How to Write Your First Novel: The Stress-Free Guide to Writing Fiction for Beginners: Author Level Up, Book 1

by M.L. Ronn

This is the stress-free guide to writing your first novel like a pro!

Learning how to write your first novel can be overwhelming. You have to master outlining, writing, revising, and so much more...and it can be scary if you've never done it before. While it seems daunting, writing your first novel is simple when you have someone experienced to help you through it.

In this writer’s guide, prolific writer M.L. Ronn shares an easy step-by-step process of writing compelling fiction that he's perfected after writing over 40 books.

Write your first novel with structured advice tailored for

Learn the basic building blocks of every story and how to put them together Develop an effective outline (or learn how to write without one) Discover winning formulas that mega best sellers use to write their novels Navigate your novel’s “murky middle” with seven unorthodox strategies that will get you unstuck in no time Revise your story without fear Writing your first novel is life-changing. Download this writer’s guide, follow the step-by-step instructions, and you'll wake up one morning very soon with a finished manuscript waiting for you.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published December 10, 2018

Reviews

[Cal Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I love the words of Michael La Ronn. His YouTube videos are inspirational. His podcast is fast yet packed with information. It should be no surprise to you then that I absolutely love this book too!

Sometimes, as a beginning writer, you ask a question and get the same answer told in the same way. If it did not help you the first time you heard it, it will not help you the twentieth time you hear it.

Michael takes that process and makes it simple and easy to understand. But, not only that, he does it in a way that inspires you and motivates you and makes you believe in yourself and say, "Yes, I can write my first novel!"

Is Michael's style of teaching for you? I cannot answer that question. But, his voice speaks to me and his approach and style help me to better understand the process and how to go from dreaming about writing that first novel, to actually writing the novel.

My main advice to the aspiring writer is this: Find a writer that has an approach to writing and a voice that you can identify with. Follow that writer's advice, try what they say to try. If it does not work for you, then find another. The biggest mistake that you can make is giving up. That writer for me is Michael La Ronn. He is my unofficial mentor in that I listen to his advice and I follow what rings true to me. I am not a lemming and I won't jump off a cliff, but I will write my first complete novel thanks to him.

[Daniel Triumph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a decent writing book for those new to the craft, and especially for those who are a fan of Dean Wesley Smith's approach to writing. I've written a couple of novels myself, and I found that there were a couple of useful tips for me too, things I had never thought about for focused on.

M. L. Ronn is clearly fan of Dean Wesley Smith, and you can see Smith's perspective come up in the chapters on revision, character, and writing into the dark (also known as "pantsing" or "gardening").

I have mixed views about Smith's approach on their own, though as delivered in this book they are given as suggestions and opinions rather than "the best way." I appreciate that Ronn acknowledges other approaches. I know that Smith advocates pantsing and limited editing, but I didn't know that he was also against planning character arcs. This book seems to suggest that character arcs will somehow write themselves. This is not true, many early novels simply didn't have them and featured flat characters.

Ronn's personal, original perspectives are great.

He gives good examples and tips for how to keep people reading: write good chapter openings and page turner endings.

Overall, a great book for starters, and the focus on chapter openings and endings was a new focus for me, a new tool for the writing toolbox

[adventuresinfictionland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the better books I’ve read on getting started in writing. It is straight to the point and makes writing a novel feel more doable for someone that gets overwhelmed and stuck in the ware do I start phase.

I found my way to Michael La Ronn from a Writer’s Digest virtual course in writer’s block and immediately subscribed to his channel and purchased 2 of his books on writing (this one and The Writing App Handbook). I have many, many books about the writing craft—and while informative they can still feel overwhelming. What Michael La Ronn does in How to Write Your First Novel, is weed through all the standard writing advise and breaks it down in to easier tangible steps to get you started and keep you going. As I have the funds, I will be filing my writing craft shelf with more of—and eventually all of—his books for writers.

[Rikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a solid craft book for beginners (aka those who have never ever written a novel). There were some pieces of advice that I disagreed with (i.e., his thoughts on fast-drafting and developmental edits), so I would suggest taking his word with a grain of salt. That said, he did offer helpful suggestions for starting a novel, researching, getting through the middle, and finally writing a satisfying conclusion. So all in all, I think this is a helpful book for those who want to start writing a novel for the first time.

[Andrew Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for first time authors and those struggling to begin.

First of all I believe this book is outlined well and easy for new authors to navigate reference tools. There was not too many examples that steer away from what is important information. I personally would have most chapter and not sections end with bullet point examples. In this case I am happy with what M.L Ronn has done and I will review this book on my YouTube channel as a recommendation for first time authors and those struggling to begin.

[Alan-Michael Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and Inspiring!!

This is a great book, Michael’s words gave me the knowledge and the courage to finally start writing my novel.

[Temecka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very basic info.

[Cass Rosewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I like the different perspective on writing stories.

[LaVerne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Too the point and full of great tips! I am actually writing a first novel based on the concepts in the book.

[Tracy Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This only took 4 hours to listen to, but has a lot of great information in it. Recommended if you want to write a novel but don't know where to start.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book. It brought me to a quiz on the author’s website to find out which books of his I should read and I was very impressed with his magical realism novels!

[Carrie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful overview of all the tools, techniques and tips (with pros and cons for different options and examples) you need to get started, with information often overlooked anywhere else I've seen. Love the no-nonsense, engaging style.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the title of the book fool you. This is a legitimate craft book with good info on chapter openings and endings/cliffhangers.

[Katie Sprinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Overview of Process

The book is a good place to start the journey to discovering the methods for writing especially your first novel.