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Agile Writer: Method: Write Your First Draft Novel in 6 Months
Agile Writer: Method is a practical explanation of what makes a great story and how to create a plan to write it. Smith breaks the novel down into 8 stages each composed of 30 pages. Each stage tells a specific part of the story. Then, he helps the writer create a plan to write 10 pages a week for 25 weeks until a first-draft novel of 250 pages is complete.
Inside you’ll find guidance on how to create
* Story Abstract – a one-page description of your story
* Hero Abstract – a one-page ouline of the main character
* Synopsis – an 8-page treatment of your story
* The Agile Storyboard – an 8-stage breakdown of the novel
Whether you’re a first-time novelist or have a couple novels under your belt, you’ll find Agile Writer: Novel will aid you in telling a great story.
Inside you’ll find guidance on how to create
* Story Abstract – a one-page description of your story
* Hero Abstract – a one-page ouline of the main character
* Synopsis – an 8-page treatment of your story
* The Agile Storyboard – an 8-stage breakdown of the novel
Whether you’re a first-time novelist or have a couple novels under your belt, you’ll find Agile Writer: Novel will aid you in telling a great story.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2014
12 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Greg Smith
5 books3 followersGreg Smith founded Agile Writers in 2011 with the mission of finding a new approach to helping beginning writers complete a first-draft novel in 6 months. Greg created “The Agile Writer Method” based upon the writings of experts in mythology, screenwriting, psychology and a little project management.
His seminars on the Agile Writer Method have informed and delighted thousands of writers, scholars, and university students. Since 2011, Agile Writer authors have completed dozens of first draft novels, and many published novels.
His seminars on the Agile Writer Method have informed and delighted thousands of writers, scholars, and university students. Since 2011, Agile Writer authors have completed dozens of first draft novels, and many published novels.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 2, 2015
This book is designed as a companion guide to the author's class on novel writing, but this book stands alone just fine. The basis for the writing method taught in this book is the concept of the Hero's Journey, as outlined by Joseph Campbell and Christopher Vogler. This concept is explained in the book, and then step-by-step instructions are given on how to put together a novel-length story using this outline. The book is written in simple language with a lot of lists and bullet points, so it's easy to understand for anyone regardless of their literary background or previous writing experience. I would recommend this for anyone interested in learning more about the art of storytelling.
December 3, 2017
Not another Hero's Journey
OK. It is another Hero's Journey book. But it has some interesting tasked and new ideas such as the difference between the hero's need and the story goal, developing a commercially viable story into your idea from the beginning, and more. I was pleasantly surprised at the iterative development of the storyboard, which is the heart of the agile development framework. And an entire chapter is devoted to effective critiques of your draft. All in all, worth much more than the buck. (Note: there are typos and errors of fact, such as Star Wars planet being called "Alderon" several times, but these are mainly editing errors and not content)
OK. It is another Hero's Journey book. But it has some interesting tasked and new ideas such as the difference between the hero's need and the story goal, developing a commercially viable story into your idea from the beginning, and more. I was pleasantly surprised at the iterative development of the storyboard, which is the heart of the agile development framework. And an entire chapter is devoted to effective critiques of your draft. All in all, worth much more than the buck. (Note: there are typos and errors of fact, such as Star Wars planet being called "Alderon" several times, but these are mainly editing errors and not content)
September 15, 2018
Best novel writing book ever!
Effective. Organized. Everything I needed to know. Sadly, I found it the day after I finished my first draft of my first book. I'm starting a second book today and I know that this time it won't take over a year to complete! Thanks Greg!
Effective. Organized. Everything I needed to know. Sadly, I found it the day after I finished my first draft of my first book. I'm starting a second book today and I know that this time it won't take over a year to complete! Thanks Greg!
January 11, 2020
Short, concise and practical, "Agile Writer" is an useful ressource for any inspiring writer to learn a very basic but effective model of storytelling, world-building and other general writing tips.
August 13, 2015
Fantastic resource!
Last night I attended one of the Agile Writers meetings and instantly was quite impressed. Not really knowing what to expect, I was prepared for an evening of tweed covered men and women (pipes optonal) discussing the concepts of their current projects. Entertaining perhaps, but probably not very useful.
Little could I have thought how different the evening would turn out. Greg has not only written a fantastic (and practical) guide to novel writing, the way the meetings are structured are very organized and I can easily see how it would help any aspiring writer to produce.
Deciding to partake of this unexpected resource in my own town, I did not wait until Saturday to purchase the book at his seminar but went ahead and bought the kindle version. I was so engaging, helpful and practical; I read it straight through in one sitting.
This is no dry technical manual, but a well written useful guide to writng. Seeing how Joseph Campbell's "Hero of a Thousand Faces" was used as one of the resources, had me hooked immediately. Already I am going back on the manuscript I have written and rethought large parts of it by some of the points in this book. Everything from the Odyssey to Star Wars is covered, and the discussion of Star Wars as examples was particularly helpful.
I am throughly looking forward to buying my "hard copy" as well as participating in this Group. I highly recommend to anyone even thinking about writing. This will set you on the right path.
Last night I attended one of the Agile Writers meetings and instantly was quite impressed. Not really knowing what to expect, I was prepared for an evening of tweed covered men and women (pipes optonal) discussing the concepts of their current projects. Entertaining perhaps, but probably not very useful.
Little could I have thought how different the evening would turn out. Greg has not only written a fantastic (and practical) guide to novel writing, the way the meetings are structured are very organized and I can easily see how it would help any aspiring writer to produce.
Deciding to partake of this unexpected resource in my own town, I did not wait until Saturday to purchase the book at his seminar but went ahead and bought the kindle version. I was so engaging, helpful and practical; I read it straight through in one sitting.
This is no dry technical manual, but a well written useful guide to writng. Seeing how Joseph Campbell's "Hero of a Thousand Faces" was used as one of the resources, had me hooked immediately. Already I am going back on the manuscript I have written and rethought large parts of it by some of the points in this book. Everything from the Odyssey to Star Wars is covered, and the discussion of Star Wars as examples was particularly helpful.
I am throughly looking forward to buying my "hard copy" as well as participating in this Group. I highly recommend to anyone even thinking about writing. This will set you on the right path.
December 3, 2020
UPDATE: I highly recommend also reading "The Plot Dot" by Derek Murphy of CreativeIndie.com for free templates and a free 24-chapter outline that also heavily draws from the same principles as what's mentioned in this book! Both the 'Agile Writer' Method and 'the Plot Dot' Method are broken into 8 stages -- and I feel that the Plot Dot one helps simplify the chapter breakdown even better. So go try it out! I'll update with my progress.
If you’re a writer and have struggled with whether to pants or plot your novel (writers you know what I mean) then this book might be the PERFECT SOLUTION for you. I’m a creative writer who finds myself at both ends of the spectrum—-my day job is writing software where we literally apply Agile development to our product mission, but yet when I’m sitting down at home trying to write a novel. The waterfall “plan every detail” itis jumps at me. I’ve gotten some headway with just following the Stephen King method of “just doing it” but just doing it has also landed me with 50k words of a novel half baked and half-illogical.
This book actually balances both. You can be an Agile writer! I worked on the Story Abstact and am working my way to the Hero Abstract and Agile Storyboard , and the pieces are falling into place. I love it. I run my own writing group on Goodreads too, so I would love to implement the book’s critique group advice into practice, among other things. Invaluable, and monumentally helpful for pie in the sky writers like m;)
Definitely would recommend if you’re a writer, give it a read!
If you’re a writer and have struggled with whether to pants or plot your novel (writers you know what I mean) then this book might be the PERFECT SOLUTION for you. I’m a creative writer who finds myself at both ends of the spectrum—-my day job is writing software where we literally apply Agile development to our product mission, but yet when I’m sitting down at home trying to write a novel. The waterfall “plan every detail” itis jumps at me. I’ve gotten some headway with just following the Stephen King method of “just doing it” but just doing it has also landed me with 50k words of a novel half baked and half-illogical.
This book actually balances both. You can be an Agile writer! I worked on the Story Abstact and am working my way to the Hero Abstract and Agile Storyboard , and the pieces are falling into place. I love it. I run my own writing group on Goodreads too, so I would love to implement the book’s critique group advice into practice, among other things. Invaluable, and monumentally helpful for pie in the sky writers like m;)
Definitely would recommend if you’re a writer, give it a read!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews