The Purpose of This Site
Write a Novel is a form of open courseware: Learning materials placed online for free use by anyone who wishes to do so. At this point, it is an experiment; if it succeeds, Capilano College may create...
View Article1. Hard Facts for First Novelists
You might as well know them before you start. Download 1. Hard Facts for First Novelists.pdf
View Article2. Effective Writing Habits
If you wait for inspiration, you may wait a very long time. Download 2.Habits.pdf
View Article3. Elements of a Successful Story
A story has more elements than beginning, middle and end. Download 3.StoryElements.pdf
View Article4. Storyboarding
This is a quick, effective way to rough out the sequence of events in your story. Download 4.Storyboarding.pdf
View Article5. Style Checklist for Novelists
The less work you give your editor, the happier she will be. Download 5.StyleChecklist.pdf
View Article6. The Story Synopsis
Here's how to write a summary of your story before you've completed it. Download 6.StorySynopsis.pdf
View Article7. Ten Points on Plotting
Always keep your characters in trouble. Download 7.Plotting.pdf
View Article9. Scene Construction
The basic unit of fiction is the scene. Here's what you need to know. Download 9.SceneConstruction.pdf
View Article10. Notes on Genre
"Well, it's not really an original idea," said my editor after I'd pitched him on a new novel. "Would you buy it if it were completely original?" I asked. "Probably not." He eventually bought my idea....
View Article11. Notes on Character
How to make the people in your stories come to life. Download 11.Characterization.pdf
View Article12. Manuscript Format
If the publisher's website specifies something different, follow those specifications. Otherwise, this shows you how to create a manuscript that your editor can work with. Download 12.MSFormat.pdf
View Article13. "Let's Talk About Dialogue," He Pontificated
Putting the right words in your characters' mouths. Download 13.Dialogue.pdf
View Article14. Show or Tell
When the late Judy-Lynn Del Rey rejected one of my early novels, she wrote: "He's telling, not showing." That made me get serious as a writer. Download 14.Show&Tell.pdf
View Article15. Symbolism
You may be saying more than you realize. Here's how to know what you're talking about. Download 15. Symbolism.pdf
View Article16. Researching Publishers and Agents
Sometimes this is the toughest part of the writing business. Download 16.Publishers&Agents.pdf
View Article17. Writing a Query Letter
The query is a genre of its own, well worth mastering. Download 17.QueryLetter.pdf
View Article18. Reading a Contract
Understanding what's in the fine print. Download 18.Contract.pdf
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