by Kris
For those of you who planned to jumpstart your writing this January, but who now find yourself stuck, I have a book to recommend: The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists: Insider Secrets from Top Writers by Andrew McAleer.
Though The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists is bound between covers — and therefore qualifies as a book, as I indicated — the term, "book," doesn’t do it justice. In 101, McAleer has assembled advice on a variety of topics appealing to novelists of every stripe — in all genres, at all levels. It better resembles a printed writers’ conference, and one with quite an illustrious faculty.
To name just a small part of that “faculty,” 101 offers advice from…Elmore Leonard, Gregory McDonald, Lawrence Block, Rhys Bowen and Mary Higgins Clark — bestselling crime writers…James M. Cain and Bill Pronzini — MWA Grand Masters…Suzanne Brockman, Rebecca Brandewyne and Joan Johnston — NYT bestselling Romance authors…R.A. Salvatore — bestselling fantasy author…William Link — successful TV producer of Murder, She Wrote…and many others. Apologies to all the memorable names in the writing world that I have left out. Also included in that list of contributors are Sister Femme, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and me. I can’t speak for Hank, but I’m honored to be included in this group, and especially to find my name is listed on the cover.
Boston lawyer and coauthor of the bestselling Mystery Writing in a Nutshell, 101 author, Andrew McAleer is also the author of novels Double Endorsement and Bait and Switch, and editor of Austin Layman’s Crimestalker Casebook magazine. He knows what writers need.
So, if you’re having trouble finding inspiration, perhaps thoughtful responses from Jill Barnett, Kit Ehrman, S.J. Rozan or Bruce Balfour will show you the way.
Or maybe you have trouble finding time to write, or even a place to write — Robert Goldsborough and Hank Phillippi Ryan have tips for you there.
Perhaps tasks like creating characters, writing dialog, or the necessity of building in sufficient conflict have you stumped — you’ll find excellent advice in 101 for dealing with all of those topics.
Some chapters offer strategies for developing the habit of writing regularly, setting reasonable goals, and meeting deadlines, while others deal with editing and the business of publication, including creating pitches and self-promotion ideas.
Whatever your challenges, you’ll find thought-provoking answers here from those who’ve met and overcome those same challenges. So take a tip from those whodunit, and ignite your writing with The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Novelists by Andrew McAleer.
Hey--you are so right! (As usual..) Andrew's book is a gem.
It's destined to be one of those keep-it-by-your-desk references, to be dipped into all the way along the writing process.
And yup, I was thrilled and delighted to be included. And honored.
As for the book, it's like having a group of your best pals--and a group of your favorite authors--sitting with you and happy to chat about whatever you want.
In fact, I'm in the "oh my gosh I finished book four but I'll never be able to think of another plot" mode. Kris, now I'll just check to see what you and the gang have to say about that.
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | January 25, 2009 at 09:26 AM
Oh boy, this sounds great, Kris. I hadn't heard about it yet. So glad you mentioned it. Part of my New Year's organizing has been to bring out writing reference books to a shelf by my desk. This sounds like a good contender to keep handy too!
Posted by: Mary | January 27, 2009 at 04:36 AM
Hank, I'm sure you found great advice in 101, but if I can add another comment...I think that "oh my gosh I finished book four but I'll never be able to think of another plot" mode just means you gave your all to this book, and that'll make it great.
Mary, I like to keep my reference and writing books close to my desk and computer, too. You're never working alone when you have good inspiration close at hand.
Posted by: krisneri | January 28, 2009 at 04:24 PM