From First Draft To Finished Novel: A Writer's Guide to Cohesive Story Building

by Karen Wiesner

Detailed examples from published novels, the principles of building a story, worksheets and checklists to assist with character development, and the proper steps for submitting a completed work are provided in this comprehensive guide for aspiring writers. Original.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Adult

264 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Creating realistic, unforgettable characters one story at a time…

In addition to being a popular writing reference instructor and writer, professional blurbologist and freelance editor, Karen Wiesner is the accomplished author of 144 titles published in the past 25 years, which have been nominated/won 134 awards, with 19 more releases contracted for spanning many genres and formats.

Karen's multi-award-winning and bestselling Incognito Series (romantic action/adventure/suspenses) has been revised and reissued.

Karen’s first foray into her favorite genre, romantic science fiction, is available now with the Arrow of Time Chronicles, including IMMUTABLE, INEVITABLE, INDELIBLE, and INDOMITABLE.

Karen's award-winning Denim Blues Mysteries (Christian romantic mystery trilogy with a private investigator, police procedural and amateur sleuth installment) is available now.

Karen writes the multi-award-winning Falcon’s Bend Series (police procedural mysteries) with author Chris Spindler of Auenwald, Germany. Books 1-6 and three novellas collections are available now.

Karen’s multi-award-winning Family Heirlooms Series (Christian romances) is now available. Books 1-7 of the spin-off series, Friendship Heirlooms Series, are also available. All titles are set in Karen's fiction town of Peaceful, Wisconsin. Her Peaceful Pilgrim Series is set in Peaceful, a modern-day small community with old-fashioned values and friendly people you'll want to get to know and visit often. Available now are HOME, Book 1; DESTINY, Book 2; ONCE UPON A CLICHÉ, Book 3; and A PERFECT MATCH, Book 5. Look for four more books in the series with REKINDKLED, Book 6, 2022; HEARTS ABLAZE, Book 4, 2022; AFTER THE GLITTER FADES, Book 7, 2023; and EXILED HEARTS, Book 8, 2023.

Karen’s Bloodmoon Cove Spirits Series focuses on ghosts and horror and is set in her fictional Erie County, Wisconsin. Books 1-6 are now available. Books 7-12 as well as the first novella collection will be published between 2022-2024.

Karen’s Wounded Warriors Series (women’s fiction) and Gypsy Road Series (contemporary romances) have been revised and reissued along with her Angelfire Trilogy (contemporary romances). The spin-off series, Angelfire II Quartet, is also available now including ONLY THE LONELY, MIDNIGHT ANGEL, SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT, and PROMISES IN THE DARK.

Karen's writing reference titles include the bestselling FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS as well as WRITING THE FICTION SERIES: The Guide for Novels and Novellas, BRING YOUR FICTION TO LIFE: Crafting Three-Dimensional Stories with Depth and Complexity, WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL!. THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS, and COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. Her new writing reference is titled CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION: A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plots, and Relationships.

Karen’s book of poetry, Soul Bleeds The Poetry, Melodies, and Other Wanderings of Karen Wiesner (previously released as Soul Bleeds The Dark Poetry and Other Wanderings of K.S. Wiesner), is available now, reissued and expanded.

Karen also writes children's books including TAKING RESPONSIBILITY BUILDS TRUST (Making Good Choices Series, Book 1) has been reissued. TAKING CARE OF YOUR THINGS (Making Good Choices Series, Book 2) will be reissued TBA. KERI IS CUTE CUTE CUTE; I CAN TOUCH THE SKY; and CODY KNOWS with Linda Derkez are currently out of print.

From 2003 to 2014, Karen was the founding member of Jewels of the Quill, a popular promotional group of women authors that was featured in the September 2003 issue of RT Book Reviews. Jewels of the Quill produced two award-winning group anthologies per year from 2005-2011 (all currently out of print). Karen edited all 14 anthologies and designed the covers as well as contributing a novella to each. With the group anthologies, Karen started many new series’, which have been revised and reissued along with the single title novellas:

Reviews

[Gwnhwyfer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I originally purchased this book first, and almost immediately ordered the one before it (First Draft in 30 Days), before I read either one - I'm glad I did. (They've been sitting on my shelf gathering dust for over a year and a half - if not two - now...shh ;)

My first impressions of First Draft in 30 Days were more positive than my first impressions of From First Draft to Finished Novel. I found this book more...clunkier; it didn't flow as well (though I thought the metaphor concerning house building as equal to writing was appropriate). I did like the story plan checklist and examples, as well as the proposal guidelines and examples.

Maybe I need to be in that certain position (of turning an outline into a manuscript) for this book to jive. At the moment, I'm sorry to say, it doesn't.

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seemed like it'd be interesting and helpful, but honestly I found it extremely basic with more focus on basic organization and prep work then in-depth instruction. Maybe helpful for someone really just starting out, but otherwise nothing new. I found the constant reference to one of her other writing books and then most examples being from her own novels felt a little too self promoting for me.

[Michelle ☽⁺✧. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where the previous book (First Draft in 30 Days) was fairly useful and informative and easy to read, this sequel book is completely incomprehensible and hard to read. It's repetitive of stuff already discussed in the previous book, and walls of text that made my eyes cross. There's nothing here to help finish a novel that couldn't be found in the other book.

Disappointing.

[Rebecca Rivera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was thrown off by the detail in this book. I think of myself as a detail loving person, but I got so wrapped up in the detail of planning a story according to this book that I forgot about creating the story. I will say if you feel lost among all the notes you have on a book you're writing, this book will give you a good idea how to organize them. That's what I ended up doing, and after I was organized I realized that I didn't need half the notes I had created. So that's how this book helped me. I would recommend this book to writers who are detailed planners. I think there are some very useful tips in here for that type. I was just a little surprised to find that I am no longer that type (and rather glad too because it was quite a heavy burden).

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read for beginning or aspiring novelists. Wiesner's book provides you with the tools, exercises, and story checklists to write a cohesive story. I like the way she likens this process to building a house: just as architects and builders go through a lot of planning before laying the first stone, the most effective writers do intricate planning in order to create a multi-layered cohesive story.

[Readers Roundtable · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Gold Crowns. Overall From First Draft to Finished Novel by Karen Wiesner is a very helpful tool for a writer to have on their bookshelf or their e-reader. To view this review in its entirety, please visit http://thereadersroundtable.com/nonfi...

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I expected info more info on the later stages; since, it appears to be a series and another book seemed to handle the early stages of the writing process. Maybe I wouldn't grade it, so harshly if it dealt more with what I expected.

[Mark Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't get through even half of this book, but I printed some of the forms and checklists from the website, which I'm hoping will come in handy for my next novel.

[E.S.O. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most useful part of the book is the Story Plan Checklist.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, especially for someone who learned to write ... but not how to write fiction.

[Caroline Gerardo]

Good for romance writing - not my genre.

[Melissa Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will read anything from this woman. She is amazing!