Book Review

ONE WAY TO WRITE A NOVEL

Vicki Hinze

131 pages

ISBN 1-892718-59-6

Spilled Candy Books

If you're looking for a concise handbook of novel writing tips and tricks, look no further than bestselling author Vicki Hinze's One Way To Write A Novel.  This is a how-to book with heart. Hinze's philosophy is that we should do what we love, and clearly Hinze loves to share her knowledge of the craft of writing.

One Way To Write A Novel is packed with specific techniques, examples, explanations and encouragement, all delivered in an easy-to-read informal style. Each chapter is sprinkled with motivation, encouragement and practical advice. Along with the staple topics of characterization, plot, dialogue, and point of view, Hinze shows you how to test a novel idea, how to create a novel notebook, and how to use a plot board.  She walks you through the Rule of Three and the Fictional Dream. There's also a succinct chapter on how to avoid common mechanical errors that turn off editors.

One Way To Write A Novel is a quick reference guide for both the beginner and the experienced novelist. It belongs on every writer's desk, in an arm's reach, right beside Strunk and White's The Elements of Style.

(This review first appeared in Novel Writer Magazine.)

© 2006 Jeanne Vincent  All Rights Reserved

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