Novelist's Notebook

So if that sort of thing scares you, check this book out anyways.Let me start out by saying that I loathe the 'How To Write' books that give you corny exercises that have absolutely nothing to do with your book. You know, the "If my character was a flavor of ice cream, he would be ____" type things. Ugh. I can't see myself working for hours on insipid exercises that have nothing to do with the story I want to tell.That's mostly the reason why I love this book. It's chock full of exercises, but of the sort that actually PERTAIN to what you want to write. Gasp! Shock! Laurie Henry has hit the nail on the head exactly with the Novelist's Notebook. She encourages you to think out your story in phases -- the book is divided into sections : Planning, Beginning to Write, Necessities, Possibilities, When You're Stuck, and Double Checking and Revising. Basically the idea is to take the idea you have, and to try out different ways of seeing a particular character, theme, or idea. Expand and revise! I didn't think I needed help in these areas, and yet I find this book (and continue to find it) immensely helpful.Each page is a different exercise, and I can't think of one that isn't particularly helpful. Examples : Write a family tree out, Create an obnoxious character, try writing in a different voice, try a crowd scene, etc. It sounds average in this review, I know, but the way it's presented in the book is nothing short of wonderful. Each page is also complete with a quote on writing from famous authors that are just as fun as the writing exercises themselves.On a visual note, this is one of the finest looking writing books I've happened to run across. Silly to grade a book on this, I know, but you definitely feel like you're getting your money's worth. The book is slimmer than I imagined, and it's hardcover (another thing that surprised me). Even the paper on the inside is of fairly high quality, and not the glossy type, since you are going to be writing all over this book. I couldn't have been more pleased with my purchase. You may laugh at me grading this, but given the fact that I carry it around with me everywhere, it is a very classy volume to tote around with you, and not in the least embarassing (unlike those obnoxiously orange Complete Idiot's Guides).

Typical of the suggestions in this book: "Write a scene in which one or more of your characters must work against a time limit..." "Write a flash-forward..." "Write a scene in which coincidence plays a major role..." "Reveal a secret about one of your characters that you have been keeping from your readers." "List all the places where the action of your novel will occur" "Write what you can do to acquire whatever you need to finish the book"I really think Henry has covered all the bases here -- from planning to writing "the muddle in the middle" to finishing your book. This is truly a workbook with useful exercises to get you started writing, to help you with the minutaie of plot, character development, structure, voice and all the rest of the nitty gritty details of writing a book.Each page is a challenge to complete an exercise and each page has a quote from a famous writer. For instance, on p. 99, from Margaret Atwood, "I never know how a book is going to end when I begin it. If I knew how it was going to end, I probably would not continue on." Robert Heinlein says,"The most important lesson in the writing trade is that any manuscript is improved if you cut away the fat." And Andre Gide: "Never present ideas except in terms of temperaments and characters."Both experienced and novice writers will find this useful IF they don't just look at it and put it aside. It's a book to be used!

This nice hardcover book is exactly what it says it is -- The Novelist's Notebook. It is in journal format with key notes on each page with plenty of space left for you to write your own thoughts and answers to the questions Ms. Henry poses.The book is broken down into categories: Planning, Beginning to Write, Necessities, Possibilities, When You're Stuck, Double-Checking and Revising. Each of those categies has multiple subtopis and writing prompts, advice, and quotes from published authors.I believe this book would be helpful in any stage of the writing process, whether you are a published author or not. The ideas and exercises would be useful with your first book all the way through your last. Though you can certainly write in the book, I have found I can also use it along with my writer's notebook -- that spiral notebook we all carry everywhere.I'm thrilled with the format and content of this book and am very glad I purchased it. Buy it, you won't be sorry.

In The Novelist's Notebook, writer, educator, and editor Laurie Henry has compiled 115 activities that will help aspiring novelists create the book they dream of writing, and have fun while they're doing it. Henry classified her exercises into sections titled Planning, Beginning to Write, Necessities, Possibilities, When You're Stuck, and Double-Checking and Revising. Each section is filled with worksheets and exercises. For example, the Necessities group includes title sources, suggestions for working out opening sentences, a character questionnaire, plot elements and subplots, determining the role of setting, and types of endings. Blank space is left after each instruction, so that users can easily record the specifics of their novels. Writers can start on page one and work their way through the book, developing their novel as they go, or they can simply turn to the sections they need. Nearly every page of the book contains an inspirational quote from well-known authors. Henry says "the activities and exercises are designed to help you organize, enrich, and give shape to your novel, as well as to give you the motivation to keep going." Beginning as well as experienced writers will find The Novelist's Notebook "an encouraging companion to lean on" as they move from the first flash of an idea through a completed novel.

i received this book as a gift from a friend that knew i was struggling with writers block.... The Novelist's Notebook is a wonderful self guided tour on getting past writers block, self doubt and all the others things that plague writers. It is a book I will share with other writers, and its a book that I will refer to often. It is also an excellent source for suggested reading by including quotes & sources by other novelists....