James N. Frey’s Followers (42)

James N. Frey

Born

in Syracuse, New York, The United States

March 15, 1943

Website

http://jamesnfrey.com/

edit data

James N. Frey is an American novelist and acclaimed writing teacher, best known for his influential guide How to Write a Damn Good Novel. He has authored both fiction and non-fiction, including thrillers and several popular books on writing craft. Frey taught at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was honored as Teacher of the Year in 1994. He continues to lecture on creative writing at various conferences and institutions. His fiction has earned critical recognition, including an Edgar Award nomination. Frey lives in Berkeley, California.

Combine Editions
James N. Frey’s books

Average rating: 3.9 · 4,665 ratings · 509 reviews · 24 distinct works • Similar authors

	How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-by-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling 3.87 avg rating — 2,685 ratings — published 1987 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How to Write a Damn Good Novel, II: Advanced Techniques for Dramatic Storytelling 4.07 avg rating — 716 ratings — published 1994	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How to Write a Damn Good Mystery: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide from Inspiration to Finished Manuscript 3.93 avg rating — 528 ratings — published 2004 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Key: How to Write Damn Good Fiction Using the Power of Myth 3.90 avg rating — 324 ratings — published 1994 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How to Write a Damn Good Thriller: A Step-by-Step Guide for Novelists and Screenwriters 3.79 avg rating — 320 ratings — published 2010 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gift of the White Light: The Strange and Wonderful Story of Annette Martin, Psychic 3.50 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 2008 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Winter of the Wolves 3.59 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 1992 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Long Way to Die 3.44 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1987 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Came a Dead Cat 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1991 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	U.S.S.A. 3.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1987	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by James N. Frey…

Series by James N. Frey

How to Write a Damn Good Novel (2 books)
by

James N. Frey

3.91 avg rating — 3,401 ratings

Quotes by James N. Frey (?)

“Writer's block is real. It happens. Some days you sit down at the
old typewriter, put your fingers on the keys, and nothing pops
into your head. Blanko. Nada. El nothingissimo. What you do
when this happens is what separates you from the one-of-thesedays-
I'm-gonna-write-a-book crowd.”
― James N. Frey, How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-by-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling

34 likes

“To set a forest on fire, you light a match. To set a character on fire, you put him in conflict.”
― James N. Frey, How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-by-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling

23 likes

“Fiction can be more real to the reader than reality itself because fiction is the essence of life”
― James N. Frey, How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-by-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling

14 likes

See all James N. Frey's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
2025 & 2026 Readi...: Kylie's 52+ Books for 2017	55	159	Dec 31, 2017 01:33PM
2025 & 2026 Readi...: Kylie's 52 in 2018	51	92	Dec 20, 2018 01:53AM
Badass Reading Ch...: Talia	18	23	Jan 26, 2019 09:30PM

More…

Is this you? Let us know. If not, help out and invite James to Goodreads.

James N. Frey’s Followers (42)

James N. Frey

Combine EditionsJames N. Frey’s books

Series by James N. Frey

Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
James N. Frey’s books