What do you think?
Rate this book
Writing and Selling Your Novel
Writing and Selling Your Novel is a revision and an expansion, a new edition, but with the same to help you write publishable fiction. In Bickham's book, marketing is twined into the writing. In yours, it will be, too.
Follow this proven advice and you can make your work perform on the only two levels that count - as can't-put-it-down storytelling and as can't-turn-it-down manuscript. Here you'll find a mixture of fiction-writing fact and philosophy that will help you bring a professional's approach to your work; use stimulus and response believably, effectively; create excitement and evoke emotion with scene and sequel; build fascinating complexities into your characters; revise, to turn a rough draft into a polished novel; and all with salability in mind.
Follow this proven advice and you can make your work perform on the only two levels that count - as can't-put-it-down storytelling and as can't-turn-it-down manuscript. Here you'll find a mixture of fiction-writing fact and philosophy that will help you bring a professional's approach to your work; use stimulus and response believably, effectively; create excitement and evoke emotion with scene and sequel; build fascinating complexities into your characters; revise, to turn a rough draft into a polished novel; and all with salability in mind.
214 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1996
About the author
Jack M. Bickham
68 books41 followersPseudonyms:
Jeff Clinton, John Miles, Arthur Williams
Jeff Clinton, John Miles, Arthur Williams
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 15, 2013
This book is full of practical advice for making your novel stronger and more marketable. A lot of Bickham's advice mirrors what I've read in other books on the subject, so I can't say it was anything remarkably new--just solid, accurate advice, that helps the aspiring writer to hone their skills. The exercises Bickham suggests are incredibly helpful and well worth the time, and I am looking forward to reading his Scene and Structure book.
August 3, 2018
Writing and Selling Your Novel is techniques and exercises, not pep talk or a “system.” All the things I wonder about when I’m writing but don’t know how to ask, like “what are the ways to structure dialogue,” he answers without ever making you feel stupid. Of course, not everything is down to the specific word order like dialogue. His explanation of scenes and sequels blew my mind and stuck with me for ten years.
Bickham doesn’t discriminate by genre. He knows things will be different in different kinds of stories, from literary classics to hardboiled noir to romance to whatever. He doesn’t assume that all writers are masters of body language, either, or know naturally how people work psychologically. He gives concrete tips and further-reading suggestions for those things too. He gives general tips for selling, but his focus is on writing a novel that will sell because it works, so there’s no outdated publishing information taking up space.
Full review: https://hannahgivens.wordpress.com/20...
Bickham doesn’t discriminate by genre. He knows things will be different in different kinds of stories, from literary classics to hardboiled noir to romance to whatever. He doesn’t assume that all writers are masters of body language, either, or know naturally how people work psychologically. He gives concrete tips and further-reading suggestions for those things too. He gives general tips for selling, but his focus is on writing a novel that will sell because it works, so there’s no outdated publishing information taking up space.
Full review: https://hannahgivens.wordpress.com/20...
March 19, 2021
It's a great overview for main things that work together b to create a solid story. It felt like it was directed more for the beginners, or to use as a check list as you go.
November 20, 2013
I can’t remember how Writing and Selling Your Novel was recommended to me, but it was definitely worth reading.
I love books on writing because they are like attending mini-conferences. Lots of topics are covered that make me think about writing in different ways. Usually sparking a breakthrough or giving me a new technique when editing or drafting.
I’ve been reading this book for a couple months because the chapters are wonderfully divided up into individual topics and lessons. Each has exercises to try too.
I really loved how he explained Stimulus and Response. It gave me a new way to analyze the flow of my writing.
One of the best takeaways is: “Whenever you show something happening (a stimulus), you must show something else happening as a result (a response); and whenever you desire a certain thing to happen a response), you must show the happening that caused it (the stimulus).”
Sounds simple right?
But one point he made is that when you have dialogue and internalizations in a paragraph, you want to put the line of dialogue at the end of paragraph, if the next paragraph begins with the speaker responding to it.
Stimulus-response at work. It really makes things flow better.
His chapter on Making Story People More Interesting touches on some basic psychological aspects that can be employed to ratchet up the conflict and tension.
I found the transactional analysis theory very useful in understanding an argument in my current novel. The idea is that there are 3 ego states: parent, adult, and child.
Conflict happens when there is a cross transaction, which means any of these three talking to one of the other two. So if a parent talks to a child, you’ll get some sparks.
I love books on writing because they are like attending mini-conferences. Lots of topics are covered that make me think about writing in different ways. Usually sparking a breakthrough or giving me a new technique when editing or drafting.
I’ve been reading this book for a couple months because the chapters are wonderfully divided up into individual topics and lessons. Each has exercises to try too.
I really loved how he explained Stimulus and Response. It gave me a new way to analyze the flow of my writing.
One of the best takeaways is: “Whenever you show something happening (a stimulus), you must show something else happening as a result (a response); and whenever you desire a certain thing to happen a response), you must show the happening that caused it (the stimulus).”
Sounds simple right?
But one point he made is that when you have dialogue and internalizations in a paragraph, you want to put the line of dialogue at the end of paragraph, if the next paragraph begins with the speaker responding to it.
Stimulus-response at work. It really makes things flow better.
His chapter on Making Story People More Interesting touches on some basic psychological aspects that can be employed to ratchet up the conflict and tension.
I found the transactional analysis theory very useful in understanding an argument in my current novel. The idea is that there are 3 ego states: parent, adult, and child.
Conflict happens when there is a cross transaction, which means any of these three talking to one of the other two. So if a parent talks to a child, you’ll get some sparks.
November 18, 2012
This is an excellent book, A how-too for newbies and pros alike, it's part educational, part motivational. I'm definitely keeping a copy on my shelf.
March 15, 2014
He is the mentor I have been looking for my entire life.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews