30 review for 102 Ways to Write a Novel: Indispensable Advice for the Writer of Fiction

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Erica – Jun 03, 2013

   I picked this up because it quoted William S. Burroughs on the back cover. There's no startlingly new information about ways to write a novel within its covers, but that's not what matters. What makes this book so great is the organization of each section and the clever writing that makes you want to keep turning pages even though you are essentially reading an instruction manual on writing techniques. Spectacular for brainstorming and flipping through when inspiration seems to evade. I highly r I picked this up because it quoted William S. Burroughs on the back cover. There's no startlingly new information about ways to write a novel within its covers, but that's not what matters. What makes this book so great is the organization of each section and the clever writing that makes you want to keep turning pages even though you are essentially reading an instruction manual on writing techniques. Spectacular for brainstorming and flipping through when inspiration seems to evade. I highly recommend it for anyone working on a novel of their own.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Kátia Cristina – Nov 29, 2018

   Now I just have to start writing!!! Great tips!!

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Val Robson – Oct 05, 2017

   Some useful tips. More of a book to refer back to when you are actually writing a novel or very close to embarking on one. The ccapters are short and snappy but I did find a lot of references to books I'd never heard of to illustrate points. This being pointless unless the reader is familiar with the book referenced. Even then it's pointless unless you have the book to revisit and remind yourself of the point being made. Some useful tips. More of a book to refer back to when you are actually writing a novel or very close to embarking on one. The ccapters are short and snappy but I did find a lot of references to books I'd never heard of to illustrate points. This being pointless unless the reader is familiar with the book referenced. Even then it's pointless unless you have the book to revisit and remind yourself of the point being made.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Robert Day – Jul 01, 2013

   This book is so excellent that it inspired me to write my first story since school and that's a whole lot of literary constipation! Alex Quick (or should I say Gary Dexter?) deserves to be rich and famous beyond all measure; unless of course he doesn't want to be. The book does not really give '102 Ways to Write a Novel' but it does give 102 wonderful pieces of advice on the various aspects of how to write a novel, all of which are useful and actionable and.. I wonder if I'm really a psychopath w This book is so excellent that it inspired me to write my first story since school and that's a whole lot of literary constipation! Alex Quick (or should I say Gary Dexter?) deserves to be rich and famous beyond all measure; unless of course he doesn't want to be. The book does not really give '102 Ways to Write a Novel' but it does give 102 wonderful pieces of advice on the various aspects of how to write a novel, all of which are useful and actionable and.. I wonder if I'm really a psychopath with a lack of capacity to feel compassion for those around me.

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Johanne – Oct 31, 2012

   Great little book! Well divided in sections, easy to navigate, short sections that give the basics for quick reference. I would call it more "102 things to consider while writing your novel" - the book doesn't give 102 prompts or ideas to get you writing, but rather explore the whole writing process, from idea to publishing, in 102 small sections. It's short and basic, but great as a reference - you can always dig deeper into any of these things as needed. Highly recommend!! Great little book! Well divided in sections, easy to navigate, short sections that give the basics for quick reference. I would call it more "102 things to consider while writing your novel" - the book doesn't give 102 prompts or ideas to get you writing, but rather explore the whole writing process, from idea to publishing, in 102 small sections. It's short and basic, but great as a reference - you can always dig deeper into any of these things as needed. Highly recommend!!

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Mark Papa – Sep 21, 2012

   It`s not that the book contains any startlingly different information from the vast majority of writing manuals - indeed, the author seems to have heavily relied on Writing a Novel by Nigel Watts - but the whole thing is put together in such a snappy and (I thought) inspiring way as to make it an ideal reference guide for aspiring authors. It`s not that the book contains any startlingly different information from the vast majority of writing manuals - indeed, the author seems to have heavily relied on Writing a Novel by Nigel Watts - but the whole thing is put together in such a snappy and (I thought) inspiring way as to make it an ideal reference guide for aspiring authors.

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Stefan Grieve – Nov 08, 2019

   Interesting, entertaining and well structured (along with having great tips on how to write, of course) this is a great introductory book on how to write as well as giving you a few extra intermediary tips. It's genuinely funny sometimes to, which is a great bonus helps with the overall digestion of the information. Interesting, entertaining and well structured (along with having great tips on how to write, of course) this is a great introductory book on how to write as well as giving you a few extra intermediary tips. It's genuinely funny sometimes to, which is a great bonus helps with the overall digestion of the information.

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Charlotte Latham – Mar 09, 2018

   Read as preparation for NaNoWriMo. Quite interesting and entertaining and some good hints spun out a little thinly.

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Joe Mellanby – Sep 13, 2019

   Really easy to read and easy to find what you are looking for. It's a nice book for anyone planning to write a novel. It offers very easy-to-digest facts and tips. A solid book. Really easy to read and easy to find what you are looking for. It's a nice book for anyone planning to write a novel. It offers very easy-to-digest facts and tips. A solid book.

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Samantha Stein – Nov 21, 2016

    Practical and inspiring

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Chloe – Oct 09, 2014

    This book is like the bible for novelists. I borrowed this from the library a couple of months ago for inspiration and to help motivate me to work on my own. I can say that it has helped me do that so now I have lost count the amount of times I have reborrowed this book. It's a handy book to have around for the fact that when you need an answer about writing a novel you can find that specific topic so easily and quickly. This book is simple and yet so informative. What's also helpful is the amou This book is like the bible for novelists. I borrowed this from the library a couple of months ago for inspiration and to help motivate me to work on my own. I can say that it has helped me do that so now I have lost count the amount of times I have reborrowed this book. It's a handy book to have around for the fact that when you need an answer about writing a novel you can find that specific topic so easily and quickly. This book is simple and yet so informative. What's also helpful is the amount of famous books he uses as examples for what he's talking about. Since most of these books, even if you haven't read you will still be able to understand why he uses these examples. The reason I've been borrowing this book so much from the library is because I haven't been able to afford it but as soon as I can I will be buying this book and I would recommend for anyone else who's planning to write a novel to do the same.

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Alyce Hunt – Mar 31, 2015

    This novel definitely gives you an insight into the process of writing and publishing a novel, but there are a few too many grammatical errors in the text for me to really respect it as a fully fledged writing guide. I mean stating that 'The Color Purple' was written by Toni Morrison? Rookie mistake. Also, the fact that this isn't '102 Ways to Write a Novel' as much as it is '102 Things to Think About While Writing Your Novel' means that it's definitely false advertising, which, funnily enough, i This novel definitely gives you an insight into the process of writing and publishing a novel, but there are a few too many grammatical errors in the text for me to really respect it as a fully fledged writing guide. I mean stating that 'The Color Purple' was written by Toni Morrison? Rookie mistake. Also, the fact that this isn't '102 Ways to Write a Novel' as much as it is '102 Things to Think About While Writing Your Novel' means that it's definitely false advertising, which, funnily enough, is one of the things the author warns against while giving advice on creating a title for your novel.

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Donna Henderson – Jun 21, 2014

    An essential book for novelists! In just 102 sections, this book manages to address and answer all of the important elements that are needed to write a successful novel. The book is written with much brevity, something that most other books in this subject often fail to do. The 102 steps can be dipped into time and time again as you work through your novel. It is a great guide for ensuring that you are including everything that you need to in order to create that bestseller! Go buy!

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Christine – Feb 22, 2015

    An approach to writing a novel whose usefulness lies in its simplicity. It lays out the bare elements needed to start a novel and helpfully explains literary devices that I (embarrassingly) last studied in high school.

15. 

    4 out of 5

    شيماء السلطان – Sep 16, 2013

    من الكتب الجميلة التي تساعد في الكتابة بشكل عام والرواية بشكل خاص. أسلوبه سلس وممتع.

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Nick Michie – Mar 11, 2015

    Very good tips on writing and how to get it done.

17. 

    4 out of 5

    Taekwondodo – Jan 03, 2014

    Really is indispensable. This book has given me many ideas that will be very useful for writing my own novel.

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Bally –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    Marçal Cuberta Juncà –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Marciano Casica –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Anastasia –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Elisha Neethling –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Cathy –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Darryl –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    S. D. Parsons –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Kelsey Ward –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Toni –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Helen –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Ellen –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Sally Ashworth –