Outlining Your Novel - Map Your Way to Success (Paperback)

"Not into outlining? Then someone did not demonstrate it for you the way Weiland has in her book. If you can make a quick trip grocery list, you can outline your next manuscript to benefit your process, using Weiland's guide."-Leslie Hultgren

..".this is one of the few writing craft books I have read start to finish, was easy to apply to my writing immediately, and helped me follow through on my first draft."-F. Colley

"Ms. Weiland presents a wonderful roadmap for writing while still encouraging you to take those sidetrips that will make your story better. I feel like I can walk the 'high wire' of my imagination because I have the safety net of my outline below it all."-D. Hargan About the Book

Let outlines help you write a better book

Writers often look upon outlines with fear and trembling. But when properly understood and correctly wielded, the outline is one of the most powerful weapons in a writer's arsenal. "Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success" will: Help you choose the right type of outline for you Guide you in brainstorming plot ideas Aid you in discovering your characters Show you how to structure your scenes Explain how to format your finished outline Instruct you in how to use your outline Reveal the benefits: Ensures cohesion and balance Prevents dead-end ideas Provides foreshadowing Offers assurance and motivation Dispel misconceptions: Requires formal formatting Limits creativity Robs the joy of discovery Takes too much time More Praise for "Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success"

..".this book has revolutionized the way I think about plotting and outlining and, after months of wishing I could find the 'joy of writing' again, I finally have it."-Ashley March

"Each chapter deals with a specific topic and builds a clear idea of the task ahead, and as a great plus every chapter ends with an interview with a published author, explaining how they work their outlines and their personal methods."-Marcus J. Pinto

..".a brilliant tool for any person wanting to learn more about the craft of writing."-Cherie Reich

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Review This Product

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 | Review by: Judy Croome | @judy_croome

Outlining is my weakest point as an author, because outlining (like two people running across a cricket pitch, when only the runs for one will count as a score!) has always struck me as a waste of precious creative time. Weiland’s excellent book has gone a long way to changing my mind. Well-set out, easy to read and meticulously researched, Weiland’s professional advice is touched with a natural, appropriate humour that makes learning from this text a pleasure. While Weiland gives solid, practical advice on how to make an outline work for you, she is not prescriptive. There’s an emphasis on the importance of finding a way of outlining that enhances your own creative process, rather than exhorting the reader to slavishly follow one “right” way of outlining. The inclusion of interesting interviews with several published authors about their outlining process underlines the main point of this book: having an outline is vital for a well-structured book, but the shape an outline takes is up to each individual author. Another useful part of the book was the check list at the end of each chapter (my favourite checkpoint is from Chap 11: “Kick the cat off the keyboard”!!! HRH Theodorable may object to that advice!) Although there was much in the book that, as an experienced author, I’ve already learnt along the way, Weiland has organized her writing advice in such a clear, focused and informative manner that, by the end of the book, I had a stronger logical understanding of much that I had done unconsciously in my writing. As Weiland points out, the best novels are those that perfectly blend rational, logical techniques of writing with the intuitive, creative art of writing. After having read this book, I feel better equipped to at least aim for this sweet spot in writing my next novel. I highly recommend this book to experienced authors. For new authors, I would suggest it is essential reading.

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