How to Write Your Blockbuster

by Fiona McIntosh

A practical and inspirational guide on how to become a professional author of genre fiction

lmost everybody thinks they have a book in them, or dreams of seeing their name on the cover of a book. And while there are many resources out there on the "craft" of writing or how to find your creative voice as an "artist," there is little by way of practical advice on how to actually set about writing genre fiction for a career. Fiona McIntosh, one of Australia's most successful commercial authors across a range of genres, is here to set the record straight, and set aspiring novelists on a realistic path. She believes that if you have a tough hide and a philosophical attitude—as well as a damn strong work ethic—anyone can make a living from popular writing. And she's here to show you how.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Reference

249 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Fiona writes best selling historical adventure-romance alongside the heroic-romantic, often brutal, fantasy she built her career upon. She lives in Australia but frequently roams the world meticulously researching the locations and gathering material for her historical novels that have international settings. Her books are published worldwide and in various languages.
Her most recent historical fiction has gathered such a following that she is now hosting a tour in 2014 to Paris and Provence so eager readers can walk in the footsteps of her characters.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[StarMan · Rating 3 out of 5]

VERDICT: ~2.67 stars. Passing grade.

Many inappropriate and/or unnecessary exclamation marks give this book an amateurish feel.

The author also relates how incredibly lucky she was in getting published on basically her first effort.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I am one of the very few book bloggers with no real ambition to write, I can appreciate the wisdom Fiona McIntosh imparts in 'How To Write Your Blockbuster', offering practical, no nonsense advice for aspiring writers.

McIntosh insists discipline is an essential skill for a writer. She encourages dabblers to set themselves up to succeed by developing good working habits and understanding what it is they want to write.

Whether you are a 'plotter' or a 'pantser' she has practical advice for getting started. I really like her 'word count equation', it seems to me that the idea would make the process of writing a first draft much less intimidating.

McIntosh then goes on to discuss technique in developing character, plot, dialogue, pacing and exposition with reference to what she has learned in her own work. Each chapter is also accompanied by exercises to complete.

For those with a completed manuscript, McIntosh advises writers on the next step, including presentation and submission to Australian commercial fiction publishers, and shares knowledge about what might come next for those lucky enough to see their book in print.

'How To Write Your Blockbuster' is a solid resource for a fledgling writer from a talented and accomplished commercial fiction author who writes across several genres. Make sure your browse Fiona McIntosh's extensive oeuvre - my favourites include The Scrivener's Tale and The Lavender Keeper.

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I liked about this book was its unashamed stance on discussing commercial fiction, McIntosh isn't discussing 'writing' per say but the ins and outs of successful popular books. So if you're looking for advice on the art of poetry and prose etc, this wouldn't be the book for you.

Where the book excels however, is explaining skillful exposition, characterization and plot. McIntosh has a relatively laid back style, and provides a good plain language overview for each topic. I would recommend this book for beginners wishing to write successful fiction, as there isn't a tonne of depth here, more of a general explanation of what you're aiming for in writing. Don't get me wrong it's helpful stuff just don't expect nitpicky detail about 'how-to' achieve any particular aspect. There are a few writing exercises which didn't stand out, (but were not terrible)

My only negative of the book (which will sound much worse than it is) is the first 100 pages are completely skip-able. McIntosh explains her own publishing experience, which might be interesting if you already knew her, because there is nothing about the process which is readable, and then provides 70-80 pages of advice that didn't really need to be printed except for the most basic wannabe reader (who probably wouldn't read this book anyway) things like 'finish your work' 'get a routine' 'find a quiet spot.' Stuff you don' really need to buy a book to know.

Overall I wouldn't necessarily say this book is the best 'on writing' however McIntosh does provides some of the best beginner level tips for commercial fiction I've read (kinda wish this book came out in 2009) and is highly recommended for anyone starting their writing journal, or perhaps needing broad advice on fiction.

[Christine Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely perfect for writers at the very beginning of their career and from about half-way through, perfect for those a little way further down the road. If you want to write, or you want to write more readable books, read this book first!

[indy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing itself is frustratingly prolix, in a stream of consciousness style that enrages me as a reader and editor. The examples of "good" writing make me cringe.

There is no secret recipe lurking between the covers of this book. The wisdom boils down to common sense and/or restates (often more than once) the advice you've already absorbed from every other mundane tome about writing. The only novelties (har) include odd-but-unhelpful tips that betray the author's weirdness about numbers, the embarrassing biz-wank infographics, and the reader's perverse amusement derived from McIntosh's attitudes about female readers and the two World Wars.

Just like Stephen King did in his book On Writing, McIntosh spends pages airing the oft-heard complaint from pop writers that "[c]ommercial fiction writers rarely enjoy the plaudits of literary writers" and that they are sneered at as if they "have a particular smell about them."

I first encountered this cultural sore point when Jennifer Byrne dedicated a whole First Tuesday Book Club special to it. Three or four commercial fiction authors bitched for the length of the program, bemoaning their (perceived) lack of respect while criticising literary authors for a range of (perceived) transgressions. One of the authors was Lee Child, aka James Dover Grant. Grant confessed that he chose the pen name "Child" for cynical reasons: (a) the starting letter is early in the alphabet and ensures prime placement in shop bookcases, (b) he believes the word "child" encourages readers to like and trust the author (i.e. buy the books).

McIntosh falls from the woe-is-me soapbox into the same traps, criticising literary writers for not creating "user-friendly sentences", and for not "feeding the story". Literary writers "alienate" readers and produce works that "[don't] actually have much of a story," and include "fifty pages of staring at a cloud." All they do is create "beautiful prose" that nobody wants to read. I would genuinely love to know the literary fiction authors or titles that inspired these remarks.

I recommend this book as a suitable activity to delay writing your own first novel, and as a source of laughs at the author's expense. Borrow it from the library if you can—don't spend your hard-earned money to read McIntosh's advice.

[Tegan Ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona McIntosh's masterclass was recommended to me, and because I don't have that kind of money right now, I thought this book would provide some insight into her writing life.

I really liked this book. Fiona takes what is somewhat of a romanticised profession and lays it out bare. If you want to make a living as a commercial author, it's about what sells. It's not about being original or having some political agenda that wins you a coveted award, it's about producing consistent work that a publisher can market. And that may seem like a bland living, but to me, Fiona made it sound like a great job, and what's more, she makes it sound doable.

Fiona outlines the hard work that goes into being a successful commercial author. The research, the writing, the routine, everything. She is more focused on the traditional publishing industry than the self-publishing world because what she writes is based on what a publisher will accept. And many of us still see the publishing house as the peak of being an author.

This book isn't a deep dive intro writing technique, so don't be surprised when you reach the end of the book and you haven't learnt twenty techniques for bringing out the emotion in a scene. While there is a chapter devoted to what makes a good story (character, plot, etc.), this book is about the process of becoming a commercial author.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A month ago, I decided to join Camp NaNoWriMo and start writing my first novel. I bought this book as a reward for meeting my word count goal. I decided that if I could stick it out and develop a writing routine for a month, then maybe I could maintain that discipline.

I knew that what I had spewed forth onto the page so far need LOTS of work, so I turned Fiona McIntosh. Many of the books I've enjoyed reading this year were written by debut authors who have completed one of Fiona's Masterclasses. This book is a condensed version of that week long class. I would love to do a class with her one day, but I needed instant gratification, so downloaded the ebook. I devoured it in two sittings, though I will read and refer to it again, and again. (Was I repeating myself there Fiona, oops, I did listen, really).

I loved the style it was written in. More of an informal biographical style, filled with anecdotes, rather than a textbook style. I could just imagine sitting in a class and listening to Fiona dishing out the tough love. This book covers many topics, from getting into a regular writing routine and setting word count goals to dealing with publishers. I highly recommend this book to other aspiring authors as well as published authors who are looking for tips from someone who is making a living from their writing. If you want to write commercial fiction, this is the book for you.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any advice from such a successful commercial writer in several genres is worth reading. I found the style very enthusiastic and somewhat breathless. The word count equation is a good tip, which I have seen in the how to write a novel in 30 days book. Just take the total words you want at the end and divide by the number of days until the deadline to get how many words you need to produce each day.

I was surprised that a writer who is so disciplined about a word count per day was so undisciplined or unstructured about plotting and planning the content. But then again, there seems to be a fair bit of editorial input from her team of editors to get to the final product. A key message is to know your personality type for writing and work with it.

Also interesting to read about the evolution in her writing approach over her many novels.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're new to trying to write a novel this is a great book.
For those who've read a lot of this stuff previously, it doesn't cover much new ground. The best bit is the authors very pragmatic approach to setting a routine, progressive goals, and getting things done.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bestselling author Fiona McIntosh has the uncanny knack of making you believe that if you just knuckle down and follow some common sense advice, you too could crack the commercial market and produce a compelling novel that no one wants to put down. It isn't quite that simple, of course, McIntosh lays out the reality of what her own journey was like, the immense amount of research and rewriting that goes into each book, and the all-consuming nature of the profession. Her advice is candid - like you are chatting with a well-versed friend, helpful - broken down into thematic chapters that build upon each other, practical - with exercises you can do to hone your craft. Definitely more for those who perhaps haven't picked up the proverbial (or literal) pen yet, but if you are at all interested in writing well, this is one for the bookshelves.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no intention of writing a novel but, having just read a Fiona McIntosh one, I saw this on my library cloud.

This is better than the novel of hers I read, which was an unreconstructed patriarchal fantasy trilogy.

I read literature as well as genre novels, so I prefer my genre novels at the literature end of the spectrum, and a bit more pro-women. So perhaps I am not the target market for her novels.

I found her advice in this book was more universal. It is more about setting up good working habits. So it is worth a read if you want to find time to write a novel, or anything else that requires commitment and practice.

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

I received it as a Christmas present, my father thought it would be very handy as I’ve almost finished a first draft of a novel. He couldn’t have been more right! I now have direction on what to improve on in my first round of edits, and also learned a lot about the publishing industry that I didn’t know before.

Highly recommended for those that are serious about writing and are going into the editing stages of their first manuscript.

[B.L. Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting. It was nice to know that there is a successful writer that hasn't had a passion for writing since she was young. I am the same. She gave practical advice that was straight to the point that didn't beat around the bush.

Do you want to make money writing? Try this out. Had some great points that i will keep in mind while writing my first book.

[Rachel Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valuable, practical advice if you’re in the game of completing a manuscript. Fiona’s humour and down to earth approach makes this an easy, fun read, with nuggets of wisdom bestowed from her successful writing career in commercial fiction. Get the highlighter out for this one!

[Susan Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the method how Fiona sets out the skills, traps, and hard slog of writing - especially for new writers - who think book publishing is easy. Every step of the way takes effort and dedication.

[Andrew Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful read. Inspiring in some ways but intimidating in other ways. If you have thoughts of writing a novel, it is an instructional read. includes some useful leads and contacts. Description of the business end of writing particularly useful

[Eleni Konstantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow...

[Angela Pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent advice for the aspiring writer

[Miffy Purslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible, in fact, I didn't stop reading it until I had finished it. I love the rhythm of Fiona's voice most. I was subconsciously captivated by what I was reading.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Open, honest and generous with tips

[Jack Prebble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and instructional.

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and easy to follow, Fiona has me motivated to work harder on my writing and chase my dreams.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing I enjoy as a reader is a behind the scenes sneak peek of the writing process. I have enjoyed reading many of these books and have found them to be quite insightful into an author’s creative process.
Fiona McIntosh’s is the latest author to join the growing list of producing a book that tells you how to be a successful author. The difference with McIntosh is that she is not prescribing that there is only one way to become a successful author. She recognises that there are planners and freelancers and that each style has merit. What McIntosh takes aim at is writing discipline and some handy hints such as the word count equation that will get you writing novels.
Even when discussing discipline McIntosh is not prescriptive but she does emphasis the need to have a regular routine and goals. Let’s face it is your job and you need to turn up to the desk and crunch out the work. If you need to plan out the entire book paragraph by paragraph, the do it but if you want to just to sit at the keyboard and start typing do that. What McIntosh stress is that you need to do it at the same time and the same number of days per week.
I enjoyed McIntosh’s chats about her own writing evolution, the problems and highlights. It was an insightful read.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of fantastic, down-to-earth advice on becoming a commercial writer. The first two sentences ("To write is a verb. At school I was taught that a verb is 'an action word'.) immediately tell you the style and type of advice this book is going to give. She doesn't let up and it's exactly the kind of kick in the pants some of us writers need.
Cannot recommend highly enough.

[Alessandra Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one because she's a writer who doesn't think that the only possible thing she could be is a writer and she's also a pantser like me so it was just a bit of validation for a writer who came to things a little later in life, doesn't have to write to live, and has no idea where the story will take her other than in a very general sense until the first draft is written.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had some good exercises and some good info on plot and rythm but she also relied alot on talking about her own books which makes sense but having not read any of her books its hard to grasp exactly what she is talking about at times still worth a read but some parys could be skimmed over

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, plain-speaking advice that is immediately useable. Thanks Fiona!

[Banafsheh Serov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and unpretentious.