Novelista: Anyone can write a novel. Yes, even you!

by Claire Askew

NOVELISTA is a friendly, straight-talking writing guide for people who want to write a novel but don't know how to begin. It asks all the important questions and gives a host of reassuring answers that demonstrate that anyone can write a novel - even you!

To begin with, what the hell is a novel?

It's basically a tiny world, where characters are born, live, and (sometimes) die. To write one all you need is a notebook and a pen - but along the way you'll want to learn about good writing habits, planning, mastering descriptions and dialogue and how to pull it all together. This book will guide you through the process and orient you towards the goal of publication.

From absolute beginner to novelista, this book will change the way you write and think about writing.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2020

About the author

Claire Askew is a poet, novelist and the current Writer in Residence at the University of Edinburgh. Her debut novel, All the Hidden Truths, was the winner of the 2016 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, and longlisted for the 2014 Peggy Chapman-Andrews (Bridport) Novel Award. Claire holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh and has won a variety of accolades for her work, including the Jessie Kesson Fellowship and a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award.

Her debut poetry collection, This changes things, was published by Bloodaxe in 2016 and shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award and a Saltire First Book Award. In 2016 Claire was selected as a Scottish Book Trust Reading Champion, and she works as the Scotland tutor for women's writing initiatives Write Like A Grrrl! and #GrrrlCon.

Claire Askew was born in 1986 and grew up in the Scottish Borders. She has lived in Edinburgh since 2004. Her poems have appeared in numerous publications, including The Guardian, Poetry Scotland, PANK, Edinburgh Review and Be The First To Like This: New Scottish Poetry (Vagabond Voices, 2014), and have been selected twice for the Scottish Poetry Library's Best Scottish Poems of the Year. In 2013 she won the International Salt Prize for Poetry, and in 2014 was runner-up for the inaugural Edwin Morgan Poetry Award for Scottish poets under 30. She runs the One Night Stanza blog, and collects old typewriters (she currently has around 30).

Reviews

[Yiu-Ching Brendan Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I know how to plot plan and publish a novel.
You know if I ever start.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enlightening and engaging read, filled with advice that I do not doubt will come in handy to any who have no idea where to start in a novel adventure (excuse the shameless pun). To that end, Askew's treatise neatly concerns itself with the before, during and after stages of devising and writing a novel.

Her account is a concise, pertinent and at times intimately personal one. This personal aspect works well with the conversational tone, ultimately creating a reading experience that can be more readily compared with a tea room chat than religious canon, which 'guides' of any sort often risk seeing themselves as. This laid-back approach, I daresay, was what Askew was going for.

That said, because the account is so personal, it will inevitably vary in its resonance with different members of it's audience. Askew is admirably aware of this fact, however, and does not presume to be the stock template for the process. There were a few moments, particularly in the 'before' chapters (which might be generally considered as the "you can do it, kiddo" sections), where I felt, white bloke that I am, that what was being said wasn't meant for me. I say this without contempt or bitterness, for it is plain that the encouragement of female/minority writers is a point of great personal and professional importance to Askew; so it is only fitting that an intimate account such as this reflects her passion.

Yet this is no real criticism, for there was still plenty for me to take away from this book and I can do little else but recommend it.

[Paul Forster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm and useful and insightful and honest. Hard reccomend for anyone attempting to write a novel.

[Christina Banach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a great many writing guides in my time but never one that spoke to me so clearly as Claire Askew's Novelista. This book is packed with excellent, down-to-earth advice backed up by personal anecdotes from the author & others which elucidate each of her points. It's like having a talented, experienced author friend sit you down and explain to you the truths of what it is to be a published writer. Practical, and inspirational, this little gem now has pride of place on my bookshelves. Highly recommended.

[Katie Ringley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information that was concise and gives examples of how to work through various concepts presented. Helps you to work on structure, dialogue, character and plot development, as well as publishing and inclusive of info of encouragement about the mindset it takes to structure, write, and finish a novel.

[ainsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 stars.

The beginning was good, and then it petered out, and then the publishing advice was good again. Most of the advice in here you sort of figure out through trial and error.

[Cara L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful, approachable, engaging.