Margins......Page 238
Front Matter......Page 239
Binding the Pages......Page 240
Plays and Screenplays......Page 241
Length......Page 242
Help in Books for Writers......Page 244
Help with Characterization......Page 246
Help on Flashbacks......Page 247
Help for the Computerless......Page 248
Help with Legal Issues......Page 249
Help with Nonfiction......Page 250
Help with Plotting......Page 251
Help with Information About the Publishing Process and Getting Published......Page 252
Help with Revising and Perfecting Drafts......Page 253
Help at Writers\' Conferences......Page 254
Glossary......Page 257