Writing a Novel Book

	Introduction	ix
	The apprenticeship of writing	ix
	The myth of the 'writer'	xi
	The importance of being a reader	xii
	Three qualities needed for success	xiii
	How to use this book	xvi
1	Beginnings	1
	Hardware or software?	2
	A writer in search of an idea	2
	The quality of your story	5
	Getting started	6
	Practise, practise, practise	12
2	Plot	15
	The three functions of story-telling	16
	Holding the reader's attention	16
	What is a plot?	18
	The basic requirements for a plot	21
3	The eight-point arc	27
	Grand, major and minor arcs	32
	Analysis of a story	33
	How to use this information	38
4	Sub-plot and symbolism	40
	Sub-plot	41
	Symbolism	43
5	Character	48
	Identification with the character	49
	Making characters real	51
	Seven tools to convey characters	55
	Motivation	57
	Representation	58
	Know your characters by knowing yourself	60
	Roman a clef	61
6	Dialogue	64
	The three functions of speech	66
	Giving the impression of real speech	67
	Supporting your dialogue	69
	Types of speech	70
	Conventions of written speech	73
7	Viewpoint	74
	Types of viewpoint	77
	What tense?	82
	The impact of viewpoint decisions	82
	Tone	84
8	Setting the scene	87
	Researching the setting	88
	Making scenes real	90
	Perception and selection	92
	Visualization	93
9	Style	96
	Find your own style	97
	Fowler's preferences	99
	Things to beware of	100
	Taking chances	103
10	Theme	106
	Subject matter	107
	Thread	108
	Thesis	109
11	Editing and shaping	113
	Writing and editing	114
	Shaping the novel	115
	Working chronologically	117
	Excision and expansion	118
	Pace	118
	Handling the passage of time	120
	Gaining perspective	123
	Novel length and chapter length	124
	Finishing your book	124
12	The personality of the writer	127
	The sensibility of the artist	128
	The anatomy of the writer	130
	The importance of considerateness	135
13	Support	137
	Our physical environment	138
	Time	139
	People	140
	Writers' circles, courses and books	141
	Writer's block	142
	Writing as an organic process	145
14	Marketing	147
	Going it alone	148
	Agents	149
	Self-publishing and vanity publishing	150
	Presenting your manuscript to a publisher	151
	From presentation to publication	153
	Money	154
	Taking it further	157
	Recommended reading	157
	Writing courses	159
	Index	160