How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-by-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling

this book delivers what it promises; how to write a damn good novel. it gives loads of hints and tips which are easy to incorporate in to your own writing style

I will not say this book will not help you, there is good info in it. I will say it won't help you write a damn good novel. I felt that Frey over emphasized on common knowledge of writing as if his readers have never read a book prior to his. The three stars reflects how painful a read it was. Frey goes on and on with small Petty examples on info most people learnt in high school creative writing. Small quotes, bulleted, lasting up to two full pages, on average. Useful up to the 3rd example but after the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th sometimes as high as 12 examples it becomes a complete waste of time and just a way to fill pages.

The novels he uses for examples, they are classics yes, he actual inspired me to read Madame Bovary. But the novels he uses do not reflect the times and styles in which we live and we will write about. That makes a big difference. This book is marketed to the laymen, someone planning on writing a great American novel, not a classic based in the 1800's. This wasn't meant to be used in the classroom it was meant for and marketed as a format to help the laymen writer, write a novel, a damn good on in fact. In my opinion Frey could of written this much better.

The book is more of a book than a text book, which I expected. I do use it to reference certain things but being the way it was written it is hard to locate information unless you have highlighted and noted the page number. I do not do this as I normally donate my used books to my library after I pass them around my family. I purchased the Marshall Plan for novel writing along with this book. I have not fully read it but the style seems more appropriate to the function it is intended for. From the four chapters I have read from it I found it much easier to stay focused and retain the information, instead of just wanting to push through it and get it over with. There is info offered that answers questions I had and teaches me new things instaed of focusing soley on the basics. It was a good thing I read this Frey first, if I would of read the Marshall plan, I probably would of never made it past the 2nd chapter in Freys book.

Look for books like this in your local library or buy used as I did. I would go with the Marshall Plan over this book in a heart beat. I am amazed at the reviews Frey's book got. This book should be a 3 star book, no more. What ever book you decide to go with best of luck and never give up on writing. It is a painful processes on its own. Writing is like suffering from bipolar. You can be at the top of your game one day, putting out the best work you have written and the next everything sucks and you don't want to go near the computer.

The title says it all. Frey includes witty, but specific step by step instructions from writing awesome characters to how to analyze your own writing searching for improvements. As a new writer I appreciated the readability and examples underscoring his ideas. I have added his book to my own resource library.
Elementary Educator and new Children's YA author

The easiest to read, most helpful book on writing dramatic fiction I have ever read. If you are trying to write fiction you have to get this.

When I finished the book after 24 hours of having it in my possession, I felt as though I had just gone cold turkey off of heroin. I wanted more! But in truth, Frey says all he needs to say in this title. His brilliant breakdown of the elements of a damn good novel are clean, straight-forward, insightful, and INSPIRING to boot. Using his own methodology to bring this information to his readers, he gives you rising action, climax, the premise, and leaves you feeling very satisfied with the conclusion of the book. Frey's work is amazing and quite possibly the only book an aspiring writer could ever need to get a solid jump start on his or her career as a fiction novelist. I know this may sound like an exaggeration, but after having read many books in on this topic, those books would have proven superfluous had I read Frey's book first! His humor is also very refreshing and had me rolling! ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT, and I would definitely rate this a ten star book if i could. Good job Mr. Frey... UC Berkeley is extremely lucky to have you.