Nessa D

Hey y’all!

If you are like me and you want to write a book, man do I have a book for you! As you may or may not know, I’m a self-published author. My book is a non-fiction book and a memoir/personal development book (if you want to check it out, click here) but I really want to write a novel! I have three book babies in my head now and I’m currently working on one of them.

I’ve taken courses on Skillshare for writing and they have been helpful so far but my problem is that I have lots of ideas in my head and I’m not the type of person who just sits down and write from the beginning. I’m scatterbrained so I’m all over the place. This book just made so much sense for me. I found it because Hayley from Page of Hayley over on YouTube did a video on writing and suggested it because she said it helped her with her writing.

If you want to write a novel, keep reading because this will bless you!

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Synopsis

What’s the best way to write a “next level” novel? Some writers start at the beginning and let the story unfold without a plan. They are called “pantsers,” because they write by the “seat of the pants.” Other writers plan and outline and know the ending before they start. These are the “plotters.” The two sides never seem to agree with each other on the best approach. But what if it’s not the beginning or the end that is the key to a successful book? What if, amazing as it may seem, the place to begin writing your novel is in the very middle of the story? According to #1 bestselling writing teacher James Scott Bell, that’s exactly where you’ll find your story’s heart and heat. Bell’s “Mirror Moment” is the secret, and its power is available to any writer, at any stage of the writing process. Bringing together years of craft study and personal discovery, Bell presents a truly unique approach to writing a novel, one that will stand the test of time and serve you all your writing life.

Review

Pretty solid. I can tell this is a book I will return to again and again during my writing process. It was easy to understand. There’s a Lot of wisdom in this little nugget of a book. There were lots of takeways that I found so I’ll share about six and you can read the rest when you buy this book. Trust when I say, this book is worth it! The author also included examples of each of the principles he talked about through either movies or other novels so that the reader can “see” it in action.

If you incorporate these elements in your novel, the author promises that you’ll have a page turner!

• There are three kinds of death in a novel: physical, professional, and psychological. Physical death is when a character actually dies. Professional death is when something is on the line that will make or break the Lead in the area of his/her life’s work. Psychological death is when your Lead dies on the inside.
• The beginning of a novel tells us who the main characters are and the situation at hand (the story world). It sets the tone and the stakes.
• At the midpoint (mirror moment), the character looks at himself, takes stock of where he/she is in the conflict and has either of two basic thoughts: the character looks at himself and considers the odds against him OR she looks at herself and wonders what kind of person she is.
• There are three points of the Golden Triangle that all novels need: the mirror moment, the pre-story psychology, and the transformation.
• Transformation has to be visual. It has to be a moment we can see if it were on screen. The change needs to be proven.
• For the pre-story psychology, ask yourself some the following questions about your Lead: where did he grow up? What forces shaped her personality? What is his personality like? What was her family life like? What was a major shaping event at the age of 16?

I gave this book 4/5 stars! I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to write a novel!

Title: Write Your Novel From the Middle

Author: James Scott Bell

Publication Date: March 15, 2014

Genre: Non-Fiction, Writing

Buy it here: Bookshop.org

What writing tool do you enjoy using? What writer’s guide did you find helpful?

XOXO,

Nessa D.