First Draft in 30 Days: A Novel Writer's System for Building a Complete and Cohesive Manuscript

This is a great book if you're the type of writer who is organized and needs to have structure. The book is very detailed and thorough. Series writers might enjoy this. I've used a plot outline before that was about 14 pages, this method builds a 60-paged or over outline! You'd include every detail so that you can sit down and do the creative work on your novel. I'd highly recommend this for the writer who needs lots and lots of structure to do the creative work. I never realized that I was missing so much until I began to use this method.

Definition of First Draft = extended outline of your novel 1) I love lists and templates and this has 'em readily available 2) Chapters aren't too long or filled with unnecessary examples. She states her points, gives an example then tells you what page the template is on so you can fill in your own. Efficient and not a waste of my time 3) Like any novel writing program, if you stick with it you'll get it done. So if you go this route, do it from beginning to end and supplment the sections that you feel need extra help. For instance, in handling the character sub-plots I would combine her section with the Marshall Plan of Novel Writing's discussion and format for sub-plots A very good book. Another plan that makes it look doable if one simply commits to writing.

As both a fiction author and a writing instructor, I've pored through more than my fair share of "how to" books, many of which deal with the problems of organizing and outlining. Most are not only boring, but prove exceptionally unhelpful. FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS is different. Author Karen S. Wiesner - an outstanding fiction writer, herself - provides an easy to follow method that not only guides any writer through the novel-creation maze, but does so in a compelling, fun-to-read manner. Wiesner covers all the bases, from scheduling writing time to researching to making (through the use of superbly crafted worksheets) the dreaded outlining process a breeze. Highly recommended for beginners and pros alike!

If you've ever had trouble plotting a book, then First Draft in 30 Days will definitely give you the boost you need. The day by day instructions lead you through every step of the process, from character sketches on Day 1 to creating a formatted outline on the last two days. I've never done much plotting before. I'd just get a vague idea in my head and sit down to write. No wonder most of my stories fizzled out somewhere in the middle. Karen Wiesner's book has shown me the way. I've been following her plan and I'm amazed at how smoothly everything's going. I'm working on a story I've started before, but never finished because I'd become lost in the middle. I didn't know my characters or my setting well enough. I had no subplots so the one plot had to carry the entire story. This time I know the people much better. I can see my settings. And things are already happening that I hadn't planned, like a heart attack I hadn't known about before. If plotting's always been difficult, or if you thought you didn't need to plot, give Karen's book a try. It's easier than you thought, and gives you a formatted outline that takes you by the hand and leads you from chapter to chapter as you write your story.