How to Write Your First Novel

by Sophie King

A guide through the whole process of writing a first novel and getting it published

This revised edition takes aspiring novelists through the steps of writing a novel, from finding that initial idea, to keeping the plot going and crafting the perfect ending. With helpful exercises in each chapter, writers will learn how to develop a brilliant idea for a first novel, create characters that will make the novel come alive, and plot a novel so that your readers simply must turn the page. Other topics include unraveling the mysteries of viewpoint, creating realistic dialogue and settings so that readers feel they are there, find one's own voice, and most importantly,  tips and advice on how to get published. This new edition also includes a 10 step guide to revision so that writers can polish their novels to be the best they can be.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2010

About the author

I've written six novels, including the bestselling The School Run, and The Wedding Party, which was nominated for Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists Association.

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t find this very useful. Once I started reading it, it became apparent that it was targeted towards writers of women’s fiction/romance, which is fine, but that should be made more apparent on the cover/blurb because I feel a bit misled by the branding.

[Aurélien Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sophie King is an author of romantic comedy. She also is 'an active creative writing tutor and attends many of the annual writing conferences as speaker throughout the UK and internationally'. This book reflects that: it is targeted mainly to complete beginners (who have no clue on how to start a writing project) and it's quite genre specific in its advices. Nothing wrong with it, far from that! It's limited but very straightforward, with clear chapters addressing from characterisation to plot, and dialogue to revision. In fact, it's so relevant it can be used as a blueprint in a writing group (an idea she herself suggests). The thing is, as far I am concerned (being an experienced reader and writer) there was nothing new for me here. So, if you are new to it all and are attracted to writing romance, then go for it; if not...

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I’ve not written a book yet. I’ve been too busy a)reading books and b) reading books about writing books.
Reading books about writing books does give you an appreciation of what goes into an entertaining novel.
This book has some great advice and ideas about plotting, characterisation, setting and viewpoint. I particularly liked one piece of her advice that she alluded to several times: if your plot is sagging, make it Christmas!
Despite being published in 2014, it does seem slightly old-fashioned at times with some pre-technology style activities – e.g cutting pictures out of a magazine, rather than using Pinterest.
I’d recommend this book for exercises and tips that will help you write a novel: not just a first novel and not just a novel about Christmas.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent, quick read for beginners, however I wouldn't rely on it as your sole "go to" book on how to write. Overall it was fine, but there were a few questionable tips, such as speech marks that, apparently, should be double. However, Ms King has written all of hers (in examples and so on) as single marks. I associate double marks with American publications, and single with British English. Also, it was disappointing that in the "revision" section of the book there's no mention of proofreading, or hiring a proofreader, or not relying yourself or your sister's mate who has read loads of books to proofread.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, very helpful and a must have for my bookshelf.

[Matthew F. Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked up this book for hopefully some quick and simple tips for writing as I've been getting back into it recently. But I got a third of the way in and had to stop because of this section discussing plot ideas:

"Why didn't the bride know, in today's day and age, that the groom was really a woman... perhaps it's because the sex-change operation had been really realistic!"

It's transphobic rubbish that suggests a Trans Woman is still a man and not a woman which completely goes against science and my general worldview and was an instant turn-off. If I want to read transphobic garbage I'll go and read J.K. Rowling's Twitter feed and not have to pay for the privilege.

Besides that, I was having my doubts about the book even before then as it seemed very gender-specific, geared very much towards romance writers (not that there's anything wrong with that, but it was very one-dimensional) and the author kept referencing her own books repeatedly within the first 50 pages and it felt like a continuous sales pitch for her books rather and a way to crowbar them into every chapter. I get an author writes about what they know, but it can be done in such a way that it doesn't feel so blatant.

All in all, I'm super disappointed - and disgusted - so I will be returning this and then be donating the money to an LGBTQ+ charity because I'm sorry I even spent money on it. It should be titled "How to write Hot Garbage".

[Carl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too gender and genre specific with featherweight advice on plotting which whilst suitable for the authors contemporary romantic fiction doesn't help at all for anything more complex such as crime or sci-fi.
No coverage of world creation either as the author assumes you are writing only about everyday lives.


Read it, it has the odd good bit of advice and is very accessible but it's not going to be the only book you need

[Stefan Grieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good tips, appropriately simple and of a beginner’s quality. It is more a how-to on general creative writing rather than a specific genre, but the writer has previous light contemporary fiction. The writing style is quite bubbly, but I found it at times inappropriately mean spirited in a slight way in various unnecessary comments, although it is not so prevalent.

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really useful, concise and packed with practical tips and encouragement. Even for people who have written several books already, this contains enough no nonsense practical advice to provide food for thought. Writing is a skill which you need to keep working at, and this book can help you.

[Serenity Pickles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book out on loan from my local library at the start of January 2022, along with a handful of other books with very similar titles in the hope that one of them, or even a combination of them, would help me to understand some of the issues that need to be considered when you have made that decision to write that book you have always said you wanted to write.

I started off by reading the first chapter of this book with the intention to dip in and out of it as I saw fit, at times when I needed to find out more about the process of writing my own novel. However, as this book contains activities as well, I got underway and before I knew it, only two weeks later I had read the entire book and had attempted every single activity willingly.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Sophie explained things in such a way that I understood her the first time I read what she wrote (I never had to reread a previous passage because I couldn't understand it and try to concentrate harder than I just had the first time around). Also, I have stopped reading some of these kinds of books before, due to feeling like the author is treating me like I am so stupid, that they have to repeat themselves over and over again, but in different ways and with (in my opinion) too many examples to explain the point that started three pages prior.

Sophie wrote professionally but still quite simply, and in a way that kept my interest and even intrigued me in some places to read on, as she would refer to something in another chapter that I really wanted to get to straight away.

I read this book from front to back and I am even considering purchasing a paperback copy of my own, so I can continue to refresh my memory whenever I feel it would help me in the future.

If you want a friendly, helpful, informative, professional and motivating description to learn how to write your first novel, with plenty of fun, relevant activities, then GET THIS BOOK!

[Iwona · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a great help if you know nothing and you want to be a contemporary novel writer. Still have some helpful guidelines for other genres. Sometimes pointing many obvious things but it's not showing you one and only way to do it (write a novel).
I think it's good to read it a s a reminder how to write (if you are writing stories for some time already). Got me a little bit more motivated to write.

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book as part of the Writing Magazine. All the good writing techniques could be written within 10 pages. The rest of the book is mostly fillers and references to the author’s books.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful tips

[Alyce Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Focuses more on romance and contemporary fiction than any other genre, which meant that some of the hints and tips weren't necessarily applicable to the writing I'd prefer to be doing, but the majority of the advice was easy to apply to any genre of writing.
The quotes from various authors definitely added weight to Sophie King's advice, and the fact that she included exercises to encourage different writing attempts was interesting. If I'd had more time I would have participated in the exercises, but as it was I enjoyed it as an advice book and will take it on board in my future writing endeavours.

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a useful novel-writing guide with lots of practical advice for the beginning writer. I did find it a little basic but this is fine since it is aimed at beginners. The chapters are very well structured and cover everything from plotting (parts 1 and 2!), dialogue, finding a writing time etc.

I would say this is a good book for anybody brand new to writing longer fiction but perhaps not suitable for more experienced writers or those with any creative writing education.

[Seren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of an ideas guide than anything in-depth. Most of the tips I have been doing already without even realising. There's very little about other genres of fiction - it's all from the point of view of contemporary romance - there's nothing about research an historical period, which is what I really need. Encouraging to know I'm on the right track though. Something to use as an unthreatening intro, then onto more complicated things.

[nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good starter book... but really just that. its content is very nicely structured, but also very biased towards writing contemporary romantic fiction. and sections that covered things like "point of view" were a little too basic for me. i think it's useful, but would have been moreso for a different type of writer than me. that said, i did manage to get a few handy tips from it. :)

[Cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Constantly talking about her other books. ( this book is just a marketing scheme to sell them)
Transphobic language.
How can an author with around one thousand ratings claim to be a writing expert.
Very basic advice.
Only focuses on one genre. (Despite not saying that on the cover)
Constant quotes from writers that actually deserve a how to book and she freaking quoted herself

[Robert Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not that this is a bad book it's just that it isn't the one for me. I finished it in less than 24 hours, which tells you how light it is. All the bases are covered but without much depth. I also disliked that it seemed to be aimed solely at women. I felt proper discriminated against lol.