Blank Page to Final Draft: How to Plot, Write, and Edit a Novel, Step By Step

by Bryn Donovan

Finally finish a novel… or write your best novel yet… while living your busy life. From executive editor and writing coach Bryn Donovan comes the step-by-step guide to plan, write, and edit your novel. Even if you’re a full-time employee, a student, or a parent, you can complete a novel that’s polished and ready to submit to agents and editors or to self-publish. Do one step a week to finish in one year’s time…or go as fast as you like!In this book, you’ll learn how •create a clear vision for your project•avoid common pitfalls that publishing houses see all the time•plot a novel on one index card (for people who hate to plot)•identify and fix plot holes before you even begin writing•continuously improve your writing style with mini-lessons throughout the book•revise and edit a first draft•confront and change the fears and doubts that hold you back from success! Get Blank Page to Final Draft today and begin writing the novel of your dreams.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 17, 2020

About the author

Author, book editor, blogger, and optimist who lives in Chicago. **no longer active on this platform**

Reviews

[Daily Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Can Write Anything and This Guide Will Light Your Way

This is honestly one of the most comprehensive yet simple plans I've seen for taking your novel from the first page to the final draft. I've used so many novel writing/planning/plotting/outlining/workbooks/textbooks/e-books etc. And this is by far the best I've seen.
Bryn breaks down novel writing into such an easy, step-by-step process that anyone can do it. If you are a writer stuck or struggling with your process or if you're a person who wants to write, this is the book for you. The beautiful thing about this book is that the step-by-step process can be used for anything - comprehensive, thorough blog posts, lesson plans, works of fiction or works of nonfiction.
Whatever you desire to create, this process can help you. I honestly think she didn't charge enough for this book!
Don't wait to start be the writer or content creator, blog post generator, you want to be. Start today with the help of this book and the steps outlined in it. You You can realize the success you're after.

[Joanne Machin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you're a new writer or a seasoned novelist, this is an excellent book, chock full of insight and great advice for every step of the drafting process. I found Bryn's voice warm, encouraging, and easy to reader. The advice she gives is concrete, immediately actionable, and very practical, which is rare in writing advice books (and I've read many of them!). The topic she covers is expensive: from plotting, to editing for pacing, to getting into the right mindset to write your best draft ever. She walks readers through the entire drafting process, touching on granular, frequently asked questions (Can I include song lyrics in my book?) to higher-level, craft questions (Are all adverbs bad? How do I punctuate/strengthen dialogue?). I consider myself a strong writer, and I'm an editor myself, and I know I'm going to be recommending this book to my colleagues and friends time and time again in the future.

[Emily Yager · Rating 5 out of 5]

While all the info in this book can be found with a quick search, it makes for a handy little guide to keep near by. It offers simple steps to gently guide you through the entire book writing process - from not having a story idea to having a completed draft - and lots of tips along the way to help you stay on track and motivated all the way to the end. It's a handy book for writers (one I'm adding to my personal Resource Library), especially newbie writers wanting a helping hand to ease them through the process of writing their first novel.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on writing a novel

This breaks down an absolutely overwhelming task into doable steps. Bryn has a way of giving detailed instructions, but it never feels as if she is talking down to you. If you've ever wanted to write a novel but weren't sure where to start, this book is for you.

[Alissa Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book functions well as a skimmable reference for diving into novel-writing. There are some good tips and tricks found in its pages, but it's very surface-level as far as the nitty gritty of getting into habits or addressing the depth of some core issues or reservations that can surface when someone approaches a daunting task like writing a novel. It feels like a lot of the information in the book is common sense knowledge for any writer, but having it laid out in book form and told to them could be beneficial as far as getting the gears turning and making this abstract "goal" to write shift into something more concrete. This book won't help you move mental blocks or shimmy your way out of deep-seated perfectionism, cognitive distortions, or commitment issues with putting for the time and effort necessary for such a large writing endeavor. It's just a nice consolidated collection of what you probably already know, which can be useful to some of us.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very different type of writing book. IMO, it's more of a motivational book than craft book, and I can see it being the go-to book for new writers because of it's step-by-step approach.

Donovan's book includes lots of tips and advice, but it's value isn't in teaching you fiction-writing techniques (though there are several discussed); it's value is in walking you step-by-step through writing a novel. Like the title says, it starts with a blank page and gives you the steps you need to finish your first draft.

If you need to strengthen your POV or showing skills, I wouldn't recommend this book, but if you're not sure how to start your novel--or you keep starting novels without ever finishing them--I wouldn't hesitate to pass this along. Donovan's info and tone are perfect for the struggling, discouraged writer who needs an experienced cheerleader.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Blank Page to Final Draft" has led me on an amazing journey as a writer. Before this book, my writing experience was muddled with chaos. I had so many questions. I researched and researched to be sure I was assembling my manuscripts correctly, but all that research seemed to leave me even more frustrated and confused until I read this book. Bryn Donovan changed everything for me! "Blank Page to Final Draft is a breath of fresh air, uplifting, and encouraging. Bryn lays out the writing process in clear and easy steps. This book literally walks you through, step by step, as you write or rewrite your manuscript. Bryn also offers an amazing perspective on things that I as a new author might not have otherwise considered. This book is a true blessing to those new or struggling within the writing community.

[Russell Ricard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryn Donovan’s Blank Page to Final Draft is a highly effective, step-by-step guide for anyone crafting their first novel. Furthermore, the revision & editing sections are welcome reminders for more seasoned scribes. Especially for aspiring writers who haven’t completed a full manuscript and/or employed other sets of eyes into their writing process, Donovan’s accessible, conversational tone offers an ideal model of what it’s like to work with a supportive yet assertive editor who best helps them hone their vision. Throughout the book, Donovan layers nurturing insight and encouragement regarding the psychology of the writing. Valuable takeaway: if one wants to be a serious/resilient/prolific writer, learning to embrace the psychological ups and downs of the process is vital.

[Cheryl Alsippi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d Choose 10 Stars if I could!
Bryn Donovan has done an amazing job with this instructional book on how to plot, write and edit a novel—guiding us from Blank Page to Final Draft. It is very thorough with exceptional pacing. She leads us through a “doable” step-by-step plan to complete a novel in one year or less. Her instructions are clear, concise and there are plenty of examples and formulas to help along the way (which I love). I highly recommend this guide book for new as well as seasoned writers.

[Erin McKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most helpful books I have come across in my journey to become a published author. This step by step look at the writing process helps you cut through the weeds and get down to business. While there is no one way that will work for everyone, the method Bryn lays out in this novel is an amazing start that has been a huge help to me as I explore my own writing.

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[K.C. Riley-Gyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting started

This is another excellent resource on writing a book for start to finish. I’m only part way through this but felt the need to leave a review now.

I was originally given a copy to read in exchange for a review. I’ve since bought a copy to add to my collection or resources in novel writing. I’m pleased with what I’ve read so far.

Buy this. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or already have books published; you will always find something that will help you.

[Jean Dunstan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent information for any author, especially for someone wanting to learn how to write a book. The step by step instructions on how to write a book are invaluable. As a new author, I wish I had this informative book to refer to when I began my writing adventure. I will refer back to it on a regular basis. It's great!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't write a novel without reading this first! Even as someone who often bristles at prescriptive plans, I loved this and will be consulting it frequently. This book is exceptionally helpful and practical, especially on editing, which is Mrs. Donovan's profession.

[Patricia Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for writers!
If you want to write a book, Bryn will get you there. She's smart, and a savvy teacher. These three books together are a STEAL at this price. And they're an absolute must in any writer's arsenal.

[Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her early chapters on plotting were useful, but, for me, most of the rest of the book was pretty skimable.

[David Briscoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What A Great Read

From the moment I opened this book I knew I was in for something different. I have read many books on the writing craft and tried many ways to plot and write novels. This is up there with the best of them.

This informative and, at times, humorous book gave me a new insight into the inner workings of plotting and planning a novel. I can't wait to get to work on putting the advice Bryn Donovan gives to good use. What a great read. :o)