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The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel: A Complete and Concise Manual for Fiction Writers
The New York Times Book Review said James Thayer's "writing is smooth and clear. It wastes no words, and it has a rhythm that only confident stylists achieve." The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel is a practical, step-by-step manual on how to craft your novel. The Essential Guide presents a set of tools for large issues such a story development and scene construction (Kirkus Reviews said Thayer's novels are "superbly crafted,") and it also examines techniques that will make your sentence-by-sentence writing shine "Thayer's prose is clear and clean," said the Seattle Times. How do the masters do it? The Essential Guide shows you the techniques of writers such as John Grisham, Maeve Binchy, Jeffery Deaver, and Charles Dickens. What makes their novels hard to put down? How do Mario Puzo, Sinclair Lewis, Patricia Cornwell and Tom Wolfe make their stories so riveting and their prose so good? The Essential Guide sets out their techniques in concise detail. Just beginning your novel? Or in the middle of the novel and needing some guidance? The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel will show you the way. Among the many The six traits necessary for a successful protagonist and three more traits that will make him or her stand out. Twenty-two techniques that will make your character's dialogue compelling. Creating dynamic settings that advance the story. Point of view-a critical skill--made easy. Five pace-killers and how to avoid them. Plotting the novel using the advantage shift. Constructing scenes to propel the reader to the next scene. "Thayer writes a vivid tale," the Cleveland Plain Dealer said. In The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel, he'll help you write your own vivid tale.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
302 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2010
About the author
James Stewart Thayer
29 books51 followersJames Thayer is the son of a wheat farmer, and he was raised in Spokane and the farm country in eastern Washington. He graduated from Washington State University and the University of Chicago Law School, and now teaches novel writing at the University of Washington extension school where in 2015 he received the Excellence in Teaching Award in the Arts, Writing and Humanities. The New York Times Book Review says his "writing is smooth and clear. Deceptively simple, it wastes no words, and it has a rhythm that only confident stylists achieve.” His The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel is a leading manual for fiction writers. Thayer is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the International Thriller Writers. He and his family live in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 9, 2013
I read several books that deal with this topic - myself being a published author (under a pseudonym) and I have to tell you that it's the best. Finally, here's a guy who gives useful advice instead of writing quite entertaining anecdotes. Up until now, I've considered Larry Beinhart's book (How to Write a Mystery) the best in the field but Thayer surpasses him. Down to earth, non-nonsense, well written and insightful book that can help even published authors not only beginners. I'm not ashamed to say that after 6 successful novels Mr. Thayer's book gave me excellent tips and practical advice. Also, he's a nice and honest guy who even lists the ten best books in the field. Amazing accuracy, fluid style and grown-up explanations - this is this book and much more. If you want to write a novel, or have written more than one or just are interested in how fiction works, do yourself a favor and read this book. You won't regret it.
April 23, 2024
James Thayer I need to kiss you on the mouth!
June 6, 2022
Denne var oppramsende - og nyttig. Kanskje jeg kommer til å skrive en roman en gang likevel? Nina Lykke omtalte den som uunnværlig eller noe i den dur i en NRK-podkast, og jeg tror det forklarer hvorfor hun lyktes med den ene boken jeg har lest av henne likevel (Nei og atter nei).
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May 31, 2023Excellent guide for beginning genre writers.
September 26, 2011
This book is a great resource & fantastic read for anyone interested in writing/publishing popular fiction. I participated in a year-long certification program taught by the author, James Thayer. The book is basically a crystalized version of Thayer's writing courses. I highly recommend the book, as well as the certificate program.
November 16, 2016
Great read
In taking this course I've learned a great deal. I love learning how to improve my novel, And plan on using this book more often.
In taking this course I've learned a great deal. I love learning how to improve my novel, And plan on using this book more often.
February 1, 2026
Currently available on Kindle Unlimited, this is a good book but it is irritatingly packed with typos and random homophones that really ought to have been picked up by the second edition. There are more serious editing errors as well: the same quote used for an almost identical purpose only a few pages further on, references to a notion being expanded later on when the relevant section was in fact in the previous chapter, and reference to Hannibal Lecter having kidney with fava beans, rather than - famously - liver. That’s shoddy.
But as I said, this is a good book. I was delighted to find that this is a reference for writing entertainment, not art. Write what you know is described as a canard, novels are meant to be escapism rather than reflect reality, more is more, and the pithiest of quotes comes from Calvin and Hobbes. All the techniques discussed here are about keeping the reader immersed in the story, turning the pages, wondering what happens next. They address relevance and clarity of expression, but good writing comes second to good storytelling.
Some topics may be genre specific (such as researching real world locations), but the author does try to accommodate the quirks of speculative fiction. The classics are given due deference, but are kept secondary to contemporary tastes.
Some explanations of hoary chestnuts such as show don’t tell are clear and - importantly - applicable. Pacing is particularly usefully treated, and is central to most discussions. The central message is keep the story moving, at the structural level, at the scene level, at the paragraph level, at the individual sentence level. Forward motion, clarity, and keeping the writer’s presence to the minimum are all essential to the experience of reading entertainment.
Many topics discussed are pretty obvious. Many examples given are painfully obvious. They are also matters of taste. However, these are not persnickety rules, but a reminder of the things a writer ought to keep in mind to avoid boring the reader or jolting them out of immersion. And I noted to my discomfort that I do many of these awkward things in my writing, so this book has given me much to think about. It will often be consulted (hence the score), but mainly in editing. All these suggestions are there to add spit and polish rather than build a story from the ground up.
But as I said, this is a good book. I was delighted to find that this is a reference for writing entertainment, not art. Write what you know is described as a canard, novels are meant to be escapism rather than reflect reality, more is more, and the pithiest of quotes comes from Calvin and Hobbes. All the techniques discussed here are about keeping the reader immersed in the story, turning the pages, wondering what happens next. They address relevance and clarity of expression, but good writing comes second to good storytelling.
Some topics may be genre specific (such as researching real world locations), but the author does try to accommodate the quirks of speculative fiction. The classics are given due deference, but are kept secondary to contemporary tastes.
Some explanations of hoary chestnuts such as show don’t tell are clear and - importantly - applicable. Pacing is particularly usefully treated, and is central to most discussions. The central message is keep the story moving, at the structural level, at the scene level, at the paragraph level, at the individual sentence level. Forward motion, clarity, and keeping the writer’s presence to the minimum are all essential to the experience of reading entertainment.
Many topics discussed are pretty obvious. Many examples given are painfully obvious. They are also matters of taste. However, these are not persnickety rules, but a reminder of the things a writer ought to keep in mind to avoid boring the reader or jolting them out of immersion. And I noted to my discomfort that I do many of these awkward things in my writing, so this book has given me much to think about. It will often be consulted (hence the score), but mainly in editing. All these suggestions are there to add spit and polish rather than build a story from the ground up.
November 27, 2018
James Thayer doesn’t mince words when describing the personal habits and characteristics of writers who want to succeed. Focus and concentration, persistence in staying the course, a willingness to learn, and perhaps some luck are helpful.
The Essential Guide shows you the proven techniques of writers such as John Grisham, Tom Wolf, Jeffery Deaver, and Patricia Cornwell to name a few. These insights provide clues for creating a successful novel.
My quick take is to do what has been shown to work time and time again and you’ll be successful. However, there’s room for outliers, the incredibly talented writers whose genius places them on a literary throne of their own. Thayer talks about the rules of writing and the breaking of the rules by some authors and what that means.
Creating a timeline for your manuscript
Thayer provided proven steps for creating a timeline for completing your manuscript. He was forthcoming with examples from well-known authors. I especially liked Stephen King’s formula for having a first draft ready within a season.
I highlighted throughout the book and will place a paperback order to add to my bookshelves to keep handy. I just touched on a few of the techniques discussed. Read – then reread it to get the most out of this writer’s guide.
The Essential Guide shows you the proven techniques of writers such as John Grisham, Tom Wolf, Jeffery Deaver, and Patricia Cornwell to name a few. These insights provide clues for creating a successful novel.
My quick take is to do what has been shown to work time and time again and you’ll be successful. However, there’s room for outliers, the incredibly talented writers whose genius places them on a literary throne of their own. Thayer talks about the rules of writing and the breaking of the rules by some authors and what that means.
Creating a timeline for your manuscript
Thayer provided proven steps for creating a timeline for completing your manuscript. He was forthcoming with examples from well-known authors. I especially liked Stephen King’s formula for having a first draft ready within a season.
I highlighted throughout the book and will place a paperback order to add to my bookshelves to keep handy. I just touched on a few of the techniques discussed. Read – then reread it to get the most out of this writer’s guide.
July 8, 2025
Having this book has been a lifeline for self-editing my work-in-progress.
Through the chapters I am encouraged and validated on scenes and characters that align with best practices. Likewise, I'm exited to see how to improve things with a greater understanding of how I might have lost hold of a character's voice or perhaps detracted from the arc or story plot.
Thankful also how Jim illustrates the advice point using specific examples of scenes structure, character contrast, and POV, pulling examples from books we've all read (and ones to get to) turning the light on the page of how effective that particular technique is with samples across genres --- Ah, so that's why that story is so gripping!!
Jim has a podcast of weekly episodes that are enlightening, well paced, wasting no time to dig right in. Just like reading a chapter of his book, after listening to an episode I'm itching to get back into my scenes and make them better.
Read his book. Listen to his podcast. And "keep tapping those keys."
Through the chapters I am encouraged and validated on scenes and characters that align with best practices. Likewise, I'm exited to see how to improve things with a greater understanding of how I might have lost hold of a character's voice or perhaps detracted from the arc or story plot.
Thankful also how Jim illustrates the advice point using specific examples of scenes structure, character contrast, and POV, pulling examples from books we've all read (and ones to get to) turning the light on the page of how effective that particular technique is with samples across genres --- Ah, so that's why that story is so gripping!!
Jim has a podcast of weekly episodes that are enlightening, well paced, wasting no time to dig right in. Just like reading a chapter of his book, after listening to an episode I'm itching to get back into my scenes and make them better.
Read his book. Listen to his podcast. And "keep tapping those keys."
January 5, 2019
Excellent book!
I've read countless books on the writing craft, but this is one of the best of them. It's easily in my top five favorite books on writing. The writing is clear and concise throughout, and you will find so many nuggets of wisdom and useful tips that you'll think you've discovered a rich treasure, and you have. Reading and studying this book can only make you better.
I've read countless books on the writing craft, but this is one of the best of them. It's easily in my top five favorite books on writing. The writing is clear and concise throughout, and you will find so many nuggets of wisdom and useful tips that you'll think you've discovered a rich treasure, and you have. Reading and studying this book can only make you better.
October 11, 2025
Just wow!
Late in life I decided to take on writing fiction instead of contract, requirements documents and powerpoint pitches.
I wrote 70,000 words and then stumbled upon Thayer’s podcast, which led me to the book after a few episodes.
The guidance is crystal clear and has improved my rewritten chapters dramatically (from my own assessment).
Thank you for the valuable insights.
Late in life I decided to take on writing fiction instead of contract, requirements documents and powerpoint pitches.
I wrote 70,000 words and then stumbled upon Thayer’s podcast, which led me to the book after a few episodes.
The guidance is crystal clear and has improved my rewritten chapters dramatically (from my own assessment).
Thank you for the valuable insights.
July 16, 2018
I would recommend this book for new and experienced writers.
August 5, 2024
i want to be creative but don’t know how still
October 9, 2024
An all in one guide to crafting a masterpiece with great examples for clarity.
July 29, 2025
Lots of good basic advice and a good collection of writerly quotes, but way too many genre platitudes, worst of all the endless repetition of the statement that inner monologue is bad writing.
January 23, 2026
Does what it says on the tin.
April 28, 2026
Very useful and well written!
October 11, 2013
I bought this book because I enjoyed “Show or Tell? A Powerful Lesson on a Crucial Writing Skill”, another book written by James Thayer.
In “The Essential Guide”, James has produced a practical reference book that will steer you through the entire process of creating a novel. He includes numerous excerpts and quotes from famous writers. In fact, I found the examples distracting at times because they were so frequent. However, the advice is excellent.
One of the most useful sections is “The Nutshell” chapter, a summary of the guide’s major points. I would advise that readers go through the book once—highlighting liberally—and then return to “The Nutshell” frequently as a reminder.
I intend to refer to “The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel” frequently over the coming years, and I would recommend it as an addition to any beginning or established author’s bookshelf.
In “The Essential Guide”, James has produced a practical reference book that will steer you through the entire process of creating a novel. He includes numerous excerpts and quotes from famous writers. In fact, I found the examples distracting at times because they were so frequent. However, the advice is excellent.
One of the most useful sections is “The Nutshell” chapter, a summary of the guide’s major points. I would advise that readers go through the book once—highlighting liberally—and then return to “The Nutshell” frequently as a reminder.
I intend to refer to “The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel” frequently over the coming years, and I would recommend it as an addition to any beginning or established author’s bookshelf.
November 7, 2014
This is a great book with lots of tips that would also be great for creative non-fiction. It does lay out everything step by step, so some of the information in the beginning, I'd read more than once--finding the time to write, how easy reading is hard writing, being consistent, rewriting---these are all general ideas that for me would have been better left out since I just wanted information for the actual writing part. I found the section on vivid writing the best and will probably use it as a reference for years to come. I hooted when I saw the section on "verbing" or turning nouns into verbs like "We were conflicted about the event." I can see now what makes some writing weak and boring. The book inspired me to look at stories and writing in a whole new way. I'd give it 4.5 stars!
November 8, 2014
This was the best book about writing that I've read. Talk about funny. Thank you Mr. Thayer for making me smile, giggle and at some points laugh out loud. I loved all the bad writing examples "cringe", that was awful. Maybe I'm not as hopeless as I think I am; certainly not after reading this book. I also loved all of the book recomendations for examples of great writing.
March 9, 2015
Covers a lot of ground. Its a great book for someone who is considering writing a novel, but doesn't have the foggiest idea how to get started. My only complaint is it might be a bit "too" comprehensive. I would have liked to see less topics covered with more direct focus in certain areas, such as character creation, pacing, and editing. Still, you get quite a bang for your buck with this one.
May 28, 2013
Priceless. All the books I read about writing - if I combine them the final score is way beyond the usability and intelligence of this book. I honestly think that anyone who wants to deal with genre fiction in a serious way should buy one book, only one. This one.
February 20, 2014
it was SOO helpful! It gave me a lot of much-needed advice, and I loved all the awesome quotes from different authors.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews