Evan Marshall - The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing

The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 1 Praise forThe Marshall Planfor Novel WritingThe Marshall Plan for Novel Writing is a master plan for aspiring novelists. Evan Marshall is brilliant. Bobbi Smith, New York Times bestselling author A comprehensive manual to writing a novel for all writersfrom the beginner to the more advanced looking for polishing tips. Savvy and concise. Bill Contardi, literary agent Finally, a practical how-to manual for all aspiring authors, written with wit and wisdom. A delightful read! Maureen Walters, vice president, Curtis Brown, Ltd.

An invaluable tool for the aspiring novelist. An upbeat, easy-to-follow guide that takes the mystery out of writing. Alicia Condon, editorial director, Kensington Brava Books The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 2 Evan Marshalls The Marshall Plan for NOVEL WRITINGThe 16-Step BlueprintTo Take You From IdeaTo Completed ManuscriptIn 30 Days or Less.The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 3 The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing. Copyright 1998 by Evan Marshall. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. (973) 882-1122. (973) 882-1122.

The Marshall Plan Novel Writing system is now available as software. For more information, visit http://www.WriteANovelFast.com. The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 4 About the Author Evan Marshall is an internationally recognized expert on fiction writing and author of the Hidden Manhattan and Jane Stuart and Winky mystery series. A former book editor, for 27 years he has been a leading literary agent specializing in fiction. His Marshall Plan Novel Writing Software (with Martha Jewett) is an adaptation of his bestselling The Marshall Plan series. The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 5 Genius only means an infinitecapacity for taking pains. JANE ELLICE HOPKINS, WORK AMONGST WORKING MENThe Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 6 Table of Contents Introduction...... 1 How the Plan Works...... 3 Part 1 PLANNING FOR SUCCESSSTEP 1 Finding the Perfect Novel for You...... 6 STEP 2 Shaping Your Story Idea...... 27 STEP 3 Creating Your Lead...... 36 STEP 4 Defining Your Other Characters...... 45 Part 2 YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO PLOTTINGSTEP 5 Getting Off to the Right Start...... 56 STEP 6 Interweaving Story Lines...... 84 STEP 7 Surprising the Reader...... 102 STEP 8 Ending on All the Right Notes...... 106 Part 3 HOW TO WRITE FICTION LIKE A PROSTEP 9 Putting It All Together...... 123 STEP 10 Mastering the Modes I: Action, Summary, Dialogue...... 133 STEP 11 Mastering the Modes II: Feelings/Thoughts and Background...... 145 STEP 12 Completing a Draft...... 152 The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 7 Part 4 POLISHING YOUR MANUSCRIPTSTEP 13 How to Be Your Own Editor...... 159 STEP 14 Applying the Finishing Touches...... 166 Part 5 MARKETING YOUR NOVELSTEP 15 Producing a Knockout Proposal...... 170 STEP 16 Approaching Agents and Editors...... 175 Glossary...... 187 Appendix: A Sample Synopsis...... 191 The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 8

As I look back on years of participating in writers conferences around the country, one in particular stands out. 191 The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 8 As I look back on years of participating in writers conferences around the country, one in particular stands out.

It was an important event, sponsored by a national writers organization, and a number of heavy hitterswriters, agents, and editorswere scheduled to speak. I had some free time before my workshop, so I sat in on a talk being given by a New York editor with whom I had done considerable business. Her workshop topic, as listed in the conference brochure, was Novel-Writing 101: A Hands-On Approach. Her presentation was certainly thorough. She covered such topics as dialogue, viewpoint, and characterization in admirable detail. But when she was finished speaking and opened up the floor for questions, everyone in the audience just sat there looking confused.

Finally a man raised his hand. Thats all well and good, he said, but how do you know when to do each of those things? The editor paused, clearly struggling for an answer. At last she replied, Well, you do them all at the same time. A woman near me threw down her notebook in exasperation. I couldnt blame her. The editors answer hadnt been helpful at all.

If youd asked me, her approach wasnt hands-on, it was hands-off! Later, taking a break in my hotel room, I wondered how I would have answered that mans question. I could have answered it, but it would have been a long answer! It then occurred to me that he wouldnt have asked the question in the first place if the editor had presented her material differently, if she had put the process of creating a novel into linear, step-by-step formtold what to do wheninstead of suggesting a literary juggling act. If you asked a painter how she creates a landscape, her reply would resemble the editors: she does everything at the same time. She blocks in the sky, roughs in the foreground, works on the middle distance, adds detail to the foreground, refines the sky, and so on. She is doing everything at the same timein a manner of speaking. But its physically impossible for her brush to be at two places at once.

And so it is with a novel. Its physically impossible to work on dialogue, viewpoint, characterization, and all the other aspects of writing a novel at the same time. When the process is broken down far enough into its steps, its clear that creating a novel is in fact a linear process. Its this process I have presented in my seminars and workshops since I realized, that day in my hotel room, that its what beginning novelists really need. And its this process I will share with you. The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing www.WriteANovelFast.com 1 This book is different from other guides.

First because of its step-by-step format. But also because it addresses novel-writing in a new way. Youll find terminology and definitions here that youve never seen before. Perhaps because Im an agent and make my living solely by selling books (most of them novels), my method takes a highly practical approach. It begins by helping you target a genre for your novel, then develop your story idea and characters with this markets requirements firmly in mind. The hardest part of writing a novel is finishing it, and to make sure you do, youll use a special template to plan your entire story, subplots and all, before you even start writing.

Youll translate your completed templates into professional-quality text. Finally, youll create a dynamic selling proposal for your novel, and approach agents and editors with maximum effectiveness. As a literary agent, I have helped dozens and dozens of writers I represent achieve success with this method. Beginning writers bursting with ideas but unsure how to turn them into novels have found guidance in this methodical, left-brained process. Published writers who always wrote instinctively, discovering their novels as they went along, have used this method to diagnose and repair ailing manuscripts. In all cases, these writers have been rewarded with compliments from editors on the writers mastery of their craftand with publication.

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