A Novel Idea: "Learn" How to Write a Novel in Under 60 Minutes

By Eddie Jones

Do you dream of writing a novel? If so, start your story today. This quick study guide helps you learn the basic elements of novel writing so you can make real progress right now!

A Novel Idea includes instructional materials, notes, and handouts from workshops taught by the a

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dry Bones Publishing
• Release date: Jan 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781645260196

Eddie Jones

Eddie is an award-winning author of middle-grade fiction with HarperCollins. Father of two boys, he's also a pirate at heart who loves to surf."The Caribbean Chronicles" is a humorous time-travel pirate fantasy adventure series. The third book, "The End of Calico Jack," won first place in the Selah awards for Young Adult literature. Book four, "No Good Stede Goes Unpunished" is a finalist for the Selah awards for Young Adult literature.Eddie's middle grade "Monster Mystery" series is wholesome, humorous reading with a flair for unexpected adventure. The series has a spooky but spiritual message based on real "monsters" (sort of) found in Scripture. Hints at werewolves, ghosts, mediums, vampires, walking dead, mummies, demons, witches, and phantoms are all mentioned in the Bible. But are they real? Nick Caden doesn't think so. In each episode he sets out to prove who the real killer is. The fourth book in the series, "Rumor of a Werewolf", took third place in the Selah awards for Middle Grade fiction. "Phantom Gunslinger" is a finalist in the Selah awards for Middle Grade fiction. Each book has OFFICIAL CRIMINAL REPORT QUESTIONS so readers can easily complete a book report.All of Eddie's YA and Middle Grade books are available as audiobooks. Eddie calls his novels, "fun, fast reads for boys who don't like to read."An avid sailor with a great sense of humor, Eddie has been married to a girl he met at a stoplight in West Palm Beach during spring break for... "too many years," Eddie's wife says."Not enough," says Eddie. By the way, the beer in Eddie's cartoon illustration is ginger beer, a seasick sailor's best friend.From 2009 to 2019 Eddie served as CEO of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. He now writes full time and mentors authors.Awards for Middle Grade and YA novels* Winner of the Selah award for tween / teen mysteries* INSPY Award* Moonbeam Children's Book AwardReaders Are Leaders - Buy a Boy a Book![e-mail]/EddieJonesTweetFacebook.com/EddieJonesHumorInstagram.com/authoreddiejones

Book preview

Chapter 1

WHAT IS PLOT?

Plot is the answer to the question, So…what happens in the story? History is a series of events presented in chronological order. Your life is the history of one human. A story is a carefully crafted telling of events.

You do not have a story until something goes wrong.

~ STEVEN JAMES

When a reader selects your book they ask, What’s it about? The premise of your story should offer conflict, a clearly defined hero, intriguing bad guy, and a quest of a primeval goal. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggest there are three primary human needs.

Safety: Security reflects your main character’s need to protect his/her environment, health, or financial well-being.

Love: Affection is your Lead’s need for friendship, intimacy, and family.

Esteem: A sense of self-worth reflects your Hero’s primal need to be respected. Esteem presents our desire to be accepted and valued by others.

Paramount among these needs is our desire for survival, food, sex, the protection and sanctuary of loved ones, and our own fear of death.

Plot, and thus a great story, is a series of cleverly arranged events, the purpose of which is to tap into these primal needs and invoke an emotional response from the reader: Joy, hope, sorrow, laughter, fear, or anger. Your goal is to touch the soul of the reader.

The promise of the premise is encapsulated in the question, What’s it about? This is the essence of your story and your plot pitch. As you consider your story’s premise, seek a single adjective that describes your Hero, an adjective for your bad guy, and a compelling goal to which the readers can relate. Your story’s premise statement–summarized in your book’s tagline and back-cover copy–hints at your Lead’s journey. Who is he/she? Who is she fighting? What does he want and what are the

Reviews for A Novel Idea

[staticblaq-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This innocuous $1 book will likely prove more valuable to me than 3 years of University education in Creative Writing.

The key to this guide is all in the title: "Story Structure Tips". It's not attempting to be an all encompassing bible. There are no grand revelations here; just succinct and well structured practical advice. If only my lecturers had actually covered this stuff instead of sucking the will to live out of me droning on about something naff. This guide won't be for everyone - for those that are well across this basic information, I live in envy!

I maintain aspirations of writing and have several notebooks filled with scrawled ideas and sticky-notes of scene descriptions. I tried to do the good thing and sit down each day to write for a set period no matter what. Yet every day, my writing one day had nothing to do with my writing the day before. The vague scribbles and daydreams that so excited me never coalesced into something more substantial. In those moments when the creativity wasn't flowing, I really needed to take the kind of considered logical approach covered in this guide to help trigger the next wave of on-topic creativity to push those ideas forward.

I thoroughly recommend any aspiring writer, particularly if you find yourself struggling like me to put something substantial together, to grab a copy. I can see it being a handy go to reference for me in the future.

Some may consider this guide too simplistic and cookie cutter. Don't fret. Learn the rules first, then break them.

Good writing to you all.