How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II: Advanced Techniques For Dramatic Storytelling

Ok, I enjoyed the book...

It gave me a new understanding of writing...

However, It would have been nice to create examples of good writing instead of relying (and referring) to books written 20 to 30 years ago that most people today probably haven't read (and don't want to read.)

The Scarlett letter, Red badge of courage, etc...

No complaints otherwise...

MJL

I've read many books that give advice on writing novels. Few are as good as this one. "How To" are the operative words here. Frey deals in specifics, gives you a step-by-step approach to telling a story, and reinforces it all with entertaining examples and narrative.

This book is worth many times the price - packed with so much valuable information, I'm reading it for the third time.

Frank Allan Rogers, author of Upon a Crazy Horse

Can't believe the guy who posted a review 16 days ago and didn't know the difference between James n.Frey and jame frey the disgraced writer are two different writers. Didn't he read the info, didn't he see the photos. Too bad that Amazon is not reviewing reviews as this is damaging to James N. Frey whom I've just sent an email to alerting him to this situation.

Back to the reason for this review. What a great book on writing. I've a very long shelf of books on writing and the used book store is now getting 3/4 of them as James N. takes precedence and am I glad I read another great book, Write Away by Elizabeth George who mentioned James N. several times and was the reason why I checked N.Frey out and now two books later renewed in my efforts to write a damn good novel.

I have both Damn Good Novel book though the second one really gets to the heart and soul of writing the first one is good. I hit myself on the head so many times because I should have "known that' cropped up in my thinking so often. He doesn't exactly make it look easy but a heck of a lot easier and covers just about everything from really good characters to seven deadly mistakes and then along comes the gem Writing With Passion. I don't think there's much he misses. I've taken a couple of writing classes and they haven't begun to touch on Mr. James N.'s books. If you are at all interested in writing pick this one up, pay for it and start reading out the door.

I also read How to Write...Mystery not because I want to write a mystery but because I am so in awe of mystery writers and wanted to know how they thought and how they write. Got all the answers but still wouldn't try to write a mystery and even more in awe of them than ever.

Thanks Mr. James N.

When I realized that this is the guy who fooled the know-it-all Oprah with his book, I figured he must know about writing a "Damn" good novel!

Helpful, real advice on how to make your writing work and be Damn Good. Doesn't contain fuzzy generalizations that many other books on writing try to push on you. Loved it, and really took away some great guidelines for my writing.