Official Review: Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist
Posted: 18 Dec 2015, 10:34
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist" by Laura Roberts.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist: How to Write an Entire Book in Just 72 Hours is a nonfiction book written by Laura Roberts. When Laura decided to participate in the 3–Day Novel Contest, an annual event that originally began in Vancouver, she didn’t believe that it is possible to write a complete novel in just three days. Surprisingly, she succeeded and now she’s sharing her secrets with other aspiring writers who are wondering, just like me, how is it possible to write a novel in three days.
Right from the start, Roberts shares with us how she got into the impossible task of writing a novel in 72 hours, what motivated her to do it and why this approach was more suitable for her than the others, like the NaNoWriMo challenge. The book is divided into chapters and author successfully integrates her reflections on writing and various lifestyle tips. In the chapters about the writing (like “Finding An Idea”, “Casting Characters”, “Better Plots: Engaging the Hero’s Quest” etc.), Roberts analyzes the process of pursuing inspiration, shares how to cast characters and how to successfully outline the novel. She concludes with an advice on what makes a conflict resolution and how to properly end a novel.
In the second segment of the book, Roberts delivers her tips on other aspects of writer’s life. We learn more about proper time management, the benefits of having a reward system and how to find a distraction–free workspace. Roberts even points out the importance of finding a moral support while doing the challenge, and she never hides the fact of how stressful, yet relieving, the writing process will be.
The chapters are fittingly divided into subsections and the book is well organized. Whether Roberts is writing about the process of writing or the lifestyle of a writer, she covers every relevant topic with a language that is informal, easy to follow, and often with humorous examples. When she suggests approaches for you to try, she also brings out the good as well as the bad sides of them, while being fully aware that different paths may be more suitable for different types of writers.
This book is especially dedicated to writers and it is completely oriented on the goal of completing a single novel in 3 days. It is not a book for somebody who wishes to learn how to write because it is assumed that you already have an idea about that and now you are only interested in how to bring yourself to complete a novel in an incredibly short period. The author gives relevant examples with useful advice, while supporting everything with her practical knowledge and first–hand experience. She provides sufficient guidelines and doesn’t waste time on anything that isn’t crucial for this challenge.
Once I saw Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist, I was immediately intrigued and wondered if I could complete this kind of a challenge. In the end, I really liked the book and I loved the fact that it was written in extremely comprehensible manner. Roberts did not only cover the most important writing tips, considering the challenge, but she also shared her insights on how to organize your personal life while writing your novel. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was thorough enough and seemed to cover everything that needed to be covered. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who is determined to be more serious about their writing and get those unfinished novels done.
******
Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
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4 out of 4 stars
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Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist: How to Write an Entire Book in Just 72 Hours is a nonfiction book written by Laura Roberts. When Laura decided to participate in the 3–Day Novel Contest, an annual event that originally began in Vancouver, she didn’t believe that it is possible to write a complete novel in just three days. Surprisingly, she succeeded and now she’s sharing her secrets with other aspiring writers who are wondering, just like me, how is it possible to write a novel in three days.
Right from the start, Roberts shares with us how she got into the impossible task of writing a novel in 72 hours, what motivated her to do it and why this approach was more suitable for her than the others, like the NaNoWriMo challenge. The book is divided into chapters and author successfully integrates her reflections on writing and various lifestyle tips. In the chapters about the writing (like “Finding An Idea”, “Casting Characters”, “Better Plots: Engaging the Hero’s Quest” etc.), Roberts analyzes the process of pursuing inspiration, shares how to cast characters and how to successfully outline the novel. She concludes with an advice on what makes a conflict resolution and how to properly end a novel.
In the second segment of the book, Roberts delivers her tips on other aspects of writer’s life. We learn more about proper time management, the benefits of having a reward system and how to find a distraction–free workspace. Roberts even points out the importance of finding a moral support while doing the challenge, and she never hides the fact of how stressful, yet relieving, the writing process will be.
The chapters are fittingly divided into subsections and the book is well organized. Whether Roberts is writing about the process of writing or the lifestyle of a writer, she covers every relevant topic with a language that is informal, easy to follow, and often with humorous examples. When she suggests approaches for you to try, she also brings out the good as well as the bad sides of them, while being fully aware that different paths may be more suitable for different types of writers.
This book is especially dedicated to writers and it is completely oriented on the goal of completing a single novel in 3 days. It is not a book for somebody who wishes to learn how to write because it is assumed that you already have an idea about that and now you are only interested in how to bring yourself to complete a novel in an incredibly short period. The author gives relevant examples with useful advice, while supporting everything with her practical knowledge and first–hand experience. She provides sufficient guidelines and doesn’t waste time on anything that isn’t crucial for this challenge.
Once I saw Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist, I was immediately intrigued and wondered if I could complete this kind of a challenge. In the end, I really liked the book and I loved the fact that it was written in extremely comprehensible manner. Roberts did not only cover the most important writing tips, considering the challenge, but she also shared her insights on how to organize your personal life while writing your novel. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was thorough enough and seemed to cover everything that needed to be covered. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who is determined to be more serious about their writing and get those unfinished novels done.
******
Confessions of a 3-Day Novelist
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
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