The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing

[crich70]

Has anyone here ever tried it? If so how did it work for you?
It's available from Smashwords for $9.99 in various formats.
Click

[cromag]

I haven't read it, but I'm impressed by the promise of a complete novel in 30 or less. It usually takes me longer (sometimes much longer) to complete a short story.

Like most Smashwords' titles, it's available at Kobo. If I was going to read it I think I'd wait for the next contest and apply a coupon -- at $10 it's pretty expensive for my budget.

[Rizla]

Money for old rope. Save your money. That series how to right a really good novel, etc, is much better.

[gmw]

A more interesting question might be: How did it work for him? If I was tempted (which I'm not, I'm not looking for a plan), then I'd probably pick up a few of his novels and see what they're like.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by cromag

I haven't read it, but I'm impressed by the promise of a complete novel in 30 or less. It usually takes me longer (sometimes much longer) to complete a short story.

30 what? 30 minutes? 30 years?

[cromag]

Originally Posted by HarryT

30 what? 30 minutes? 30 years?

Sorry, sometimes I think faster than I can type. According to the cover copy, it's 30 days or less.

[Ninjalawyer]

Originally Posted by HarryT

30 what? 30 minutes? 30 years?

Really?

You really read the original post and didn't know it was 30 days, or legitimately thought that someone else reading it might assume it was a book on how to write a novel in 30 years? Strange that you were so concerned about that point that you didn't just click on the link, almost as if the point of your post was merely to show off your keen eye for detail.

I think I'll submit your exchange to an on-line dictionary as an example of the word "pedantic". At least then there will be some value in it.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Ninjalawyer

Really?

You really didn't read the original post and didn't know it was 30 days, or legitimately thought that someone else reading it might assume it was a book on how to write a novel in 30 years? Strange that you were so concerned about that point that you didn't just click on the link, almost as if the point of your post was merely to show off your keen eye for detail.

I did indeed click on the link. The blurb for the book says:

This bestselling classic guide to novel writing breaks down the creative process into 16 manageable tasks. You'll learn how to find a story hook, create a conflict, develop a protagonist and set everything in motion. A former editor, now a successful literary agent and author, Marshall also covers editing your own work, submitting to agents and editors, and surviving in this competitive field.

I see no mention of 30 anythings there. Perhaps you might like to try being a little more helpful and less sarcastic?

[jandrew]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I see no mention of 30 anythings there.

Check the cover the book

[Ninjalawyer]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I did indeed click on the link. The blurb for the book says:



I see no mention of 30 anythings there. Perhaps you might like to try being a little more helpful and less sarcastic?

Anyone reading Cromag's post would have reasonably assumed 30 days and not 30 seconds, minutes, years, decades or whatever other period of time. Or they would have clicked the link and seen this book cover:



My comment was to poke fun at a self-aggrandizing post disguised as pedantry.

[HarryT]

I have graphics turned off on my tablet's web browser, and so don't see things like covers. Don't be so damned rude when you don't know what people have or have not seen.

[Ninjalawyer]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have graphics turned off on my tablet's web browser, and so don't see things like covers. Don't be so damned rude when you don't know what people have or have not seen.

I was rude, but not about that.

The point of my comment wasn't about what you might or might not have seen, it was about what a reasonable person would take from someone's post, and whether or not the point of your post was really about needed clarification or just to be pedantic.

[cromag]

Anyone who knows me would consider 30 years to be a fairly reasonable expectation for a novel-length work.

Perhaps my friends could all take a few deep breaths.

[crich70]

I imagine the 30 days is just for the 1st draft. I've yet to hear of any writer not needing at least a little edit time after writing something.

[cromag]

Of course, I'm not going to start the timer until I get an idea that will sustain a novel-length story. I'll keep you posted!