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Writing a Novel: Bring Your Ideas To Life The Faber Academy Way Paperback – August 21, 2018

by Richard Skinner (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 79 ratings
See all formats and editions
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Writing A Novel is not a set of rules and regulations. It is an atlas, a guide to finding your own way over the treacherous passes of your first novel.

Pulling together his years of experience as a novelist and a teacher, Richard Skinner covers the basics of writing great fiction – narrators, characters, settings – with charm and rigour. But more than that, he argues that the journey towards a final manuscript is as important as the finished article itself.

His approach works: many of Richard's students have gone on to secure publishing deals and many more have left his courses with work to be proud of. With its balance of warmth and wisdom, Writing a Novel will give any aspiring writer the confidence to face the blank page – and to fill it.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Faber & Faber
  4. Publication date
    August 21, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0571340466
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0571340460
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Skinner is the Director of the Fiction Programme at Faber Academy. He has taught the Faber Academy’s flagship six-month course ‘Writing A Novel’ since its inception in 2009 and has helped hundred of people to tell their stories, including Baileys Prize–shortlisted Laline Paull and international bestseller S. J. Watson. Richard is also a talented novelist in his own right: his most recent book, The Mirror, was described as “beautifully written… immersive… captivating” by the Guardian.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Faber & Faber (August 21, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0571340466
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0571340460
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 79 ratings

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Richard Skinner

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
79 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

cxa
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for Aspiring Novelists
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
If you’re serious about finishing that novel, then get this book. From character development, to plot,you will get all the tools, and the motivation to write a killer novel.
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D. Steele
3.0 out of 5 stars Decent advice but It needs a better delivery
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
I want to give this book a better review, I just can't. I bought this on pre-order and had high expectations. I've since read some glowing reviews, but I'm stymied. This thing is full of anecdotes that aren't contemporary by ANY stretch of the imagination and it. is. dry. Really dry. That's not to say Skinner is wrong or it is bad advice, but rather, this is not an easy read. When I picked it up, it was a real start/stop situation. In short, the advice is relatively good but the delivery mechanism is sorely lacking.
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Daphne Cybele
5.0 out of 5 stars As inspiring as it is useful
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019
I found this book as inspiring as it is useful... solid advice on how to get started and how to continue on through and plenty of inspiration here as well, on the why of writing as well as how-to. Highly recommend. Read from cover to cover and will re-read and have put to good use.
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Top reviews from other countries

moominspongebob
5.0 out of 5 stars An easy-read... but a must-read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2019
Verified Purchase
Considered and comprehensive advice that's going to save a lot of time and heartache. Mr Skinner doesn't promise unrealistic expectations but, instead, offers real world advice to become the best writer you can become. Whether or not it's possible to put it all into practice, or even recall all of his advice, without a lifetime of practice might be a moot point. What isn't, is the fact that everything's in the book. He leaves you to become the best writer you will be.
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Aless
5.0 out of 5 stars Concise but comprehensive guide to writing
Reviewed in Spain on October 5, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book was at first thrown onto my dusty "should read" pile but has quickly become my "read till 1am" book. It explains a lot of rules and concepts of writing in a clear and absorbing way with plenty of examples and quotes. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in writing.
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Mrs C
4.0 out of 5 stars As expected
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2019
Verified Purchase
A gift, came as expected
One person found this helpful
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Anna Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars Really helpful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is a great book. Tackled so many of the conundrums that have arisen for me in the process of writing and editing, picked them apart, offered illustrated guidance. Seeing them well articulated threw up ideas for how to resolve them in many cases. A practical tool, and a good read in and of itself.
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AngelaWheeler
3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful but assumes a lot of literary knowledge
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2018
Verified Purchase
I found this book helpful and practical but it assumes a lot of former knowledge. Most of the chapters refer to examples of writing by other authors. For example, 'In Sylvia Plath's blah blah she says blah blah' to demonstrate the point. But without knowing the books in detail, Skinner doesn't quote enough to demonstrate his teaching point, in my view. If you have not read the books Skinner keeps referring to, you are lost. I consider myself well-read, have taught English, but was unable to access some of Skinner's advice because the reference to other writers and their books is constant. It's a bit like trying to tell someone how to build a combustion engine by referring to a car with a similar engine when you have no idea what an engine looks like, (so you can copy it!) Obviously it wasn't meant like this, but it came over at times like a lecture to a group of undergrads .
Not ideal. Found it hard going at times and skimmed a lot.
21 people found this helpful
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