Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook

I have read through the book once and am beginning my second time through using a highlighter. This dynamic duo of text and workbook make a great start to a writing career.

Covers the same topics as the non-workbook version, but is more condensed and clear. The exercises help the reader to apply the content directly to a work in progress, showing how all the parts fit together. I found the book very helpful. Like a previous reviewer stated, I don't think you need both books, but if you're trying to decide which of the two to buy, I would go for this one.

I did not read the companion book "Writing the Breakout Novel"; I only read this workbook version and it was terrific! The book focuses on techniques to develop your characters, plot, and scenes. The greatest lesson is to fill every page of your novel with tension_ this book gives a lot of great advice and exercises to help you do this. I have used it on several stories and they are by far the best I have ever written.

I purchased this workbook because I wanted something reader-friendly, with useful, relevant advice and exercises that I could benefit from immediately.

The workbook is divided into three sections - the first dealing with characterization, the second with plotting, and the third section dealing with a variety of literary techniques such as the use of symbolism and the importance of writing good opening and closing lines.

Each of the three sections is divided into 10 to 12 short chapters offering solid advice on specific writing topics, interesting examples from popular published novels, and exercises that can be used to develop a story or improve an existing manuscript.

I do not own the book that this workbook is intended to accompany, but I found the workbook to be helpful and sufficient for use on its own.

This book is not just its companion volume in workbook form. This was written four years after publishing Writing The Breakout Novel, and after extensive workshop tours. You get the addition of all the exercises from his workshops. If you liked Writing The Breakout Novel, or if you're considering buying it, go ahead and add this volume to your cart. It is well worth the purchase.

The only dissapointment I had in this book was that after many steps in the exercises, he orders us emphatically, in italics, to "Write that down now. Write those down. Start writing now. Note them. Make notes. Note it now. Make notes, starting now."
He insults his reader by assuming that we are procrastinators who can't finish what we