What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Write a Novel
This intensely practical and funny guide will take you through everything you need to do write a book to be proud of in 2021. You’ll learn to write a novel, children’s book, or narrative non-fiction that will remain true to your artistic vision and be strong enough to sell.
‘Best book on writing I have ever read’ -- Lovely Rita, Amazon reviewer
So: you want to write a book.
That means you’ll need to learn how to find the market you’ll be writing for and how to plan your novel. Know what works and what doesn’t and identify the ‘outstanding’ from the ‘good’ ideas.
You’ll need to know how to plot like the experts: learn about all the plotting methods open to you, and which one suits you and your writing style.
You’ll also want to know who your characters are and why they’re the way they are. You’ll need to know about character arcs and character development , so that you can create dazzling characters that’ll leave your readers captivated.
But none of that will mean anything, if you haven’t developed your prose style . This is what separates ‘people who like to write’ and ‘writers.’ So, you’ll need to learn how to handle technicalities like point of view , tense , omniscience , writing with clarity , and the art of showing-not-telling .
And, because you’re a writer whose just created a world filled with evocative characters and excellent descriptions of place , you’ll also need to know how to edit . Really edit your manuscript so that it’s ready for publication.
Oh, and yes, you’ll need experience . This book is written by someone who knows what he’s talking about. With 20+ years as a published and bestselling author, Harry has helped thousands of writers on their journey to publication (as boss of Jericho Writers).
And look: there are plenty of writing manuals out there, but with this book Harry will be with you from the very first sentence to the last full stop. Offering you actionable advice with real-life examples, all with the aim to help you write a book to be proud of. From one writer to another – good luck.
Table of contents:
Introduction
Part one: Planning
1 What is Your Market?
2 What is Your Plan?
3 What is Your Plot?
4 Who Are Your Characters?
5 What is Your Stage and Where is Your Camera?
6 Who Are You?
7 Some Common Mistakes
Part two: Prose Style
8 Clarity
9 Economy
10 Clichés: A Field Guide
11 Precision
12 Some Technicalities
13 Little Flashes of Genius
14 Tone
Part three: Character
15 Show, Telling, and The Riddle of Character
16 Finding Edge
17 The World of Interiors
18 Faces, Bodies, Mirrors
19 Meetings
20 Empathy
Part four: Placing the Camera
21 First-Person, Third-Person
22 One, Few, or Many
23 Up Close, Far Out, and The Myth of Omniscience
24 Past or Present?
25 The Time Traveller's Reader
26 Madmen, Liars and Rogues
27 Irony
Part five: Story
28 The Classic Plot
29 The Mystery Plot
30 The Literary Plot
31 Perspectives From Film
32 Diagnosing Your Plot Problems
Part six: Scenes and Chapters
33 The Scene
34 The Scene That Isn't
35 The Chapter
Part seven: Towards Perfection
36 Themes
37 Editing Your Manuscript
38 Getting Help
Conclusion
About Jericho Writers
Bingham has been published by the three largest trade publishers in the world, has sold in every major market on the planet, has been on bestseller lists, has been prize long- and short-listed, and has had his work adapted for TV. His work has also received a considerable amount of critical acclaim.
‘Best book on writing I have ever read’ -- Lovely Rita, Amazon reviewer
So: you want to write a book.
That means you’ll need to learn how to find the market you’ll be writing for and how to plan your novel. Know what works and what doesn’t and identify the ‘outstanding’ from the ‘good’ ideas.
You’ll need to know how to plot like the experts: learn about all the plotting methods open to you, and which one suits you and your writing style.
You’ll also want to know who your characters are and why they’re the way they are. You’ll need to know about character arcs and character development , so that you can create dazzling characters that’ll leave your readers captivated.
But none of that will mean anything, if you haven’t developed your prose style . This is what separates ‘people who like to write’ and ‘writers.’ So, you’ll need to learn how to handle technicalities like point of view , tense , omniscience , writing with clarity , and the art of showing-not-telling .
And, because you’re a writer whose just created a world filled with evocative characters and excellent descriptions of place , you’ll also need to know how to edit . Really edit your manuscript so that it’s ready for publication.
Oh, and yes, you’ll need experience . This book is written by someone who knows what he’s talking about. With 20+ years as a published and bestselling author, Harry has helped thousands of writers on their journey to publication (as boss of Jericho Writers).
And look: there are plenty of writing manuals out there, but with this book Harry will be with you from the very first sentence to the last full stop. Offering you actionable advice with real-life examples, all with the aim to help you write a book to be proud of. From one writer to another – good luck.
Table of contents:
Introduction
Part one: Planning
1 What is Your Market?
2 What is Your Plan?
3 What is Your Plot?
4 Who Are Your Characters?
5 What is Your Stage and Where is Your Camera?
6 Who Are You?
7 Some Common Mistakes
Part two: Prose Style
8 Clarity
9 Economy
10 Clichés: A Field Guide
11 Precision
12 Some Technicalities
13 Little Flashes of Genius
14 Tone
Part three: Character
15 Show, Telling, and The Riddle of Character
16 Finding Edge
17 The World of Interiors
18 Faces, Bodies, Mirrors
19 Meetings
20 Empathy
Part four: Placing the Camera
21 First-Person, Third-Person
22 One, Few, or Many
23 Up Close, Far Out, and The Myth of Omniscience
24 Past or Present?
25 The Time Traveller's Reader
26 Madmen, Liars and Rogues
27 Irony
Part five: Story
28 The Classic Plot
29 The Mystery Plot
30 The Literary Plot
31 Perspectives From Film
32 Diagnosing Your Plot Problems
Part six: Scenes and Chapters
33 The Scene
34 The Scene That Isn't
35 The Chapter
Part seven: Towards Perfection
36 Themes
37 Editing Your Manuscript
38 Getting Help
Conclusion
About Jericho Writers
Bingham has been published by the three largest trade publishers in the world, has sold in every major market on the planet, has been on bestseller lists, has been prize long- and short-listed, and has had his work adapted for TV. His work has also received a considerable amount of critical acclaim.
470 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2020
216 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Harry Bingham
47 books697 followersHarry Bingham is best known for his Fiona Griffiths crime series, which has drawn rave reviews from critics, authors and readers alike.
If you've read and enjoyed one of Harry's books, make diddle-darn sure that you've signed up to the Fiona Griffiths Readers Club, by hopping right over here:
http://www.harrybingham.com/lev-in-gl...
You'll get a free, lovely welcome gift - and you'll be the very first to know when Fiona Griffiths is back with a further adventure . . .
If you've read and enjoyed one of Harry's books, make diddle-darn sure that you've signed up to the Fiona Griffiths Readers Club, by hopping right over here:
http://www.harrybingham.com/lev-in-gl...
You'll get a free, lovely welcome gift - and you'll be the very first to know when Fiona Griffiths is back with a further adventure . . .
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 29, 2020
If you are writing a novel then my advice to you is: Get. This. Book. Now.
This practical guide, sprinkled with touches of humour, covers everything you need to know. It looks at the whole picture using a wide-angle lens and then zooms in to take care of the minutiae - the little writing details that will make your novel stand out from the pile.
This resource is something a serious novelist or non-fiction memoirist needs by their side.
I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review.
I'd like to recommend it and I award it five shiny stars.
This practical guide, sprinkled with touches of humour, covers everything you need to know. It looks at the whole picture using a wide-angle lens and then zooms in to take care of the minutiae - the little writing details that will make your novel stand out from the pile.
This resource is something a serious novelist or non-fiction memoirist needs by their side.
I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review.
I'd like to recommend it and I award it five shiny stars.
September 27, 2020
This is a big book. It weighs in - in print-equivalence - at a good 400+ pages. For a book on writing, that's on the excessive side. That said, it covers a lot of ground. Really. Working up from the initial idea of a novel, through the craft of writing, to conveying story through character, handling choices regarding narrative perspective, to story structure in both the greater arc of the novel and within the scene. (Breathe!)
It's also a book designed to be dipped in and out of, a reference guide as much as a straight read-through instruction.
It is, indeed, now probably the top book I would recommend to new authors - and those thinking of becoming authors. It covers pretty much everything one needs to know about writing a novel successfully.
So… why do I strip it of a star? Well, the truth is that I was inclined to strip it of one and a half stars.
Firstly, there is that question of length. It is slow reading. It is heavy reading. I can't say it would be easy to find 20-25% of the book to trim, to make it more streamlined, but it did feel that it was belabouring points just a little more than was needed. Over and over and…
Secondly, as with many books on writing, especially those touching on the emotional resonance elicited from the reader by the author's words, this book sits firmly in the (self-delusional) camp that claims all people react the same way to what they read, that the emotional beats the author sees in a piece of writing are the same anyone else will. But, unlike many books that make this false claim, this book does it with examples. And every one of those examples utterly failed to trigger the supposed "natural" emotional response in me.
Thirdly, in the section on literary writing, the examples given read just like all the others, offering no special flourishes of linguistic prowess. They proved only that the designation of certain works as literary masterpieces is more a social phenomenon relating to herd mentality, to critics not wanting to feel they are out of touch, so jumping on the same bandwagon as those who have gone before them.
These shortcomings, however, are compensated for by the section on scene structure, which presents the logical flow of a scene in a clear form that I have not seen anywhere else. Accompanied by an example with some questionable analysis, the principles it espouses are solid; the book is worth buying and reading for that section alone.
As such, it is primarily the laborious writing in the first half of the book that costs it a star.
Based on an Advanced Review Copy of the book.
It's also a book designed to be dipped in and out of, a reference guide as much as a straight read-through instruction.
It is, indeed, now probably the top book I would recommend to new authors - and those thinking of becoming authors. It covers pretty much everything one needs to know about writing a novel successfully.
So… why do I strip it of a star? Well, the truth is that I was inclined to strip it of one and a half stars.
Firstly, there is that question of length. It is slow reading. It is heavy reading. I can't say it would be easy to find 20-25% of the book to trim, to make it more streamlined, but it did feel that it was belabouring points just a little more than was needed. Over and over and…
Secondly, as with many books on writing, especially those touching on the emotional resonance elicited from the reader by the author's words, this book sits firmly in the (self-delusional) camp that claims all people react the same way to what they read, that the emotional beats the author sees in a piece of writing are the same anyone else will. But, unlike many books that make this false claim, this book does it with examples. And every one of those examples utterly failed to trigger the supposed "natural" emotional response in me.
Thirdly, in the section on literary writing, the examples given read just like all the others, offering no special flourishes of linguistic prowess. They proved only that the designation of certain works as literary masterpieces is more a social phenomenon relating to herd mentality, to critics not wanting to feel they are out of touch, so jumping on the same bandwagon as those who have gone before them.
These shortcomings, however, are compensated for by the section on scene structure, which presents the logical flow of a scene in a clear form that I have not seen anywhere else. Accompanied by an example with some questionable analysis, the principles it espouses are solid; the book is worth buying and reading for that section alone.
As such, it is primarily the laborious writing in the first half of the book that costs it a star.
Based on an Advanced Review Copy of the book.
September 28, 2020
Every writer has an inner critic pacing behind them as they put words to paper. If yours has become a cynical mess muttering profanities in a dark corner, prepare to give them a new voice. They're starving. Feed them. Better yet, put them in a choke-hold and cram this book down their throat until they are whispering its words into your ear as you write.
Harry Bingham tells you what you need to hear. He's that brutally honest best friend that kept you out of that bad relationship. You know the one.
Are you a writer? Well, you better write.
If you want to be a published writer, well, you better plan. But not too much. And be a perfectionist. Being marketable means caring about all of the elements of what it means to get published all at once.
You better care about words and be able to summarize your entire book in about 50 of them. You better know your main characters as well as you know yourself, but if you spend too much time on planning for those secondary characters, perhaps another word for that is procrastination.
When I started reading this book, I expected to find a lot of great tips on how to write and market a novel. A man doesn't run a highly successful community for writers without accruing a plethora of knowledge about writing. I also expected to read an ad for Jericho Writers in long-form. I mean, if a book about writing and selling a novel written by a guy who heads a writing club that helps you market and publish a book doesn't include a few nods toward his own extended services, could you even trust a book like that?
But the book was so much more than that. I found myself laughing throughout, entertained and reminded of the joy that writing can be.
And that's what this whole writing thing should be about. Repeat after me, "Writing is a joy." And if your inner critic has started maniacally repeating that phrase, it might be because of one piece of advice from the book; "If you aren't having fun, get a dog."
Harry Bingham tells you what you need to hear. He's that brutally honest best friend that kept you out of that bad relationship. You know the one.
Are you a writer? Well, you better write.
If you want to be a published writer, well, you better plan. But not too much. And be a perfectionist. Being marketable means caring about all of the elements of what it means to get published all at once.
You better care about words and be able to summarize your entire book in about 50 of them. You better know your main characters as well as you know yourself, but if you spend too much time on planning for those secondary characters, perhaps another word for that is procrastination.
When I started reading this book, I expected to find a lot of great tips on how to write and market a novel. A man doesn't run a highly successful community for writers without accruing a plethora of knowledge about writing. I also expected to read an ad for Jericho Writers in long-form. I mean, if a book about writing and selling a novel written by a guy who heads a writing club that helps you market and publish a book doesn't include a few nods toward his own extended services, could you even trust a book like that?
But the book was so much more than that. I found myself laughing throughout, entertained and reminded of the joy that writing can be.
And that's what this whole writing thing should be about. Repeat after me, "Writing is a joy." And if your inner critic has started maniacally repeating that phrase, it might be because of one piece of advice from the book; "If you aren't having fun, get a dog."
Read
November 9, 2021When you have errors in the synopsis, that is saying a lot about the book right there. Poorly written and in need of serious editing. Also, the advice is the everyday advice all books give on how to write a novel. We need to see something new and original. I would not recommend this book!
May 12, 2021
Lots of words that says basically nothing
It's a lot of talking about writing but this does such a bad job of teaching anything. I would not recommend this to anyone that wishes to learn more about writing.
It's a lot of talking about writing but this does such a bad job of teaching anything. I would not recommend this to anyone that wishes to learn more about writing.
April 22, 2023
This one of the clearest guides to novels and writing for beginners I've read. A hefty book but a lot of empty space at the same time in terms of lay out. It covers a lot of ground and there is a lot of no-nonsense talk that I appreciated. The tone felt very genuine while being a little snippy. That being said, it didn't go in-depth about any one thing and many of the craft tips are pretty basic. I realize, I may need some more specific books in the future for craft, but this one does help help in any gaps in knowledge by being a broad and comprehensive.
The organization and clarity is a breathe of fresh air and I ended up highlighting a number of passages such as: "re-read one time, looking for sentences and paragraphs that can go. Re-read another time looking for surplus words and phrases." Concepts of separating out tasks were helpful to me as well as general Process tips.
And, "The key to maintaining movement is simple. A story is constantly triangulating between the same three landmarks: protagonist, objective, obstacles. You maintain movement and interest in your story is those interrelationships are constantly changing." These sections on structure were really helpful!
Overall, a practical book for writers with some good insights. There is some extensive filler with chapter summaries at the end being the most superfluous in my mind, but overall worth the organized approach to conveying writing principles such as scene structure and revision processes.
The organization and clarity is a breathe of fresh air and I ended up highlighting a number of passages such as: "re-read one time, looking for sentences and paragraphs that can go. Re-read another time looking for surplus words and phrases." Concepts of separating out tasks were helpful to me as well as general Process tips.
And, "The key to maintaining movement is simple. A story is constantly triangulating between the same three landmarks: protagonist, objective, obstacles. You maintain movement and interest in your story is those interrelationships are constantly changing." These sections on structure were really helpful!
Overall, a practical book for writers with some good insights. There is some extensive filler with chapter summaries at the end being the most superfluous in my mind, but overall worth the organized approach to conveying writing principles such as scene structure and revision processes.
September 2, 2023
I got the book because I’m familiar with Jericho Writers’ editorial services, even though I haven’t tried them myself. Being a written by a working writer and editor gave the book some credibility.
The book was fine overall, but two aspects especially didn’t work for me. First, John Updike writes miserable prose, so I thought it was very suspicious for John Updike to have been upheld by the author as a good writer. Second, the section on prose felt very subjective. Many of the examples of excellent prose just didn’t seem that special to me. Not sure if my taste is irredeemably bad or just very different from the author’s haha.
The book was fine overall, but two aspects especially didn’t work for me. First, John Updike writes miserable prose, so I thought it was very suspicious for John Updike to have been upheld by the author as a good writer. Second, the section on prose felt very subjective. Many of the examples of excellent prose just didn’t seem that special to me. Not sure if my taste is irredeemably bad or just very different from the author’s haha.
October 1, 2020
This is a clear and comprehensive guide which will not only help those relatively new to writing but also act as a useful reminder of every aspect of the craft. It contains a host of valuable questions as prompts on the various topics, and links to additional free resources to download. I enjoyed the practical aspects, allowing you inside another author’s brain as he sketches out ideas for a story. An invaluable resource which I’m sure I’ll return to again.
October 9, 2025
Before you write a single word, let alone tackle your manuscript - read this! Harry explains everything that will help (and hinder) an aspiring author's efforts. I liked his tips including not modelling a new novel on old style novels - no "cosy crime" novels. He gives great tips without leaving the reader feeling "talked down to". The book was easy to read on Kindle - I started reading it on a recent holiday. Now to begin planning my story before I start typing. Thank you, Harry.
October 22, 2020
One of the best, clearest and readable books on writing I've ever read. And I've read A LOT!
Whether you're just starting out or in the middle of a WIP, you will find this book very helpful indeed.
Whether you're just starting out or in the middle of a WIP, you will find this book very helpful indeed.
January 7, 2022
If you are starting to write fiction for the first time, its very easy to acquire a library on the topic. But you don't need to. You need one comprehensive text that will provide practical and easy to follow guidance and advice, This is that book. Buy it. Read it. Start Writing.
July 8, 2022
A very good book that gave me many light bulb moments. I would read and then incorporate what I read into my writing and then go back and read some more. It's useful and practical and I definitely recommend it.
June 30, 2021
I read this several months ago as an ARC reviewer.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews