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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 more such guides, along the lines pioneered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The guide contains 18 items, PDF documents that give you some basic information on topics related to writing fiction in general and novels in particular. Each item includes one or more assignments based on the material you've read.

These are the terms of use:

1. You are welcome to link to this site, and to download and print out the materials for your use.

2. You may use this site as a resource for a course in writing fiction.

3. If you pass along any of the materials, you should cite their source: Write a Novel, a resource created by Crawford Kilian, Communications Instructor at Capilano College in North Vancouver BC.

4. You are free to submit comments to any of the items posted. I will remove any that are irrelevant or abusive.

5. I cannot respond to requests that I read or evaluate your work. This is a guide for "self-propelled" students, and the resources must serve as you find them.

As a lifelong writer, I wish you every success in any form of writing you pursue.

1. Hard Facts for First Novelists

You might as well know them before you start.

Download 1. Hard Facts for First Novelists.pdf

2. Effective Writing Habits

If you wait for inspiration, you may wait a very long time.
Download 2.Habits.pdf

3. Elements of a Successful Story

A story has more elements than beginning, middle and end.
Download 3.StoryElements.pdf

4. Storyboarding

This is a quick, effective way to rough out the sequence of events in your story.
Download 4.Storyboarding.pdf

5. Style Checklist for Novelists

The less work you give your editor, the happier she will be.
Download 5.StyleChecklist.pdf

6. The Story Synopsis

Here's how to write a summary of your story before you've completed it.
Download 6.StorySynopsis.pdf

7. Ten Points on Plotting

Always keep your characters in trouble.
Download 7.Plotting.pdf

8. Narrative Voice

Who's telling your story?
Download 8.NarrativeVoice.pdf

9. Scene Construction

The basic unit of fiction is the scene. Here's what you need to know.
Download 9.SceneConstruction.pdf

10. 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.

Here's why genre matters.
Download 10.Genre.pdf

11. Notes on Character

How to make the people in your stories come to life.
Download 11.Characterization.pdf

12. 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

13. "Let's Talk About Dialogue," He Pontificated

Putting the right words in your characters' mouths.
Download 13.Dialogue.pdf

14. 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

15. Symbolism

You may be saying more than you realize. Here's how to know what you're talking about.
Download 15. Symbolism.pdf

16. Researching Publishers and Agents

Sometimes this is the toughest part of the writing business.
Download 16.Publishers&Agents.pdf

17. Writing a Query Letter

The query is a genre of its own, well worth mastering.
Download 17.QueryLetter.pdf

18. Reading a Contract

Understanding what's in the fine print.
Download 18.Contract.pdf

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