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The Everything Guide to Writing Your First Novel: All the tools you need to write and sell your first novel
For an aspiring novelist, nothing is more intimidating than a blank page or computer screen. This step-by-step guide helps you get past that hurdle, start writing, and cross the finish line to first draft in only twenty-six weeks! This guide covers the entire novel-writing process--from polishing an idea to finding an agent and submitting to publishers.
This practical guide takes you through the ins and outs of writing and publishing your first book, including how Complete with writing exercises, inspiring examples, and expert advice from bestselling novelists, this book is an excellent starting place for anyone interested in the art, craft, and business of writing fiction.
This practical guide takes you through the ins and outs of writing and publishing your first book, including how Complete with writing exercises, inspiring examples, and expert advice from bestselling novelists, this book is an excellent starting place for anyone interested in the art, craft, and business of writing fiction.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
207 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Hallie Ephron
21 books559 followersHallie Ephron (http://hallieephron.com) is a New York Times bestselling author of suspense novels. Her last five have all been Mary Higgins Clark Award finalists.
Her (August 2019) Careful What You Wish For tells the story of a professional organizer married to man who can't pass a yard sale without stopping. In this respect, Hallie is writing from personal experience. Her husband is a champion yard sailor who's packed their basement, garage, and attic with his finds.
A STARRED review in Publisher's Weekly proclaimed it an "outstanding standalone." Reviewing it for TIME Magazine, Jamie Lee Curtis called it "thrilling and suspenseful." From Kirkus: "Ephron's tidy approach to stowing clues, arousing suspicions, keeping the chaos of the climax under control, then tying up loose ends makes her a professional organizer of this type of entertainment. In a word—neat."
Hallie's Never Tell a Lie was made into the Lifetime Movie Network film.
A book lover, she also wrote The Bibliophile's Devotional and 1001 Books for Every Mood. For twelve years she reviewed crime fiction for the Boston Globe. Her Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel (now in a revised/expanded edition) was an Edgar and Anthony award finalist. She teaches writing at writing conferences and workshops all around the world.
Hallie lives near Boston with her husband and has two fabulous daughters. She is the third of four writing Ephron sisters.
Her (August 2019) Careful What You Wish For tells the story of a professional organizer married to man who can't pass a yard sale without stopping. In this respect, Hallie is writing from personal experience. Her husband is a champion yard sailor who's packed their basement, garage, and attic with his finds.
A STARRED review in Publisher's Weekly proclaimed it an "outstanding standalone." Reviewing it for TIME Magazine, Jamie Lee Curtis called it "thrilling and suspenseful." From Kirkus: "Ephron's tidy approach to stowing clues, arousing suspicions, keeping the chaos of the climax under control, then tying up loose ends makes her a professional organizer of this type of entertainment. In a word—neat."
Hallie's Never Tell a Lie was made into the Lifetime Movie Network film.
A book lover, she also wrote The Bibliophile's Devotional and 1001 Books for Every Mood. For twelve years she reviewed crime fiction for the Boston Globe. Her Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel (now in a revised/expanded edition) was an Edgar and Anthony award finalist. She teaches writing at writing conferences and workshops all around the world.
Hallie lives near Boston with her husband and has two fabulous daughters. She is the third of four writing Ephron sisters.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 11, 2014
A wonderful guide to everything needed to write great fiction. From point of view to dialogue to creating memorable, growing characters, this how to answered all my questions and made me think about points I hadn't considered in my writing before. I would say this is a must read to anyone wanting to write a novel, of any genre. It even has a chapter of grammar review!
December 4, 2017
Everything guide is right! There are so many fabulous tools and information for the new writer, from finding support in other writers while you are first starting all the way to publishing. I greatly appreciated the variety of examples used, the sources for other information if needed, and the parallel do's and do not's.
February 9, 2018
I loved it. It was very insightful and didn't overwhelm me with info, like other writing books I've read. It was broken up in easy to read sections that gave you the bases of what you need to know. If you're looking for an introductory book to help get you on your feet then I recommend this book. If you're looking for something more detailed and specific then this book might not be for you.
November 13, 2022
Well, this was more useful than the last Everything guide I read, and did seem to cover just about everything from working with a literary agent to how to use commas. The thing is because it tried to do everything it didn't do anything in depth, and often offered just enough information to frustrate me that there wasn't more. I honestly can't remember any specific information that was given in this book as it sort of came in bits and bites. I guess it is time to read something besides these Everything Guides. Unfortunately, I bought a bunch of them in a bundle a while back. It might have been more useful if I had actually been working on my first novel, rather than my 8th.
August 31, 2017
I learned a lot from this. Beginner tips all the way to finding an agent. The parts I found most valuable are the tips on writing certain scenes and word choice. Definitely a good read to help any writer! :)
April 10, 2020
Simple You Can Do It Encouragement
Easy quick read pep talk for first time novelists. I feel energized and ready to thrash out my novel in 6 months, although I have a sneaking suspicion that it is going to very likely be a bit more complicated than Hallie Ephron makes out.
Easy quick read pep talk for first time novelists. I feel energized and ready to thrash out my novel in 6 months, although I have a sneaking suspicion that it is going to very likely be a bit more complicated than Hallie Ephron makes out.
May 26, 2017
Very helpful.
May 27, 2017
Great resource
I definitely got a lot out of this book. Incredibly informative especially towards the end. Should definitely be on a fiction writer bookshelf!
I definitely got a lot out of this book. Incredibly informative especially towards the end. Should definitely be on a fiction writer bookshelf!
March 27, 2019
Covers basically everything. Very informative and incredibly helpful. I think all aspiring authors should crack this sucker open.
May 29, 2020
I hate the book. All of it is out of date. I disagree with the whole book. It was piece of trash. Do not read the book. It will give you bed advice and miss information.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2021
Another great book on craft by Hallie Ephron!
February 17, 2013
The Everything Guide to Writing Your First Novel by Hallie Ephron
This book is truly lives up to its title. It is the most comprehensive overview of everything a first time novelist needs to know that I've run across. It's written by a veteran author, with several mysteries and nonfiction titles to her credit, so she knows what it takes to become a published writer.
First Novel covers the basics as you'd expect, things like where to get ideas, how to create characters, story overview, research techniques, advice on dialogue, how to approach rewrites, writing groups, and editing and polishing. But it also addresses industry information like book formats, book lengths, publication options, pitches and queries, finding an agent, the "big six" and conferences. There's even a chapter on the importance of grammar with basic tips.
If you're looking for a "how to" title about writing a novel that has it all, look no further than this one. And when you're ready for more, there's three pages of recommended books to take you beyond the basics.
This book is truly lives up to its title. It is the most comprehensive overview of everything a first time novelist needs to know that I've run across. It's written by a veteran author, with several mysteries and nonfiction titles to her credit, so she knows what it takes to become a published writer.
First Novel covers the basics as you'd expect, things like where to get ideas, how to create characters, story overview, research techniques, advice on dialogue, how to approach rewrites, writing groups, and editing and polishing. But it also addresses industry information like book formats, book lengths, publication options, pitches and queries, finding an agent, the "big six" and conferences. There's even a chapter on the importance of grammar with basic tips.
If you're looking for a "how to" title about writing a novel that has it all, look no further than this one. And when you're ready for more, there's three pages of recommended books to take you beyond the basics.
January 29, 2021
I'm getting closer to starting my first novel, so I thought I would come back to a book that I had read almost four years ago. Time flies doing research and living life when you want to write!
I think that there is some good information in this book that will be of use when I start writing (restart writing) my first novel. I like how the chapters are organised and the guide at the back is helpful. I think there could be some more info in some sections, such as a bit more info on showing, rather than telling, but I'm not published, so maybe there is more than enough.
Overall, I found the book easy to read and the short sections made it great to read during my morning train commute. One suggestion I would make is to move the grammar section earlier, but that may be just my preference. I think this book will be helpful in my writing journey.
I think it is worth looking at if you want to start writing.
I think that there is some good information in this book that will be of use when I start writing (restart writing) my first novel. I like how the chapters are organised and the guide at the back is helpful. I think there could be some more info in some sections, such as a bit more info on showing, rather than telling, but I'm not published, so maybe there is more than enough.
Overall, I found the book easy to read and the short sections made it great to read during my morning train commute. One suggestion I would make is to move the grammar section earlier, but that may be just my preference. I think this book will be helpful in my writing journey.
I think it is worth looking at if you want to start writing.
March 31, 2011
Definitely a great read for getting that first novel finally started. It gives great tips on all genres of fiction writing, everything from the outline to editing. Great tool that I will refer to often.
July 26, 2015
A few weeks ago I sent one manuscript to a contest and I wish that I had read this before that. This book showed me some aspects about how to write a book that I ignored. It's an amazing guide and its content has good examples and explanations. I really recommend it.
March 17, 2016
I thought about being a prose fiction author a long time ago but I became more comfortable with script-writing. The "he said, she said" thing turned me off. Since I've read this book, I'm inspired to write prose again.
March 10, 2023
It is the best book I've come across on the subject till now. I've read a few, some I didn't finish. Anyways, this book has some serious, no-nonsense suggestions for aspiring writers. Including writing techniques, grammar, editing, proofreading, writer groups, and suggested websites.
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August 8, 2012It was a really helpful book.
October 15, 2013
Great book on what all you need to think about to get started on your first novel. It breaks it down into sections and gives lots of examples from other books.
August 30, 2015
This is the best book for beginning writers! She breaks it down to make me feel that I can attain the goals!
August 21, 2022
Extremely helpful. Would’ve preferred more detail in some sections, but the flyover is still effective. My favorite reference book!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews