News!

Read an excerpt (titled "Your Novel Blueprint: Turn Your Dream Novel into a Reality by Taking Some Tips from the Worksite") from FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL {A Writer's Guide to Cohesive Story Building} in the February 2009 issue of Writer's Digest Magazine. Get back issues of the magazine here: http://www.writersdigest.com/contactus.

Karen talks about what it takes to become a prolific author, how to build a strong author/editor relationship, and much more. Read the interview here: http://www.writersdigest.com/article/first-draft-interview.

Read an article called "Authors Exemplify Good Blogger Relations", dealing with effective marketing and featuring Karen here: http://allbookmarketing.com/2009/02/17/online-book-promotion/authors-exemplify-good-blogger-relations/.

Read an article called "Online Pre-Launch Book Promotion Tools Right From Your Book", dealing with the tools Karen used for online book promotion during the pre-launch phase of FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL, here : http://allbookmarketing.com/2008/07/21/online-book-promotion/online-pre-launch-book-promotion-tools-right-from-your-book/.

Read Karen's blog post on the novel outline process contained in her book FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS and an article called "Karen Wiesner on the Novel Outline Process" about this here: http://allbookmarketing.com/2008/07/01/writing-books/karen-weisner-on-the-novel-outline-process/.

Karen is teaching three online workshops during the Summer of 2009 based on FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL! Find out when and where here: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/appear.html.

FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL
{A Writer’s Guide to Cohesive Story Building}

by Karen S. Wiesner
Available now
from Writer's Digest Books
978-1-58297-551-1 (trade paperback), $19.99

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Read an excerpt from this book here: http://www.writersdigest.com/article/first-draft-excerpt

More information about this book can be found here: http://www.writersdigest.com/article/first-draft-finish-novel

From the author of First Draft in 30 Days.
Features detailed examples from published novels to illustrate story-building principles.
Includes worksheets and checklists that touch on everything from character development to plot conflicts to editing and polishing.

Build a fully developed, multi-layered story from the ground up! Writing a story is not that much different than building a house. Both require some brainstorming (to provide a clear vision), a blueprint or outline (to lay a solid foundation upon which that vision can be built), building or drafting (to make the vision a reality), and decorating or revising (to polish the masterpiece and make it presentable to the public).

In FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL, successful novelist Karen S. Wiesner carefully explores each of these stages, showing you how to:

• Create a quick outline to help organize and expand your original idea
  

• Develop a detailed Story Plan Checklist to solidify your story’s details
  

• Combine and effectively use tools like your outline and story checklist to weave together a cohesive draft
  

• Put together a strong query letter and submission package

This book also features exclusive worksheets, checklists, and detailed examples designed to help you:

• Improve your outlining techniques through the use of character, plot, and setting sketches
  

• Write a strong Story Plan Checklist that ensures your characters evolve and your plot progresses
  

• Develop your editing skills using revision and “punch” checklists

Whether you’re working on a new story or a project in development, FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL is your blueprint to a story readers won’t be able to resist.

FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL {A Writer’s Guide to Cohesive Story Building}
Table of Contents

Introduction: Principles of Building a Cohesive Story

• The Essential Process of Layering

• Layering to Gain Cohesion

• How to Use This Book

• Getting Started

Layer I: Planning for and Laying a Foundation

• Stage 1: Brainstorming

• Stage 2: Researching

• Stage 3: Story Blueprinting

• Stage 4: Setting the Story Blueprint Aside

Layer II, Part A: Building on the Foundation

• Stage 1: Building a Cohesive Story With a Story Plan Checklist

• Stage 2: Evaluating the Blueprint

Layer II, Part B: Strengthening the Foundation

• Stage 3: Writing the First Draft

• Stage 4: Creating a Punch List

Layer III: Decorating

• Stage 1: Revising

• Stage 2: Involving Critique Partners

• Stage 3: Setting the Final Draft Aside

• Stage 4: Final Editing and Polishing

Layer IV: Preparing a Proposal

• The Query Letter

• The Synopsis

• The Partial

• Putting the Proposal Together

Epilogue: The Cohesive Story

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms

Appendix B: Story Plan Checklist Exercises

Appendix C: Editing and Polishing Exercises

Appendix D: Story Plan Checklist Examples

• Example 1: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson

• Example 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling

• Example 3: Scared to Death, by Debby Giusti

• Example 4: The Friday Night Knitting Club, by Kate Jacobs

Appendix E: Outlining Worksheets

• Worksheet 1: Character Sketch

• Worksheet 2: General Setting Sketch

• Worksheet 3: Character Setting Sketch

• Worksheet 4: Plot Sketch

• Worksheet 5: Formatted Outline Capsule

• View or download the five outlining worksheets from Appendix E

Appendix F: Story Checklists

• Checklist 1: Story Plan Checklist

• Checklist 2: Cohesion Checklist

• Checklist 3: Punch Checklist

• Checklist 4: Revision Checklist

• Checklist 5: Editing and Polishing Checklist

• View or download the five checklist worksheets from Appendix F

Appendix G: Sample Submission Elements

• Sample 1: The Query Letter

• Sample 2: The Synopsis

• Sample 3: The Partial

Index

FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL {A Writer’s Guide to Cohesive Story Building}
Reviews

“Have you ever wished for a blueprint for your novel—one that would ensure that your story was strong, your characters interesting and your pace perfect? Karen Wiesner, author of 56 books, which have won a total of 68 awards, has created the book you’ve been waiting for. She likens the process of building a story to that of building a house. First there’s the idea, then you have to lay the foundation. Next comes the actual building of the house (or writing of the story) and the decorating (revising). And she offers detailed chapters reflecting this theme throughout. She starts with the Principles of Building a Cohesive Story, goes into brainstorming and researching as well as revising and how to utilize critique partners. I especially like her Story Plan Checklist Exercises. And she uses some familiar books to show you how it’s done.

“Do you like workbook pages and exercises? Then you’ll enjoy working your way through this book. Read Wiesner’s wise words, follow her instructions and you may complete a more cohesive, entertaining story, and in record time.

“In her book, Wiesner also teaches you a lot about self-editing—something that all writers and authors should understand. I love her examples, most of them taken from published books. One thing she suggests is that you write effectively enough that the reader has the same reaction as the POV character. She gives this example:

“Here’s another version of that sentence:

“She says that she believes both work well, but in the first version, the word “felt” separates the reader from the character. Can you see and feel the difference?

"This book is full of this sort of assistance and enlightenment. If you are struggling through the writing of a novel, if your critique group tells you that your characters need depth or your scenes could use more pizzazz, take a look at Wiesner’s book.

“And I am happy to report that she has devised a complete and meaningful subject index. This is a book that you can read from cover to cover, but keep it nearby because you’ll want to reference it often throughout the process of writing your novel.” ~Patricia Fry, President of SPAWN and author of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell your Book http://www.spawn.org/books/books_write_drafttofinishednovel.htm

"From that first idea to the finished product, Karen Wiesner helps writers write the novel they’ve always wanted to write. Wiesner believes writing a novel is much like building a house and uses the analogy to help the reader visualize the process.Wiesner delves into the workings of writing the novel and also helps with the necessary and often dreaded query letter, synopsis, cover letter and partial manuscript to be sent to the agent or editor. From First Draft to Finished Novel is a wonderful addition to the writer’s reference library. Wiesner makes things as easy as possible for the reader. She includes a glossary of terms, story plan checklist exercises, editing and polishing exercises and various worksheets. Her writing is concise and easily understood, even for the novice writer. The book is laid out in a readable manner and includes information and directions to help move along the writing process. Not everyone will use everything Wiesner puts forth, but that’s not the idea. The information is offered and can be used if it’s wanted or needed. Armchair Interviews says: Want to write a novel? From First Draft to Finished Novel would be a good reference source in helping you with that dream." ~Andrea Sisco for Armchair Interviews http://reviews.armchairinterviews.com/reviews/from-first-draft-to-finished-novel-a-writer-s-gui

"Although this writing manual is a companion book to FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS, one can work with it independently of the earlier book. FROM FIRST DRAFT... begins with a lucid summary of the method in FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS so that a writer can adopt that method and go on to integrate it with the techniques recommended in the new book. Using the metaphor of building a house from a blueprint and a solid foundation, Wiesner lays out a step-by-step plan for developing a polished novel from the "formatted outline" produced by the FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS method. She gives an abundance of examples from published novels so that the reader has no trouble grasping exactly what she means by each of her recommendations. This book introduces two very helpful concepts new to me, "story sparks" and the "punch list." It also includes a large quantity of useful checklists and worksheets. For writers like me, to whom outlining and pre-planning come naturally, FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL will definitely be of great value. Many of its suggestions are bound to benefit "pantsers," too, however. If you already have FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS, be sure to add this "sequel" to your collection. If not, consider buying it anyway; the new book, as I mentioned, can stand on its own." ~author Margaret L. Carter http://www.margaretlcarter.com

Read Karen's full bio here.

Karen is an accomplished author with 68 titles published in the past 11 years, which have been nominated/won 92 awards, and 9 more contracted for spanning many categories and formats. Named a "leading romance writer" in The Writer Magazine, Karen's novels include suspense, paranormal, contemporary, inspirational, horror, thriller, futuristic, gothic, romance, and mainstream women's titles. Her fiction releases have won or been nominated for Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice Award, the Dream Realm Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, eCataromance Reviewer's Choice Award, The Romance Studio's CAPA Award and Sweetheart Award, FTHRW's The Lories Award, the Frankfurt Award, many L-Edit Slip contest awards, and multiple EPPIE Awards. Find out more about Karen's fiction here. Karen's award-winning Incognito Series (action/adventure romantic suspenses) is published by Whiskey Creek Press.

Karen is also the multi-award-winning author of writing reference, poetry, and children's books. Karen's first writing reference with Writer's Digest Books, FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS, is available wherever writing reference titles are sold. It was a Writer's Digest Book Club Main Selection in March 2005. For more information, visit the FIRST DRAFT website at http://www.firstdraftin30days.com. THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS is also available now from Twilight Times Books, detailing how to set up a promotional group (like her own, Jewels of the Quill).

Karen's complete book list can be found here: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/jewelsbooklists11.html.

Interested in what Karen is working on? Click here for Karen's WIP, along with information on new and/or unsold projects!

Find out more about Karen by visiting her websites at http://www.karenwiesner.com and http://www.JewelsoftheQuill.com. If you would like to receive Karen's free e-mail newsletter, Karen's Quill, and become eligible for her monthly book giveaways, type your e-mail address in the subscription box below:

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